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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Shawnee . 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 Saxophone Clarinet Oboe English Horn
I believe every student is different and therefore demands a different instruction style. Some students need a lot of encouragement and some students need more of a push. I also believe students need musical ideas to be presented to them in different ways. Some students need a visual explanation, some auditory, and some kinesthetic. Through my training to become a music educator at Missouri State University, I gained experience in several different types of students and I am confident I can help a large variety of students. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Organ Ukulele Recorder Keyboard Djembe
For beginner's, I do typically start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements books. For intermediate, I'll evaluate what materials they've used thus far in their lessons and go from there. If someone is familiar with a set of books in a positive way, there's no reason to change the books they're using. I do believe, however, there is profit in a variety of repertoire, so a diverse lesson is key. I have learned from experience that simply learning one genre (classical, jazz, showtunes) is less desirable than having a familiar ear to multiple styles. Read More
Instruments: Piano
Effective teaching needs to be a give and take between the student and the teacher. I am knowledgeable and experienced in performing jazz, classical, and various pop genres of music, and yet, students bring a fresh perspective to a piano lesson. I like to challenge and excite students in developmentally appropriate ways by giving them a mix of music that they choose and music that I think is necessary for their growth as a musician. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice
For beginning students who are children, I like to start with Hal Leonard's Piano for Beginners. Progress will depend on the students' willingness to learn and practice as well as encouragement from their parents. For students who already have an understanding of basic fundamentals, I will assess their skill level and select music appropriate for their progression and level of play. Adult beginner students are more than welcome to use piano books. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Flute Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
I don't believe in a one size fits all mentality for music education, I've often seen this approach derail students from enjoying the process and eventually terminating their relationship with music overall. Students are a case-by-case basis, and in that regard, each lesson is catered to the students actual goals and interests. I believe in training our ears and our sense of rhythm to a point where the student can figure things out and make artistic decisions on their own and use lessons, less as a tutorial, but as a source of inspiration to pursue the things that brought them here in the first place. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Synthesizer
I have been fortunate to study under some remarkable professors as well as musicians. There are three individuals in particular that I will never forget. They changed my life. Their determination, work ethic, pure genius and passion for what they do will always stick with me. They raised my bar as a musician and set the bar for my teaching. As a teacher I strive to leave the same imprint on others that they left on me. Read More
Instruments: Piano
The method I use in my studio is individually tailored to each student and the student's goal. I have found the the encouragement of each student's goals the best way to inspire them to learn. Seeing my students discover new and exciting realizations is the most rewarding part of teaching piano, and if I can impart some of the understanding I have to help them grow creatively then I have succeeded. Read More
Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Euphonium
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Make sure to warm up low, slow, and soft first so that you don't get tired before practicing. Then make sure that you sing the melody and clap the rhythms before you pick of the trumpet because you'll be able to save your lips to play it properly. When I was young I would always wear myself out before I could play the things I needed to practice correctly. Always rest as much as you play to give your lips a break. High notes and fast fingers come with patience. Everything must be played low and slow first.
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
Good tone throughout the entire range of the instrument and endurance are the hardest skills to achieve. Playing the trumpet is like trying to force all the air in your lungs into a tiny little straw and to get a beautiful tone and play like that for an entire concert takes years and years of training. Brass instruments are traditionally thought of as loud and brash probably because it is very easy to play that way. To play beautifully in every register for more than fifteen minutes is something to be very proud
What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I always start playing low, soft, and slow. I start with long tones starting at the bottom of my range and then slowly go all the way to the top. Then I do some air flow exercises, Clark exercises, and scales. Then I take 10 minute break after that 20 minute warm up. After the break, I sight read some lyrical etudes and try to make a beautiful tone as possible and play as musically as possible. Then I practice some orchestral excerpts and solo pieces. Then another 20 minute break. Lastly I practice ensemble or gig music and then I take at least 20 minutes to listen to professional trumpet players to strive for a better sound. In all, I play for about an hour and a half.
If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
I am actually a science educator during the day and a musician by night. My college degree is in ecology and evolutionary biology where I was an undergraduate researcher in California estuaries and kelp forests but at night I gigged and played in music ensembles 4 nights a week. I currently teach science at various institutions around the San Francisco Bay Area and I am an avid SCUBA diver with five SCUBA certifications. I love science, nature, and the ocean so if I did not play music I would probably be a full time scientist/educator.
If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I played trumpet first but then I started to play other brass instruments because they seemed fun. My friends also played other brass instruments so I would try them out just for fun. Then in high school, during my service learning project, the middle school band teacher I worked for ask me to coach full brass sectionals. So I had to learn euphonium, trombone, tuba, and french horn in about a week to be able to coach these middle school students. I learned trombone and euphonium so well that I actually subbed for others in concerts in high school and college.
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 Shawnee to students of all ages and abilities.
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