Top Singing & Voice Lessons in Beltsville, MD

ofessionally now for over twenty years. Some students want to take a few lessons to see if it is something they will enjoy, others have worked with me for over a decade. I have mentored several students who have gone on to professional careers. I have experienced a lot of success teaching young children and those with special needs. I have been blessed with a tremendous amount of patience and truly enjoy teaching anyone who wants to learn.

Whatever your goals or abilities, I look forward to working with you!

*** Lesson Details ***
Experience fun based lessons as my teaching approach is relaxed and inspirational. I enjoy working with all ages, adjusting my teaching methods to accommodate your learning style and abilities. Learn to play the music you love! You learn best when you enjoy what you are playing, I can help you play along with your favorites or even write your own songs. I always ask my students at the beginning of a lesson "What would you like to do today?" Then structure the lesson accordingly into a routine that the student can practice on their own. Generally the time is divided into warm ups, learning new material, then picking a fun song the student choses. Whether your interest is Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop music, etc... I'm here help you reach your goals so let's make your dreams come true with music together!

*** Travel Equipment ***
Books, Guitar, music stand, metronome, picks, tuner, page clips, capo, media player, laptop, Keyboard (on request), and recording equipment (on request)

*** Specialties ***
With Voice I specialize in helping people prepare for auditions such as American Idol. I have students who simply want to be karaoke stars. I have several professional singers that hire me as a voice coach and producer for recording sessions. I have taught children as young as 2 and those that retired with a lifelong dream to sing. Though my training is classical, I can teach Jazz, Pop, Rock, Rap, R&B, etc...whatever is fun for the student. I highly recommend learning to read music but I do not push it unless parents want their child to.

With Piano I can teach traditionally from Alfred and Bastien Piano Courses depending if they are auditory or visual learners. For Kinesthetic learners I use Hanon scale exercises and Rothman Rhythm Exercises. For those that want to learn notation I introduce classical and Jazz composers unless there is a popular artist/band/movie theme etc...that they would like to learn. However I do not push students to read music unless their parents would prefer it. I tend to keep more students that want to learn to play by ear especially adults by using rhythm training and music theory exercises and then applying them to songs they love. For piano I haven't had much success with children younger than 3. I also have a lot experience working with special needs children.

For Guitar I teach Classical, Acoustic, and Electric all styles and genres. I encourage sight reading but don't mind using tabs. I use more exercises with these students, since the first month students have a hard time making a sound. I try to make the lessons fun by having students strum chords along with songs they chose. I teach lead and rhythm even songwriting and composition. Job satisfaction for me is seeing my students leave a lesson with a smile on their face so I make sure to be a fun based teacher that doesn't give the student a hard time about not practicing.

For Recording and Performance I use the knowledge I gained doing Pro Audio Sales for Guitar Center from 2000-2002 to help clients build their own home studio. I have lots of producers and engineers I work with on a regular basis to produce broadcast quality audio and video recordings and help my students use their lessons and pre-production for those opportunities. I can teach Garage Band or Pro Tools classes on navigating the software and utilizing all the commands. I can also teach room acoustics and using the right microphone and how to position them with the right equipment and the right acoustics to get the best possible tone that they are looking for. I can also teach editing, mixing, looping, sampling, midi, and mastering so that the student can eventually work on their own writing, performing, and recording their music.

fret across the fretboard. First, you need to learn how to speak guitar. This is like learning the basic language so we can communicate with each other.
You: "Why do I have to identify all the parts of the guitar?"
Me: "So when I tell you to strum over the sound hole, you won't mistake it for your ear."

-How to tune and care for your guitar such as changing strings
You: "Why do I need to learn how to tune my guitar and properly change my strings?"
Me: "So when you learn how to play the thing, it sounds good and stays in tune, and your neighbor's dog won't start howling when you pick up your instrument."

-Chords and Strumming: Open chords, Power chords, Barre chords, 7th chords, 9th chords, 1st and 2nd inversion chords. More chords than you can shake a stick at.
You: "Why do I need to learn chords?"
Me: "So you string chords together, and play a song, Silly."

-Scales (Major scales, Natural minor scales, Harmonic minor scales, Melodic minor scales, In every key and in six different positions)
You: "Why do I need to learn scales?"
Me: "Just to torture you. Just kidding! Scales build strength and speed and get your two hands working together. And scales are fundamental for learning licks and writing melodies later on down the road."

-Other fundamentals include chord chart reading, tablature reading, and specific technical skills such as hammer-ons and pull-offs, palm muting, using a pick, and finger picking styles.

MUSIC THEORY:
Strictly for impressing your friends and/or classmates. Ok, not really. Music theory is important, especially if you want to play other instruments down the road, and to give you a the "Big Picture" of music.

Fundamental theory you will learn includes
-Basic music notation (The music alphabet, rhythm, the staff, ledger lines, time signatures, etc)
-Major and Minor Scales and Key Signatures (You've heard about the Circle of Fifths. Now you'll be able to decipher it!)
-How to identify and play intervals (Major, Minor, Perfect)
-Chord theory (What makes a Major chord, well, Major; Minor chord, Minor. Diminished, Augmented, etc)
-Harmonic Analysis
You: "I've heard about this I IV V I progression stuff. What does that mean?"
Me: "In due time, Grasshopper"
-Transposition (Good for changing the keys of your favorite songs so you or your lead singer can sing them in his/her vocal range)

First we learn this stuff through take-home worksheets. Then, we apply what we know to the guitar and make it useful and practical.

Music history and appreciation. Ever wonder about the origins of the guitar and how it came about to be one of the most popular instruments played in modern time? Or who the great Blues guitarists were from the 30's and 40's and how they influenced later day Rockers such as Jimmy Page or Keith Richards? Or how about how modern Western music formed and is what it is today, starting with Ancient Greece, through the Middle Ages, to Beethoven, to Ragtime to popular music today? Yep, we got that covered. It's all about perspective.

Songwriting. So you're tired of playing other people's songs and it's time to get your thoughts on paper. Congratulations. You are officially an Artist as well as a Musician. I can teach you how to develop your lyrics and chord progressions into cohesive, tightly arranged songs sure to make your Mom or Girlfriend/Boyfriend proud. Songwriting expands the limits of learning, that simply copying another artist note-for-note cannot do. Tapping your "Creative Vein" is the ultimate path to learning music. Let's get started.

music performance. Alright, you got knowledge, you got skills, you got songs. You have the tools to get out there and show the world what you can do.

*** Studio Equipment ***
office/studio 5 guitars seating for parents

*** Travel Equipment ***
I have my own guitar and curriculum. Students are expected to have their own instruments.

*** Specialties ***
Specializing in Rock, Folk, Country beginning guitar lessons. Focus on rhythm guitar, songwriting and performing. Incorporate music history and theory as well.

VOICE CURRICULUM INCLUDES:

VOCAL TECHNIQUE/KNOWLEDGE/MAINTENANCE:
-Anatomy of the voice
-Voice maintenance
-Body awareness, relaxation and posture
-Breath control and support
-Tone creation and range building
-Resonation
-Tone placement
-Diction

MUSIC THEORY:
-Basic music notation (The music alphabet, rhythm, the staff, ledger lines, time signatures, etc)
-Major and minor scales and key signatures
-Intervals (major, minor, perfect)
-Chord theory and harmonic analysis
-Transposition
-Aural and rhythm skills

MUSIC HISTORY AND APPRECIATION:
Have you ever how modern Western music formed and how it became what it is today? We’ll start with Ancient Greece, travel through the Middle Ages, learn about Classical composers such as Beethoven, and study different styles of music from Ragtime to today’s popular music all with listening examples to immerse you into the world of music history.

SONGWRITING
If you've grown tired of playing other people's music, then it’s time for you to get your songs on paper or recorded. I’ll teach you how to develop your lyrics and chord progressions into cohesive, tightly arranged songs. Songwriting expands the limits of learning that merely playing another artist’s music cannot do. Tapping your "creative vein" is the ultimate path to learning music.

MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Alright, you've got knowledge, you've got skills and you've got songs. You have the tools to get out there and show the world what you can do. But before you hit the local area open mic or book a gig, let's talk about music performance. You’ll learn simple, effective techniques such as strong stage presence and audience rapport.

ven though I'm a professional singer myself, I believe that the point should always be to enjoy singing, and whether your goal is to make money as a singer or to feel more confident doing karaoke (both real things that have brought students to me!), I want you to have fun doing it. I also want to show you that singing is a skill, and anyone can learn to do it.

*Note about my apartment: I teach lessons in my home, and I have a pet kitten. She's extremely friendly and would love nothing more than to bask in your attention, but if you'd prefer not to be around her or you are allergic, it's no problem at all. I'm happy to make sure she's kept in a different room during your lesson. All you have to do is let me know before your lesson that you'd prefer not to be around her, and you won't see her at all.

aker I know has lost their voice at some point, but not from talking too much. It's because they don't know how to use their voice properly. Learn that, and you need never lose your voice to over-use. That's easy to teach.

Writing – I have been a professional writer and editor for over eight years, with many books, articles, posts, newsletters, etc. to my name. I use – and teach – practical grammar, not just correct grammar. I can also help you make your words more powerful.

u will also need to purchase a few music books (about $5 each). Voice students will need to purchase song books ($15-20) after we meet and I get a feel for the student’s range and what type of repertoire we should work on.

Note: for VOICE LESSONS ONLY I only teach female students.