Piano Lessons in Shorewood, IL

Instruments: Piano Trumpet

For beginner students, Hal Leonard's Essential Elements provides a simple and easy to understand method to learning an instrument. For trumpet students, I like to integrate Earl D. Irons, H. L. Clarke, Arban, Stamp, Chicowicz and Caruso studies. In addition to technique, these books offer etudes and duets. For jazz improvisation students, iRealPro, The Real Book and Jamey Abersolds ii-V-I book (Volume 3). In addition to these method books, I also like to stress the importance of sight reading; books like Alan Raphs Dance Band book and other solo repertoire provide good sight reading training. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Keyboard

As an educator it is my goal for students to be able to communicate through the language of music. Whether the student is a beginner or advanced, the first thing they will be taught is to listen and respond. Ive always believed that the best way to learn music is as if you are learning a foreign language. When learning a language, one is given a small amount of vocabulary, they learn what it means, and practice using it in conversations. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Coming back to goal setting, each student will want something a little different out of it from the next. So I find it helpful to ask and figure out; if there's a specific song they wish to learn, what some of their favorite artists are so we may get a grasp what style they are into, or just want to learn about music in general so that one day they may be able to create their own original work. Read More

Instruments: Piano Music Keyboard

My music curriculum Ages 3-4 1) sing along alphabet and music alphabet 2) learning notes with flash cards where is thump kin song 3) 15-20 min of piano lessons 4) music together 5) piano on the piano mat Ages5-7 1) fundamental of sight read such as learning how to read music through staff lines starting with middle C to middle G 2) Go over notes and time signatures through flash cards 3) piano lesson 4) Playing on the piano mat Ages 8+ 1) learning how to sign read. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I believe students must first acquire competence in theory and proper technique, followed by artistic expression. My teaching style is encouraging, patient, thorough, nurturing, engaging, challenging and fun. To progress, students must practice daily. I let my students know that quality and focus of practice is far more important than duration. They learn to isolate 2 or 3 measures, and repeat them slowly until accuaracy is achieved consistently. I convey my love of teaching by: complimenting students on achieving goals, smiling, being energetic, making sure the student lets me know when he/she does not understand a concept and re-explaing it until it is understood with gentleness and patience, bringing in adjunct music from which the student, after hearing me play several excerpts, can select several pieces, playing duets with the student, and encouraging students to compose their own songs by ear, which I later notate. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Keyboard

To me, the most important thing about teaching is listening to a student's goals and interests. I do my best to keep my ears open as we work to make sure I am structuring a program that helps them feel fulfilled and challenged every step of the way. For younger students, the goal is to keep them engaged in music until the point when they have such mastery that they can see the results of their work tangibly. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Keyboard

For beginning piano students, I begin by teaching them the C major scale and many nursery rhyme songs that can be played at that key. I then elevate to simple blues and gospel songs in the Key of C for example, the C major blues. I will then teach C minor and the introductory song, Blue Bossa to acclimate students to the sound of C minor. Beginner students that seek to learn classical music will be introduced to Notation music theory from rhythm dictation, reading the grand staff and the introductory piece, Minuet in G, by Johann Sebastian Bach. Read More