Florence, KY Songwriting Lessons

The student should have his/her own instrument, so they can practice regularly.

*** Specialties ***
Gospel, Classical, Pop, Inspirational, Sacred, Wedding, etcetera

Xavier University University Chorus; 2004-2009; Xavier Concert Choir; 2004-2009; Vocalist with Recording Artist: Josh Jones Nu Horizon, New Orleans, Louisiana; Vocalist with Recording Artist: Bishop Alvin Davis & Company, Baldwin, LA; Greater St. Stephan Gospel Choir and Praise Team; Background Studio Vocalist for Ebony Lockett (2009), Community of Faith Praise Team, 2012-2013

Currently, I sing at many venues and with various groups throughout Houston area. In addition to all of this, I also perform a great deal of gospel music on the praise team at the Community of Faith.

As you can see I have a great deal of experience and expertise different genres, and I look forward to sharing my knowledge with my students.

*** Lesson Details ***
To my future students:

I sit down at our first lesson to make a Custom Lesson Plan for what you want to study and goals you want to achieve.

I want to help you reach your goals and make you happy as a singer, so I am open to teach you anything no matter how little/much experience you have.

Next, we will pick a fun area to work on, and a challenging area to conquer. For example: we will work on a fun song then we will work on reading and/or rudiments.
I am also very patient and flexible to those students whom have special needs, or need to accelerate at a slower pace.

“Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.”- E.Y. Harburg

*** Studio Equipment ***
Living room: keyboard, stands, music books, additional seating for parents.

Vocal Studio: Practice room, piano/keyboard, music stands, chairs; waiting area with television for parents/guests; security system; recording equipment

*** Specialties ***
CLASSICAL MUSICAL, GOSPEL, NEO-SOUL, JAZZ

tronic keyboard, in the lessons.
Bass Guitar: I teach rock, pop, funk, and country music on bass.
Banjo: I teach bluegrass, country, and some blues and rock music. I can also teach a bit of old-timey frailing/clawhammer style.
English and Reading: I am highly qualified, to tutor/teach English (spoken, written, and reading comprehension) to both native English speakers and to those learning it as a second language.
*** I am particularly good at working with children who have a.d.h.d. and other learning disabilities!

a structured practice routine and working knowledge of music and their instrument, but it has to be fun. I have students who learn Classical, rock, and Jazz. Each lesson is different. Some people just want to be able to play their favorite songs by a camp fire, and others want to go on to perform at Carnegie Hall. I enjoy teaching both lessons and put forth the same enthusiasm for each one. You get out of the guitar or bass what you put into it in terms of learning and practicing. The level of achievement is up to you, I will help guide you to meet your goals regardless of how large or small they are.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Spare music room: guitars, amps, bass; computer with recording software, ProTools seating for parents

*** Travel Equipment ***
I have all the equipment necessary. I would like the student to have an instrument, but if not I can provide one for the lesson.

*** Specialties ***
I'm really pretty versatile. Over 18 years of teaching anywhere from 80 to 100 students a week will do that.

network television variety program, "The Gene Carroll Show", that was a television institution for over 30 years in the Midwest. I was a featured performer on that program for over 7 years, all the while perfecting the art of "playing to a camera." This experience was invaluable, and the knowledge I gathered is now included in my curriculum. I also began performing a solo act in the nightclub circuit at the age of 15, performing up and down the "north coast" from Cleveland, OH, (my home), to Erie. PA. At a very young age, I learned the difficult art of choosing musical material and pacing a show; also adapting to performing under a myriad of conditions with a vast array of musical accompaniment. After graduating college with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing, I assembled my own band, and took to the road. That experience eventually brought the act to Las Vegas in 1982. Over the years my show has been a staple in major casino cabarets in Las Vegas, and all over Nevada. Since my first engagement at The Landmark Hotel in the early 1980's, I have literally been up and down the famed Las Vegas Strip many times over. The Desert Inn, The Dunes, The Stardust, The Maxim, The Tropicana, New York New York, Mandalay Bay, MGM, Bally's, The Flamingo, The Imperial Palace, The Four Queens, The Golden Nugget, The Fremont, The Venetian, The Palazzo, and a three year engagement at The Riviera. My show is truly comprised of musical variety; classics, show tunes, jazz, rock, blues, r&b, country. Even a presentation of "Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera, that I perform in full costume. It is this ability to successfully deliver an extensive repertoire that I am enthusiastic about passing along to the next generation of entertainers.

I have been truly blessed in my career to have experienced so many highlights; too many to document. From winning an understudy roll in the Broadway Musical "Platinum" starring Hollywood actress Alexis Smith, to performing our National Anthem at events ranging from Major League Baseball to ESPN Boxing to receptions for major dignitaries, to recording 7 albums and a full-length video, to being asked to perform for Mr. Frank Sinatra at the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Golf Tournament, I have lived a full life on stage, learning and absorbing every bit of knowledge gathered along the way.
Now it is my desire to escalate my status as an educator to a more "one on one" experience; availing myself the opportunity to pass along that wealth of knowledge to individual students who aspire to enjoy the entertainment profession as I have, providing them with the skills needed to successfully compete. Or, should it be their choice not to pursue entertainment as a vocation, to gain a working understanding of all facets of their instrument so as to gain a better appreciation of music. Whatever the goal of the student, I feel that I am equipped to provide them with the tools needed to achieve that goal.

*** Lesson Details ***
Content of Sessions

Generally, the first 10-15 minutes of each lesson will be focused on vocal warm up and exercise. (For guitar students, we will review the previous
week's assignment). For Vocal Students, it is understood that the voice mechanism is made up of muscles, and as an athlete prepares for a sporting event, a singer must prepare to vocalize. It is at this time in our lesson when the student will develop good habits of voice maintenance, which will serve them well throughout their careers. The proper care and preservation of the vocal unit cannot be stressed enough, especially for pubescent and pre-pubescent students. Vocal chords in a developmental stage are most susceptible to damage, and because they are particularly sensitive, they must be handled with care. Our warm up regimen is designed to strengthen as well as preserve the singing voice.

I am not an advocate of getting too involved and "bogged down" in the technical aspects of singing, especially with the young students, and
especially early in our program. This is not to say that breath control, tonality, pitch, etc. are not vital to good singing, because these workings are ESSENTIAL, and their application will certainly be incorporated into our studies. Some instructors, on occasion, have a tendency to lose sight of the fact that much to do with singing happens "naturally", and too much focus on the "technical" can actually be inhibiting. This can alter a beautiful, natural tone into one that is unnatural and contrived.

I adhere to the philosophy that above all else, SINGERS WANT TO SING SONGS, and musicians-in-training want to play music. That is our focus, and all of our training is conceived with that objective in mind. All the technical knowledge and coaching serves no purpose without practical application. It is my belief that the most significant progress occurs when a vocalist is singing a song.

Nearly every element of instruction can be utilized in the performance of one song. This is why the majority of our session time will be spent "in song". For the very young student, we will concentrate our efforts with the students choices of favorite and familiar songs. The older students will undoubtedly have favorite songs, styles and artists. Special attention will be paid to the genre most enjoyed by the student, but diversity will be emphasized as well, and a variety of genres will be unpacked and explored. I believe that whatever a student's musical goals and aspirations, it is in their best interest to gain knowledge and insight in all facets of music, singing, and performance.

The most vital pre-requisite for any student is their enthusiasm. My ambition will be to harness that enthusiasm and channel it productively through stimulating instruction. Our sessions will be informative and educational, but always predicated upon "having fun with music".

I am proud to feature a curriculum that emphasizes the entertainment aspect of singing as well as the technical; created to benefit all ages and experience levels, from beginner to seasoned professional. After just weeks of my "Triple Threat Training" a student will begin to see astounding results: vocally, musically, and in the art of performance. I am excited to share my knowledge with you. Let's get started!

*** Studio Equipment ***
My studio is equipped with a full vocal sound system with microphones that I utilize to teach the valuable art of mic technique. Young students enjoy using the mics and hearing themselves sing and perform. Since our lessons are predicated on enjoying the art of singing, this opportunity has proven invaluable. For the advanced performer, studying all aspects of amplification and what a singer should know about their stage sound is a part of our educational curriculum. My studio is furnished with the equipment that is essential to mastering that knowledge.
Since the practical aspect of my course is based on singing songs, I provide all the latest technology required to allow my students the opportunity to sing the songs of their choosing, with and without the lead vocal tracks. I feel that when students are singing their favorite songs, it offers me the greatest teaching opportunities. I make certain the every musical genre can be represented, and feel I have the knowledge and ability to guide the student is whatever their musical tastes. My studio is also equipped with piano (for vocal exercises), and guitars, which gives me opportunity to accompany my students when the musical moment is appropriate. Be assured that all the technology I need to fulfill the educational needs of my students is but a step away!!

When drumming playing with music, learning improvisation, and playing by ear is important. I also focus on this, having students learn their favorite songs, and learn to play with new music as well. This keeps students interested, and adds a fun personal element to their lessons. I also have implemented use of a teaching app, so while practicing if students have a question they can ask me right then so to not forget, and I can give feedback. It also has a practice tracker tool. If you have any questions feel free to email me.

I look forward to meeting you, and helping you reach your music goals!

~ Zaky N.

n a short time.

nd help them to prepare for auditions. I can teach how to read music, to play classically on the piano, to read jazz charts, or help you figure out parts for a chord progression for a pop or rock song.

My acting training is equally many-faceted and I have an incredibly strong foundation based in the teachings of Sanford Meisner, Stanislavsky, Lee Strasberg and Larry Moss. I use the knowledge of these great teachers along with the wisdom I've accumulated from MY mentors over the years in my teaching and coaching.

ts to love playing more than I want them to pass recitals.

n instrument, not spending the majority of your time in learning to read right out of the gate. Yes there basics you must learn, but when you were a child, you didn't learn to read as you spoke your first words. You were learning to speak your language long before your learned your ABC's. There are many musicians with little formal training who play an instrument so well you'd swear you can see smoke coming from their fingers. Let me tell you, they weren't born that way. They learned to speak the language of music. The fact is, it's so much easier to learn to read music, after you have a basic understanding of how to speak the language. So say good bye to the frustrations of banging you head against the wall with the complexities of reading music and wondering how much longer you're going to have to endure this ongoing torture before you learn to play something cool, and say hello to having fun while learning how to play an instrument and the songs and styles you want to play...

You may have studied music before and given up because it was too difficult. Please know that's not uncommon. But I’m here to tell you, there is a better way! So if you've ever wanted to learn to play an instrument or sing, there is no better time than now.