Cello Lessons Mountain

Instruments: Cello

I have been playing cello for 20 years, after starting when I was 10. I was admitted to Jacksonville University at the age of 16 on a full scholarship, and there I pursued a double major in Music Theory Composition, and Cello Performance. I did my graduate work at Denver University, where I studied a variety of non-western musics, including Balinese gamelan, Ghanaian drumming, and Tuvan traditional music. I've had the opportunity to perform hundreds of times in my career in a variety of settings, including solo, chamber music, and orchestra. Read More

Instruments: Violin, Cello, Viola

I expect my students to come into their lessons with a notebook and pencil so that they can write down what happens during the lessons. This is how they look back and reflect during their individual practice. As the online teacher, the best I can do is give tips and ideas about playing so that my students can bring their knew knowledge into their own musical experiences; wether that is with another string teacher or with other musical friends. Read More

Instruments: Cello, Bass Guitar, Double Bass

With the cello and double bass, I use the Suzuki books, along with my own system I've developed. On the bass guitar, I start by focusing on songs that student is already familiar with, and then expand from there. I have all of my students identify songs that they would like to learn on their own, while studying other pieces of music at the same time. I want my students to know how to both read music, and "play by ear." I teach them to really use their ears, to know if they're playing in tune, and if their rhythm and tempo are correct. Read More

Instruments: Cello

One of my favorite parts about teaching is that oftentimes I learn just as much as the student in the teaching process. For beginner students, I start by working through Hal Leonard's Essential Elements book one for cello. After completing this book of fundamentals, I have the student work through Suzuki books 1-5. Alongside the Suzuki books, I also make sure the student has pieces they can learn for fun. Read More

Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Violin, Cello, Viola

I simply want my students to come into their first lesson wanting to learn more about their instrument and music. I want them to leave their final lesson feeling the same way, but at a more advanced level than when they first arrived. They don't need to be professional level when they leave, but I want them to feel as though they learned some valuable things as my student and want to either continue learning elsewhere or feel content about what they have learned and are ready to move on to other things. Read More