Geismar Music Lessons

so taught music as a camp counselor, college tutor, and workshop leader. Whether you are looking to pick up a brand new instrument, learn a new style, or work on improving on what you already know, Kathryn can help you reach your goals.

es of daily practice. Set the bar as high as you want! My students all choose to have a lesson every week except for scheduled breaks, under the recurring lesson plan. This helps them to make quick progress.
My studio has a big grand, and a digital piano. The neighborhood is quiet.
Come with confidence, to a studio licensed in Albuquerque for twenty years. I have passed TakeLessons and Albuquerque Public Schools background checks.
After three months, a busy eight-year old beginner could have an easy rendition of "Ode To Joy" or "When The Saints Come Marching In" to perform for loved ones.
My students study technique, rhythm, fingering, expression and general musicianship. All this, while enjoying great musical selections.

*** Studio Equipment ***
The studio lessons are taught in a living room studio exclusively used for piano lessons including a Steinway piano. No pets. Parking in the right side of the driveway.

*** Specialties ***
Mostly classical, with occasional jazz, contemporary Christian, and popular. I mostly teach from notes, though occasionally from lead sheets or through improvisation. The Adventures, Keys for the Kingdom, and Step By Step methods are preferred until the student can play composers' original notes. Then, their recital works tend to come from such as Bach, Beethoven, Clementi, Debussy, and Chopin.

I welcome online students with a desire to learn and an ability to focus. Young students should have a parent or guardian near to direct their attention, if needed.

val, and the Stafford County Choral Society Scholarship competition. In 2008, I served on the production staff as musical director at the Astors' Beechwood Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island.

Proud Member of Actors Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, and the National Association of Teachers of Singers.

*** Lesson Details ***
Not only am I a trained singer, I am also an actor. I understand what it is to communicate and show emotion while singing. Before you can do this, you must also learn healthy singing technique. I will help blend the two.

The first half of each lesson will be dedicated to vocal exercises with the second half to songs I recommend or from your own repertoire. My recommendations may be from a different style of music than you are accustomed to, but I will be working towards helping you sing the style you want to sing.

Every voice is different. As a teacher I want to make sure that my students understand and are comfortable with what they are feeling and hearing. While I am an easy going person, I work very hard to help students find the right path to healthy vocal production.

*** Travel Equipment ***
n/a student must have piano in home for use by the teacher

*** Specialties ***
Musical Theatre

***please note: I have 3 cats. They do not come into the studio, but if you have allergies, this is possibly a problem.

s of music as opposed to just "picking and grinning", IE learning only "By Ear." I do specialize in music theory, and have many students taking lessons simply for this excellent foundation for songwriting also.

I am a classically trained guitarist that performs both as a soloist and for ensemble in a wide variety of styles. I graduated in 1996 from Schoolcraft College with an Associates degree in Music performance, and then, studying under the tutelage of Brian Roberts went on to receive my Bachelor's degree in Guitar Performance with a secondary in Jazz from Wayne State University in 2004. While at Wayne State and along the way I've performed and participated in several masterclasses with renowned artists: William Kanengiser, John Holmquest, Philip Candelaria, Jason Vieaux, Scott Tennant, and Antigoni Goni. I have also completed the teacher requirements for books 1-a and 1-b for the Suzuki Guitar Institute.

Many of my classical guitar and electric guitar students have went on to study further at the collegiate level, some achieving scholarships. My most recent students are current Berklee school of music graduates now in a band called "Flight of Fire", recently opened for Bonjovi this past summer and are getting air time on local radio stations... well on their way to living the dream! …the bulk of my students become full time professional musicians.

*** Lesson Details ***
I am an extremely patient person who has been teaching for over 20 years. I am laid back so there will be no pressure. With my electric and steel string guitar students, I host a special "Jam Session" 2 - 3 times a year to which will be one of your goals to participate in. This includes playing with a drummer, bassist, singer and another guitar player (usually me) and having it recorded. This should serve as your motivation to practice. This really eliminates the need for me to pull out a "yardstick" and "smack" your hands over the knuckles when not practicing your scales as many old traditional teachers may have done!

At your first lesson I will talk with you and give you examples of music that is played with a Flat-Pick, or music that uses the Finger-Style technique. This will be an important process as it will dictate which direction you will go in as a musician and especially during our lessons.

For the most part, playing with a Flat-Pick is generally used with the electric guitar and with most mainstream styles of music like "Rock and Roll", "Blues", "Rock-a-Billy" "Funk", and playing with the Finger-Style technique is used in styles like "Classical" and "Folk." After a while, I will introduce you to the other style of playing as well, as most great guitar players use both techniques in their playing...musicians (guitarists) such as: “Jimmy Page“, “Brian Setzer”, “Stevie Ray Vaughan”, “Joe Satriani”, “Lindsey Buckingham”, “Paul McCartney”, “John Mayer”, and many, many more.

To make learning the guitar Fun, I make sure to incorporate your main interest(s) first. Whether it be learning your new favorite song(s), learning how to write a song, or just learning some basics that you can use for when sitting around the campfire. This will be intertwined with which style you choose to start with: Flat-Pick or Finger-Style.

Pending on the level that you are starting at, (beginner, intermediate, advanced) I will include tidbits of music theory that will be used in a consistent manner. These will usually be progressive, pending on your level. For example, the songs you learn will be written out in an easy to understand chart that will have the fundamental aspects of theory (IE, chords, key, and rhythm pattern) that all musicians should understand.

With Children learning with a Flat-Pick, I encourage the use of a basic guitar instruction book.
Level One (beginners) :

"Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book One" by Will Schmid.

I will also use as a substitute for Level One:
"Alfred's Basic Guitar Method" by Alfred's Publishing Co.

More advanced players who can read music already (and graduates from book one) I prefer;
"Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book Two"

With Adults, I will ask if learning to read music interests you. It is a vital part of a practicing musician, but sometimes your needs may require a more one dimensional approach as time may be of essence. Again, I learned by ear and educated myself later...so I understand the person who wants to hold off on reading right away.

Students who want to learn the Classical (Finger-Style) approach will be encouraged to purchase a beginners book that I use written by one of my first instructors/mentor. It is a very intuitive book that covers the technique in great detail yet is very easy to understand (along with my help.) I will provide means of acquiring this book at your first lesson.

Students who want to learn the Folk (Finger-Style) approach will usually start in the above book, unless your an adult who just wants to learn some basics.

At your first lesson I will also provide you with documentation that goes more in depth about the various styles of guitar as the above info is scaled down.

*** Studio Equipment ***
-Amps

-Guitars (Electric, Acoustic, Classical, Bass)

- PA (loud speakers so you can Turn it Up! When playing along)

-Band in a Box (to play along with real prerecorded instruments seamlessly interleaved into a band type setting with almost unlimited genre choices...very impressive technology)

- Pro Tools (recording gear for all needs)

- Guitar Pro and Finale (to transpose music into sheet music)

-Skype (for out of town interactivity. Can do lessons via Skype)

-Basement with plenty of seating for parents, and or observers.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, and Acoustic Guitar; Improvisation, Songwriting, Backup Vocals, Fretboard Harmony, Music Theory, Performance, and Recording.

orsakov unfold a tale of an enchanted land, with camel-riding merchants, bazaar, and princesses, without uttering a single word. I went on to learn a few instruments: xylophone, three different kinds of recorders, and then all this eventually led to flute.

I started studying flute at the age of 8, and it has been a delightful journey. In high school, I have participated in marching band, symphonic band, wind ensemble, and symphonic orchestra. I was also part of two prestigious local youth orchestra, the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Claremont Young Musician Orchestra.

I obtained my Bachelor of Music (Flute Performance) degree from University of California, Santa Barbara. I grew immensely as a musician during my time in Santa Barbara, I studied under Jill Felber, and I was able to expand my repetoire and gain considerable experience. I even played at the local farmers market as a street performer during the weekends. After graduation , I traveled to my home country Taiwan to study another great musician - Anders Norell, the principal flutist/flautist of the Taiwan Philharmonic. It was another great opportunity as I was able to garner teaching experiences, as well as attending master classes of great flutist/flautist such as Emmanuel Pahud.

As a music teacher, I encourage and inspire. I am foremost a music lover, then flutist and flute teacher. I aspire to spread the abundance of joy and beauty that music has bring into my life. As the great conductor and cellist Pablo Casals puts it: "Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart". Therefore, whether if you are a wobbly toddler, high school marching band enthusiast (as I once was), house wife looking for a new hobby, full time employee who always had a love for classical music, or grandmother who is looking for something other than crochet, join me on this wonderful journey.

"The pursuit of music would provide you a life time of joy".

If you are not sure whether you live too far away from me, don't hesitate to ask and we will come up with a solution! Normally I will drive to any home within a 20 minute drive of the LSU area.

I ask that all my students own a stand of some sort (a wire stand can run $10-12), a shoulder-rest (which can be in the form of a violin sponge at about $4 or a plastic shoulder rest can be about $25) and the proper books I assign that will be determined at the first lesson. My practice requirement for each student depends on the age and goals of each student but are set in place in the lessons.

I am accepting students who are looking for a permanent teacher OR who are looking to advance during the summer for the next school year. I teach from age 5 to adult. I mainly teach classical violin, but if you express an interest in fiddling music we can certainly look at fiddle material though my main concentration is in classical music.

Looking forward to meeting you!

-Ms. Nikki

he internet! As your instructor, I can help you to learn any and all of the things that you want to accomplish on the guitar even if you are a complete beginner. Don't wait to create - we can progress together!