I have been teaching young people and adults how to play musical instruments for over 20 years. A lot of my students are well on their way to a rewarding future with music, some as professionals and others as hobbyists. In addition to being a teacher, I am also a professional performer who has worked in a wide variety of styles and I have a Masters degree in music composition and theory. One of my main specialties is working with very young students and total beginners. There is a special skill to teaching young children that can only be developed through experience. For the older student, or the student who already has a musical background my specialty is helping you learn the styles that have always been of most interest to you. I can also help older students gain a broad understanding of music through some basic music theory. *** Lesson Details *** I can teach piano or keyboard to beginners and up to advanced students. On guitar and woodwinds I can teach beginners and up to intermediate level students. My teaching style is fairly relaxed and very positive, but I will try to keep the lessons on a course that is going to benefit you the most. For younger piano students and beginners I prefer the Alfreds piano system. The songs in the Alfreds books allow for immediate playing and note reading without any tedious memorization. The beginner books contain a lot of fun songs that kids really gravitate toward. For older students I try to gear the lessons toward whatever musical style you prefer. For students who have only had traditional piano lessons I can teach you how to read pop and jazz chord charts, as well as how to turn those chord charts into fully arranged music. I can also teach improvisation and the skills that are required to play specific styles of music in a professional band. For my younger guitar students I have a variety of beginner material I have collected over the years, but for my older students I prefer to work on songs of their choice. My beginner woodwind students will work with a Yamaha method book, while older students can learn improvisation and theory if they like. I also can lead Orff styled tuned percussion ensembles. The Orff style of music performance allows for students from entirely mis-matched musical backgrounds to play music together, even on their first day of class. *** Studio Equipment *** Professional digital piano, many other keyboards, guitar, bass guitar, saxophone and flute. I also have a comfortable seating area for parents, guests or observers. *** Travel Equipment *** I can provide multiple keyboards, a guitar, saxophone and flute, as well as countless books and literature. *** Specialties *** I play keyboards professionally in jazz, RnB, rock, reggae, Latin rock and other styles. I can help the student who has only had traditional lessons branch out and learn how to read chord charts, which in turn teaches them theory. I am a certified Orff teacher as well.