Weston, MA Piano Lessons

Jean has been teaching piano for 10 years.

*** Lesson Details ***
Within a lesson, students can expect to be given instruction on developing proper technique. (scales, chords, basic music theory etc). The learning environment will be laid back and fun, with the student and teacher setting goals together, and reasonable expectations will be held for both the student and teacher.

Jean will ask what it is in particular that the student is wanting to learn, and will seek to develop curriculum centered around the student's goals. Weekly practice (5 days a week, 20-30 minutes a day) will be the encouraged minimum. This will vary slightly depending on individual student needs.

Students will have the opportunity to learn to play music by composers such as Mozart and Bach. They can also learn how to play movie soundtracks, tunes from their favorite Broadway or Disney songs, and more! Vocal students will have the opportunity to learn show tunes, Italian arias, German songs, praise and worship songs, their favorites from musicals, and more.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Lessons in living room with piano.

*** Specialties ***
Pop, Classical,
Alfred, Thompson, Fletcher

than 30 years, I am currently the Director of Worship for the chapel at Gordon College, a small Christian school north of Boston. I'm often involved in city-wide music events in Boston’s faith-based community and in demand as a featured musician for church services, parties, concerts and other events.

I hold a Masters of Music from New England Conservatory in Jazz Piano and am comfortable and fluent in a number of musical styles. In addition to private lessons and performing, I do music transcription, workshops, and all forms of vocal and instrumental arranging. My passions include morning coffee, finding new guitar chords, creating killer PowerPoint presentations, and trying to figure out how to use my smart phone.

*** Lesson Details ***
My priority as a teacher is to make the learning process fun, life-giving, and productive. I teach with patience and humor, at a challenging but not frustrating pace.

Some quotes from my students:
"I absolutely love learning from Bil! I've watched my playing and the playing of others at church vastly improve as a result of his training."

"[Bil] is filled with a large amount of knowledge, so while sitting under him you not only learn about how to play but you learn about music history and theory. Beyond being a good teacher he is genuine and friendly and cares about others."

"I have really enjoyed working with Bil. His patience and wealth of knowledge has helped me come out of my musical shell and has encouraged me to discover my musical voice."

"Bil makes learning theory fun! His deep understanding of music is complemented by his contagious enthusiasm."

"Bil has taken me to a different level. I went from tab and basic guitar chords, to building jazz chords and a far greater understanding of music theory."

There are at least two ways that might set me apart from other teachers.

Firstly, I have honed and developed "people skills". I am an ordained minister and have held positions where I was formally and informally in a mentoring/pastoring role. I bring that sensitivity to my music lessons, understanding that personal and emotional issues can be triggered by the engagement with the music and skills being worked on.

Secondly, I've had a remarkable broad base of experience. My coursework has exposed me to a wide breadth of ideas and tools; my work life has been long and varied; I have had extensive experience in many different cultural contexts, both musically and otherwise; and I work well with many age groups and skill levels.

Regarding my teaching approach:
For beginners, I have a fairly consistent set of topics and skill sets to cover. Generally, in a few months, piano students (particularly those in middle school through adulthood) should know how to play major, minor and seventh chords, how to read simple chord charts and some very basic accompanying skills. Guitar students should know a dozen open chords and have been introduced to barre chords, and to have learned several styles of finger picking as well as strumming. Bass students should know how to find notes on the board and will have begun to learn how to fill out a song with an expressive but non-obtrusive bass line.

For intermediate students, the pace, direction and focus on lessons depends upon the goals and passions of the student along with the amount of time he or she has to practice. My goals for students at this level and beyond is to learn how to learn. I will use outstanding recorded examples of particular skills or stylistic idioms to help my students understand and master each new concept. I often will check in with my student to make sure that we are on track with what they are hoping for.

For advanced students, we will generally target very specific objectives. I also try to add elements of theory, history, culture, and even life lessons to apply to the topics we address. Because of my background in pastoral ministry, I can serve as a mentor addressing the emotional and relational issues of playing music as well as its technical aspects.

*** Studio Equipment ***
upstairs music room: fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, amps, drum set, seating for parents

*** Travel Equipment ***
if for guitar or bass, that instrument; I expect piano students to have an available keyboard and for other students to have their own instrument(s).

*** Specialties ***
strong in jazz, rock, pop, gospel, sacred, R&B.

ow. I am able to work around your schedule and I am available to be contacted anytime.

*** Lesson Details ***
Initial Lesson:

- Subject understanding is determined.
- Necessary areas of improvement are determined.
- Preferred and/or most efficient study style is determined.
- Goals are set.

Each lesson will vary according to the student. As far as music studies are concerned, we will begin by ensuring mastery of the basics such as note recognition, chords, and correct fingering.

For each subject, the pattern will be similar. We will work on the basics and then we will progress commensurately.

*** Studio Equipment ***
M-Audio 88es Keyboard (MIDI Control/88 Keys)

*** Travel Equipment ***
Music Students:

M-Audio 88es Keyboard (MIDI Control/88 Keys)

Non-Music Students:

Subject related study material.
Stationery.

*** Specialties ***
- Spanish
- ESL
- Language Arts
- Piano
- Drums

Class (Paris, France), Mozarteum Summer School and Music Festival (Salzburg, Austria) and Vienna Music Seminar (Vienna, Austria). I was awarded scholarship when I attended Cleveland Inctitute of Music and Aspen Music School. My teachers include Jinsook Kim, Donald Walker, Paul Schenly, Gabriel Chodos, Viktor Teuflmayr, Claude Elffere, Anne Epperson, and Vivian Hornik Weilestein.
Previously I was a rehearsal pianist of operas, II pagliacci by Leoncavallo with Daegu Opera, Snatched by the Gods and Broken Strings by Param Vir with University of Iowa Theatre department, and contemporary operas based on the works by Francesca Cavalli with Temple University Opera. Other than operas I worked with Missoula Children’s Theatre for the performance of Aladdin. As a collaborative pianist I performed in numerous concerts and performed in master classes of Joseph Silverstein, Steven Isserlis, Julliard Quartet, Isaac Stern and Richard Stoltzman. I have been teaching piano at the university settings (University of Iowa and Catholic University of Daegu) or privately for 10+ years. Recently I taught at Half Note Music School in Bellevue, WA and was a pianist at St. Columba's Episcopal Church and United Christian Church in Renton, WA.

s I do not have access to a car, I prefer that students come to my home studio in Somerville, or that they be within public transit options.

N.B. I own a dog, so for those with allergies, it might be best to meet in your own home.

choirs. I sang in a vocal quartet that performed early Renaissance music in Switzerland and France. Since I was a teenager, I've written and arranged music. Throughout all of this, I've played and taught piano. Like I said, I love music.

rnational Competition in Greece, Third prize in Nodar Gabunia International Competition in Tbilisi, Semi-Finalist in Gina Bachauer International Competition in Salt Lake City, and Semi-Finalist in Astana Piano Passion festival organized by well-known Russian pianist Denis Matsuev. I have also taken many master-classes from notable musicians from all over the world, among them are Boris Berman (Dean of piano department at Yale University), Robert Benz (the chair of the jury at Ettlingen International Competition), Aleksander Korsantia (professor at New England Conservatory), Fabio Bidini (professor at Colburn Music School), Jura Margulis (professor at University of Arkansas), Ian Fountain (professor at Royal Academy of Music in London) etc. I achieved musical mastery under the mentorship of well-known pianist and pedagogue Armen Babakhanyan in Yerevan State Conservatory (2010-2013).