Belton, MO Piano Lessons

ny more. Let me help you learn to play the piano with excellence and have a lot of fun in the process!

*** Lesson Details ***
Students can expect to have a teaching environment that is professional and conducive to learning. My lessons include instruction in theory, technique and exposure to a variety of musical styles. Beginners will learn to play songs within 3 months time and gradually expand their repertoires to include more difficult piano pieces!

Beginning students are taught fundamental skills that apply to all piano players such as scales and arpeggios. Hanon exercises are used and chromatic scales are learned as well. I use Alfred teaching materials but not exclusively.

I encourage students to find their own favorites to play and lessons are tailored to meet the goals of the student. If your desire is to become a classical pianist, we concentrate on works of the masters. If you are wanting to improvise with a jazz band, we work toward ear training with the jazz greats! If you would like to play in a church worship service, we will focus our attention on service playing and playing worship songs by ear, too.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Den: upright, couch and recliner, parents can sit in on lesson

*** Specialties ***
Classical and church music

t happen. I will create a curriculum according your personal needs and skill level.

If you are taking lessons with me you will learn lots of music theory and music history. I want you to understand the style and reasoning behind each piece of music you play.

*** Studio Equipment ***
The in studio lessons are taught in the living room which includes a piano (88 key weighted), books, and seating. Student must provide own trumpet. Parking is in guest spaces.

The Elementary School lessons are taught in a classroom which includes an upright piano, books, & seating. Student must provide own trumpet. Parking is in lot.

*** Specialties ***
German Lieder and Italian Arias

uch as Queen Elizabeth Hall, St. John’s Smith Square and Somerset House. I sing at Lyric Opera of Kansas City where I have appeared in over 90 productions. Upcoming: Mozart: Magic Flute, November 9-17, 2013 and Puccini: La Bohème, March 15-23, 2014   I also sing professionally at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Kansas City. Whether you are seeking coaching on technique, Broadway, Opera or the American Songbook, I would be happy to work with you to realize your full potential. I get excited about helping students become good performers! Let me help you become the best musician you can be, IN PERSON or ONLINE!

*** Lesson Details ***
I am a laid back teacher with a great sense of humor. You will also learn a lot of music theory and music history from me! My lessons begin with some training in reading music (Music Theory) and I suggest that you purchase Alfred's Music Theory Volume One or Two depending on your level of understanding.

After refreshing your music reading and rhythm skills, we will listen to you sing and begin to vocalize. I will develop exercises just for you, to help you develop your voice, making it stronger and more flexible.

When you have warmed up your voice with vocal exercises, we will work together on the music you wish to learn. It could be a song, an aria, a Broadway or Opera aria, or a religious piece.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Large 30 foot living room with two pianos, music stands, keyboard, couches, seating area.
Mac computer, multiple cameras and great sound system.

*** Specialties ***
Classical Bel Canto (beautiful voice) style, operatic singing, Broadway style, Art Songs (Lieder in French, German and Italian.)

val, and the Stafford County Choral Society Scholarship competition. In 2008, I served on the production staff as musical director at the Astors' Beechwood Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island.

Proud Member of Actors Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, and the National Association of Teachers of Singers.

*** Lesson Details ***
Not only am I a trained singer, I am also an actor. I understand what it is to communicate and show emotion while singing. Before you can do this, you must also learn healthy singing technique. I will help blend the two.

The first half of each lesson will be dedicated to vocal exercises with the second half to songs I recommend or from your own repertoire. My recommendations may be from a different style of music than you are accustomed to, but I will be working towards helping you sing the style you want to sing.

Every voice is different. As a teacher I want to make sure that my students understand and are comfortable with what they are feeling and hearing. While I am an easy going person, I work very hard to help students find the right path to healthy vocal production.

*** Travel Equipment ***
n/a student must have piano in home for use by the teacher

*** Specialties ***
Musical Theatre

***please note: I have 3 cats. They do not come into the studio, but if you have allergies, this is possibly a problem.

Robben Ford, Pat Martino, Pat Metheny, Martin Taylor, and James Taylor, to name a few. Today David plays and teaches a variety of different styles, ranging from rock and blues to classical and jazz.

Piano

David started to play the piano after years of playing the guitar. Although a second instrument, it in many ways it was the first as everything David has aspired to on the guitar is pianistic, and he draws much of his inspiration on the instrument from piano players. Correspondingly, it wasn't long before David picked up the piano itself, studying privately first with Tatev Amir and later with Karen, Kushner, Professor of Piano Studies at UMKC. David applies many of the same principles to the piano that he does the guitar including stressing a comprehensive knowledge of music theory, self transcription, ear training and classical technique as well as the more traditional facets of piano pedagogy such as sight reading and rhythm work. Students learn music theory as applied to the keyboard, sight-reading, improvisation and the application of classical technique to modern styles.

As a pianist David is motivated primarily by his passion for music. Growing up he was influenced by classical, jazz, and film scores. Since picking up the piano he has been inspired by pianists from such diverse backgrounds as Art Tatum, Nicolai Lugansky, Oscar Peterson, and Bill Evans among others. Today David plays and teaches a variety of different styles, ranging from rock and blues to classical and jazz.

*** Lesson Details ***
I have extensive experience with all ages and skill levels. I use a curriculum specifically geared towards the guitar, as opposed to more traditional (and inferior) methods that emphasize note reading and piano pedagogy, my method will teach you music theory as it relates to the neck of the guitar and the music that the student are interested in. I am a fairly laid back teacher; we will go at your pace, but I do expect you to work hard.

With piano I use classical literature to develop technique but emphasize the development of a comprehensive understanding of music theory as applied to the keyboard. This includes but is not limited to studies in pop, rock, jazz and other style of contemporary piano.

*** Studio Equipment ***
#1) Dedicated music room seating for parents

#2) Practice/rehearsal room seating for parents

#3) Amplification provided and music stand.

#4) Keyboard/Piano for student use

#5) Broadband network, dual camera, file sharing and the latest technology utilized for online lessons.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide a music stand, my instrument, curriculum materials, music paper materials and amplification (if needed). I expect the student to have their own instrument and potentially amplification. I provide a piano for instruction but I expect my students to have a piano or keyboard for practice at home.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in classical and jazz guitar, however I am fluent in most styles, including rock, blues, fingerstyle, and miscellaneous. I teach from Jay EuDaly's "Vertical Truth: Chordal Mechanisms for the Guitar" but I also supplement this with a variety of other curriculum.

In piano I specialize in classical piano as well as jazz and pop.

years. Students who have studied with him come from a wide range of backgrounds with different goals. Those who have continued with musical studies in college have consistently placed out of at least the first two semesters of music theory and achieved advanced placement in their chosen fields of study. Those who chose a different path continue to benefit from the education and training they received from taking music lessons.

*** Lesson Details ***
There is no "standard formula" to lessons. Each student has their own unique background, needs, and goals. Lessons tend to be somewhat casual but are structured in such a way as to meet the unique requirements of the student.

To accomplish your goals, there are a few requirements and basic expectations that the student and parent must meet.
The first is practice. Students are expected to practice daily for at least the length of their lesson time. This, above all else, is essential to progress. It is also expected that a parent will attend lessons for students who are too young to drive themselves here. It's important for a parent to guide the student's practice time (particularly for younger students) to ensure that the most is gained from it. This is why I ask that a parent observe lessons.
Each student or parent should bring to each lesson a notebook, pencils (with erasers). The notebook will be used to record notes about each lesson, homework, practice advice, etc. Pencils (not pens...nobody's perfect!) are used by composers to record their creations and performers to mark their music. Both of these essential practices are subject to changing thought and must be open to change. So no ink, please!

Performers: It is not necessary to know how to read music at the first lesson for beginners. However, learning to read is required for subsequent lessons and will be a large focus for all non-readers. Lessons are not learned "by ear." A certain amount of theory will be a part of every lesson just as technique and repertoire. Concerning repertoire, it will be selected based on the student's learning needs but also with their input. The main emphasis on performance lessons, however, will be technique and reading. Students should come to the first lesson prepared to discuss their background & goals and the plan of their course of study.
Note: Voice students must be at least 16 years of age.

Composers: Just as with performers, it is not necessary to know how to read music at the first lesson. However, learning to read is required for subsequent lessons. Many young composers have great ideas but can only hear them in their heads or play them on an instrument. Lessons will allow you to obtain the skills to write them down with greater speed, accuracy, and clarity. More advance students will also include exploring a wider range of harmonic languages, advanced notation, instrumentation, orchestration, and aural skills. Students should come to the first lesson with examples of their work, either written, notated, or recorded in a digital format. They should be prepared to discuss their background & goals and the plan of their course of study.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
• To reschedule a lesson, more than one day notice is required.

• Make up lessons must be scheduled before the next regular lesson.

• A make up lesson cannot be scheduled in place of a regular lesson.

• If, for any reason, two 30-minute lessons are scheduled one right after the other, they will be charged as two 30-minute lessons, not one 60 minute lesson which is a different rate.

• If, for any reason, two 45-minute lessons are scheduled one right after the other, they will be charged as two 45-minute lessons, not one 90 minute lesson which is a different rate.

• the studio space is also inhabited by two lovely cats. Do consider this when signing up for lessons.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Yamaha DGX-650 weighted 88 keys full sized keyboard
area for parents to sit and observe lessons.

*** Specialties ***
Main area is in classical music and media scoring with secondary focus on musical theatre vocal performance and composing/arranging.

and translating this to Ableton and electronic music! Let me know how I can help you!