480-264-0673
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25 Years
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41,456+
Happy Customers
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Cities with Students
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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 Guitar Voice Trumpet Keyboard Electric Guitar
I generally like to start my beginning students with lesson plans from the book" The Secrets of playing Piano by Ear" by Jermaine Griggs. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. I try to focus on what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lesson fresh and FUN! Read More
Instruments: Guitar Voice Trumpet Bass Guitar
For all students, I teach them exercises to strenghten their fundamentals and skills in the given instrument, and each lesson we practice the exercises to focus on improving their sound production, pitch finding, placement, and more. We also learn songs that both the student and I choose and prepare for performance (when necessary). Here are the books I work from for each instrument, but please note that I don't necessarily use these for every student, only when appropriate: GUITAR: Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method (books 1 through 3) VOICE: Master Vocal Exercises by Horatio Connell, and Sightsinging (Hal Leonard) BASS GUITAR: Bass Method, (Hal Leonard, books 1 through 3) TRUMPET: Essential Elements 2000, (Hal Leonard, books 1 through 3) Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Flute Clarinet
I graduated from Temple University in 2011 with my Bachelor's degree in Music Education. I was a saxophone major, but I have also studied piano since the age of three. I enjoy performing in musical pits, which is where I picked up the flute and the clarinet. I am currently a choral teacher at the high school level, but I have previously taught in a K-8 school, as well as several years in a daycare setting with very young students. Read More
Instruments: Piano
Faber - John Thompson - Bastien - Alfred - Hal Leonard etc Shirley tries to fit the student to the method. Every method doesn't work for every one. Age and experience and ability all play important factors into the method that is used for you or your child personally. Read More
Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
I love working with other artist and growing professionally. One of the great things about guitar is that their is always a new chord to learn. I have played gigs all over Kansas City, and at many Churches in the area. I have found some of the most humble, genuine people who just blow your mind on stage. I'm thankful for those people in my life, and look forward to helping others as I have been helped. Read More
Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet
I do not usually follow any method book as every student is different, has different background, goals and aspirations. I try to mix exercises/methods that I use in my practice with materials of accomplished pedagogues. I have my set of warm-ups that I use on saxophone, clarinet, and flute; I often find myself using flute method while playing the saxophone which only pushes my and my students abilities and makes them better musicians. Read More
Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet
For younger students who are in a school band program, I like to use the materials they use in class and to add outside material they find interesting. I find students are more motivated to practice and develop when we start with something that interests them, and then to expose them to other styles of music later on. For older or more advanced students, I like to focus on aspects of musicianship that will help them be successful musicians, such as ear-training, theory, composition, performance practice, improvisation (if the student wishes) and transcribing. 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.
25 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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