480-264-0673
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24 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
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480-264-0673
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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Music lessons in Mesa . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Piano Recorder Music
I also regularly read and attend lectures, conferences, seminars and master classes to always improve my teaching skills. I have been teaching piano and music theory since 1983 and have played professionally. I am a of Music Teachers (CAPMT), Empire Music Teachers Association (EMTA), the Music Educators National member in good standing with the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), and was with the California Association Conference (MENC), the Suzuki Association of North America, the National & the Inland Empire Kodaly-Orff Association, and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. Read More
Instruments: Guitar
I have been playing guitar for 14 years, primarily combining shred guitar techniques with jazz chord inversions and jazz theory. I have studied jazz guitar as well as recieved an Associates in Music. Guitar is my passion, though I do not have the degrees of some teacher I have studied and practiced guitar extensively for many years. I have studied under Jason Beaudreau who is a 25+ year jazz veteren and have educated myself for years as well. Read More
Instruments: Guitar
For beginning students, I would like to start with knowing exactly where they are at with guitar; how to hold it, how to tune it, how strum it. Once the student understands those fundamentals, I like to start on open chords with easy fingerings (usually learning chords is very exciting since you can hear what you are accomplishing). With that, I would like to get to know the student and understand what the student wants out of the lessons; what they like to listen to, what they want to learn, what is difficult for them, etc. Read More
Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion
I have loved playing drums and percussionsince I was very young, and I enjoy teaching students who want to get out there and play. I played in band in grammar school and high school, and my high shool experience opened up opportunities to play for local cummunity theatre and local rock bands. In 1989 I graduated from theUniversity of Miamiwith a bachelors degree in Music Business and a minor in Jazz Performance. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Music Keyboard
I have taught in the Mesa Public School District as an Accompanist/Vocal Coach since 1996. I currently work at Mountain View High School and teach Extensive Sight-reading, Vocal Training and Accompany all eight choirs on the piano/keyboard. I am also on staff as a Music Literacy Instructor/Accompanist for the Phoenix Children's Chorus since 1996 and have had the opportunity to direct and accompany our choirs on 21 tours to date within the US and Internationally. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin
For piano beginners I use the Faber book series. I prefer these books because it gives a mixture of theory and technique that I think is essential to learn at an early stage. For violin beginners I prefer to use the Suzuki Method books. These books are great because they get the student playing quickly, while still introducing the foundations of basic theory for reading music. Beginning guitar is a little more flexible depending on the students goals and the style they would like to learn. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Cello Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Double Bass Music Keyboard Djembe
I have worked with students aging from 6 with no training to 55 with 30 years of training. Every student is different and presents unique challenges. I find that the less a student know the easier it is to see improvement. Often with older players there are fundamental basics that are working against them that need correction. You can not unlearn something, only learn something knew. The most important thing in music education is starting them right because muscle memory is extremly hard to change. Read More
Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet
Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Absolutely. My mother is a music teacher, my father is a worship leader. My brother plays in a church band, and my sister is a vocalist who has won honors at the state level.
If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I play the saxophone and clarinet in equal measure and have been doing so for years. I started with the sax at 10, but then moved to clarinet after a teacher suggested it. I kept up with both in college, and now I can teach both.
What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
This is a hard question for any well rounded musician, but I do truly love playing jazz, rock, and classical. They all share many qualities, and there are pieces of each kinds of style in the other ones.
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
For both the saxophone and clarinet, playing the super high notes quietly and in tune present the hardest challenges. Anyone can blare a note, but true skill comes from playing the hard to reach notes with subtlety and precision.
What is your dream piece to perform and why?
Right now it is the sax solo from Carole King's "Jazzman." To me it is the quintessential sax solo. It features wailing high notes and command of rhythm, and I hope to play it as well as it appears on the album one day.
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I had to learn to play saxophone in a few months to be in my college jazz band. I had planned to play clarinet when I got there, but the professor asked my if I could play sax instead. A few weeks later I had my saxophone and was learning how to play on the run. By the Christmas concert, I had the music under my fingers, and I was able to play in the band every semester afterwards.
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I chose the saxophone because of the saxophone solo in Gene Rafferty's 'Baker Street' as well as from hearing a very gifted player at my church growing up.
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I had my mother. She showed my siblings and me the joy of making music as a family, and then she allowed us to explore our own musical tastes as we grew into adults. Now my siblings and I are all musicians, and while we have some very different tastes, we all still love music.
When will I start to see results?
This is unique to every student, and talent plays a factor in this answer, but students tend to see results in direct correlation to how much time and effort they put into practice. Students who make consistent, reasonable practice time a part of their every day routine will see vastly better results than a student who uses rehearsal to "practice" or tries to cram hours of preparation time into the day before a rehearsal or tutoring session.
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
If the child expresses true joy at the opportunity of making music with their instrument of choice, that is a good indication they are ready for music lessons. Another good indication is personal discipline in other areas of life, such as doing homework, taking care of chores, and maintaining personal hygiene. A child who cannot take care of these things will likely not have the discipline to persevere past the first few lessons.
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Recognize that while practice does not always have to be fun, it needs to be meaningful. True improvement happens when the student is alone, and intentionally practicing with the goal of being better prepared for rehearsal or a music lesson with an instructor will be a great motivation for the student.
When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I decided to pursue professional musicianship after leaving the journalism world in Winter 2019. I had the opportunity to play in a variety show as a sax and clarinet player, and I truly enjoyed the experience.
24 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Music lessons in Mesa to students of all ages and abilities.
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