Piano Lessons in River Forest, IL

Instruments: Piano

I typically start beginners with the Teaching Little Fingers to play books. After going through the books at whatever rate the student needs to retain information, I will move on to solo repertoire pieces that align with the students' interests and tastes. I remember my piano teacher when I was a child bringing over several books for me to choose from, and it was the most exciting thing. I do the same with my students, so that the learning stays fun and students get to reap the rewards of their hard work throughout the process. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba Music Keyboard

Not every person is going to become a musician, as we all have our own passions and dreams. I want my students to find joy, acceptance, and relief from music, not dread and loathing. I like to ask questions such as "How did playing this passage make you feel? or "What is this piece of music mean to you?" Every piece of music elicits some response from us, and I fully believe that recognition and further development of that response can change the way we perceive music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute

As a professional teacher, I love sharing the joy of music with the students. As part of my job, it is toeducate the students in order to give them enough knowledge to enjoy music on their own. Helping thechildren enjoy music requires making the lesson content in the way that is adaptive for the students.Finding things that the students can connect to, can have fun with, and can enjoy learning will be thestrategies that I would utilize to make the learning meaningful, relevant, and exciting for all learners.For example, I will incorporate learning rhythms to a beat or a song that the students will enjoy listeningto. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

I began teaching private lessons 6 years ago, primarily teaching drum set, and continued to have students on and off as some of my students from my home town would take lessons seasonally when I was not at school. I also have worked as a battery and front ensemble technician at various high schools in Indiana and Kentucky, co-ran a World Percussion Camp at Central Music Academy in Lexington, Kentucky for two years, and have been brought in on multiple occassions as a guest lecturer/clinician for both West African drumming and dancing as well as steel band at the collegiate level. Read More

Instruments: Piano

For my beginner students who are children I typically start out with either Hal Leonard or Fabre lesson books to learn all the very important foundational keys in music. As I notice they are grasping the concepts and able to apply them I then like to find outside resources such as sheet music, classical, pop to allow them to enjoy and discover what they love most. When it comes to my beginner adult students I usually start them off in the Fabre adult beginner book. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute

For beggining students in guitar or piano, I would have them start with a basic beggining book such as something by hal leonard. With guitar I will teach basic chords and go from there to working on songs. Scales and chords will be a big part of beggining work in these instruments. As for Saxophone, I will usually begin with scales and long tone work- the later being something extremely important. Read More