Piano Lessons in Saint Benedict, OR

Instruments: Piano Voice

I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Music Education from Wartburg College in 2004.  I then moved to Wisconsin where I was a middle school and high school choir director for seven years.  There I taught chorus, private and group voice lessons, piano class, general music class, and also organized the middle school talent show.  I later moved on to Hawaii where I taught private voice and piano lessons through Musikgarten Hawaii. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

My teaching experience started with a marching percussion section for a competitive drum and bugle corp located here in the Salem area. After a break in my teaching career, fifteen years ago I resumed teaching both private and classroom lessons. My classroom experience includes a public middle school band class along with thirteen years with a private Christian school. Throughout the last fifteen years I have also taught in home lessons, video lessons and lessons from my private studio. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Flute Ukulele Recorder

My teaching approach is tailored to the interests and goals of each student, but always includes fundamentals such as scales, strength-building exercises, rudiments of theory, and ear training. Some of the method books I've used include the Faber "Piano Adventures" series, Alfred and Bastien series, and Hanon's The Virtuoso Pianist, among others. I always supplement these materials with arrangements and transcriptions of popular songs and classical pieces, along with original exercises designed to teach specific styles and techniques. Read More

Instruments: Piano Cello

My teaching dates back to my high school years. I started as the only freshmen in the high school string orchestra and even made it as the assistant principal. As a sophomore, I was the youngest principal the orchestra had seen. At that point, I was teaching not only the younger, elementary school students but also the middle school and even other high school students privately. Starting into my junior year, I became a conductor for the elementary and middle school orchestras thus expanding my private studio as well. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Synthesizer

For the latter 6 of my 9 semesters at Berklee College of Music, I worked in the college Core Music Tutoring department, working 1-on-1 with fellow college students struggling with mandatory theory courses (Harmony, Ear-Training, Arranging, Conducting, and Tonal Harmony [Traditional Harmony]). After just 1 semester as a tutor, I was promoted to two additional positions in the department: mentor and supervisor. As a CMT mentor I worked with 2nd semester students who had failed their 1st semester theory courses and thus required more involved coaching with regards to music and learning habits, as well as correspondence with faculty. Read More

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