Piano Lessons in Cross Plains, WI

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Synthesizer Recorder Electric Violin Double Bass Conga Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe

For beginning students, I usually start by creating a strong foundation in the student's mind of why they want to learn how to play an instrument and what goals, if any, they initially have for themselves. I then utilize this to help create individual based lesson plans that are driven by the inner workings of the student's mind. I incorporate music theory into every instrument at every skill level because I believe it to be something that is extremely important to understand and that not a lot of students are exposed to before they get to college. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style is very simple. With the fundamentals in place, it's possible to learn any song you want to. If there's a song that goes beyond a student's fundamentals, then that's what we'll learn next. As my music teachers told me, if you listen to a record and you find something on it that you don't know how to play, go back and learn how to do it! Listening and learning is essential to playing the music that you want to be able to play as quickly as possible. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Organ Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

Ray has been hailed by Opera News as, "terrific!", the New York Times praised, "Ray C. was effectively cast...a solid professional with vocal elegance." The Taconic Press acclaims him as, an exceptional voiceleaving audiences cheering" with his performances being, ardent and utterly convincing." The New York Sun said of his stage craft: Ray C. makes the most of it, combining savvy stage business with a warm voiceexpertly straddling that razor thin line between parody and poignancyscored a direct hit." While the Berkshire Review simply calls him, "...Perfect!" His travels have led him to make appearances with Grandview Opera (General Co Artistic Director), the Light Opera Company Of Salisbury (General Artistic Director), Prelude to Performance (Associate Conductor), Amore Opera (Principal Conductor), the Opera Orchestra of New York, New York Grand Opera, Connecticut Opera, Connecticut Concert Opera, Greater New Britain Opera, Berkshire Opera, Bardavon Opera, Jacksonville Lyric Opera, Opera Ischia (Italy), Bronx Opera, New Rochelle Opera, Amato Opera, Bleecker Street Opera (Associate Conductor), Regina Opera, Long Island Opera, the New Britain Symphony Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Staten Island Philharmonic, the Belleayre Music Festival, American Opera Preview, in collaboration with artists and staff of the Metropolitan Opera, at Carnegie Hall, Bechstein Hall, Merkin Hall, Symphony Space, and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I have different methods for piano and voice: depending on the level of the piano student, I will use Faber method books and supplement performance pieces, technique lessons, games, theory discussions, etc. I do not use method books with voice students, although I do have a curriculum that I follow and adjust depending on the level and age of the voice student. I believe that while beginning and intermediate students continue to learn, it is important for them to practice different genres on their instrument -- this allows them to speak different musical languages, improves their understanding of style, and gives them a better context for their own gifts and interests. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Music lessons were one of my favorite activities growing up and continue to be for me as an adult. I want to give my students the same joy that I have for music, regardless of what their goals are. In the first lesson, I ask every new student what their goals area. That is how we start working together. For instance, if I know that a student is hoping to audition for a school production in a few months, I want to make sure that I include performance preparation in our lesson. Read More

Instruments: Piano Djembe

As an educator I do my best to imitate the most impactful learning sessions I have experienced during my tenure, and most if not all of those learning opportunities stemmed from an educator who carried 3 characteristics, also know as the definition of Cool. These characteristics include, being Kind, Honest and Fearless. As a teacher I have to be honest, both with my student's current musical capacity and also with how I am planning to help them progress. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Modern vocal pedagogy informs my teaching methods. By finding balance in air flow, phonation and resonance, the development of the voice is promoted in a healthy manner. Once this balance is consistent, a singer is capable of communicating more clearly and effectively. I encourage students to delve into a variety of genres, languages, characters, and challenges. I cater to each student's expectations in taking lessons, as well as their individual technical, musical, and performing needs. Read More