Truesdale Music Lessons

various music schools, summer camps and festivals. A few advanced students have even attended and performed in some of these aforementioned festivals! I am always encouraging my students to go above and beyond.

A bit of background about me: I started my music studies at the age of 7. Lessons and orchestra were literally the highlight of my childhood. I ended up attending the Baltimore School for the Arts for high school, and went on to receive my Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Shenandoah University and complete further studies in England, Northern Ireland and Maryland (UMBC graduate certificate). I am also a registered Suzuki Violin/Viola teacher and have attended many teachers workshops in order to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to work with any and all types of students, including those with learning disabilities, such as ADD and FAS.

*** Lesson Details ***
While I am a registered Suzuki violin teacher, I do not teach solely out of a certain method or "by the book"; I choose and mold every lesson depending on specific, strengths, weaknesses, etc. If you are a more advanced, serious player, more intensive lessons and repertoire will follow suit.

I am comfortable teaching all ages and levels up to advanced. Use of games make learning the violin fun and accessible for young children. Older and more advanced students receive a more technical, intensive and advanced approach. Coaching and weekly help on school assigned materials (orchestra/string class music and homework) Classical, Jazz, Gypsy and Fiddle styles are all introduced and studied to give students a rounded technique. Music theory (reading and understanding music) is incorporated in lessons. Repertoire is diverse and exciting. Various approaches for the visual or aural learner. Guaranteed to keep you or your child engaged and interested!

*** Equipment and Studio Lesson Details ***

-If you are coming to my home for lessons, please be sure to bring your instrument and any books you may already have.

**Please note, there are three cats in the house. They are usually isolated to a different part of the house during lessons to ensure there are no unnecessary distractions and to help minimize potential allergies (studio is also sprayed with allergy reducer spray and vacuumed regularly). All are UTD on shots. Please call and ask to schedule a "trial" lesson to see if the animals interfere with allergies.

New students:
You may park on the Clayton Rd outside our house or on the cul-de-sac next to the house and walk down.
I have a trial 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 size violin to use for the first lesson if your child is a beginner.
After the first lesson I will send an email explaining what materials and equipment I recommend you buy to help you sound your best.

Places to rent or buy instruments will be recommended upon request.

*** Cancellation/Reschedule Requests ***
1) At least 24 hours notice is required if you need to cancel your, or your child's, lesson. You will be given the option to take a credit that will automatically roll over to cover future unpaid lessons on your calendar, or the option to reschedule for a different day within a week of the canceled lesson.

2) If you find that you need to cancel with less than 24 hours notice (I completely understand life happens, and sometimes it is unavoidable to provide 24hr notice), you will be given the option to make up your lesson within 7 calendar days of your originally scheduled lesson time. If you cannot do a makeup lesson, this will result in the lesson being marked as "missed" and will still be charged as if you attended the lesson.

3) If you do not show up to your lesson scheduled at my home studio and no notice was given, the lesson will be marked as "missed" and will still be charged as if you attended the lesson.

4) If I need to reschedule or cancel a lesson for whatever reason, you will be given an option for a makeup lesson or given a credit that will automatically roll over to cover future unpaid lessons.

5) I require two weeks notice to discontinue lessons if you would like to receive a refund or be exempt from paying future tuition.

6) All lessons are billed ahead of schedule and must be paid in advance in order to keep your lesson slot.

*** Specialties ***
Suzuki Violin/Viola Method
Music Theory Tutor
Genres: Classical, fiddle.
Experience teaching ages 4-Adults.

time.

theatre and work with kids every day.

I was training American Sign Language at Northern Virginia Community College back in 2012. In 2015 I studied under an ASL master from Gallaudet University. I have continued to further my knowledge of ASL every day. I was recently the ASL captain at work who helped make sure all signs were done correctly and expressed properly.

My goal is to help you learn what you are craving to know! I try to not charge too high for lessons, I know that this is something that is for fun and is not always a possibility so I try to keep it at a lowish price so that everyone has a chance to learn. I am very flexible to schedules. I am willing to have a regular time or switching it up weekly; I have students who travel for a living so they are always on a different time zone; no matter the obstacle I will make it work for you!
Something that is great to know about me is that I never stop training, pursuing growth and knowledge. I read books in these various fields to learn more and more, take master classes, and train with my own vocal coaches. I think art - on any platform, is a great way to get out of your head, free your mind, and open up yourself. So this can be for professional training, a hobby you always wanted to pursue, or a dream you wanted to chase after.

In my class with you, or you child, I will make an individualized lesson plan that focus around what skills you already have, what skills you aim to improve/gain, and how you learn. I am very familiar with the fact that we are ALL different, which means we will all learn DIFFERENTLY. I am willing to explain something in as many ways as one needs in order to understand. I like to think of my lessons as a “safe place” to explore, have fun, grow, and be okay with making mistakes. We will always start with the basics, understand the core of the craft - for example in singing that would be our vocal anatomy and how it all connects together. I use props to help make the concept more visual and graspable as well as diagrams. This is not something someone will pick up in one lesson, so don’t come in saying “I can’t”, you can, you just have to learn HOW. I will show you the how. Remember, this is a learning process, we must embrace each step of our growth.
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Some background of how I came to do what I do:
I have been working professionally for theatres for five years now; which has had me living in various towns in NC, OH, AR, and traveling nationwide for tours. I have a lot of experience under my belt for my years. I began taking performance classes as young as age 2 when I started ballet, then I began singing in choir in third grade. I started being in awe of sign language when I saw an interpreter working her magic around age ten and I asked my mom for a sign language book. Expanding my knowledge is what I do for fun, so when you pick me you pick someone who is constantly growing and learning more which will ultimately benefit the student.

I teach a variety of classes that, for the most part, circle around the arts! Some of my classes include, but are not limited to: Acting, Child Acting, Improv Audition Prep, Various styles of “Singing” classes, Ear Training, Musical Theatre, Music Performance, Various “Art” classes, Facial Exercises (Which is great for singers, and those who speak a lot day to day to help relieve tension in the face), and more!
For an explanation on each class, I will be recording a video that describes them and posting that on here soon! There is a video trailer of me singing and dancing that is currently available. If you want to know anything more at all please do not hesitate to send me a message and I will respond as quickly as I possibly can!

help and I just simply want to pass down an art form in a way that I feel is authentic.

Styles:

Jazz
Blues
Rock
Indie rock

ion but that doesn’t keep me (or my students) from branching out into other genres such as rock, pop, jazz and bluegrass.

I hold lessons at my apartment which is conveniently located above a coffee shop. Grab a coffee before your lesson!

Hope to hear from you soon!