Simpsonville Music Lessons

I also supply relevant exercises and music theory to accelerate the learning process.

Piano Lessons
I differentiate between concepts and skills, while stressing the importance of mastering both. As important as it is to understand the intervalic relationships in something like the major scale, this knowledge does little for the pianist if she or he cannot pick out the notes to the different scales in real time. In observing that each person demonstrates unique learning patterns and abilities, I have learned that some people will come to understand the conceptual through mastery of memorized tasks while some will succeed with technical mastery only after achieving some conceptual understanding.
Voice Lessons
Having first begun singing at 22 years old, I know first hand that it’s never to late to start singing. Having some experience in school but not fully as a professional till in my 20′s, I have learned from some of the top professionals in the South Florida area. My first vocal lessons was with Gloria Estefan’s back up singer Jon Secada. Jon has his first hit “Just Another Day” that stayed at #1 for several weeks. His one lesson really helped me use singing in my gigging around town. From that time on, I have used this technique for all my students. focusing on JUST BREATHING, has helped many of my students.

Teaching Sound Recording
Working in the early 1980s with recorded music and computers, I was introduced to the new wave of recording at its birth. At Miami Dade Community College, I taught and assisted students in Composition, Sound Development, and Sound Recording using Mac computers and PC’s. As of this day, I personally teach recording in Logic Pro, Bias Peak and Mastering using Waves plug ins and having finished products in Mp4 format and or CD’s.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Mac with logic pro software instruments, piano seating for parents

*** Travel Equipment ***
expect students to provide paper and pencil and put in practice time on their respected instruments at least 30 min a week

*** Specialties ***
Alfred,Hanon,Rubank Advanced Method for instruments.

singer and guitarist. I've played shows all over the Northeast including (but not limited to) Xfinity Live, Wells Fargo Center, Hard Rock Cafe, The Tin Angel, Borgata AC, Ballys, Tropicana, and Seacrets in OCMD.
I love music and the role it has played in shaping my life. I value the experiences and wisdom passed on to me by my music mentors and instructors, who not only had a meaningful impact on my music career but also immensely influenced my development as a person.
I look forward to having that same positive impact on any student I instruct :)

*** Lesson Details ***
I like lessons to be, first and foremost, an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. I try to create a laid back and comfortable learning environment for all my students. Music is fun, and I guarantee that there will be plenty of good times while taking lessons!
Now, let me also clarify that my positive attitude and laid back demeanor are not excuses for students to be undisciplined and uncommitted. I promise to work hard toward your development as a musician to make you the best you can be, and I appreciate the same commitment from all of my students.
Music should be enjoyable, but also rewarding and enriching to your life! I don’t want to sell that short!

Below is a basic rundown of what a student can expect to learn while under my instruction. I would first like to preface this information by saying that I fully recognize that every student is different; therefore, I tailor lessons to fit an individual’s needs and goals. Because of this, the priority of certain skills tends to vary from one student to another, as does the order in which this skills are taught. I also want to note that I tend to use some self-made resources (charts, explanations, etc) in addition to published books. Taking into consideration the aforementioned variables, here is the basic rundown of the material I try to cover with students, in the general order it is taught:

-Understanding of guitar parts (anatomy of the instrument) and basic terms (ie note, chord, etc).
-Names of strings (E-string, B-string, etc.) and corresponding numbers for strings (1-6), and which fingers are given what numbers.
-Tuning of the instrument
-Basic technique (how to finger a fret board, hold guitar, hold pick, etc).
-How to find notes on the fret board/chromatic
-Basic rhythm concepts and counting (whole notes, quarter notes, time signatures, etc)—usually involves clapping exercise, single note playing exercises, reading rhythm charts, and learning what different note values look like.
-Basic concepts of “keys”
-Basic major and minor scales (especially for “warming up”)
-Chords (mostly basic open chords)
-Strumming
-Learning songs to put concepts together
For more advanced students, we will likely get into the following:
-Power chords, bar chords, and complex chords beyond majors and minors.
-Scales beyond basic majors and minors
-Music theory (chord construction, modes, etc).
-Knowledge of gear (for those guitarist who wish to branch out to electric guitar)—bass players will already have to know some of this before moving to more advanced work since they already require an amp.
-How to play with other musicians and instruments (collaboration, listening, understanding each instrument’s part, etc).

[To give students a basic timeline for these skills, one can expect to be playing open chords within three months and probably their favorite songs within 6 months]

SONGWRITING TEACHING METHODS:
-Review slides about basic song structure and anatomy of songs (verse, hook, etc)
-lyric and vocal phrasing
-finding your voice as a writer
-exploring environments and conditions that foster one’s creativity for writing songs (preference for outdoors, quite secluded spaces, etc).

LIVE PERFORMANCE:
-Breathing/relaxation exercises
-Movement/watching footage of self
-Watching footage of others
-Acting/stage exercises to get out of your head and into your body
-learning common problems with live performances and becoming comfortable with fast, on-the-spot trouble shooting (and how to avoid some problems before they begin).
-Finding your stage voice, both in singing and speaking.
-Developing your stage persona

*** Studio Equipment ***
Lessons in the living room
Equipped with guitars, bass amp, guitar amp, guitar cables, and tuner.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Student should provide his or her own guitar (and amps when applicable)

*** Specialties ***
I'm currently a professional musician that sings and plays guitar and bass for pop and rock music. We perform in front of thousands of people each week so I'm very comfortable giving live performance instruction as well.

dation in all of our students. Then we build onto that foundation with precise lesson plans that make learning music fun, fast, and easy! Our teaching approach explains music from multiple angles like, how to play, perform, and think about music. We also discuss how to create, protect, and promote your own music! We accomplish this by offering group, private, and ensemble lesson packages that cover technique and theory, and builds your repertoire! Unlike instructors who use a cookbook approach where they follow a recipe for every student, we curate a personalized curriculum based on each student’s short-term goals and long-term musical aspirations. Be sure to visit our website and social media platforms for more info!

rk mostly with children, but have a handful of adult beginner students I work with as well.

Everyone is different - and I personally take the time and effort to develop and customize my lessons and materials for each student. I'll push you (a little!), to make you realize just how much you can do!

Music is an all-rounded experience. Not only can I offer you a chance to learn how to play different styles of piano, from jazz to pop to classical, but I can also teach you how to write your own songs, arrange them, and perhaps (if you like) record them!

2016, my family moved back to Simpsonville, SC to be near family. After a brief hiatus of enjoying motherhood, I am excited to be back with Takelessons and to have the opportunity to work with talented students here in South Carolina!

Lessons with me are always conducted in the utmost professional way, and I come to the studio with a desire to teach not only music, but the love of music. I love music and want my students to love it too! I use illustrations and examples to make abstract ideas more concrete. Students are encouraged to explore their voice and piano skills in each of their lessons and during their practice time. I challenge my students to do their best and try to find the balance between keeping them inspired and pushing them to do their best!

My rates are very fair and i'm not just here to collect a check. Instead I want to create a world full of versatile musicians to develop skills that can translate to having good grades, finding a good job, and learning how to communicate in the real world. Music can do that with the right instruction. It's my goal to serve my students in a way that they can not only be more confident behind an instrument, but to truly love the craft I've dedicated my life to.