Great Mills Music Lessons

. I can help you understand what is going on behind the music and hopefully see what the composer was hoping to convey, if that is something you want to know. When I was a student I always wanted to know "why?". As a teacher, you will know why if I do.

*** Lesson Details ***
I try to keep my lesson area as stress free as possible. It's OK to make mistakes in my studio. I would like you to bring a notebook to lessons as well as your music and instrument. I write as much as I can down because if you were like I was during lessons, I would forget everything I was supposed to be watching for after 3 days. Like I said above, we move at your pace. The more you practice, the faster we move. Questions are a good thing. It shows interest. But sometimes you just have to stop asking questions and just take the leap of faith.
We start with note reading as well as proper form and the parts of the instrument. We also deal with general care. I will tune your instrument every time you come in for lessons until you learn how to tune it yourself. We will review the day before, I will check on what work you've done and then move onto the next song/ technique etc. After we learn how to pluck the first 8 notes, we start with scales and bowing.

After that we move through the "usual" routine. Scale, etude, song(s) or school test songs, audition requirements etc.

I try to keep the same routine because for some students it's easier for them to focus if they know the lesson is going to move in a familiar way. It's reassuring. After we become proficient in the basics, we move into whatever genre you would like to play, within reason. If you are in the school orchestra we will work towards you getting an A.

I would say I'm more laid back when you are not preparing for an audition. Auditions require a lot of work and I want you to do as close to perfect as possible. I become fairly demanding during that time.

In about 6 months, you can play almost any tune you can hear on the radio. Explaining where you could be gets fairly technical and I might as well be talking like Charlie Brown's teacher.

*** Studio Equipment ***
at the B studio: music, music stand, stool, piano, laptop, tuner, metronome.

at home: music, music stands, chairs, computer, laptop, keyboard, microphone, tuner, metronome.

at the A studio: music stand, chairs, laptop, tuner, metronome.

pictures of the B studio are posted it's in Charles County of MD.

The A studio is located in St. Mary's County of MD.

The home studio is located in Charles County, MD.

*** Specialties ***
I am familiar with Paul Rolland's work, Valerie Bobbett Gardner's Violin Virtuosity, as well as Guillespie's. I was brought up Suzuki but haven't been trained in Suzuki. I have taken classes on how to teach to a variety of students so I could hold a teaching license in the state. I do participate with (Canadian) The Royal Conservatory of Music Music Development. This is active in the US also.

Special note: If you are allergic to cats, you will want to take lessons at my other studio location, not at the home.

IF you are contacting me with questions, please include either take lessons or lessons in the subject area so I can find you faster. I get a lot of junk mail and it is easy for me to miss a note from you.

melody genius of jazz artists like George Van Eps, Joe Pass, and Bucky Pizzarelli. It was then I realized that the guitar could be an "orchestra."
In the small town where I grew up, there were no guitar teachers so I studied with outstanding Guitarist Ed McGuire. Later, I studied formally with several renowned professors of guitar, including Bruce Holzman at FSU and Randy Reed, a professor at Duke University in Durham North Carolina.
I have also performed in Master Classes for Classical Guitarists Atigoni Goni and Dimitri Diatchenko.
Before making North Florida my home, I toured and played throughout the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast in a variety of venues and styles from Rock to Jazz to R&B.
Even after settling down I have stayed active in the music business, playing and teaching. I continue to work regularly performing solo, or in ensembles throughout Florida from Tallahassee to Jacksonville.

*** Lesson Details ***
I am a laid back teacher who prefers to motivate my students by instilling my love of, and enthusiasm for, music in them rather than using any kind of "scare" tactics. I had a very few "knuckle rapper" style teachers over the years and found them to be very unmotivating.
A large percentage of the progress a student makes happens between the lessons. The more they practice, the faster they improve.
I also believe in building a solid foundation that my students can build upon. A good teacher teaches a student how to teach themselves.
On guitar, I encourage, but don't insist on, my students learning to read music. Some styles of guitar do not require it, but I do mention the gigs I have gotten over the years because I could read.
On all instruments, I am a big believer in great technique, musicianship and improvisational skills.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Studio is in back of the house as an addition. It has its own separate entrance and is approx 160 sq feet. Well lit and with heat and air.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I will provide a music stand if needed. Students must have their own instrument. They will need to get their own books, though I do provide much supplemental material.

*** Specialties ***
Jazz, Classical, Blues, Flamenco

ity to sing in Little Shop of Horrors and to sing with a women's choir. While studying at the University of Colorado Boulder I began to come into my own and started to let my large sound free. (Which for me was a process. Getting your voice where you want it and to where it is capable is work. But, it is fun work and you're always happy when you have these great moments where you get to where you were hoping you could and that your teacher said you would go at some point.) It was there, at CU Boulder that I got the opportunity to start singing in operas. While in Boulder I sang in The Magic Flute, Sarah McKinnon and as a soloist or recitalist.

Also, while there I worked as an actress in a theater company called the Interactive Theater Project for three years. I thought that by getting involved in that that I would be able to act more effectively while singing. It was fun just doing something where you're just working with the spoken word. I had a wonderful time with them and learned a lot about character work and what it takes to connect to the words in an effective way.

In the past few years, I have been a soloist and recitalist in the Washington, DC area and have sung opera in Pennsylvania with Center Stage Opera. Last year, I sang with Center Stage Opera in the role of Bertha. I had the opportunity to sing and to act at the Kennedy Center a few years ago. Also during that time, I
sang in Aleko, the Die Zauberflöte as the Queen of the Night, Serena in Porgy and Bess, and
sang in Ragtime and sang the role of the Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast.

I am currently working as a soloist, a children's choir director, a chorus member, the director of a recital series, a cantor, and I'm writing monologues and small plays to be performed. I was working as a co-executive producer/casting director for a show that is on Amazon Prime as well. I look forward to what the rest of the year will bring.

*** Lesson Details ***
If you're a beginner, I will help you to understand what you need to get through the vocal line with breath and intonation. We will begin by doing vocal exercises and learn a lot about breathing for singing. I want to help you to make more beautiful tones. I will also slowly begin teaching you how to read sheet music and to help you be a more effective listener when it comes to music. I can also help you to become a better communicator as a singer.

For acting, I will help you to learn how to develop characters and bring the writer's words to life. We will begin by seeing what sort of subjects or genres interest you and what you are doing with those words now, and how you can delve deeper into making the world of the characters something more flushed out.

For beginning piano: I will teach you to learn how the piano is set up, teaching you to read sheet music, beginning theory and to play songs. Something beyond nursery rhymes.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Inside my home studio, I have music, a music stand, chairs, WiFi, a computer, a laptop, a keyboard, a microphone, a metronome, a microphone, an amp/large speaker, and a sofa.

*** Specialties ***
For voice, I would say that my focus is on classical voice. I also sing jazz, gospel and musical theater. For acting, I have done both improvisational and regular scripted plays.

I have taught students with special needs, and as someone with a twin sister with special needs, I am open to teaching students with special needs.

re completed at the American University, where I majored in Communications (B.A.), and minored in Music, voice being my instrument. During my undergraduate studies, I was recruited and performed as the lead female vocalist for a Rock band that a few fellow music students had formed. While in college, I was trained in classical voice, piano, music theory, musical theater performance, and vocal pedagogy (vocal training). My vocal pedagogy studies credentialed me to become a professional vocal instructor. I began teaching voice after I earned my degree, and have been teaching private voice lessons for over ten years.

Most of my present expertise in teaching voice grew from my vocal pedagogy studies, my teaching experience which has developed over time, my own personal vocal dedication, and my training and understanding of various genres of vocal performance. My present singing career is as an inspirational singer; my vocal students encompass various genres in which I have experience, including: Inspirational, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical, as well as various degrees of popular music.

*** Audition Preparation ***
I have coached many of my students to prepare for auditions: auditions to be accepted into performing arts schools, parts in musicals and plays, joining a band or vocal ensemble, as well as auditions for televised singing shows, such as "The Voice," "Sunday's Best," "American Idol" and "The X Factor."

*** Lesson Details ***
I teach students by using the tried and true techniques I have found to be successful, and allow the student to be my guide as to which direction to take with his or her vocal training. Whether the student is a novice, a professional, or somewhere in between, each student, after obtaining the basic singing knowledge and techniques, will have a vocal training schedule geared to his or her individual needs and development. Lessons are for the most part very casual in nature, and the student’s dedication (practice, practice, practice) will dictate whether or not the lessons become stricter. A few months into the vocal instruction, students will be given the opportunity to learn more about reading music and sight singing, if he or she so chooses, as well as vocal performance techniques for singing in front of an audience. Within one year, dedicated students may also have the opportunity to show off what they have learned, and perform in front of an audience at a recital with other vocal students. Please note that my preference is to work with teens age 13 through adults of any age. I believe that younger voices need more time to develop and stand to be damaged if too much stress is put on them too soon. However, exceptions for children under 13 may be made for gifted young singers.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Home studio- entry room of home, baby grand piano, seating area, dry erase board, mirrors
Music Studio- one recording studio, seating area, classroom

*** Travel Equipment ***
If needed, I provide a portable piano keyboard, microphone with amplifier, paper handouts of lessons, etc. The student needs to have paper to take notes and a writing instrument.

*** Specialties ***
Most of my voice lesson experience has been with adults, and contemporary popular and inspirational music.

lege years and beyond I served as a percussion instructor and assistant band director at Morgan State University. As part of the Morgan State University Magnificent Marching Machine I served as a instructional leader in music and performance mentor for the team. I taught part time as a percussion instructor at Milford Mill High School giving individual lessons for over 10 years.

Musical inspiration is an important element to the refinement of my craft. A few personal musical influences are Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Neil Peart (Rush), Dennis Chambers, (Santana), George Gray (Roberta Flack), Ricky Wellman (Miles Davis), Quinton Mack-Davis (Rare Essence) and Michael Bland (Prince).

*** Lesson Details ***
Within the first three months of lessons student will gain a strong foundation of sight reading and basic drum techniques in both rudiment studies and playing the drum set. My style of teaching music consist of breaking each skill down into chunks and allowing students to learn using their individual learning styles. I utilize rewards for perfect practice and each lesson contains a safe, fun learning atmosphere with students exhibiting in their best behavior.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Lessons in store front studio, drum kit provided

*** Travel Equipment ***
I will bring a practice pad. Students should have a drum set.

*** Specialties ***
Jazz, Funk, pop, and classical.