Melissa S
Instruments: Piano, Voice, Recorder, Music, Keyboard
Styles: Classical, Pop, Blues, Folk, Country, Musical Theater
Melissa S
Instruments: Piano, Voice, Recorder, Music, Keyboard
Styles:
Classical, Pop, Blues, Folk, Country, Musical Theater
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 3-80
Master of Science in Instructional Design & Technology, Walden University
Certificate of Recording Arts and Music Production, Portland State University
Certificate in Kodaly Level One, Portland State University
Bachelor of Music in Education, Bowling Green State University, Piano and Oboe
2005- Portland State University Graduate School of Education Scholarship
1999- Bowling Green State University Professor's Scholarship
I am a passionate, experienced music teacher who loves sharing music with others. In 2003, I graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Education with a focus in piano and oboe. In 2007, I expanded my love to all types of music by earning a certificate in Kodaly musical instructional methods level one and recording arts and music production.
Throughout my career, I have taught music to students from all over the country with a wide variety of experience. From these students, I learned one important fact. All students can learn to play music given the right instruction and good instruction does not look the same for every student.
During my 14 years of music teaching experience, I have worked with students as a public school music teacher, a studio private lesson teacher for piano, voice, oboe, flute, clarinet and saxophone. I've started studio programs for music theory, group piano, preschool music and musical theater. I've worked with students of all ages and experience levels who have a wide range of musical goals.
Because I have a background in Kodaly and Orff instructional methods as well as advanced knowledge of musical theory, composition, music history and recording arts, I incorporate these elements within my instruction as students learn a piece of music. My goal is that students not only learn to play or sing, but become musically literate.
For beginning piano students, I typically begin with the Piano Adventures series lesson books, adding integrated theory, composition and musical history with instructional activities. Depending on the student, once they complete the initial book, I begin to incorporate basic improvisation strategies and duet playing to develop their knowledge of theory as well as their aural skills.
For adult beginners, I typically begin with Alfred's Adult All in One Course because I find it is the most flexible for adult learning styles.
For beginning voice students, I typically start with a combination of folk songs and basic musical theater pieces as we establish proper breath support, tone resonance, diction and music reading skills.
For beginning woodwind students, I find the Standards of Excellence Books to be a great starting point to establish technique, breath support, musicality and basic music reading while still allowing the capability to add beginning solo pieces depending on the student.
For intermediate oboe players, we begin working in Gekeler Method for Oboe and solo collections as well as basic reed making techniques.
For all students, we discuss specific practice techniques and proper technique fundamentals.
I teach music because I appreciate the joy it brings to my own life and want to share that with others. I have a student centered approach to teaching music with research based methods supported by, not only my own experience, but experts in all fields of learning.
The same technique, phrase, experience or activity will not work for every student. It's important to me that I find the one that does by getting to know my students, inspiring them, challenging them and helping them discover their musical selves while still preparing them for any musical goal they would like to pursue.
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