Alyssa B  
Instruments: Piano, Violin, Viola, Music
Styles: Classical, Jazz

I began teaching private lessons as a sophomore in high school, where at first I had only one violin student. By the time I was a senior in high school I taught 10 students a week, all based on word of mouth recommendation through contacts at my former middle school. My aim for lessons is to present fun yet challenging material in a captivating and exploratory manner. Learning is a very individual experience, thus I employ different mediums and presentation techniques to introduce new concepts and revisit old ones. I want my students to feel and act as though they are professional musicians at all times, and for this I encourage originality. I implore my students to ask questions and take risks that may not be "correct," as Kyle Armbrust said, "We are in the business of emotions," and we must evoke these emotions through music.

I believe that music theory is a fundamental when learning any musical instrument, and I make custom worksheets that cater to the individual's curriculum each week. When learning a new piece, the aural, visual, and written components encapsulate the primary step, as I believe it develops a deeper understanding of the piece before attempting it on the instrument. Students at any level complete scales and work on sight reading each lesson. At the beginner and intermediate levels I use Essential Elements, Alfred's, and John W Schwam's method books as well as various solo pieces that are level appropriate. At the advanced level I introduce standard solo repertoire and etudes for the instrument.