John N.

General Info

• Certified Music Teacher

  Certified Music Teacher

  Our rigorous hiring process requires a completed application; an interview with our professional recruiting specialists; personal and professional reference checks; and annual criminal background checks for the duration of each teacher's employment with us.

  
• Background Check Complete

  Criminal Background Check

  In order to ensure the safety of our students, all teachers undergo a thorough criminal background check, which includes: Social Security number trace, multi-state criminal search and a nationwide sex offender registry search.

  
• Levels: Beginner to Advanced

• In-Home Lessons: Yes
• In-Studio Lessons: Yes
• Ages: 5 & up

Subjects Taught

Drums, Music Performance, Music Theory, Percussion, Songwriting, Trumpet, Piano

Education

Elmhurst College - Jazz Studies/Music Composition - September 05-May 10 (Bachelor's degree received)

Specialties

For drums: Jazz, Rock, any Latin, Second Line, Shuffle, Odd Meter
For Trumpet: Jazz, Classical, Show playing
Performance: Stage presence, dialogue, dealing with performance anxiety, the importance of the emotional connection with music
Theory: Basics, historical perspective, jazz theory/arranging, writing for all instruments
Percussion: All non-pitched and pitched percussion
Songwriting: Basic form, singer/songwriter styles, jazz styles, and classical styles

Lesson Details

I present a strict curriculum to follow but I am a laid back teacher. I expect a lot out of my students, but they are the only ones who do the work, I can not force them, it has to be their decision to put in the time to practice. If a student works hard he/she will excel with my program, if a student is lazy he/she will plateau quickly. I don't believe in forcing the student to do anything he/she doesn't enjoy doing, I try to keep the experience of studying fun and interesting. Music is a ... deep, involved, and serious commitment, but I believe that the benefits reaped from studying music outweigh everything else! Here is a list of the kind of curriculum to expect from my lessons:

Logic Pro and Finale
I've worked with both of these pieces of software extensively since 2004. My full-time job as a composer/copyist currently has me using both everyday. I offer a lesson plan that focuses around the software's internal construction to provide a good understanding of each component that's available to the user. The idea is to know how to make the software work for you, and to not be constantly guessing.

Drums
Basics: Good gear, how to tune the drums, playing without development muscular problems later in life (arthritis, tendonitis, etc.), the natural feel of rhythm
Study of all different styles of playing: Rock (double bass pedal technique available), Jazz (small group to big band), Samba and Bossa Nova (Brazilian music), Afro-Cuban music, Second Line/New Orleans music, Shuffle, Hip-hop, Country/Bluegrass, Indie-rock, Soloing, and the art of Brushes.
- Listening, transcribing, and reading music are all components of drum lessons

Trumpet
I focus on the mechanics on how to play the instrument with the least amount of effort. How to breathe correctly and manipulate the airflow will open doors of endless creativity.
- Concert band music, marching band, orchestral, and jazz.

Composition/Music Theory
Composition lessons are available in the realm of singing/songwriting, classical composition (any era), jazz small group or big band arranging; depending on what the student is interested in learning. These lessons focus on form, motivic development and variation, and creating familiarity within a piece of music to make a connection with the listener. If needed, the student will take music theory lessons before the composition lessons so the components of music that are necessary to know in order to create music are introduced.

*Music Theory can be taken as a lesson by itself.

**Just a general disclaimer about composition lessons. When the student is familiar enough with music theory to start creating their own music, it isn't the teacher's job to tell the student HOW or WHAT to write (UNLESS the student specifically wants to write music that adheres to a certain genre or period of time) when the student is creating "new" music. The teacher's role is for giving advice as to what they would change to make it sound better (in their opinion) and to offer general tips in terms of instrument capabilities (related to technique), sound possibilities (voicings), and textural options.

Music Performance
Coaching on how to get rid of performance anxiety through relaxation techniques, positive thinking, and certain yoga breathing techniques. This also focuses on how to have good stage presence, how to use proper dialogue, good posture, and advice on what to do when your body is fighting against you (aka the shakes, dry mouth, things of that nature).
I also go into the aspect of performance practice in all my lessons, to prepare the student mentally for a performance even if they're not actually performing for anyone except myself.

Jazz Improvisation
I can teach jazz improvisation to any instrument, the methodology is universal and applicable to any player who wants to learn the facets of jazz on any instrument.

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About

A music student who is eager to learn everything that he/she can is an incredible thing. That student needs a teacher who can acknowledge that and do everything that he/she can to help that student grow as much as possible. If you or your child have an inquisitive mind about studying the beauty of music, I hope to hear from you! Besides performing, my passion lies in teaching and using my gifts to inspire others that will hopefully one day grow to inspire me, it is that aspect of music ... instruction that gives me my love for teaching.

- I'm available to teach Logic Pro to anyone interested in Electronic composition, production or mixing.
- I'm available to teach Finale to anyone interested in learning how to work as a copyist/compose their own sheet music using a computer.
- I'm available to teach Drum set/percussion (all styles) to anyone of any age or skill level.
- I'm available to teach Trumpet to anyone interested
- I'm available to teach Composition and/or music theory in the classical or jazz idiom to anyone interested.
- I'm available to teach Jazz Improvisation to any instrument, any skill level, and any age.

I have been performing professionally for 10 years now, and I have performed with such jazz luminaries as Patrick Williams, Wayne Bergeron, Denis Mackrel, Gary Smulyan, Phil Markowitz, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Patti Austin, Nnenna Freelon, and John Pizzarelli to name a few.

Along with the jazz world I have been performing as a rock and roll drummer/singer for over 8 years. .

I have experience teaching students ranging from age 8 to age 52 and I have been teaching for 7 years. Whether you're a complete beginner, a hobbyist, a pro looking for a second opinion, or someone looking to advance your skills into the professional world, I can most certainly accommodate. As a teacher, I make sure to always remind the student that music is meant to be an expression of one's soul and also something that is fun! Some students forget that music should be a fun and enjoyable experience, I personally always ask my students every week if they're satisfied with what they're studying and if there's something that they would want to study that they personally enjoy.

My students have all excelled in their band programs to either first chair drummer in jazz band or 1st trumpet in their concert bands (York Community High School, Bryan Sandburg Middle School).

I hope you consider me for a teacher, thank you!

Visit my website: www.johnnmusic.com

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