Piano with John B.

I have been playing the piano since the age of seven. I began my musical training at Sacred Heart School in Vineland, NJ. My first teacher was Sister Helen. I loved it and was a fast learner. I continued piano lessons with several different private teachers before finally becoming a student of a teacher, who later played with John Lennon! He is the pianist on Double Fantasy. Is that cool or what? He was a big influence on me and helped me through those times of frustration that are inevitable for most piano students. He is currently a session musician in NYC. I later became a piano major in college at what is now called Rowan University, but it was just humble Glassboro State College back in the mid 70′s. I played in many bands, and I’m proud of my time gigging weddings and parties. I played in many NJ clubs as well. During my careers in the USAF, in private aviation, and in public education, I continued to play the piano, but kept it strictly as a hobby. It was, however, always my passion. Today as a piano educator, I love teaching music and guiding people to create the music that moves them. I have a masters degree in education and am a fully certified K - 8 teacher in Arizona. *** Lesson Details *** I teach students ages 7 and up. I'm a very relaxed teacher and believe that music is one of the great joys in life and reinforce that philosophy with my students. We should be having fun while learning! I believe in learning the basics of music theory along with learning to read notes and the mechanics of playing the piano. This means scales, how scales build chords, and how chords build into progressions. I see students come in the studio after playing for several years and they can't play a C scale or a C major chord! That won't happen to you at my studio. You will see fast progress in playing by note reading and if you desire, to play by ear and use what we learn about chords and progressions. I find that most students are very comfortable with a combination lesson of this type. I use a variety of lesson books. Often students come in with books they have used before, or books that have been in the family. I am comfortable with all of them. Once we establish a basis of piano and note reading skills we can throw away the books and use sheet music of your choosing.  *** Studio Equipment *** Living room with a Yamaha Clavinova, a Korg Stage piano and comfortable seating for parents and siblings. *** Travel Equipment *** Students need an instrument to use regularly for practice at least five times a week. I provide some music materials and a metronome. I also provide a binder for lesson notes and the firs lesson book is free.  *** Specialties *** I like to teach theory from the first lesson with students ages 7 and above. With theory, we start with scales, then talk about chords, then chord progressions. I have always felt that piano students often get shortchanged by only learning note reading. I also do ear training, and fake book style lessons with older students.