Belews Creek Music Lessons

of my students, I am now at a point where I excel at honing in on the individual interests and learning styles of whoever comes to me for help. There are many ways to learn guitar. The best one is the one that engages and inspires you the most. That said, there are also music fundamentals that we all need to know. My joy as a teacher lies in finding a way for you to master the fundamentals while at the same time following your personal bliss and intuition. We plot the course together, combining your curiosity and enthusiasm with my years of experience.

I also love working with kids. While they are having fun jamming, I discretely provide them with the technique and musicianship they'll need to excel in any musical environment, whether it's conservatory study or playing in a great band.

*** Lesson Details ***
Your enthusiasm is the key to your success, so my lessons are tailored to the interests and abilities of each student. That said, my classical background and dedication to effective teaching inform everything I do.

All of my students learn Music Fundamentals:
-Technique (habits of movement)
-Theory (how music works)
-Aural skills (hearing pitches, chords and rhythms clearly)

Many of my students use books. There are hundreds of great books these days, and I will work with students from any book they choose. Listed here are the books I regularly use. They all deliver great results:

-Aaron Shearer "Leaning The Classic Guitar"
-Will Schmidt and Greg Koch "The Hal Leonard Method"
-Joe Pecoraro "Read This First"
-David Oaks "Music Reading For Guitar"
-William Leavitt "A Modern Method For Guitar"
-Mateo Carcassi "Melodic and Progressive Studies, Opus 60"
-Leo Brouwer "Simple Studies"

Many of my students prefer to work without a book, and that is a great option too. These students learn scales, chords and theory and develop a repertoire of songs. I will show you how to play any song you'd like to learn. You can also work on writing your own songs or compositions, or improvising in any context, be it jazz, blues, Indian raga or flamenco.

Singing is also encouraged!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Home studio: music stands, extensive library of all kinds of music, great sound system and ability to stream any song, several guitars, recording equipment, footstools, keyboard and percussion instruments.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I'll bring my guitar and books, accessories as needed.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in versatility. I regularly play gigs doing classical, jazz, blues, rock, pop, and world music. All of these genres have a place in my heart, and I've devoted years to learning to play and teach them well.

I am equally polyamorous when it comes to the various things musicians do. I love to sing pop songs, dissect jazz lines, delve into expressive groupings with classical pieces, drill scales and arpeggios, you name it. Reading, improvising, composing and notating, transcribing and playing by ear, memorization, classical technique, blues technique, bluegrass technique, theoretical analysis... hit me up for any of that, or whatever else interests you.

ow your goals and get YOU to where you want to be.

Some of my guitar influences are Van Halen, Steve Vai, ACDC, Guns ‘n Roses, Led Zeppelin and James Brown just to name a few. I've shared the stage with Eddie Money, David Lee Roth, Great White and several other national touring artists. I have a passion for music and love to share this with others willing to learn the instrument.

*** Lesson Details ***
Some example lessons would be as follows:

I target each student uniquely. No cookie-cutter lesson plans! I learn your short and long-terms goals and set the lesson material appropriately to help the student achieve their goals. Lessons absolutely have to be fun, so if you like to laugh and have a good time while learning guitar, this is right up your alley!

I use both written and media formats for my lessons. For example, the written material may include chords, modes or scales while the MP3 files (which I send via email) will cover the application of this material and can be used by the student for reference at home. Often the MP3 files include the material performed at a very slow speed and then again at normal speed to help the student understand the lesson and material.

All you need is a positive attitude and a desire to make music and you will be able to do it with a smile!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Music Studio: couches, music stands, recording equipment, amps and guitars, chord diagrams, room for parents to sit in on lesson

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can provide a guitar for the lessons although I expect that the student will need one of their own to practice

*** Specialties ***
Rock Guitar, Pop, Top 40

*** Lesson Details ***
I favor an easygoing approach to lessons as a joint venture (and Adventure) between the student and me. I enjoy encouraging students and responding to their individual needs and levels of accomplishment. I have taught beginners of every age as well as more experienced pianists. For beginners I aim to establish a comfortable relationship with the instrument so that they can feel at ease in playing in high and low registers and everywhere in between. For more advanced players the goal is to connect good technique with their own innate musical skill. Students at all levels will work on their music-reading and sight-reading skills. If your dream is to learn to play piano, I can help you to get started. If you already play, I can help you to prepare for auditions and recitals and, in short, to reach the next level. Let's roll!

*** Studio Equipment ***
six foot grand in living room seating for parents

*** Specialties ***
For many years I taught young children from the Frances Clark "Music Tree" series. With more intermediate and advanced students I used the Alfred Series as well as volumes by James and Jane Bastien. I also enjoy teaching and coaching students in the art of accompanying, particularly in choral music and vocal art songs. This is a specialty of mine, as I have made my living as a collaborative pianist. In recent years I have studied more popular genres that include piano arrangements of Gershwin, Porter, Kern, Rodgers, and many other American composers. While I shy away from teaching these to young students (even of high school or college age), I do occasionally teach contemporary arrangements of hymn tunes (Mark Hayes, Larry Shackley, and others) to students who show promise in handling modern genres, which of course require no small amount of technique and discipline.

often should we meet and for how long?
I recommend lessons once per week. 30 minute lessons are good for beginning piano students. 45 minute lessons are ideal for singers and intermediate piano students. 60 minute lessons are appropriate for advanced students interested in studying lots of repertoire or for singers who are having a particularly difficult time with ear training.

What do you do in lessons?
To learn what you would be doing in a lesson just select a subject in blue under "Heather Teaches" at the top of this page for a description of how each lesson works in that subject.

I want to study piano, do I have to have a real piano?
No, you don't have to have a real piano but you do need at least a keyboard, preferably one that gets louder or softer depending how hard you hit a key, has at least 61 keys, and has a sustain pedal.

Do you help singers who want to learn rap, metal, or some other non-conventional style of singing?
Yes, I have actually worked with some metal bands before! Even if you are using something like screaming you can use it in a way that hurts your voice less. I love to apply good technique to styles like that.

***Student/Parent-Teacher Agreement***
If you choose to book through me here are the details of what you can expect from me and what I will expect from you.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES
1: Schedule 10-30 minutes of practice each day for at least five days per week. Your teacher will give you a specific minutes goal based on your age and level of study.

2: Bring you assignment book to each lesson and complete all assignments.

3: Arrive promptly at your lesson time. You reserve the time slot, not the number of minutes.

4: Pianists’ fingernails should be kept trim. When playing with curved fingers, the nails should not click.

5: No gum, food, or drinks during lessons (water bottles are permitted).

6: Online students are responsible for printing assignments that your teacher sends you online. Online singers need to have a way to play karaoke tracks while being logged in to the TakeLessons classroom.

7: Please turn all cell phones to silent during the lesson. Online students are not allowed to surf the web during their lessons.

PARENT/GUARDIAN EXPECTATIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES
1: Support the fulfillment of your child’s responsibilities by consistently bringing your child to lessons, rehearsals, and performances and remind your child of daily practice and help them to schedule this practice time in their daily routine.

2: Communicate with the teacher about any questions or concerns you have. I want to meet your expectations, as well as your child’s, and I encourage feedback.

3: Provide an acceptable instrument for practice. Pianists: an acoustic piano is recommended, however, good electronic instruments that are full size, have a sustain pedal, and are capable of dynamics (the ability to control the volume of the sound through the touch of the performer) are also acceptable. Singers: a device for recording lessons (optional) and a keyboard, pitch pipe, or pitch pipe phone app.

4: Parents/guardians may sit-in on lessons only if they do not disturb them. Please, no talking at all. You may wait in the car or run an errand if you prefer. The teacher reserves the right to no longer allow a parent/guardian to sit in on a lesson should their behavior be deemed a habitual distraction for the student.

TEACHER PLEDGE
1: To provide a tailored curriculum to meet student’s individual needs and goals.

2: To clearly communicate short-term and long-term goals.

3: To encourage a feeling of success at each student’s individual rate of learning.

4: To report the student’s progress to the parent/guardian if applicable and listen to any concerns and answer any questions of the parent/guardian and student if applicable.

5: To devote the entire lesson time to the student. I am a stay-at-home mom and occasionally I may need to attend to my child. In the rare circumstance that your lesson is interrupted, I will offer you make-up time at the end of the lesson or at a time that is most convenient for you.

STUDENT CANCELLATIONS OR ABSENCES: If given 24 hours notice, I will allow for a makeup lesson or cancellation. If I am not notified within 24 hours a lesson credit will be used regardless of whether or not the student attends.

TEACHER ABSENCES: All lessons missed as a result of the teacher canceling will be made up at a convenient time or credited to the next lesson.

TUITION: Lesson credits must be purchased through TakeLessons.com before the scheduled lesson can be taught.

PERSONAL LIABILITY: The teacher is not responsible for any injuries, loss or theft occurring on the teacher’s personal property. Children should not be left at the studio/home unattended. The teacher cannot be held responsible for the safety of the student outside of their lesson time, or the safety of any family members/friends that may accompany the student to lessons.

STUDENT TERMINATION: Students and parents are permitted five initial lessons to decide if the lessons are a good student-teacher fit. If more lessons are purchase after the initial five lessons, lessons should be seen as an on-going commitment. If a student chooses to terminate lessons (after the introductory five-lesson period), the parent/guardian or adult student must inform the studio with a 30-day notice. The student is responsible for purchasing the last month’s lessons whether they choose to use the lesson credits or not.

TEACHER-INITIATED TERMINATION: Lessons may be terminated for unpaid tuition, for repeated missed lessons, or for consistently late or unreturned phone calls, texts, or e-mails. The teacher reserves the right to terminate lessons at her own discretion.

f teaching. Once I have gotten to know the student and their (if applicable) parents, then I tailor the lessons to fit their needs. I teach using a mix of traditional and more modern Suzuki philosophies. Additionally, I am willing to teach in my home, at your home, or online. I am also willing to use toys and games for very young students who are wiggly.

Perfect practice makes perfect playing. I believe in starting with form and care of the instrument, and then moving into theory right away. Unless there is a recital or performance coming up, I prefer to spend up to 20-40% of a lesson on music technique and theory. This will ultimately lead to a more well rounded musician and allow for greater creativity as a mature musician.

a young bassoonist is paramount; it is key to making great music and being successful from day to day.

pline, we achieve our greatest dreams.