Laurel Performing Arts Classes

Visit her website at http://melodysons.musicteachershelper.com

such as, science and mathematics.

Mr, Ray's comprehensive 3 step courses.

1. Learn the basics of the music language, reading and writing.

2. COUNTING. keeping time, the ruler of motion in music. 

3. Learn how to create beautiful melodies and syntax of song to discover the process of creativity with a structure toward musical thought.

Also. effective personal practice techniques and the basics of Improvisation and Composition. 

It is well documented that exposing children to music and the creative arts is a prerequisite to fundamental logical thought processes and schematic reasoning.

Music is organic FUN for kids of all the ages! 4 years to 104. Lol
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Recordings with artists and celebrities throughout the U.S. and Europe. Presentations of jazz and classical ensembles with rotating artists for hire of various genres of music.
You may consider me a Triple threat as they say, Singer, Dancer and Entertainer.

He has performed with notables such as Stevie Wonder,
Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, and Carmen Mac Cray.
Akademisches Festival Orchestra, Leipzig,
Kammerorchester de St. Laurentius, in Dessau, Germany.
National Gallery of Art Orchestra, and the
American University Symphony.
Howard University Community Orchestra
La Fete Musique, World-wide Busking Society.
MTA-Music Under New York
resently D.C. Concert Orchestra and DC Strings workshop
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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.

I also taught 3rd grade religion as well as dance after school. I would love to teach you!

eir musical skills! I enjoy passing on all of the knowledge I possibly can to my students, crafting our lessons to their individual learning styles and comfort levels.

ter graduating from UMBC, Shaleena joined Soul In Motion, an African Drum and Dance Company in Mt. Rainier, MD. She choreographed and danced with Soul In Motion for five years and performed at various venues such as Dance Africa DC, Black Rock Center for the Arts, MD, Montgomery County Government in MD and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Presently, she is the Research Director for Soul In Motion. She continued her passion for dance with Adande African Dance & Drum Company in Charleston, SC. She taught African dance classes at Spirit Moves in Charleston, SC. While completing her Masters in Business at Strayer University, she further pursued her passion and joined Wona Womalan West African Drum & Dance Ensemble. For Wona Womalan, she choreographed dances that have been performed at Piccolo Spoleto Charleston, North Charleston Arts Festival, Moja Arts Festival, US Airforce Base, Naval Weapons Station, Charleston Open Arts Expo, Penn Center Heritage Festival in Beaufort, South Carolina Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Florida African Dance Festival, and various schools. As well, Shaleena conducted a co-dance residency at Charleston County School of the Arts. Everyday movement inspires her choreography. Dance is truly her passion, voice, and she speaks through movement!

e of your dreams!

college, I worked towards my MA in War, Media, and Society while continuing to do freelance choreography. After moving to DC in 2016 to work as a legislative assistant, I missed dance too much and knew I needed to find a way to fit it into my life! I began teaching private ballet and creative movement classes for my first client and absolutely loved being able to share my knowledge and love for this art form on a one-on-one basis with my students.

I have 5 years of experience teaching beginner ballet and creative movement, and 4 years teaching the following: ballet for ages 5-18, pointe for ages 13-18, jazz & musical theatre for ages 5-18, and tap for ages 5-12. I have a wide variety of choreography experience for solo, duet, trio, small, and large groups of all ages in ballet, pointe, contemporary, and character jazz.

I believe teaching dance is so much more than pointing toes and making beautiful lines (although those things are certainly important). I want to help my students develop important life skills, communicate feelings through movement, and learn to use the art of dance as a healthy outlet for stress and communication.