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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Portland . 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
I tend to emphasize piano theory and lots and LOTS of practice for my methods I link to success. Piano theory and understanding the circle of fifths and chords with their relative minors, etcetera are extremely important as building blocks to a good knowledge base, especially if you'll be composing. I find that learning how to read sheet music takes a while, but is extremely essential in order to behind fluent in practice. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Synthesizer Keyboard
I started learning piano as a child, but it was in high school that I realized I really wanted to pursue playing keyboards, because it allowed me a way to express myself. I later attended Mt. Hood Community College, famous for its jazz program, where I played keyboards and sang in select choirs and vocal jazz groups. After graduating, I directed the college Gospel Ensemble for two years before working full-time at a large local church, where I was Music Director, a worship leader, and keyboardist. Read More
Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet
One of the best parts of teaching is seeing a student accomplish something they previously thought they couldn't do. I'm here to tell you that you can do it! Whether you want to learn to play some tough classical pieces or some of your favorite songs on your instrument, or just develop a deeper understanding of music as a whole, I can help get you there. As a teacher, I think it's important to take a broad view of the impact on music education on students of all ages. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Ukulele
My teaching experience began in 2008 when I started tutoring and assisting a choir director at a school in Boston, MA. I worked there throughout my schooling and transitioned to private lessons after graduating in 2011. I also started a program called Sing Play Rise which offered free private tuition for students who joined the choir. I then moved back home to be with family and have been teaching in the PDX area at various schools since then. Read More
Instruments: Piano
Most lessons involve sight-reading, theory, and repertoire. I try to find a balance between introducing new music and reviewing older pieces. I am not a task master, but I do love to give positive reinforcement and praise for quality work and effort. I encourage my students to give me honest feedback on the material that they are working on. I will often ask them if they like the music they are playing or if they have any specific requests. Read More
Instruments: Piano Violin Viola Fiddle
Kathleen has served as concertmaster and soloist for the Chehalem Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Miami Symphony Orchestra, Fort Smith Symphony, Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, and Reno Chamber Orchestra. She has over twenty years of teaching experience, including Indiana University, Davis & Elkins College, and George Fox University. Kathleen is also a Fulbright Scholar who completed dissertation research on Celtic fiddling in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Read More
Instruments: Piano Saxophone Synthesizer
For beginning students, I have used Hal Leonard's Essential Elements as well as Nancy Faber's Adventures series. For piano students, I like to use Hanon exercises to develop not only necessary musculature but also disciplined use of a metronome for practicing. For students interested in exploring music theory and/or jazz, I use the Real Book combined with my own materials explaining the theory around chord symbols, chord scales, modes, and the like. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Clarinet Drums Synthesizer Ukulele Recorder Tuba Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon English Horn Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
When will I start to see results?
Each lesson has a detailed a measurable student-led goal. With regular practice and patience anyone can find success within a short period of time, of course keeping in mind that it will time and work to reach your bigger goals.
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Consistency is key; it is more valuable to practice 10 minutes everyday than to practice 1 hour a week.
With slow practice you'll grow quickly, but with fast practice you'll grow slower.
Use of metronome, practice fundamentals 2-5+min each practice session.
Audio/video record your practice to best see your progress.
Finally, find your bliss in music , for me, that was playing video game music as well as playing with jazzy backing tracks; finding your bliss in music will help give you motivation to keep practicing.
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I chose the clarinet because I really loved it's sound, the unique lows and highs along with the different ways that the clarinet can be used.
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I'm most proud of the work that I put into my senior clarinet recital in college. I managed two medium-sized student groups, got the joy of performing one of my own compositions, and even put together unique art and videos to go along with the performance. It took over a year to put together and I'm very pleased with the results.
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
During my first year teaching I had a third grader who I gave music/piano lessons to and I later nominated them for the NW Young Musicians award, it's been years since then but I hear they are still active in learning music will start in orchestra next year.
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
On clarinet I think that the hardest thing to master is going over the break; from A to B, from basically no fingers to all fingers on it took me months to even make it work, and I still practice that shift every practice session.
On piano I think that the hardest thing to master is playing different parts on each hand
On guitar I think that the hardest thing to master is playing while singing
What does a normal practice session look like for you?
Fundamentals; long tones, scales, thirds, tuning/ear-training
Figuring out goals for that practice session/listening to the piece I'm practicing
Big picture practice of large chunks, looking for trouble areas
slow practice with a metronome on trouble areas
End with sight reading and/or something fun.
An important part to every practice session is to take your time cleaning and putting away your instrument.
If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
My Bachelors of Arts is in K-12 Music Education, I am endorsed in instrumental, vocal, and general music. during my education I learned theory, history, all instruments, jazz, piano, and composition.
If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
Technically my first instrument was an electronic keyboard in 3rd grade, then recorder in 4th and clarinet in 5th.
I Recorder to clarinet was a simple choice, I just loved the sound of it. In 6th grade I switched to bass clarinet mostly to sit closer to my best friend at the time who played trombone. In middle I picked up tenor sax so that I could play in more jazz groups, and in high school I got a both an electric guitar to play my favorite rock songs, and acoustic guitar so that I would play guitar while camping. In collage I fell in love with both collecting instruments and string instruments, especially cello.
Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Music does not run in my family at all. Not a single person in my immediate nor extended family has any passions for nor experience with music. That being said my mum was absolutely supportive, diving me to many honor groups, and rehearsals.
When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I decided that I wanted to musical profession from a young age, I've always loved learning about, playing, and creating music, it runs through my very soul. However, it wasn't till late high school that I started to gain my passion for becoming a teacher, I remember my senior year of high school I played with the high school music groups and then would go over the middle school and help out with the band and choir. Each opportunity I've gotten to share my passion has been very reaffirming that this is what I want to do with my life and am always looking forward to my next musical adventure.
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 Portland to students of all ages and abilities.
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Heather
Looking for an in-home piano teacher for my 12 year old daughter. Someone who respects classical training but can apply it to modern music to make it fun.
mary
i have 2 girls of age 5 and 7 and would like them to enroll in piano lessons. i prefer someone to come home and teach them. pl let me know your availability
Kathy
I have two boys interested in learning to play an instrument and voice lessons. My 8 year old wants to play the piano and sing. My 12 year old wants to take voice lessons