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25 Years
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Teachers in Network
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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Buffalo Grove . 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 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: Piano Voice Violin Viola Music Keyboard
I am a singer-songwriter, music educator, and actress from Chicago! I have always incorporated music into my life. My parents put me into violin and piano lessons when I was only four years old! When I was about twelve, I began to do musical theatre and then joined the award-winning group Musicality in high school. Throughout my time at Musicality, I grew from alternate, to member, to staff member, to associate director, and now to producer. Read More
Instruments: Piano Organ
George teaches from the Hal Leonard Piano Series and focuses on sight reading, technique, theory, and performance. For advanced students, he encourages performance, ensemble playing, and group competitions.I have also used other piano methods that includes the Royal Conservatory Piano Series, the Suzuki Method for piano, and Piano Adventures by Nancy and Randall Faber. For technique, I use the Keith Snell Series for scales and finger exercises, the Hanon Series, and Carl Czerny. Read More
Instruments: Piano Trombone Euphonium Music
I'm a passionate and motivated instructor who loves working with students and sharing my love of music. In 2007, I graduated from Northwestern University with a Masters degree in trombone Performance. Performing all over the world has been one of the greater experiences of my life as a musician, and I've had the opportunity to play at the Carnegie Hall in New York, as well as touring with many professional orchestras in many countries like the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Music Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Read More
Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion
I also strongly believe in the power of performance and having the opportunity to share what you learn and enjoy with others, so depending on the age I always strongly encourage finding performance opportunities of any kind, playing/practicing with friends, studying abroad, etc. However, as I said, every student is different, so these approaches have to be flexible in order to successfully accommodate my instruction to each individual student. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
My teaching experience began with a few friends of mine in college. It was just for the fun of it at first, until others outside my circle of friends began to approach me about lessons, through word of mouth. I was soon known in my class to be the guy to go to learn more about music. In fact not all of these friends came to me for just guitar lessons, a couple I have taught beginner piano to as well. 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: Voice
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
1) Repetition, repetition, repetition. Break apart the piece into its individual components (rhythm, notes, words) and only start assembling it when each element is solidly and independently learned. Can you self-conduct the rhythms? Can you speak the rhythms on words? It's easier for the brain to process simpler tasks, and approaching the music from many different directions helps memory. 2) Distributed practicing. Practice for 15 minutes here and there throughout each day, with the intent of accomplishing a specific task or goal. If you have this kind of focus, it's easier to actually get things done, and you won't get bored and tired cramming music for 4 or 5 hours, once a week, which is horrible for memory and technique.
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
A child can start learning about the voice at anytime, however it takes the vocal folds a while to mature. To avoid serious injury or longterm vocal health issues, it's best to wait to begin formal lessons until the student is 13 or older. Sometimes, if the student is younger than 14, people recommend learning the basics of music and performance through another instrument, like the saxophone or piano. This helps the child become a good musician before their voice is ready to take voice lessons in the studio. If the passion is there in high school, there's no reason they shouldn't pursue lessons.
When will I start to see results?
Lessons develop voices, but they also develop confidence, musicianship, and responsibility in the student. Results are determined by the effort expressed in lessons and when practicing at home. Students obtain new ways to use and think about their voice during the first lesson, and results could theoretically begin to manifest from this first hour or half hour in the studio. However, real and longterm change takes time, and every learns at different paces. There shouldn't be pressure to be perfect right away--there's a lot to learn!
Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
The methods of my lessons are lightly adapted from the teachings of my own instructor and mentor, W. Stephen Smith. He has had tremendous success with his students, who have gone onto garner some of the biggest professional careers in opera and musical theater today. He developed several "inventions" that work to disentangle the vocal apparatus and, in doing so, help to free the voice and musical expression behind it. His methods are universal, easily adjustable for each student, proven to work, and fun.
If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
I have always had a passion for writing, and if I didn't choose to be a musician, I may have studied to become and author of fiction. Even now, it's a hobby of mine to read and write. This is an asset in the studio and practice room, because singing is a language art. The biggest difference between the voice and any other instrument is, of course, the ability to use words. An easy and clear delivery of text is a goal of mine every time I sing, because, without words, I might as well be playing any other instrument! I indulge in the luxury.
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 Piano lessons in Buffalo Grove to students of all ages and abilities.
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