Music Lessons in South Chicago Heights, IL

Instruments: Saxophone

I believe every student pursues music for a different reason, so I approach every student with a custom curriculum. For all students I stress the importance of scales, arpeggios, ear training and scale patterns (3rds, 4ths, etc) to improve technical facility from the beginning. For beginners I typically use the Rubank Edute book to begin reading music. All students are introduced to 'Top Tones for the Saxophone' by Rascher early on to improve range, intonation, breath support and tone quality. Read More

Instruments: Piano Synthesizer Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Keyboard

I like to set realistic goals for students so that they can feel accomplished. I also find it's great to get an idea of exactly what they would like to play. For instance, if they love ACDC, picking a simple song like Back in Black to play and work up to something like Thunderstruck. It is important not to push them too hard. Nothing more gratifying than achieving a goal and receiving praise for it. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin

I have been a music teacher for as long as I could remember. Since I was young, I loved teaching my friends and even got a couple of them to start learning the violin so that we could all play together. Formally, I started giving private lessons during my college days, teaching 4-5 year old students to play the violin and piano. In the last 10 years, I have explored further by teaching a wider range of age groups (3-70), different skill levels (beginner through advanced), and a variety of genres (classical, pop, K-pop, rock, blues). Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Ukulele Recorder Music Keyboard

I have had a desire to be an educator since I was in second grade. The first music ensemble I directed was a men's choir at Huntley High School in Huntley, Illinois. I proceeded to direct worship choirs and bands at Carthage College for my four years at Carthage. After Carthage I became the music teacher at Fratt Elementary School in Racine, Wisconsin where I taught general music and directed the annual fourth and fifth grade musical. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

I have a variety of method books, solos, and exercises to work with, but I like discovering the music that each student finds both challenging and rewarding rather than expecting every student to work on the same material. Read More

Instruments: Viola

Teaching is one of my greatest joys and students of all ages, backgrounds, and interests are welcome to study with me. I have taught private lessons since 2012. My violin and viola pedagogy teachers include Dr. Olga Kaler, Dr. Carla Trynchuk, Dr. Clifford Colnot, Dr. Frank Diaz, and Mimi Zweig, director of the internationally renowned Indiana University String Academy. I am interested in focusing my teaching on viola lessons only. I had the privilege of studying with Edward Gazouleas, Rami Solomonow, Dr. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

For beginning students, I usually suggest the Hal Leonard Guitar Method as a way of learning the fundamentals. For students starting with more experience, or once a student moves past the Hal Leonard series, I like to offer custom lesson plans designed to fit the individual student's needs. As a Berklee College of Music graduate, I pull from the same coursework that was taught to me, while offering room for any styles or techniques that we find works best for the student. Read More