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Bachelor Degree: University of District of Columbia
CMA Award "Best Musical Score"
CMA Award "Best Musical Producer"
Hero's Award Commonwealth Attorney Office
I'm a passionate and motivated instructor who loves working with students and sharing my love of music. In the 70's, I played at the Howard Theatre with local bands! Performing all over the US has been one of the greater experiences of my life as a musician, and I've had the opportunity to play both at the Kennedy Center and the White House in the nation's capital, as well as touring the late Phil Flowers, touring and playing in places like Atlantic City and Las Vegas. I am a keyboardist with 45 years of experience!
My teaching experience dates back to my 1992, as I began teaching private lessons and I have been consistently teaching students in my home studio for the last 30 years. Encouraging regular practice on a consistent schedule is one of the key points I like to emphasize for younger students, as it tends to help the student progress and gain a passion for the instrument. I've also found that a combination of classical and modern music can go a long way in helping students enjoy the piano and motivate them to practice and continue to learn. If a student isn't having fun in their lessons, then I'm not doing my job! My students are encouraged to enter competitions and recitals, as well as work on composing their own original material, so they can feel good about their accomplishments and stay motivated to learn. I'm always looking to bring on new students of all ages
For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Kid's Keyboard Course Book #1. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter their ability level. I also teach students to play be ear and the techniques used to identify what key the music is in and what chord structure to use to be able play what they hear!
Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it's important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel a students desire to progress, and makes students eager to learn more. By trying to find out what inspires the student, I can successfully tailor my instruction to their wants and needs. Also, I help students learn how to play by ear and how develop the ear for playing different genres! All students should be able to teach what the have learned during the lessons!