Music Lessons in La Grange Highlands, IL

Instruments: Piano

I believe students must first acquire competence in theory and proper technique, followed by artistic expression. My teaching style is encouraging, patient, thorough, nurturing, engaging, challenging and fun. To progress, students must practice daily. I let my students know that quality and focus of practice is far more important than duration. They learn to isolate 2 or 3 measures, and repeat them slowly until accuaracy is achieved consistently. I convey my love of teaching by: complimenting students on achieving goals, smiling, being energetic, making sure the student lets me know when he/she does not understand a concept and re-explaing it until it is understood with gentleness and patience, bringing in adjunct music from which the student, after hearing me play several excerpts, can select several pieces, playing duets with the student, and encouraging students to compose their own songs by ear, which I later notate. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar

For the child and adult alike I begin with different types of instuctional material. Since instuctional materials use similar but somewhat different ways of presenting concepts, I use the the series that will allow the student to grasp and master the fundamentals. The older student, along with learning the fundmentals, will also explore their interests. I'll begin tailoring their lessons to include their interests as well as other genres. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I've been playing drums for 48 years. I'm still enjoying the playing of drums, and searching for new knowledge on how to play better. I've toured and performed with great musicians. I've had the great opportunity to be a drum set clinician for Sabian Cymbals, Maxwell Drums, Aquarian Drumheads, Vic Firth Drumsticks, and Trick Dum Pedals. Teaching a large group of drummers is great fun but I really enjoy the one on one interaction between student and teacher. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Music

Music is for everyone and I want lessons to always be a safe space, and a fun space. There is no one right pace for people to learn, whatever works best for you! We can achieve this by setting S.M.A.R.T goals, as well as potential benchmarks to rate progress by. I like to approach each lesson with empathy, humor, and curiosity. I think there is much we can learn from ourselves and each other, so I like to keep my teaching focused, exciting, but also attentive to each persons needs and what goals we are trying to achieve in a given day. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I have over 12 years of teaching orchestra at a high school level and over 20 years of private lesson teaching instruction. I know that everyone has enough "talent" to play a musical instrument; I provide the precise instruction on how to approach violin/viola in order to grow your talent. I am comfortable communicating with children just learning to play and very much enjoy teaching adult beginners also. My joy is watching the eyes of a student as they realize that they are playing music... and it wasn't really all the hard, after all. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style obviously is contingent on the level and interests of the student I am paired with. When it comes to guitar and bass, it depends mostly on whether the student is interested in learning songs, or becoming a well rounded musician. If songs is the main goal, we'll start with the easiest levels of the styles the student is interested in and work our way forward, focusing on timing and rhythm at first. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Music Keyboard

Im an enthusiastic and accepting teacher who enjoys building students confidence and lifelong enjoyment of music! In 2014, I graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelors in music composition with a focus on classical piano and voice, then moved to Chicago to get my Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Columbia College in music composition for film and media. Writing music for orchestras was the most unforgettable part of my experience there! Read More