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I'm an enthusiastic instructor that loves working with students of all ages to further their love of music, as well as their skill and appreciation for their craft. I graduated from Southwestern Adventist University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music, with an emphasis in orchestral percussion performance, where I had many opportunities to perform with percussion and as a member of their elite choir, the University Singers. In addition to the many venues and tours I've performed, I also yearly participate in a large-scale performance at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas. I've spent the last four years as a music teacher of many instruments and also choruses.
I took on my first student my junior year of college, and have taught students on and off since. I've taught guitar, ukulele, violin, and voice, but piano is what most of my students pursue. I do my best to make sure students are enjoying the instrument that they are handling, because if they don't enjoy it, why should they continue? I encourage performing opportunities, such as recitals and church performances, so that a student can become confident in their abilities, and be motivated to explore music beyond what I can teach them!
For younger piano students and beginners, I prefer to start them out on the Faber and Faber "Piano Adventures" method series. This series tends to be inexpensive, touches on classical exerpts while teaching students proper techniques, and builds on concepts in a way that solidifies the information in a student's brain.
For string students, I focus on chords, beginning with the most simple and continuing with
For older students (teenagers and adults) I assess what the student is interested in learning, and steer my instruction toward their goals. Consistent, at-home practice is expected by all students, and for some younger students, this will most likely mean equal enthusiasm from their parents to encourage them to keep an at-home practice schedule.
Lessons for young students (typically those twelve and under), an hour lesson consists of ten minutes of warm-up material (scales and rhythm concepts), fifteen minutes of content review (songs and concepts previously learned), fifteen minutes of introducing material or practice critique, and ten minutes of in-class practice. The last fifteen minutes of class is for theory building and notation comprehension (in vernacular, music-reading), and the last few minutes is for lesson review, where we discuss what we learned in the lesson and what the expectations are for the following week. For students younger than nine, I don't recommend students longer than half an hour or forty-five minutes.
For older students, lesson structure is similar but is adjusted as needed, depending on the student and their goals. Additional materials I use can be youtube videos, flashcards, music-games and activity pages, and supplemental method books.