Music Lessons in Lansing, IL

Instruments: Piano

I typically start beginners with the Teaching Little Fingers to play books. After going through the books at whatever rate the student needs to retain information, I will move on to solo repertoire pieces that align with the students' interests and tastes. I remember my piano teacher when I was a child bringing over several books for me to choose from, and it was the most exciting thing. I do the same with my students, so that the learning stays fun and students get to reap the rewards of their hard work throughout the process. Read More

Instruments: Bass Guitar Double Bass

For classical double bass, I do stick to a number of method books depending on the level of the student. (Progressive Repetoire - George Vance, Yorke Etudes, Bottessini Etudes, and Simandl). In addition to technique excersizes and etudes, my students will also focus of solo works and orchestral excerpts. Jazz bassist will also focus on technique and some classical study. Even as a jazz bassist, it is important to learn how to use the bow and perform with excellent intonation and tone. Read More

Instruments: Flute Recorder Piccolo

The most important element of my teaching is seeing my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it's important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel a students desire to progress, and makes students eager to learn more. By trying to find out what inspires the student, I can successfully tailor my instruction to their wants and needs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Music

I believe each person is uniquely different in this life and that goes for music too. For piano beginners, I like to use the standard Faber curriculum, if you're more advanced we can explore adding some more challenging books such as the Hanon scales, Junior Hanon for beginners, etc. I like to supplement core pieces with scales, technical books, and ad hoc assignments that I sometimes have students pick. For voice, it will very much depend on your goals and where you are at vocally, but my voice teaching style is very much grounded in healthy technique and learning about vocal pedagogy, no matter what genre of music you want to sing! Read More

Instruments: Piano Synthesizer Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Keyboard

For drumset students, I usually start out with basic patterns and grooves that they can play to their favorite music. That way they really start to get into it. After we have established a bit of rapport, I will go into technique and see what their tolerance is for more intensive practice and more in depth techniques, all the while trying to keep things light and fun. While technique is important, we would like to make sure the student stays interested in the material and keep their attention with engaging material. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar

My teaching style is that I set a plan for every student I have. For instance, I will apply reading notes, but that will not work for each student, each student is different and would prefer another style of teaching. That's when i would test their own level of memorization. I would teach each student chord structure of memorizing maximum 2 chords. Once each student fully has the 2 chords memorized I would hand them a sheet of paper, giving them instructions on top of the paper, stating Now that you have mastered memorizing the chords I would want you to come up with a small melody by building a staff with a time signature and writing the notes on the sheet of paper. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Mandolin

I started teaching while in college in Mexico at Gaia Elementary School in Mexico City. Now residing in the United States, I accepted the position of the Music Teacher in an after school program at Carson Elementary School in  Carson, California.  I became a full time guitar teacher at the Escuela de Musica Cristiana (teaching Contemporary Christian Music ) in Hollywood, California. Throughout this time I continued my musical career playing with a multiple array of music groups and as well as continued as a private music teacher. Read More