Snellville, GA Music Theory Lessons

*** Lesson Details ***
What a student may expect from this teacher:
Within 3-6 months students shall a have a good grasp on the foundation of their instrument/ craft; have a controlled sound; be playing/ singing what he/she hears; stronger, more defined tone; be able to play through/ sing through at least one song; have expanded range; confidence; and of course tackling personal goals set within the lessons.

My Goal is to facilitate bringing out what greatness already lies within and to assist in that growth, as well as teaching new information and the how to apply. I am not very strict on notation, as far as reading music (Piano and Voice). Lessons with me will more consist of the meatier portion of music how to use the instrument, developing the sound, understanding chord structures, playing/ singing what you hear, techniques and how to put it all together musically. However I will go through musical notation and reading chords, but it will not be a focus. (If you desire to play/ sing classically, I may not be the best teacher for you.)

For MUSIC PRODUCTION: Producing musical tracks and recording artist is the root and the focus. The curriculum is sculpted from LOGIC PRO X, REASON and PRO TOOLS software (subject to change). Students learn how to create what he/she hears and how to format it all together; Students learn how to track and record/ mix in the most professionally used software; Mixing and Mastering shall be touched upon as well.

When it comes to teaching and application of knowledge for each student I am serious about his or her growth; I don't want anyone wasting their money or time, so practice and dedication is necessary.

*** Studio Equipment ***
88 Length Keyboard with hundreds of sounds
Studio Mics
Teaching white board
Music Software

*** Specialties ***
Pop/Rock, R&B/ Soul, Christian, Hip-Hop, Country, Folk; By Ear& Reading
Pro-Tools, Garage Band, Reason, Logic Pro X

for greatness no matter what their strengths and weaknesses are. No matter your age or ability level I will help you set your goals and reach them. All students should want to learn. I expect my students to be prepared and have an open mind. Learning to sing is a process. I focus on building technique and a strong musical foundation and customize my lessons for every student and individual needs. I use breathing techniques and exercises that are challenging and work toward quick and accurate results. I implement a variety of exercises to improve pitch, intonation, placement, strength, and endurance. My main goal in teaching is to encourage each student to get to know their vocal strengths and weaknesses while using all their skills to their advantage producing their best sound consistently.

*** Lesson Details ***
Your lesson is customized to meet your individual needs.All students should want to learn. I expect my students to be prepared and have an open mind. Learning to sing is a process. I focus on building technique and a strong musical foundation and customize my lessons for every student and individual needs.I use breathing techniques and exercises that are challenging and work toward quick and accurate results. I implement a variety of exercises to improve pitch, intonation, placement, strength, and endurance. My main goal in teaching is to encourage each student to get to know their vocal strengths and weaknesses while using all their skills to their advantage producing their best sound consistently. It is a slow building process but a student should always be happy with what they do every day but never be satisfied and know that what they do today will be ever better tomorrow. We all grow and learn together and improve every time we try. I expect my students to do the best they can, practice regularly, be on time and have patience. I am excited about music and know it is also important to have fun and enjoy the process. So lets make some goals and get started!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Music room with keyboard, stereo system with iPod connection, CD player and computer, futon sofa, large mirror.

*** Specialties ***
I teach a wide variety of styles and specialize in audition and performance preparation. I do vocal coaching as well as voice lessons. I teach, Pop, R&B, Country, Musical theater, classical, folk, choral music, praise band and others. I also work with music in different languages such as Latin, Italian, French, Spanish, German and of course English.

ic in addition to the mechanics of playing a string instrument. My ultimate goal is to help each student become their own teacher!

***Special Needs***
I am more than happy to explore ways in which students with special needs can engage music through listening, reading, writing, singing and even playing an instrument...let's talk!!

in Georgia.

She also teaches PIANO. She has taught piano for about 10 years. She studied piano privately for 10 years and had further study at Indiana University.

Students wishing to have any COMBINATION of piano, music theory, sight reading and/or vocal development can receive a program of study that meets their individual needs.

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE:
Mary Frances has performed with the Southeastern Savoyards Light Opera Company, the Atlanta Opera Chorus and Studio, the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, Marietta Theater in the Square, and Neighborhood Playhouse. She has sung title roles in Patience, Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel. Other roles include Josephine in HMS Pinafore, the Princess in The Student Prince, and Connie in The 1940's Radio Hour.

She has performed many roles with Capitol City Opera Company (CCOC) including Annina in The Saint of Bleecker Street, Bastienne in Mozart's Bastien and Bastienne, Nora in Vaughan Williams' Rider's to the Sea, and Gilda in Milton Granger's Talk Opera. She sang for many years in CCOC's school outreach program. She has sung many concerts for CCOC as well.

Mary Frances was a soloist in Handel's Messiah for Peachtree Presbyterian Church. She has worked as the soloist at The First Church of Christ Scientist in Roswell, Georgia and at The Second Church of Christ Scientist in Sandy Springs, Georgia ( This church has now closed). She occasionally directs and sings in the choir, and substitutes for the cantorial soloist at Congregation Dor Tamid in Alpharetta, Georgia.

EDUCATION:
Mary Frances holds a bachelors degree from Indiana University School of Music in both Voice and Theater. Mary Frances was a long time student of the late Elizabeth Nohe Colson of Atlanta, Georgia. She has attended Brevard Music Center, The Georgia State Opera Workshop and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. While in Graz, Mary Frances was a finalist in the Meistersinger competition.

*LESSON DETAILS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LESSON LENGTH:
30-minutes for beginning adults and elementary students up to 5th grade. 45-minutes for intermediate adults and students 5th to 8th grade. 60-minute lessons for more advanced students high school and up.

TEACHING STYLE AND CURRICULUM:
ALL: My teaching style is relaxed and nurturing I use positive reinforcement to encourage progress with adults and children. Students are allowed to progress at their own pace.

PIANO: I prefer the Alfred's Basic Piano Library series for my piano students. I find that my students learn more music theory and music reading with this series. If the student has started lessons in a different series, I can work with that as well. I have a large music library that provides a wide selection of music in addition to the Alfred books. I expect most beginning students to learn basic music reading and theory in 3 to 6 months. They should also to be able to play simple tunes in that time. I am an active professional singer, so I have a large library of vocal material at my disposal.

All piano students are REQUIRED to have an instrument to practice on at home. The piano MUST HAVE AT MINIMUM:
IF Digital - 88 full sized, weighted keys with polyphonic sound ( at least 10 keys should be able to sound at at the same time) and a sustain pedal,
OR - If Accoustic - maintained and properly tuned.

VOICE: I begin my voice lessons with breathing techniques and vocal placement using widely accepted exercises coming from a large body of sources such as:
Vaccai, professional level vocal teachers, coaches and directors that I have worked with and learned from over the last 30 years, and the writings of highly acclaimed authors in the vocal field. I also have a wide selection of art song books, oratorio, musical theatre, and opera. My background is classical and musical theatre, but I believe all styles of singing need the basic skills of breathing and vocal placement. I strive to keep voices healthy as well as find each student's most beautiful sound. Most students will see progress in breath control, range, projection and diction in 3 to 6 months.

Repertoire is chosen on an individual basis. Younger students and beginners will be encouraged to not push their voices with material that is too difficult for their individual abilities because singing requires a certain amount of physical endurance. My goal is to find each student's natural sound for whatever style he or she sings.

Voice students are encouraged to bring a recording device to lessons to use for later practice and study.

STUDIO EQUIPMENT AND LIBRARY:
Piano, Computer with Internet Access, Library of Music and Reference Materials (Sample Listing): Alfred's Basic Piano Library Books Twenty-Four Italian Songs and Arias, Medium High and Medium Low Voice; Schirmer Sing at First Sight; Alfred Basics of Singing by Jan Schmidt; Schirmer Many Soprano Collections of Arias, Oratorio, Sacred, and Art Songs from Schirmer Several Broadway Music Collections from Hal Leonard Discover Your Voice by Oren Brown Training the Speaking Voice by Virgil Anderson International Phonetic Alphabet for Singers by Wall Dynamics of the Singing Voice by Meribeth Bunch Classical Singer Magazine Subscription Journal of Singing, The Official Journal of the National Association of Teachers of Singing,Inc.Subscription

SPECIALTIES:
I am classically trained bel canto voice teacher, but I can work with broadway and pop styles. I teach sight singing for students pursuing auditions for All State Chorus and College entrance, etc. I use the Alfred Basic Piano Series for Piano students

acements in film and television. Whether you are looking to just begin learning an instrument for fun or would like to take your skills further and move towards becoming a professional musician, I have the skills and expertise to help you along every step of the way. I tailor each lesson to meet the needs of the student, teaching them exactly what they would like to learn and having lots of fun doing it!

*** Lesson Details ***
For the first lesson, we will discuss what you are hoping to achieve, what kind of structure you would like for your lessons (theory, performance etc) and I will assess your skill level. Then I will tailor exercises, lessons and study to suit your needs.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Fender Rhodes Piano
Doric Vintage Organ
Microphones and Stands
Pro Tools
Fender Amp
Jaguar Bass
1968 Hagstrom Bass
Gibson Les Paul Guitar
Dan Electro Guitar
1950s Burns Bass
Fender Acoustic
Yamaha Mini Acoustic
Small Boss Keyboard
Flutes, Harmonicas, Percussion
Ipod, cd player
Various effects pedals for voice and guitar etc

*** Travel Equipment ***
Can bring guitars, mics, stands, practice amp and small keyboard

*** Specialities ***
Specialising in rock, pop and soundtrack music, I can also teach performance and acting stage skills and voice projection.

ful instruction, I will work with you to achieve your goals in a relaxed, and encouraging environment with positivity and praise.

ight years.

My professional affiliations have included membership in the National Association of Music Educators, board member with Atlanta based TORCH (Together Orchestras Revitalize Community Harmony), board member and music director with Florida based For-Kids-Only and music director with Atlanta based Yes You Can! Foundation. All three organizations work through music to benefit a wide range of needs for children and communities.

I have worked extensively as a pianist, multi- keyboardist, vocalist, soloist, group performer, accompanist, teacher, music director, conductor and arranger as well as being an international recording artist.

THE ACCOMPANIST ~~~
To be an accompanist is an art form that requires the ability to cross effortlessly between multiple styles. It also requires that the lead vocal or instrument is supported to the fullest degree that allows total freedom of expression while knowing each moment of a performance can be undertaken with complete confidence.
This is the art form that I have mastered and give total attention to detail in each performance.

THE TEACHER ~~~
Teaching is an area that I am passionate about. Working with young aspiring musicians as well as seasoned professionals and amateurs of all ages, I found many people lacking a well rounded understanding of theory and how music works in general. This prompted me to begin teaching many years ago. When I studied with William Walton who was a Dennis Sandole disciple, I was given full permission to teach the same method and expand upon it as it naturally evolved. My varied experience gives my a unique perspective on working with people who are truly interested in expanding their talents and musical understanding.

Highlights of my career include performances as conductor and pianist for the one-and-only Mickey Rooney and pianist for a series of teaching clinics with the most recorded guitarist in the world, Tommy Tedesco.

I have also appeared for or performed with: actress & singer - Susan Anton, R&B artist - Archie Bell, Mr. QVC - Bob Bowersox, jazz & classical guitarist - Charlie Byrd, jazz guitarist - Jerry Byrd, Oregon, Rochester and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra principal bassist - Colin Corner, the one-and-only - Rodney Dangerfield, NBC Today Show Superstar Vocal Winner - Dan Gardner, legendary big band vocalist - Connie Haynes, guitarist - Jef Lee Johnson, guitar superstar - Earl Klugh, R&B superstars - Blue Magic, sports legends - Mike Schmidt & Fran Tarkenton, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members - The Shirelles, Broadway sensation Susan Stroman, legendary trumpeter & saxophonist - Glenn Zottola, governors, mayors, major political figures and prominent diplomats.