Piano with Shane L.

With 17 years of professional experience as a musician (multi-instrumentalist, producer, recording engineer) a bachelor's degree in English literature and education, and 10 years experience as a public school teacher, coach, lessons instructor, etc., I am a proficient educator in each of these areas. My musical focus is in the styles of folk, jazz, and classical; my theatrical focus is in Improv comedy and stage acting, and for English/language arts I specialize in literature, reading, composition and public speaking. Currently I work full time as a musician, producer, and recording engineer. When I'm not on the road, I love to fill my home life with teaching lessons or tutoring. I began studying percussion at age 6, and mostly learned jazz and classical until late high school, when I also became interested in American roots music. I dug deep into guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo, and loved checking out old recordings to see where the new stuff comes from. In college I was a percussion performance major until switching to English education and teaching high school (English and theater) for several years. Since then I've stayed busy with music, but I also teach and perform improv comedy as well as mentoring aspiring writers of all kinds. I have performed and recorded with groups as diverse as Field Report, MIT's Balinese Gamelan and Ensemble Robot, old time stringband Stoop Singers, cellist Ben Sollee, jazz trio Gryn Gryn, and artists like Evan Ziporyn (Steve Reich), Sara and Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek), Sean Carey (Bon Iver), and Dean Granros (Happy Apple, Lee Konitz). I've learned traditional fiddle and banjo in the homes of masters Lee Sexton and Clyde Davenport, taught courses in West African drumming and American roots music through the Exploration School at Yale University, and I'm a former member of the Eau Claire Music School faculty. Currently I tour with Field Report, Kalispell, and The Ericksons, playing drums, guitar, fiddle, banjo, and singing. *** Lesson Details *** My approach to teaching is welcoming and encouraging, but I also set [reasonably] high expectations for students. I believe everyone has potential to become skilled at whatever they're passionate about, but it takes diligence, patience, and practice to get there. I make sure to supplement that process with plenty of inspiration, whether that means listening to great recordings, suggesting certain live performances, or learning to play like the artists a student admires. Any meaningful learning experience is accompanied by curiosity, joy, struggles, and ultimately, fulfillment. I strive to provide my students with a balance of these elements. Methods-wise, I use a combination of books, ear-training, and fully participatory student involvement. Through my experience teaching music lessons and high school English in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Boston, I've developed an understanding of motivation, relevance, and clarity in the teaching process, and I also look to learn as much as possible from the student in turn - everyone has something to share. As time goes on, students can count on the following results: improved confidence, broadened understanding of musical styles and techniques, increased technical ability, and heightened awareness of their own strengths/weaknesses. *** Travel Equipment *** If I am traveling, I ask that students supply their own instrument. *** Specialties *** I regularly teach, record and tour with groups/musicians who play big band jazz, small group jazz, Appalachian old time, bluegrass, and folk songs. Theatrically, I have training in both stage acting and improv comedy. Method-wise, I favor the student-centered teaching model that utilizes Constructivist Theory, and an interactive rather than one-sided approach to instruction.