312-789-4185
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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Chicago . 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 Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Double Bass Euphonium French Horn Tuba Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon
For beginning students, I typically start with Hal Leanord's Essential Elements. Once the student has a grasp of their instrment and the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire and tecnique exercises. I will try to find out what the student is interested in to help guide my instruction and keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter the age or ability level. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Harmonica Recorder Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
i use many different books for different students. whether they are children or adults. i typically use hal leonard books such as fast track or play today or essential elements. other method books i teach are mel bay, alfred's, warner brothers, kjos, fjh, suzuki and many others. i have my own fun and fast way i teach to learn about music and your particular instrument. i motivate each student accordingly. and i guide them thru the many challenges music has to offer. in all, music should be a part in everyone's life. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Viola
My methods depend on the student's age, what they may have already begun in lessons with another teacher, and I also take into consideration the assessment of their learning style-choosing a method that works best for their needs. Basically you could say that I have no 'one' method. I have as many methods as I have students because every single student deserves for me to take the time to get to know them and to find out what educational practices will fit best with their learning style and personality. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Synthesizer Recorder Electric Violin Double Bass Conga Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe
My teaching style is very involved and incorporates playing for the student, playing with the student, and having the student play on their own. Creating a safe environment where the student is comfortable making mistakes is vital, because making mistakes is a vital component to learning how to play an instrument. I take each student at their own pace and cultivate growth through technical mechanics of the instrument as well as philosophical ideals about what it means to be a musician. Read More
Instruments: Piano Flute Recorder Music Keyboard
I believe it is important to teach to the individual. Each student will require a different path to success and therefore, I will choose the method that best fits with their learning style, personality and interests. In addition, it is important to rememeber that many students are successful with their own guided learning plan instead of following a book. However, there are also students who thrive with the step by step stylized learnin plan only a method can provide. Read More
Instruments: Piano Flute Piccolo
I first started teaching piano and flute/piccolo back when I was in high school. When I started, I mainly focused on helping my fellow students prepare for performances and competitions. When I was in college, I was offered a temporary teaching position to teach piano at Allegro Music Academy (Lemont, IL) and I was able to work with children of all ages and playing levels. I realized that I really enjoyed working with children and from that point on, I sought out to teach mainly children. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Clarinet
Young students love playing the pop tunes, so I whole-heartedly accept them finding a book of broadway or pop tunes and brining it to lessons. For the older students, I always go to the Rose 32 Etudes for Clarinet, focusing primarily on the slower etudes to continue developing tone. Scales are also a must for all ages - I stress the importance of tone with these exercises because it's not just about the fingers. Read More
Instruments: Piano Organ
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
I generally audition a student and have them either sight read a composition or play something they have done in the past. Afterwards, we talk about basic musicianship and technique requirements. The student needs to know something about a composer and why that composer composed in a certain style, the period the composition was composed, and a brief analysis of what's happening in the music. If there is a specific theme that is worth mentioning, I will have the student give me their ideas and why a particular composer chose that theme.
When will I start to see results?
I recommend that a beginning student take at least three months to see how they like the piano and give them a chance to explore diverse styles. Not every beginning student will aspire to be a classically trained pianist. You may have someone who likes popular, rock and roll, jazz, and even the more contemporary. Three months is a fairly good indicator if a student likes what they are doing and plan to continue. Piano competitions are encouraged as part of their educational development and this is set up by age levels in communities.
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I had two piano teachers in music that inspired me years ago when I started in music school. Before starting college, a lady at my home church in West Virginia prepared me for my audition at West Virginia University before finishing high school. I memorized and played the "Sonata Pathetique" by Beethoven which I did all three movements of the work. The entire music department at the university heard my audition and afterwards was told my artistry was wonderful and that came from Herman Godes who was my principal teacher.
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
It was my mother who encouraged me to learn the piano which began at age 6. Besides playing the keyboard, I was a gifted singer as well and received voice instruction in a local boys choir and did that until age 14. All through junior high and high school, I was selected as an accompanist for the choirs and received the musicianship award upon graduation from high school. Then through my college years, I was fortunate to study with some of the finest teachers in the world who were world class artists.
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Spend at least 30 minutes a day for small children focusing on technique, sight reading, simple solo pieces, and basic fundamental theory. For more intermediate and advanced, anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour. I remind students not to focus on too much at one time. Divide up the session into segments and spend most of the practice on styles and techniques.
Occasionally, I may introduce a recording of a piece and have the student listen and then give me feedback on what they heard and how it should be analyzed.
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 Chicago to students of all ages and abilities.
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