Piano with Jacob A.

Hi everyone. If you're reading this, that means you're taking the time to consider music lessons for yourself or a family member, which is fantastic. Most people play music because of one simple reason - it's fun. The fun and excitement of playing a song for the first time is a great experience that you don't forget. The benefits that musical study has on an individual, both young and old, are too many to list in full here. It provides a fun, relaxing hobby, it keeps the mind sharp, people who study music tend to do better in school and work, it can bring one out of a sad mood, it is a fun social activity....... the list goes on and on! As someone who has studied music for 25 years and taught for nearly 10, I understand the reasons why people become interested in studying music. I always strive to keep lessons fun yet ensure that students get the best educational experience from them as well. I treat each student as an individual, tailoring my approach to fit each student's personality and learning style. I also play and teach a wide variety of styles and feel that students can learn a lot and have fun from playing almost anything. Studying with me, you will definitely get to play the songs and styles that you've always wanted to. So if there's a song you've always wanted to be able to play yourself, now you will be able to! I am currently studying piano and piano pedagogy in college and of course these experiences help a great deal in my teaching. Having played a lot of music on my own, and having had to figure a lot of things on my own as well, I feel I am especially well-equipped to teach students of all ages and abilities and to help students overcome any obstacle they may encounter. I firmly believe in keeping music-making an enjoyable, enriching part of people's lives and can't wait to do that for you. *** Lesson Details *** I am a teacher who is laid back, fun, and easy to talk to yet focused on ensuring that students get the most out of lessons. I base the curricula I use on each individual's taste, goals, ability level, and age. After 3 to 6 months of study, students can expect to have learned at least the basic musical and pianistic tools needed to become more proficient players. A beginning lesson with me is very much a "get to know each other" meeting. I strive to get to know the student as well as I can, what his/her musical background is like, what his/her goals regarding musical study are, etc. I typically ask students who have played piano before to play one or two short pieces so that I can get a good idea of what level that student is at, what his/her strengths and weaknesses are, etc. Students who have never played piano before will still get to play some, figuring out keyboard topography, playing short, simple rote pieces, etc. I enjoy teaching students of all ages and ability levels. I work especially well with adult students, although I have substantial experience teaching children as well, and enjoy it very much. My musical philosophy is based on the fact that music and music making is one of the most pleasurable activities one can engage in. The discipline and diligence needed to excel at music are proven to have positive impacts on other areas of life, and the joy one experiences from it also have incredibly positive effects on one's life. I hope to make music an enjoyable, refreshing part of the lives of all of my students and hope that, in turn, the joy of music making will spread to other areas of their lives as well. *** Travel Equipment *** I can provide some, but not necessarily all, sheet music, and if students meet me at a predetermined location, a piano as well. If traveling to a student's home, they should have a piano or keyboard. *** Specialties *** I am classically trained but play and teach a wide variety of music. My specialties are in classical music, ragtime, and jazz, but I am capable of playing and teaching nearly all styles. I don't necessarily have one particular method or approach that is predetermined, for I prefer to wait until I have met each student before deciding what is the best one, based on said student's needs, goals, and wants.