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BA, Loyola University Chicago, Music
As someone looking to teach professionally, I love to share my knowledge with others. I graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a BA in Music, and am now pursuing my MA in the Humanities, focused in music at University of Chicago. As a musician I've performed at many venues, including Mundelein Hall in Chicago, and The Chapel of Our Lord in River Forest.
Almost immediately after starting to play music, I began teaching my friends and family members how to play. I became the guitar teacher at my high school, teaching beginning guitar students for the last semester of my senior year. Then, when I went to college, I continued teaching friends and starting picking up students who I did not know at all for the first time. These experiences taught me how to deal with all age levels, and different styles of student learning. Putting on a friendly face and taking my time with students has lead me to be a successful teacher!
Depending on the age group of the student, my methods vary. With children, I will usually start by trying to gauge their musical interest and develop a strategy from there. Usually, this involves learning basic chord forms and progressions, until they are ready to start learning a bit of theory, and therefore how to solo. For adults, I simply ask them about their musical interests and tastes, and ask them what their ultimate goal is, and then set shorter goals to help achieve the ultimate goal. My ultimate goal as a teacher is to make it so that my presence is no longer required, allowing the student to grow themselves.
As a teacher, I plan out lessons beginning with a short recap of the previous lesson, and then I work with the student to set a goal for that day's lesson, and then we work together to achieve it. I also often will invite students to see me perform, hoping that this will inspire them to work hard so that they can perform as well. Also, I try to create a positive learning environment for my students, so that they can learn in the most effective way for them.