Piano with James H.

BA, University of Pittsburgh, Music MA DePaul University, Jazz Performance I have over 10 years of teaching experience. I loved every one of them. I do consider myself a passionate educator and a patient instructor. I had been blessed to have received masterful instruction from brilliant, warm teachers in my own training and so I do understand firsthand the value in kind and passionate education. My theory of practice is to build a lesson plan with each student individually. A major goal for me is to present information in a way that can empower the student to identify their own interests. Ultimately we'll get to a place where the student can persue their growth independently. Music is a very personal journey. To recognize it as such is the first victory. My bio: Jim is a pianist/instructor who is based in the greater Chicagoland area. Jim began his professional performing career since he was sixteen when he started playing the city's finest clubs. Jim has performed with seasoned greats such as: Ira Sullivan, Mark Whitfeild, Cladio Roditi, Donald Harrison, Antonio Hart, Jimmy Owens, Abe Laboriel, Rodger Humphries, Cecil Bridgewater, Yotam Silberstein, Ron Affif, Alexander King, and John Moulder. His debut album "Explosion" is out on Delmark Records features columbia recording artist Frank Catalano and jazz legend Richie Cole . Jim's second album, "Blue Skies," is also on Delmark records and features two legends of jazz Ira Sullivan and Roger Humphries. He  has studied under two Art Blakey Jazz Messenger Alumni: Dr Nathan Davis--who's performed with everyone from Herbie Hancock to Benny Golson; and Dr. Leon Lee Dorsey who was an active member of Lional Hampton's big band for several years, recorded with the likes of Freddie Hubbard and is an active member of Hilton Cruiz's trio. Jim is the recipient of the Pitt-Mellon BNY jazz scholarship for outstanding performance and composition. As a composer Jim has had quite a volume of original material spanning a wide array of styles performed by musicians such as PSO members (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra), and Pittsburgh-based Alia Musica. Jim's expertise spans classical--both old and modern, Jazz--both old and modern, modern popular styles such as rock, hip-hop, funk; and the intersections of these three camps, classical, jazz, and popular styles, which seem to be the direction of the 21st century. *** Lesson Details *** Beginning to professional jazz piano, and basic musicianship piano ---beginning Reading and notating music, ---basic Tone recognition and sight singing and ear training ---basic to advanced Technical Facility--this includes right and left hand independence and rhythmic dexterity, fluid technique *** Specialties *** basic piano musicianship including: reading and notating music, piano technique and coordination; jazz piano, jazz improvisation for piano or players of any instrument with sufficient technical facility, ear training, piano technique, a wide range of advanced theory, composition, jazz history