Matthew B
5.0
(3)
Instruments: Piano, Synthesizer, Music, Keyboard
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater, Funk, Electronic, Showtunes, Spirituals, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Punk, Avant-garde
5.0
(3)
Matthew B
5.0
(3)
Instruments: Piano, Synthesizer, Music, Keyboard
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater, Funk, Electronic, Showtunes, Spirituals, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Punk, Avant-garde
Where I Teach:
In Your Home
Online
Ages Taught: 12-80
ABOUT
Degrees / Training / Special Info:
- 48 years of directed piano study and performance
- 35 years teaching music privately
- BM in Composition
Awards:
- Outstanding Achievement in Composition and Engraving; Marylhurst University. Composers Series - Ken Seldon, Conductor, "Loki's Dream" for 11 piece ensemble.
- 2016 Tutor of the Year, Marylhurst University, 65 students from failing to B+ and above in Theory, Aural Skills, Engraving, Applied Piano.
Overview:
I have been passionate about music since I was 3 years old and discovered the beauty of the piano. My mother was a Master Teacher of Russian Vagonova Ballet so I was immersed in music and the arts very early on. I began to work in the ballet studio as an accompanist when I was 9 years old and continued that wonderful craft for more than 35 years! My mother's mother, Nana Elyzabeth, and her mother and her mother before were all accomplished pianists in their own right so music is in my blood for certain! I decided in my mid teens that academics and focusing on teaching others the play and understand the mechanics of music would be my path. I have been lucky enough to tour the world as a band member, ballet classroom pianist, a teacher, and a recording artist, having performed for and with countless amazing and talented people from all walks of life and artistic backgrounds. Music knows no borders! If it comes from the heart with truth and focus it can only bring people together!
EXPERIENCE
I began teaching when I was 15 years old. I had been working in the ballet studio as a pianist for a number of years and many of the parents whose children were enrolled in the classes asked me to teach their other kids, or even them, to play the piano and to understand the wonder of music theory. Recording studio work and playing in countless different types of ensembles of varying sizes and styles was a big part of my life for more than 40 years. I still love recording and I enjoy teaching recording studio technique, performance preparation, as well as song writing, composition, music theory, improvisational techniques, and how to have some just plain old fun around the campfire with friends!! I finished my undergraduate work in 2016 in Music Composition and I will continue my Grad studies very soon with the hopes of teaching in a quiet little University somewhere out there! I was also a music director for the church for nearly 20 years. I enjoy all types of music and I adore teaching children, teens, and adults alike! Anyone who is interested in music will find a kindred spirit in mw as a teacher, and as a person!
METHODS USED
My methods are designed to go hand in hand with virtually any of the prevailing educational series out there including Alfred's, Bastion, Hal Leonard, etc. My approach is very holistic in that I love to integrate theory, practice, historical relevance, cultural importance, and it is vitally important to have students creating and finding their own original music right away. It is such an exciting moment when a student writes a melody of their own and then learns how to create harmony underneath! Finding common ground with my students is an important aspect of the method. We all have different experiences and lives, but after all we are all human and each of us understands happiness, sadness, and all points in between. Music helps each of us explore and deeper understand all of these feelings and allows us to express them in a way that crosses borders!
LESSON STYLE
Everyone's music is unique and so is every one's understanding of the world. To find what truly makes a student tick and gets them excited about practicing and the journey of learning this craft of music is a challenge that is different with every student. Finding commonality and understanding what a student's passions, likes, dislikes, even key signature preferences, or favorite Beatles song is crucial to nurturing a mutually beneficial, long lasting, teacher - student relationship. It can also be a challenge to keep the lessons fun and engaging but I feel that when you get to know your student as a person it becomes easier to create an environment that is fun for both teacher and student. People come from all walks of life and all skill levels and I enjoy learning from every one of them as I teach. Again, I approach the study of Music holistically integrating performance, practice routine, theory, history, and experiences like seeing live music as much as possible, and listening listening listening! Everyday I teach is another opportunity for me to learn more about myself as a musician and an instructor.
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
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RATING & REVIEW
Brandy Jewel
Working with Matthew was a delight. His sense of humor and his ability to explain complex concepts in a way that is totally accessible made it possible for even me to learn how to play! Matthew's passion for music is infectious! I wish him and all of his future students only the best!
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