Chris B
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Violin, Cello, Viola, Drums, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Recorder, Double Bass, Music, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Funk, Reggae, Punk
Chris B
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Violin, Cello, Viola, Drums, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Recorder, Double Bass, Music, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Funk, Reggae, Punk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
other: Musicians Institute
At the age of 17, I flew to Hollywood, CA to attend Musicians Institute where I studied Bass Guitar Performance. Learning from and playing with some of the best musicians in the business was amazing. I left school to hit the road with my first professional band. I spent the next 20+ years writing, recording and touring all over the country. I was lucky enough to be in a few bands that landed indie recording contracts, which allowed me to tour nationally doing original music, with songs I had written being played on radio and on TV shows across the country. Eventually I grew weary of the road life and landed a job as a music teacher. I didn't realize just how much I would enjoy teaching. After ten years in the music classroom and doing private lessons on the side, I am now focusing all of my energy to private lessons and music coaching.
Following a long, fun and successful 20+ year career as a pro musician, I became a full-time music teacher. I was the founding music teacher at St. Benedict's Episcopal school in Smyrna, GA where I taught music K-8 for seven years. Then I joined The SAE School in Mableton, GA, where for the past three years I have taught K-12 music, creating a new middle school orchestra and high school Project Based Learning curriculum for music. I have been teaching private lessons before and after school for the past ten years. It has been exciting to grow personally, learning new instruments myself, and then teaching them to new students.
While I do like to use method books and curriculum such as Hal Leonard's Essential Elements for Strings and Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course, I also recognize that every student is unique. That's why I work hard to get to know each of my students and figure out what their strengths and needs are. Then I can tailor a path that is personal to each student and keeps them excited and engaged while moving towards their individual goals. I use a combination of traditional methods and books along with technology (recording & video) to give each student the best experience possible. I also create custom lessons based on the needs of the student.
I believe lessons should be fun. Yes, learning music can and should be challenging. But it also needs to be fun. I am a very performance-oriented teacher. So, once I get to know a student, we begin preparing to perform. If we are having fun while we work, we don't even realize we are working. Giving students really solid practice skills they can do on their own keeps them engaged. During my lessons, I remain very flexible. Every student is different. We all have our good and bad days. Staying tuned in to my students helps me know what they need at any moment. Sometimes we need to push a little harder, and sometimes we need to slow down a bit. The time of day, the weather, the time of year and many other factors affect how a student feels when they sit down to work with me. I just try to be really sensitive to all of that so I can make my students feel comfortable and relaxed.
Check out our A+
Rating from the Better Business Bureau
100% Risk-Free Trial Lesson
If you are not satisfied after your trial lesson, you will not be charged and we can match you with another teacher.