Brentwood, MD Music Theory Lessons

amps, recording equipment, drums and PA system.

*** Studio Equipment ***
guitars, amps, drums, 16 track recorder, soup to nuts

*** Specialties ***
Rock (all kinds), Blues, Pop, Country, ear training.

is unique and individualized to each student. I set personalized goals to make every lesson a success, and I push my students to get the most out of themselves just like I do myself. I'm always enthusiastic and humor driven to create a personable learning environment for students of any age. Music is my life, and I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity to share my greatest passion with the hope that my students, too, will fall in love with music!

*** Lesson Details ***
My lesson environment is laid back and stress-free. I like my students to feel inspired and encouraged as they begin or continue their music education. I introduce fun and innovative ways to build students' musicianship and creativity while retaining classical methods to develop strong technique and proper performance and practice habits.

For beginners, we'll be exploring the basics of either piano, or voice, while focusing on proper technique, basic theory, and a solid skill set. Within 3-6 months, my students are able to read music and understand the language of it.

For intermediate-advanced, we'll focus on building musicianship and skill sets by furthering studies in music theory, varying styles of repertoire, proper techniques that will greatly improve your piano and/or voice abilities, songwriting, improvisation, and live performance skills.

I ask that my students come prepared to every lesson with the motivation and commitment to learn something new each week! Lessons are a fun and creative way to discover yourself as an artist and a person, so let's get started!!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Kawai CN25 Upright Electric Piano, 13" MacBook Pro and iPad mini (Apple), A-Audio Elite HD Headsphones, BeatsStudio Studio Headphones (beats by dr. dre) and G900DX Studio Headphones (Gear One).

Boards and Kick Strap. I have performed with many Stellers & Grammy artist such as Richard Smallwood, Tamela Mann, Marvin Sapp, Dorinda Clark Cole, Isaiah D Thomas, American Idol contestants and Sunday Best contestants just to name a few. I currently play full time at the New Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown in Baltimore MD where the congregation is over 10,000 members. I am very proud of the releasing of my latest DVD entitle "Piper's Time 2 Groove" & "Nothing Too Hard" video to inspire all musicians around the World. With the launching of Passionate Drumming & Music Lessons, I am dedicated to equipping all my students with the instructions for reaching students goals. I welcome all students any age, any skill level. Hope to have you as a new student very soon!

*** Lesson Details ***
My students will quickly learn the basics of drumming, including: stick control, technique, rhythms, drum fills, and licks. It does not matter if you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced drummer. The same time and effort will be exercised. We will have a fun and meaningful time playing, both by ear and by reading music. These lessons will really be hands on using teaching methods such as music books, DVD’s, and playing of my own. Students will have a great time also studying music theory, learning how to assemble the drum set, learning the parts of the drums, how to tune the drums, and how to accompany other musical instruments. After 3 to 6 months taking lessons, all students will be well on their way to a very successful musical career having had such fun and learning to play all different styles of music. My motto: Lets play Good, get Better, and be our Best!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Finished Studio: (3) drum sets, recording equipment, hand drums & instruments, seating for students & guest.

***Endorsers & Sponsors***
*Odery Drums
*RBimusic
*VicFirth Sticks-http://vicfirth.com/artist/Murray_Piper/
*Sabian Cymbals & Sabian Education Network
*StickTwirl
*Evans, D'Addario & Company, Inc.- http://www.daddario.com/education/murrayspiper
*NAMM Member
*Low Boy Beaters
*Urbann Boards
*SledgePad
*Kick Strap
*JamTec USA

*** Travel Equipment ***
I will bring snare and sticks. For the more advance lesson drum kit if one not provided. For the beginners sticks snare and if they already have a drum kit that is fine too.

*** Specialties ***
Gospel, Christian, jazz, blues, rock, R&B, pop, Latin, reggae, funk, shuffle

e encouraged to take risks, try new things, make mistakes, and most importantly be themselves.

I value the time I have with my students and expect each student to come prepared to each lesson with an open mind and willingness to work. With music, the best results come to those who put in 100% both during lessons and during individual practice time. This is key in any musical pursuit. Overall, I want lessons to be enjoyable while still maintaining a sense of progress for the student.

Here's a little more about me:
In 2005 I made my operatic debut in Italy with Operafestival di Roma in their main stage production of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. While in Rome, I was also featured in Pergolesi's Stabat Mater. Over the years I've been featured as a soloist in other concert and oratorio works such as Villa-Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, Rutter's Requiem, and Mozart's Requiem.

Along with my classical training, I've taken on several roles in musicals such as, The King and I, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, and The Boyfriend. I am an honored NATS (National Association for the Teachers of Singing) competitor, Peabody Scholarship recipient, and Bland Music Scholarship recipient. Recently, I had the opportunity to work with the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra on their spring and summer concert series and was asked to perform the National Anthem and God Bless America at Game 2 of the ALDS during one of the MLB's 2014 postseason games (Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers). When I'm not singing, you may find me enjoying a run through the neighborhood, or enjoying some time with my cat CJ.

I earned both my undergraduate and graduate degrees form the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Family Room: seating for parents
Studio space with piano, recording equipment, and parent seating available.
**PLEASE NOTE I have a cat in the home**
*** Specialties ***
Voice and Piano Lessons
Classical, Musical Theater, Pop, Jazz, Soul, and Country.

n Hughes, Geoffrey Burgess) as well as a variety of classical and jazz pianists (Karina Bruk, Andy Milne).

ks better than the spoken word because it doesn't have to be understood to be effective."

In some instances, music works better than the spoken word because it doesn't have to be understood to be effective. Although many musicians agree that music is a "language" it is rarely treated as such.

Many of us treat it as something that can only be learned by following a strict regiment under the tutelage of a skilled teacher. This approach has been followed for hundreds of years with proven success... But it takes a long time. Too long.

Think about the first language you learned as a child. More importantly, think about how you learned it.

"You were allowed to make mistakes."

You were a baby when you first started speaking and even though you spoke the language incorrectly you were allowed to make mistakes - and the more mistakes you made, the more your parents smiled!

Learning to speak was not something you were sent somewhere to do only a few times a week. The majority of people you spoke to were not beginners, they were already proficient speakers. Imagine your parents forcing to only speak to other babies until you were good enough to speak to them! You'd probably be an adult before you could carry on a proper conversation.

To use a musical term, as a baby you were allowed to "jam" with professionals.

If we approach music in the same natural way we approached our first language, we would learn to speak it in the same short time it took to speak our first language.
Proof of this can be seen in almost any family where a child grows up with other musicians in the family.

Here are a few keys to follow in learning guitar or bass:

In the beginning we embrace mistakes instead of correcting them. Like a child playing air guitar there are no wrong notes.

Allow young musicians to play and perform with accomplished musicians on a daily basis.

Encourage young musicians to play more than they practice. The more they play, the more they will practice on their own.

Music comes from the musician, not the instrument.
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2) RockSmith 2014 becomes your personal accomplished musician or band for you to play in a daily basis as it monitors how you play, dynamically adjusts difficulty to your skill level, then slowly introduces more notes and phrases until you're playing your favorite songs note-for-note. Lead Rhythm and bass lines.

Rocksmith 2014 teaches you fast and effectively by letting you plug any real guitar or bass directly into your Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system, Windows PC or Mac.

The Rocksmith Method will first make sure you can PLAY the instrument.
You will play your favorite songs.
You will learn a new technique every month.
Rocksmith is designed to match the way your guitar is laid out, so there's no need to interpret tablature or learn sheet music to get started.
Have strings on your guitar? You'll see strings on the screen....

You'll need a game console, a screen and a electric guitar or bass. It's non negotiable.

If you don't have it. I will provide you with a loaner system until you catch up.

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3) A dedicated and passionate Teacher to tie everything together and keep you on track.

The early you start, the better. Kids age 6 or up are my best customers. They don't have adjust to anything other than to get their little fingers around a guitar appropriate to their size.
For young adults and people that tried play the guitar the old fashion way, here's my advise:

You will need to take a step back... or maybe two steps. Let me show you a better way.

These 3 things changes everything in how to learn or teach guitar. This is just to start the journey. I won't even mention custom songs or our musician club for you to perform your songs.

"If music is a language. You should never stop talking."

Remember that a language works the best when we have something interesting to say.
Many music teachers never find out what their students have to say. We only tell them what they are supposed to say.
A child speaks a language for years before they even learn the alphabet.
Too many rules at the onset will actually slow them down.
In my eyes the approach to music should be the same.

After all, music is a language too.

Let's Play & Grow Together.

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Private guitar and bass lessons are designed for students to progress at their own pace. Private lessons will follow the same RockSmith Journey structure. In a private guitar or bass lesson, the teacher has the opportunity to help the student individually for the entire lesson time, and structures each lesson personally for the student depending on their skill level and goals.

The Essentials/Techniques Plus:

Tuning
Strapping up
How to hold a pick
Plucking strings
Accents
Slides
Chords
Power chords
Double stops
Barre chords
Arpeggios
Notes Chords Scales

Shifting
Fretting
Sustains
Palm mutes
Slides
Bends
Tremelos
Hammer-ons
Pull-offs
Natural harmonics
Strumming patterns
Unpitched slides
Fret hand mutes
Improvising and jamming
Vibrato
Scales and modes
Changing strings

Additional Bass Techniques:

Fifths
Roots
Slapping
Popping

Advanced Players:

Double stop, Oblique, and Compound Bends
Two hand tapping
Articulation and phrasing
Pinch harmonics
Extended harmonies
Hybrid techniques
Advanced chords

yboard harmonies.
In 2000, I worked for the Jewish Primary Day School (Grades K – 6), where I introduced the conceptual structure of music, focusing on melody, rhythm, and harmony and their expressive and stylistic organization. Program objectives included: 1) ability to listen with discrimination, 2) ability to sing on pitch within a limited range, 3) ability to play simple rhythm and melodic instruments, 4) ability to interpret music through body movements, impersonations, and dramatizations, and 5) ability to associate symbols of musical notation with musical concepts.

Today, I perform professionally and provide private online and offline piano instruction for children and adults.

get the most out of lessons!

ute, and voice lessons at the Umoja Music School. Danielle received her Master's Degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education "Arts in Education" program and a Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition from Vanderbilt University.