Lee F
Instruments: Piano, Synthesizer, Keyboard
Styles: Classical, Pop, Rock, Blues, Musical Theater, Showtunes, New Age
Lee F
Instruments: Piano, Synthesizer, Keyboard
Styles:
Classical, Pop, Rock, Blues, Musical Theater, Showtunes, New Age
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 7-80
other: University of Southwestern Michigan
Composed instrumental music for T.V. commercials, Radio ads, Corporate Media
Used as a Session Musician in Recording Studios in S.F. Bay area, Midwest,
Music has always been in my DNA. I've always from a young age wanted to have music in my life. In Indiana At age 6 I started taking weekly piano lessons . I had an awesome teacher. Patient and Kind. consistent. After taking piano lessons for 12 years I went to the University of Southwestern Michigan and studied music Theory. I moved to California in 1979 got a few jobs playing piano at restaurants and working with other musicians in the studio. Doing recording work was extremely enjoyable. Since those early days , I've been used as a Session musician in several studios. Composed instrumental music for TV , Radio, Jingles, and Corporate Media projects. I currently compose music for a company in England needing instrumental music.
In 1987 I began teaching Piano in California in the Bay Area. I traveled to the students homes to give lessons. I truly enjoyed getting to know the students and families and of course to see the students enjoy learning the piano.. It made teaching extremely enjoyable. After teaching piano from (1987-1997) in California, I moved to Indiana, where my parents lived. I got a job at an extremely busy music store in Mishawaka/ South Bend Indiana. I taught from (1997-2015) I averaged 30 to 35 students a week. In 2015 I moved to NashvilleTN, I taught online with a few students but wanting to expand teaching in Nashville I've reached out to Musika to help. I've truly enjoyed teaching students of all levels from young to old and seeing their progress in learning the piano. I try to make it fun and progressive along the way. I've learned alot from teaching piano to so many people with diverse backgrounds and ages through the years.
For beginning students I have taught with the Faber, Alfred, Bastien, Hal Leonard teaching methods. Faber and Alfred are the teaching methods I have used the most. I will focus on the beginning students to get their timing, technic, fingering established. Plus of course note recognition . After some time passes I will gradually include learning basic chords with basic music theory. It's one thing to learn how to sight read music.But It's also important for a student to learn how to play music with other musicians. It makes playing the piano even more rewarding. MANY MUSICIANS CAN'T SIGHT READ MUSIC like a trained pianist. Many musicians just use chords and a melody. So its important for a student to also learn chords and melody of songs that the students really like.This helps them to be more flexible in being to work on a solo piece of music or with a group of musician friends.Besides method piano books, I try to find music that the student really likes, that way they feel excited about playing a song that's cool and recognizable. Memorizing a song also takes time and effort. But can be extremely rewarding. It's nice when a student may have a couple songs memorized for when ever a person asks them to play a song, they won't have to rely on having the music in front of them, especially when the music book isn't nearby.
It is so rewarding to see a students eyes light up when they learn a new musical thought or concept! All students are different from one another, some have a harder time understanding certain elements in music, everyone has a different personality with strengths and weaknesses. So I ALWAYS treat my students as an individual. Comparing any student with another can damage the self confidence of the one that may be struggling. Example ....Some may have good sight reading skills but lack good timing and good tempo There's always something to be improved upon..Music is to be enjoyed not a burden. Once I get to know my students I'll know what areas as a teacher I can focus on. I try to be patient and kind to everyone I teach!
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