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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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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 Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
My teaching style involves a more personal level. For example, finding out what the student enjoys listening to, what their motivations as well as what their priorities are. The student will, for the most part, control the direction of their skill. I will show, by example, how amazingly useful music theory is as well as how to understand a piece of music just by listening to it. By understanding aural skills, the will be able to identify components of each song or sequence of notes just by hearing it. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Trumpet Bass Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Acoustic Guitar
My experience with learning was fun. Since I was learning multiple instruments it was fun to tie everything together. I could say the best part while learning was understanding theory...that part of my learning opened up many doors for me musically. I started to understand why certain notes could and couldn't be played, why and how to use different scales. Those things are the same things I try to reveal to the students when the time is right. Read More
Instruments: Piano Flute
As an educated teacher, it is my responsibility to engage students with the variety of needs.With the engaging lessons that is carefully thought-out and well-organized, I plan to incorporate allstudents with visual, aural, and kinesthetic learnings. I fully understand that my lesson will need theflexibility and will be prepared for all situations such as flexible plan for low-level learning students,high-achieving students, and other activities for when the students are not responding to the originalactivity. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba Music Keyboard
Beginning students will start out with technique practices, while introducing solo literature when appropriate. Technique studies can always be improved and studied, no matter a student's age or proficiency. I try to work within the repertoire a student is interested in at first, then expanding to materials and genres the student may find interesting to help broaden the experience and knowledge a student can gain from our lessons. No matter the age or ability level, I help students understand that each lesson and new idea or piece we learn adds to their experience, and experiences are building blocks for our futures. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Viola
As well as 14 years of classroom music education teaching spanning grades K-12 in choir, general music, and orchestra...I have over 18 years of experience in teaching private music lessons in piano, viola, and voice. It has been a wonderful experience getting to know students from all walks of life with unique interests as well as unique goals. From learning how to simply count and name notes to learning the hardest viola concerto, I am there every step of the way for my students. Read More
Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet
Lessons are catered to each individual student. The lessons are set up to maintain a balance between fun (to keep them encouraged) and necessary exercises to build the foundations that will excel them to the next level. Such methods will include basic music understanding such as posture/finger positions, reading music, ear training, improvisation, finger-memory exercises, etc., where they will both purposefully learn techniques and unknowingly develop very important musical faculties. Read More
Instruments: Piano
I taught formal lessons after I had graduated from college. I have also instructed family and friends and have helped them further develop their piano skills. Encouraging regular practise and emphasizing proper hand and wrist placement are things that I emphasize. I like to watch and see why someone is struggling to play a song, and I am able to offer a solution. I like to teach students how to play music that they enjoy: their favorite songs by their favorite artists. 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.
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 Piano lessons in Chicago to students of all ages and abilities.
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