Hills Music Lessons

detail needed in deciding the appropriate violin and rental details!

*** Specialties ***
Suzuki, Traditional

ave been teaching and performing for over a decade both in the US, and in England. I have played in various bands and have produced independent artists. I have worked for a recording studio and for various academic institutions including the Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School in New York city.

I obtained my degree from Purchase College in New York and am a member of their Conservatory of Music.

*** Lesson Details ***
I construct lessons for each individual student depending on their musical tastes, goals, and current skill level etc. I want each person to get as much from their time studying with me as possible. Within three to six months, I'll have you working on timing, theory, ear training, improv, and songs/styles of music you may be interested in. I'm laid back, however, I expect at least the minimum practice time between lessons, which I'll change throughout the course of our time together depending on your skill level etc. Practice materials I draw up are included. I write out everything in plain English and do not require the use of sheet music!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Small recording studio, piano, various guitars, bass, and amps.

*** Travel Equipment ***
guitar, bass, laptop, digital recorder.

*** Specialties ***
I concentrate on ear training, improvisation, and explore styles ranging from pop, alternative, rock, prog, and blues, to metal, funk, and folk etc. I do not require sight reading skills for any level of student. Rather, I work with the student with theory and arrangement conventions to really understand the music. This intern, greatly sharpens their musical ear and helps them to learn music much faster because they understand how it is put together; why and how it works, etc.

***Teaching Special Needs***
I have experience teaching students who have been visually impaired,
blind, hearing impaired, or who have had mild learning disabilities. I
am also comfortable with a student bringing their service dog or
therapy dog to our lessons if they wish.

Robben Ford, Pat Martino, Pat Metheny, Martin Taylor, and James Taylor, to name a few. Today David plays and teaches a variety of different styles, ranging from rock and blues to classical and jazz.

Piano

David started to play the piano after years of playing the guitar. Although a second instrument, it in many ways it was the first as everything David has aspired to on the guitar is pianistic, and he draws much of his inspiration on the instrument from piano players. Correspondingly, it wasn't long before David picked up the piano itself, studying privately first with Tatev Amir and later with Karen, Kushner, Professor of Piano Studies at UMKC. David applies many of the same principles to the piano that he does the guitar including stressing a comprehensive knowledge of music theory, self transcription, ear training and classical technique as well as the more traditional facets of piano pedagogy such as sight reading and rhythm work. Students learn music theory as applied to the keyboard, sight-reading, improvisation and the application of classical technique to modern styles.

As a pianist David is motivated primarily by his passion for music. Growing up he was influenced by classical, jazz, and film scores. Since picking up the piano he has been inspired by pianists from such diverse backgrounds as Art Tatum, Nicolai Lugansky, Oscar Peterson, and Bill Evans among others. Today David plays and teaches a variety of different styles, ranging from rock and blues to classical and jazz.

*** Lesson Details ***
I have extensive experience with all ages and skill levels. I use a curriculum specifically geared towards the guitar, as opposed to more traditional (and inferior) methods that emphasize note reading and piano pedagogy, my method will teach you music theory as it relates to the neck of the guitar and the music that the student are interested in. I am a fairly laid back teacher; we will go at your pace, but I do expect you to work hard.

With piano I use classical literature to develop technique but emphasize the development of a comprehensive understanding of music theory as applied to the keyboard. This includes but is not limited to studies in pop, rock, jazz and other style of contemporary piano.

*** Studio Equipment ***
#1) Dedicated music room seating for parents

#2) Practice/rehearsal room seating for parents

#3) Amplification provided and music stand.

#4) Keyboard/Piano for student use

#5) Broadband network, dual camera, file sharing and the latest technology utilized for online lessons.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide a music stand, my instrument, curriculum materials, music paper materials and amplification (if needed). I expect the student to have their own instrument and potentially amplification. I provide a piano for instruction but I expect my students to have a piano or keyboard for practice at home.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in classical and jazz guitar, however I am fluent in most styles, including rock, blues, fingerstyle, and miscellaneous. I teach from Jay EuDaly's "Vertical Truth: Chordal Mechanisms for the Guitar" but I also supplement this with a variety of other curriculum.

In piano I specialize in classical piano as well as jazz and pop.

Wedding Singer and previously as The Production Tenor in Singin’ in the Rain and Garvin in Footloose. Other theatre credits include multiple shows at Music Theatre of Wichita, West Virginia Public Theatre and The Connecticut Repertory Theatre, all of which have taught me what it takes to become a successful musical theatre performer in this competitive era.

I love teaching all students, but in particular high school students who are aspiring to attend college as a musical theatre major, non-theatre majors who are new to singing and want a stronger technical background, or actors who are new to the musical theatre scene and are looking to take their talent to the next level. I have a strong knowledge of repertoire ranging from contemporary musical theatre to golden age to opera/operetta. I have performed in musicals, operettas, plays, and have started my own collegiate a cappella group, The Statesmen. At Penn State, I was trained to not only teach musical theatre repertoire, but to include art songs and arias as well which have their own tool in a student's growth and versatility.

Most importantly, I like to have fun in the studio. I have a very open and goofy personality and want you to feel free to be goofy as well. Dare to fail. You may learn more from your voice cracking then you might from singing a beautiful note.

ureka and Casa 425 (Claremont Village).

I specialize in classical, jazz, musical theater, and contemporary styles, but I firmly believe that great technique is essential to any and every genre. I look forward to meeting you and helping you to become a better musician!

t West Music in Coralville.

Currently I am affiliated with two professional orchestras in the Eastern Iowa area. I am the second trombonist in Orchestra Iowa based out of Cedar Rapids, and will be filling in as an interim second trombone for the 2017-2018 Quad City Symphony season. I have been playing in professional orchestras for the last ten years and can teach you orchestral style, and audition preparation.

In addition to my orchestra playing, I was also a member of Axiom Brass Quintet from 2012-2014 where we were the first prize winners at the International brass competition held in Passau Germany.

As a soloist, I was also the grand prize winner of the Chicago International Brass solo competition in 2012 on euphonium.
Currently, I am also an active member with the New Chicago Brass, a modern brass ensemble based out of Chicago. I am comfortable teaching all brass instruments for all ages and skill levels. I look forward to answering any questions you may have in regard to taking lessons on a brass instrument.

pline, we achieve our greatest dreams.