Medford Music Lessons

'play well with others' in informal as well as more structured gatherings every few months, with no pressure, only compassion & encouragement.

For those wishing to join in the fun of playing bluegrass music, we will start out with technique exercises, scales, basic melodies & accompaniment patterns to prepare you to learn this unique & exciting style of American music. There are many gatherings in the area called 'Pickin' Parties' that I want to get you ready to participate in as soon as is humanly possible.

If you are one of those brave souls undertaking the lovely but challenging fretless instrument, the violin, my main focus is to get you started with the all the necessary basic techniques - holding the instrument & bow correctly, getting the best possible tone & pitch using efficiency & accuracy, mixed with a great deal of ear training & heart.

Specific songs you'd like to learn? Your reward for accomplishing what I deem necessary on whichever instrument you've chosen will be for us to then listen to & analyze your desired piece, & I will then write it out in either tablature or standard notation.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Lesson studio contains music stand, tuner, metronome, & there is easy parking in the well-lit front lot.

*** Travel Equipment ***
The student must have own instrument & be willing to purchase necessary tools as recommended at their first lesson for their instrument & playing level, such as music stand, tuner, pick, book, strap, etc. at a local music store or online.

*** Specialties ***
Bluegrass, Country, Country Rock, Contemporary Christian, Americana, Ragtime Blues Guitar, Fingerstyle, Flatpick, Accompaniment, Ear Training, Theory, Harmony

usic Theory. I credit my early development to my teachers, Ron Bluen, and Steve Famiglietti. I aspire to offer my students the same positive influence I received during my formative years.
After high school, I attended the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California, where I honed my chops. From there, I played with various bands, including Hollywood Rose (the precursor to Guns N’ Roses) and with Bruce Bouillet (Racer X, The Scream, Epidemic) and Tommy Chong.
In 2006, I released my solo record, Contributions For An Atom Bomb. The Album has garnered a cult following and the respect of some of my all-time heroes.
Today, I continue to play live shows, teach, study, write, record and jam. Nothing makes me prouder than jamming with my students and watching them grow as musicians.

*** Lesson Details ***
I like to focus on three things every lesson.
1. Technical Exercises- to get your fingers moving and build strength and coordination
2. Music Theory - the fingerboard and the way music works seem complicated, but I have a great methodical and simple way to break it down so it all makes sense.
3. Tunes - I like to work with the music you like. We take songs and break them down to understand the techniques and theory behind them. You won't just play the song like the recording, you'll understand the chords and scales and why your favorite artist chose them.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I have guitars, a bass, pedals, cables, metronome, practice amps, etc. All you need to bring is your guitar.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide my own equipment and materials, students must provide their own guitar, amp, etc.

*** Specialties ***
I teach students to understand theory and the fingerboard. All styles and genres are acceptable but I specialize in rock.

king Suzuki piano lessons when I was 5 and quickly fell in love with the piano. Since the Suzuki method incorporates such thorough ear-training and the ability to play without sheet music, I quickly began to explore my creative side and was improvising on the piano by age 7. Naturally, this led to composition! Music was flowing through me, and I was able to both improvise and compose my inspirations on the piano. I entered and placed in the Reflections state composition contest each year. Throughout my youth, I was also very involved with the band (played trumpet), dance, drama and attended many symphonies, ballets, plays and operas - giving me a well-rounded artistic upbringing.

I pursued my passion and earned a Bachelor's degree in music composition from Mills College, followed by a Master's degree in music composition from the renowned California Institute of the Arts. My thorough education has taught me to compose for any instrument or ensemble as well as compose for film, dance, and theater. It has also taught me to understand the piano in-depth, along with theory and ear-training. Since graduating in 2006, I have scored several films, received commissions to compose for ensembles and musicians, and taught both composition and piano lessons. I also created an ensemble named SIRËoNa that I composed for, managed, and performed piano, percussion, and indigenous flutes in, and I was interviewed and featured on NPR along with local radio stations and newspapers. I have produced two CD's. Most recently, I composed a score for a silent film, premiering live with the Seattle Jazz Ensemble as part of the moisture festival in Seattle.

Do you want to learn to sit at any piano and simply play what you feel? Or turn that tune running through your head into a song that you or others can perform? Or to master every detail of a piece of music so that you can express it exactly as the composer intended? I can teach you! I encourage all ages and backgrounds to explore their creative musical passions and discover the endless possibilities of piano performance and music composition!

*** Lesson Details ***
When teaching piano, I take a similar approach to the Suzuki method. But instead of teaching from the Suzuki books, I teach my own composed exercises and pieces that I believe are more fun and accessible to today's student of any age! I create MP3 recordings of each exercise and have students listen to and memorize the exercises in their own time.This is a very important aspect of my lessons that thoroughly develops the ear - giving the student the ability to play the exercise from memory and to deeply understand the connection between their actions and the resulting sound.

I develop my exercises to progress each student through an increasing degree of technique difficulty and musical parameters - such as rhythm, melody, chords, harmony, key and range. Beginning exercises will isolate a specific musical parameter to bring thorough understanding of its possibilities, while advanced exercises and pieces will work on coordinating multiple parameters and techniques at the same time. Within 6 months, a beginner piano student will have tackled and perfected simple yet fun exercises that incorporate each major musical parameter, as well as develop correct posture and finger technique, and have developed some ear training and basic music theory skills. I also have my students do creative exercises, which develop more thorough ear training and the ability to eventually improvise and compose on the piano. More advanced piano students will perfect their ability to interpret and express each piece of music that they play and will receive thorough ear training, music theory lessons, and develop their creative abilities through piano improvisation and composition. Once they have tackled the fundamentals, intermediate and advanced piano students will learn the classics as well.

Along with piano lessons, I'm also highly qualified to teach music composition - including beginning to advanced composition, music theory, composing for any instrument or ensemble, Sibelius computer notation program, film scoring, and orchestration.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Private room, desk, professional digital piano - 88 keys fully weighted, piano bench. 2 professional cameras and iMac computer for online lessons. Percussion instruments for young students. Sibelius for composition students... Parents can sit in.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I expect students to have their own piano or keyboard when having a lesson in their home.

*** Specialties ***
Piano, Composition, Suzuki method, Classical, Contemporary, Ear Training, Memory Training, Piano Improvisation, Music Theory, Piano Ergonomics, In-depth Holistic Approach, Music History, Rhythm and Percussion. Success in teaching ages 3 and up, all backgrounds and ages.

trategies to enhance their skill development.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Yamaha Clavinova, piano
Classical guitar "Takamine"
Accordion "Gullietti"

*** Specialties ***
Accordion, piano, classical guitar Traditional Russian School all styles and genres. Levels: beginner through advanced!

elin.

*** Lesson Details ***
I have been teaching for a long time now and enjoy working with people. I structure the lessons to fit my student's needs and interests. Everyone learns differently and I like to make the lessons enjoyable while developing a solid foundation. I teach note-reading and incorporate music that the student wants to play or sing. I am very patient and teach all levels and ages.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Keyboard, Computer, Guitar, Uke, Amplifier, Microphone, Guitar and more. Everything you need to get started.

*** Specialties ***
Singing Lessons: Everyone can sing!!! I will help you develop your technique and expand your range, pitch and confidence! You will have a fun time learning about your instrument. I teach Classical, Blues, Jazz, Rock, Country, Musical Theater, and Pop styles, even though I am Classically trained. The technique will crossover into all styles.

Song-writing: I will be happy to help you structure and develop your art. It's story telling at it's finest.

Guitar: Have fun learning songs you like and get a great foundation too. I teach finger picking, tab, theory, scales, note-reading along with music you like.

Kindermusik classes. She is currently the orchestra director at Madrone Trail Public Charter School. Mrs. Reiten has served as a violin consultant to the South Medford High School orchestras and has taught at a variety of fiddle camps. Mrs. Reiten prepares her students for performances of all kinds, ensembles to orchestras, auditions to solos.

A graduate of Oregon State University, Mrs. Reiten receives on-going training with Suzuki Specialist Kendra Law and has had extensive training with industry leaders such as Faina Podolnaya, Sherry Kloss, and Shelly Rich.

a jazz emphasis while playing jazz saxophone at Northwestern University. I have spent the last 4 years teaching at a British International School in China, and performing in orchestras, funk bands, and more around Beijing. This has given me the experience and knowledge base to teach students of all ages and backgrounds, as well as to teach many different instruments across a wide range of styles, including: clarinet, flute, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, beginning piano, and rock bands.

nd massage. I was honestly baffled by how far I had come in a very short period of time. She has a true natural talent and I am so grateful to have been able to work with her!"

-Ariel Ardin (Hollywood Producer)

“Auralee is a fabulous voice coach who has learned from the best. The techniques Auralee uses is mind-blowing, simple, and a skill that will stay with you for the rest of your life. She is very professional, fun, out-going and does an amazing job at taking your voice to new heights you never thought you could. I still use her techniques and do voice warm-ups before singing, and I LOVE to sing, and am so grateful I got to work with her. I highly recommend her to train your voice."

-Mercy Lavery

"She individualized her techniques to fit my needs and found the perfect ways to help me improve. She increased my confidence and brought out the best in me. Though I am older, she helped me overcome my hoarseness and improve the quality of my voice to an even, beautiful tone. She helped me discover that I have a huge voice range and can sing almost anything. I truly loved singing and learning with Auralee! I would encourage anyone to take lessons through Auralee. She has top-of-the-line techniques, and she is the best!"

-Aleta Lewis

I have techniques form world renown vocal coaches. If someone has a voice at all, I can teach them to sing - and to sing beautifully. I can even help damaged voices recover, including damage from smoking. From people who are "tone deaf" to high paying performers, I can free their voice or take it to new heights. I am here to help awaken that ability to whomever can catch the dream.