Piano Lessons in Creamery, PA

Instruments: Piano

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with method books, and focus on teaching my students how to read notes and rhythms. With young students, I also prepare fun games and activities that will help them become acquainted with the keys on the piano. As the student progresses, I find and introduce new repertoire that is appropriate for their skill level. For teenagers and adults, I find out what the student is interested in learning and how I can best help them reach their goals! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Bass Guitar

It is equally important to learn music from method books and through sonic exploration; I have personally learned a lot from books and while "noodling."When teaching trumpet (all skill levels), I use books including Arban's Complete Conservatory Method, Clarke's Technical Studies, and Schlossber's Daily Drills and Technical Studies.For guitar and bass guitar (beginner through intermediate), I start with Hal Leonard's Play Bass Today series. I teach beginner piano with the Bastien series and Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course.I also have a library of alternate method books and additional materials including excerpts, solos, duets, and play-alongs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching experiance has been mainly one one one. I've never given group lessons mainly because you can't totally focus on the student when there are several people involved. The best teaching/learning situation is the individual lesson where the focus is on one person. All my lessons are with one individual. More than one creates distraction and breaks the contenuity of the learning experiance. My experiance has been with grade school students, College age, middle aged and also senior citizens. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

It is important for both me and my student to have long-term and short-term goals. Long-term goals may have to do with technique--for voice, examples may be releasing tension or singing with proper breath support. Short term goals are more linked to repertoire and can be technical or musical. An example on the piano may be playing through a piece with a particular metronome marking. I have each of my students use a practice log so both the student and I can keep track of short-term goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Bass Guitar Keyboard

I believe in developing five core areas in musicianship: Theory/Understanding, Technique, Creativity, Reading, and Versatility. Initial lessons will identify the students strong points and weak points, and a personal strategy will be employed to help strengthen and balance the student overall. Many beginning classical musicians are able to read fairly well but have little to no comprehension of how and why the music works; while many contemporary musicians may have "chops" but lack in their ability to read and/or have proper technique. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Synthesizer Ukulele Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

For children and adult piano students, I like using Piano Adventures from primer to the adult version. For guitar, I like using Hal Leonard Guitar Method books. For ukulele, I like to use Hal Leonard ukulele method books. For my little singers I like to use Blankenbelhers Singing Lessons for Little Singers to get them started. For my adults I like to use Absolute Beginners - Voice to show them vocal warm ups, breathing exercises and more. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute

I am always listening and reacting to my students. I use a variety of methods in my teaching depending on what my students need most. Some students respond really well to demonstration and imagery, while others prefer a more directional approach in understanding the anatomy of the body and a technical understanding of what needs to be done, I strive to incorporate my lessons with theoretical and stylistic knowledge to help my students develop a self-aware ability to interpret pieces of all eras on their own. Read More