Clarkedale Music Lessons

ut am willing to adjust and compromise if the situation dictates. If you don't have a curriculum in mind, I like Alfred's piano courses, but will do my best to find one that fits you as a student best. My initial goals are to make sure the basics of reading music and performing are set so that no matter what musical avenue you want to pursue, you will be successful. I do specialize in classical music but enjoy creating and playing in other genres as well.

I now also offer lessons online, as well as tutoring in most math areas!

***CANCELLATION POLICY***
I kindly ask for 24 hour notice whenever possible if a lesson is going to be missed. Generally speaking, if I don't hear from a student and their lesson time passes I will mark the lesson as missed, but I am also usually more than willing to make up the lesson at a later time.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I have a piano keyboard at my home.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I would expect students to have their own instruments as needed, as well as music paper, pencils, etc. I may be able to provide some of those materials on occasion as well as some books/recordings, but will by and large expect students to purchase those for themselves.

*** Specialties ***
I am much more familiar with classical styles and Broadway. My music writing style tends to be somewhere between neo-classical and avant-garde.

***Blog Posts***
http://takelessons.com/blog/playing-the-piano-common-struggles

and New Jersey and has taught at the secondary level in both states. In addition to both instrumental and choral ensembles at Penn State, Thomas was a student leader in the Penn State Blue Band and a member of the brass section of the Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps in 1993 and 1994. He served as an Associate Director of the Warren Junior Military Band of Youngstown, Ohio from 1995 to 2005. He also served as a visual staff member for the renowned North Penn Marching Knights of Lansdale, PA for one season in 2004.

He is a current adjudicator with Drum Corps International and Cavalcade of Bands. He is a member of MENC, PMEA, NJMEA, ASCAP, CASA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the National Band Association. He appeared in the Marquis Who's Who Among American Educators in 2004 and 2005, an honor rarely bestowed upon teachers, as students who appear in the Who's Who Among American High School Students must nominate them. He currently is a music teacher at the Center for Performing and Fine Arts of the PA Leadership Charter School in West Chester, PA and resides in Downingtown, PA with his wife and two sons.

Thomas will happily work with students on the autism spectrum or students with ADD.

*** Lesson Details ***
My lessons are tailored to the needs and interests of each student. If a student is involved in school music ensembles, we will work with their lesson books from school in addition to material outside of the books, including SmartMusic, Noteflight, and teacher-created materials. We will focus on building proper tone production and individual technique - something that often is difficult to learn in a large ensemble setting.

I am capable of starting a beginner student on any band instrument including percussion, any classical string instrument (violin, viola, cello, string bass), and piano. I can begin a student on drum set and work with them through their first method book, but I would then recommend they find a specialized drum set teacher after a period of six to twelve months.

For advanced students, I work from selected conservatory etude books on developing advanced skills and can work with students on audition pieces for honors bands/orchestras or college auditions.

My lessons are a half-hour once a week, with the option of working for 45 minutes or 60 minutes.

*** Specialties ***
music, band, orchestra, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, violin, viola, cello, string bass, piano, Percussion
classical, jazz improvisation

ic theory and composition from New York University, a Bachelor of Music in musical theater from the Catholic University of America, a certificate in vocal performance from the Peabody Preparatory, and is an alumnus of the famed BMI Lehmen Engel Musical Theater Workshop. She is also a pianist of twenty-seven years, trained under a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory.

In addition to music, Natalie has also studied child and adolescent development, psychology, and music education. She has been teaching music students of all ages privately and in classrooms since 2006. She personalizes her instruction to fit the learning style of each student, focusing on technique, theory, and repertoire while making sure the student does not lose his or her love of music in the process.

As a composer, she has written for both the piano and the stage and is listed in The Directory of Contemporary Musical Theater Writers at Contemporary Musical Theater.com. She wrote the music, book and lyrics to Deployed, which premiered off-off Broadway at the Abingdon Theatre Company in November 2013 and played again at the Gene Frankel Theatre in January 2014 to sold-out audiences. It was featured in the Musical Theater Factory’s 4x15 in March 2015 and continues to be developed. Other work includes: Hall Pass ("Flyers and Fryers," Grace Church School, produced by Blake McCarthy), The Big C (songs, Dramatists Guild), "Performance Anxiety" (music/lyrics, The Flea Theatre, Raw Impressions Musical Theatre Marathon),The Music of Natalie (The Duplex), and "Movement to Contact" (score, Veteran Artist Program PSA). She has served as rehearsal pianist for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and accompanist and music director for NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts.

Melt quickly grabbed the attention of the critics, and received extensive play on BBC Radio One, XFM, and London FM. Rock journalists wrote rave reviews of Melt for Melody Maker and NME and was given "Single Of The Week" status. Melt performed with Supergrass, Modest Mouse, Eels, Julianna Hatfield, and Hefner.

Joël moved to New York and formed his next band, Mutronium who were voted #2 favorite of the year on WFMU Radio. Mutronium performed with Grizzly Bear, Au Revoir Simone, and BM Linx before disbanding. Joel then turned his attention to production work, producing and engineering recordings for TVT recording artists Ambulance Ltd. and 11 albums for U.K. band Hefner. Currently Joël is working on placement music for TV and films.

have fun, so the learning is reinforced with good natured thoughts. This will set up the student to actually want to practice!

As a musician I've been in a couple of groups, and starting to get a jazz group together recently. I also try to utilize the computer to produce when possible so I can learn about that aspect of music. My passion is improvisation/composition, because I hope to one day leave songs behind that people can play forever and be influenced by them like so many have influenced me.

e full advantage of their abilities, and how to market themselves for gig opportunities.

earn an instrument. I make sure to structure each student’s lessons to fit their goals and needs. I ensure to focus solely on what the student is wanting to learn. All of my lessons are designed to be fun and educational, and the student is in complete control. I have been working with children and youth for many years through the Upward Sports program, and I love building connections with all of my students to create a comfortable and fun learning environment.

As a college student at UT, I am very flexible with scheduling, so feel free to contact me about available times for lessons. I hope to hear from you soon, and please let me know if you have any questions!