Landon K. TakeLessons Instructor Piano, Beginner, intermediate, advanced. jazz piano, music theory, composition, improvisation,... Grand St., Brooklyn, NY

My name is Landon and I am a pianist and an educator.  If you or your child is interested in studying piano, then I would like the opportunity to be your teacher.

Piano lessons are a time to explore fresh ideas, confront new challenges, and have fun.  Whether the student is an adult rediscovering their love of music, an adolescent learning about music for the first time, or anyone in between, I am excited to guide them on this musical path. I am most interested in how to best communicate with and assist my students to improve themselves as musicians and as people.  I genuinely enjoy teaching; it is incredibly rewarding to see a student achieve their goals and develop beyond what they thought was possible for themselves.

My teaching background is diverse.  I've taught 7 year old students how to play piano, improvise, and write notes on a staff.  And I've taught 50 year old students how to compose ballads and orchestrate solo piano arrangements.  I've learned that age does not matter; attitude is everything.

 I have extensive experience as an educator, performer, composer, accompanist, arranger, and musical director.  I hold BA in Jazz Piano Performance, and an MM in Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Miami.
  While in Miami, I had the opportunity to perform with many prominent artists, including Arturo Sandoval, Kevin Mahagony, and Jose Feliciano.  I have released three albums of original, creative music, the most recent on the Italian label CAMjazz.  During the summer of 2007, my trio performed in Italy at the Young Jazz In Town Festival and the Art Blakey Jazz Club.  Other notable US venues include Twins Jazz, Washington DC, Kokopellis Jazz, Savannah, GA, and the Knitting Factory in New York City.  I have worked as a musical director in Miami, teaching and coaching children and adults in piano, voice, music theory, and performance for the stage.  Currently, I live in New York, where I perform creative music, accompany singers, and teach.

Two Thoughts:  1) It is important to set your goals, and 2) lessons should be fun.  I am a young, energetic guy, and I like to bring this energy to the lessons.  Through discussion, we will determine what it is about music that attracts you, learn about your motivations, and develop a strategy that we both agree on.

For young beginners, I use method books and aural learning geared towards specific ages.  It is important to cover the fundamental elements of the playing the piano, and then balance those elements with more creative outlets.  For young adult and adult beginners, I use a diverse approach with areas of focus: "Technique" "Repetoire" "Theory and Harmony".  I keep the curriculum focused on music that engages the student while working towards the student's goals.  For students of jazz, rock, and composition, the above mentioned areas are expanded.  I like using Standard repetoire to teach concepts of accompaniment, self-accompaniment, improvisation, solo piano orchestration, composition, jazz theory, etc.  Every three to six months, we take a step back and reasses our progress.  If need be, the student and I refocus our methods, and dialogue to make sure we are both sharing the same vision for the success of the student.

Fundamentals, Technique, Jazz, Rock, Popular Styles, Music Theory, Composition, Jazz Harmony, Improvisation.

University of Miami - MM in Jazz Pedagogy - 9/04 - 5/06
University of Miami - BM in Jazz Piano - 9/01 - 5/04
The University School Of Nova Southeaster - - 9/97 - 5/00

Piano, Beginner, intermediate, advanced. jazz piano, music theory, composition, improvisation, jazz arranging.