Music Lessons in Lake Villa, IL

Instruments: Drums

I love performing and teaching. These are my twin passions--my calling, if you will. I stay active doing and improving both of these areas. I also have a broad range of musical interests and knowledge that I bring to every lesson, as well as to every performance. I can play and teach reggae music, for example, but I also provide a history and cultural context of the style--information that leads to better, more authentic performances. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Keyboard

Praise, suggestion, praise is a big part of any teaching situation I enter. I believe that it is crucial to a student’s learning to be in a safe and positive environment. As soon as they feel uncomfortable or as if it is not okay for them to be themselves, the productivity goes down and they are not able to accomplish things to their fullest potential. I also strive to influence students in not just education, but in life as well. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

For example, if I have a student that is struggling with sound production, I would sit facing the student and produce the most beautiful note I could, and the student would to their best to emulate it. This gives the student the opportunity to hear what they should be producing, and immediately trying to emulate itin my experiences this helps the student learn in their own way, rather than me conveying my ideas in my own words. Read More

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

My professional experience includes assisting piano professors to teach undergraduate students of different abilities, teaching skills that range from basic scales to classical overtures to modern jazz. I also teach beginners how to read sheet music, and communicate with younger students’ parents to make sure they know how the students are progressing. Over the course of my career thus far, I have learned that compassion, communication, and encouragement are just as essential to imparting musical knowledge as technical skills. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute Piccolo

I am neither strict nor laid back. In order to improve, however, students are required to practice everyday (even if it is for 15 minutes a day). I do not demand perfection from my students, but I do expect students to put in the effort to learn. I truly want to teach students to play music and I want to encourage students to find joy in making music. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I have experience teaching from the beginner to the collegiate level. I teach technique, songwriting, theory lessons, or any style the student prefers. Each lesson is specifically tailored to a student's individual needs and musical desires. I teach an effective practice routine involving a metronome and egg timer to promote good habits. This serves a dual purpose in measuring both time and technical progress. Further, it gives beginner students the ability to develop good habits early. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Euphonium

I'm a firm believer in taking a student where they are and building off of their interests. Finding what a student is interested in and using that as a starting point is a part of my teaching approach. At the same time, there are some things that are critical to be taught at every level that should be incorporated on some level so there's a holistic and balanced education. I find a combination of fundamental skills, scales, music theory, some history, critical thinking and analysis combined with whatever solo or individual study from school or other sources. Read More