Piano Lessons in West Chicago, IL

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar Ukulele Recorder Euphonium French Horn Tuba Electric Guitar Djembe

The approach, overall, is to drive toward the student's goal. When someone wants to learn how to play an instrument well enough to play in a band or orchestra, I usually consider two needs - playing music and interpreting written music. These are basic parts of education, literally easy to define by achieving pages in etude books. In addition, though, there is a third component to meeting the set goal: writing music - a sensibility that you can create. Read More

Instruments: Piano Synthesizer Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Keyboard

I have been teaching privately for over 15 years now and absolutely adore my students. They teach me just as much as I teach them. One of my true joys in life is giving back the knowledge that was imbued on me from an early age. I like making the music fun, encouraging students to "play" rather than "practice." Integrating music they love into lessons is also a great tool, in my experience. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I teach students to read music and achieve excellence, and learn to play contemporary music using chord sheets, depending on the goals and preference of the student while stressing the importance of training the ear, which is where the confidence lies in the ability to play. Using methods that enables musicians to play what they actually conceive or hear rather than bore their listeners with licks and notes that work off a page. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I began teaching when I was in middle school when I got the opportunity to assistant direct theater workshops in my town. I was hooked and for my Girl Scout Gold Award in high school, I ran a theater company for children of social service recipients. In college, I tutored struggling music theory and piano students and felt it was the perfect way to use my enthusiasm for music in a positive way beyond teaching. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Organ Synthesizer Keyboard

While at Millikin University, Mary took piano lessons from Aldo Mancinelli (and his wife and former student, Judith Mancinelli), who took lessons from Claudio Arrau, who took lessons from Martin Krause, who took lessons from Franz Liszt, who took lessons from Carl Czerny, who took lessons from Ludwig van Beethoven, who took lessons from Joseph Haydn. Haydn was friends with and had a huge influence on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Ludwig van Beethoven also studied with Christian Neefe, who studied with Johann Hiller, who studied with Gottfried Homilius, who studied with Johann Sebastian Bach. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trombone

The methods I use to teach depend on a number of factors. For enrolled in beginner band at their school, I will use whichever method their school is using. If the school is not using a specific method, I use the Rubank method supplemented with my own materials. For more advanced players I assign various etude books, jazz play along books, and method books based on the students needs. I provide all the materials for my beginning piano students for the first few months, then assign method books based on the student's interests. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute

My approach to teaching is very "person-centered"- in that I will adapt to the needs of the student. I do not have one stuanch approach in teaching music. I want to help students engage early on in "Music Experiences"- not just learning scales, but truly playing music with me, improvising, and enjoying themsevles. This sort of music work really formsm the bedrock of my music lesson and music therapy practice. Read More