Lesson Details
Aaron teaches
About
- Teaches students:
- Ages 8+
- Teaching since:
- September 2003
I provide private instruction in beginning-intermediate piano and in all levels of ear-training, music theory, and composition. My primary strength is in concert/classical/art music, but I happily teach all styles of music to piano students.
I work out of my sunny, air-conditioned apartment home in Lowell near the Tsongas Center or at your home if you are within a fifteen-minute walk from me. At my home, I use an HP507 Roland Digital Piano, a quality instrument with all 88 keys, fully weighted, touch sensitive.
My cumulative eight years of undergraduate teaching experience include four years instructing as a Graduate Teaching Fellow at the University of Oregon and four years on faculty at UMass Lowell (2010-present). I have taught all levels of class piano, music theory, analysis, musicianship, and ear training. This is extremely rewarding work. I decided to focus more on working with private students for personal enrichment and for a wider variety of experience
I approach my students' unique desires and capabilities with great care, respect, and humor, modeling my expectations on their personal goals, working to foster the joy of musical discovery through any combination of listening, analyzing, performing, and composing. I want you to be happy making and understanding music, and it's my job to find out what clicks with you.
My living-room studio is cozy, but comfortable. I require younger students' guardians to sit in on the lessons. In all cases, family members are welcome to quietly join us and either observe the lesson from some distance, read, or even bring a meal.
My current availability is a summer schedule. Come September this will alter somewhat. I make every effort to stay flexible enough to accommodate students' changing schedules.
Experience
Instructor - Intro to Piano and Music Theory: 2012, 2013, and 2014
Jul 2012 - PresentHosted by UMass Lowell, the Mary Jo Leahey Symphonic Band Camp is a residential week-long immersion into music for talented pre-college-age performers of primarily wind instruments.
They are required to enroll in offered electives of their choice. Intro to Piano and Music Theory are two that I've taught, summer 2014 being my third year with the camp.
Private Piano and Musicianship Instructor
Jan 2011 - PresentI was successfully teaching a total of around eight children and adults in the Jamaica Plain and Roslindale neighborhoods starting in 2011.
In September 2012, I relocated to Lowell to live near UMass, who at the time was providing me with a healthy course load. As I do not drive, the commute was very lengthy from Roslindale, and I had to make the difficult decision to discontinue lessons in the Boston area, picking up a few students here and there in Lowell.
Long story short, I am now building up a studio of private students, and plan to stay put for the foreseeable future!
Adjunct Faculty
Sep 2010 - PresentInstructor of the following courses:
–Musicianship & Analysis
–Music Theory
–Basic Music Theory (non-music-majors)
–Aural Skills
–Introduction to Piano
Graduate Teaching Fellow
Sep 2003 - May 2007Lecturer and lab instructor for the following courses.
–Keyboard Skills
–Music Theory
–Music Analysis
–Aural Skills
–Music in World Cultures
Education
PhD Music
Sep 2003 - Sep 2009Master of Music
Sep 2001 - May 2003Bachelor of Music
Sep 1986 - May 1990Languages
English
French
Awards
Soli fan tutti Kompositionspreis, 2011
May 2011Seventh Annual Kris Getz Award for Composition
May 2003Honorable Mention
May 2003Affiliations
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
Jan 2002The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than 480,000 US composers, songwriters, lyricists and music publishers. The ASCAP is committed to nurturing music makers throughout their careers.
Photos & Videos
8 Reviews
Write a ReviewAaron has an ability to make difficult things interesting and fun. While I was at the University of Oregon, Aaron provided me private instruction for what was one of the most disliked classes amongst the undergrads. Aaron turned what used to be something that I would dread into something that was entertaining and effective. He would come with real world examples and allegories regarding music theory and composition to apply context to whatever it was we were studying. Despite my apparent deficiencies in ear training, he was not only incredibly patient but also very effective in helping me overcome my challenges and earn a passing grade.
+ Read MoreI studied with Aaron while I was an undergraduate student majoring in music performance. Aaron's class was always a highlight of my day, because he made learning about music fun and approachable. Aaron helped me build a strong foundation of knowledge in music theory and aural skills which has since played a large part in my professional and musical growth. I highly recommend Aaron as a teacher!
+ Read MoreAaron is awesome!! I took lessons from him at the University of Oregon. He was a complete treasure to work with! He was patient, deeply kind, supportive, clear, set great goals for me and coached and encouraged me every step of the way!
Aaron is super-fun and a great pianist! I always look forward to my lessons, and I feel like I'm getting a lot better.
Dr. Aaron has opened my mind to how composers think and deeper levels of music theory. His approach to teaching is full of humor and he tailors everything to what my goals are. My musicianship will definitely benefit from Studying with Aaron, I would highly recommend Dr. Aaron as an instructor
+ Read MoreAs a student of music composition, Aaron helped me to gain insight into my own compositional techniques and processes. He then introduced me to new techniques which helped me to create more cohesive, focused, and meaningful music. I would highly recommend Aaron as a music teacher with both a great depth of knowledge and a wonderful sense of humor.
+ Read MoreAaron is a wonderful teacher. I took lessons from him covering a wide range of topics in music - solfege, theory, piano. I have had a great deal musical training, and am an adult learner. Aaron treated me like an adult but progressively pushed me to a deeper understanding. Aaron found the pockets where I most needed to pull my experience and training together, and taught me a great many things in a short time. I highly recommend him as a teacher.
+ Read MoreI am a good pianist but I really wanted to work on music theory and analysis. I chose Aaron because I wanted to know more about what I was playing. Aaron has really provided me with profound insight on multiple levels into the music I am working on, such that my performances have gained entirely new meanings. I have been working on Shostakovich's Piano Concerto no. 2 and he has really helped me to understand the harmonies in the second movement. Aaron has a warm, inviting personality and is a delight to take lessons from. I highly recommend this teacher.
+ Read More