Piano Lessons in Olney, MD

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Bass Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I love to see my students overcome challenges in music. My music teacher used to say, "nothing is hard, or difficult, just challenging." If students learn how to practice effectively on their own, learning new music becomes easier over time. I teach my students how to approach a certain rhythm, phrase, or fingering and the techniques to do so correctly such as by slowing down and practicing with a metronome, our muscle memory will be able to play it up to speed once it's learned. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I use piano adventures for most students starting off. With my more advanced students I use "The Russian School of Piano." Once the student is at an appropriate level, I then take them out of the books completely. At this time, we work on more difficult pieces in different time periods. Most students start playing Bach's music at first. This is to help the technique. Mozart also is introduced during this time, while this music is difficult, the interpretation is simplistic compared to Rachmaninoff. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Synthesizer Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I taught music theory and musicianship at Johns Hopkins University from 2007 to 2017. I have also previously taught at Towson University and the University of Arkansas. I have taught private lessons in guitar, piano, composition, music theory, and musical arrangements off and on for the past 16 years. I encourage students to seek out and explore music that they enjoy and wish to master. I have taught students of all ages and can cater to each individual's needs. Read More

Instruments: Piano

It is not just to teach them to follow dynamics or other signatures on music sheet. I use my imagination to explain music and try to pull out their imagination and teach them how to put into music. For late elementary and intermediate students it is also important to improve wrist movement and finger movement. To brush up these skills they can reach to higher level and would play piano with rich sound. Read More

Instruments: Piano Music

I start elementary students with learning about the piano, its history and show them the internal parts. We learn finger numbers and our first songs are using those finger numbers to encourage the correct hand position and strengthen our fingers. I build rapport with the student and introduce pieces I feel they would enjoy playing . I use djembe drums to help keep the beat steady and improve listening skills. Each student is different so a "one size fits all" book is not used. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

Nothing is more enjoyable than seeing a music student climb the learning curve and self recognize and appreciate their progress other than, perhaps watching their passion grow over the long term as they successfully step into the performance phase and play a well practiced piece for their friends, family, peers, or others. Each student's lesson selection plan is always a collaborative agreement between the instructor and learner as well as the practice plan in terms of both frequency and repetition pattern. Read More

Instruments: Piano Cello Drums Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

I'm a performer and educator motivated most by the flash of joy I see in students' faces when they first grasp a new musical concept. With a global perspective on music cultivated by my background performing Brazilian music and American Jazz since childhood, and further bolstered by a B.A. in Anthropology: Ethnomusicology from Ithaca College, I have been a full time touring musician for the last 10 years. In addition to mainstage festival appearances all over the country, I have been lucky enough to teach clinics and master classes in percussion at top conservatories and universities such as Oberlin College & Georgetown University, as well as workshops in high schools, middle schools, & elementary schools all over the US. Read More