Dallas, TX Music Performance Lessons

I am a very easy going person and I like to have fun! I strive to be kind and understanding to people, especially students.

Here is what you can expect from a lesson with me:
Kindness
Support
Encouragement
Understanding
FUN

Each lesson is tailored to the student's unique needs. I use music that will suit the student's voice and experience level, and will help the student to improve in certain areas. Also, I allow students to bring in their own music that they would like to work on. I have had students bring in music for upcoming auditions, church solos, and even pieces solely for entertainment.

My lessons are all about doing things right. I focus on correct breathing, posture, etc, and help the student to learn what to listen for and feel in their own voice.

I encourage my students to spend time on their pieces outside of our lesson and emphasize the difference that practice can make. Trust me, I can tell when my students haven't practiced!

Most importantly, I strive to make my lessons enjoyable!

*** THE STUDIO ***

My studio is located at my house in a separate room. I have a keyboard, seating, music library, and a computer with speakers.

We have pets, but they are kept in a different part of the house during lessons.

*** SPECIALTIES ***

I strive to break bad habits, teach correct singing, and establish good technique. I have taught opera and pop styles, though I'm open to anything! My main focus is to get the student to sing correctly and efficiently. After that, style choice can come into play. With the correct technique, you can sing anything!

io are definitely more beneficial to the student, because I have all my toys here! Besides having all of my other instruments here for demonstrations, or being able to freely change between electric or acoustic guitar for example, I have access to my computer and all of my teaching materials.
I also find that students who are at home (especially the children) tend to be more distracted, whether it's from lack of privacy due to the area chosen for the lessons, or often (again, this goes especially for the kids) there are pets that they like to play with while I'm trying to talk to them.
When they're guests in my home, however, I find I have their strict attention.

*** Specialties ***
I am primarily a guitar player specializing in electric lead guitar and solo acoustic guitar/vocal performance. I also teach beginner to advanced bass guitar, primarily finger-style. In addition I teach slap style bass guitar, as well as slide guitar. I am also a classical mandolin and tenor mandola player. I am currently the director of and first mandolin player for the Fort Worth Mandolin Orchestra.

Society, Slayer and many others.

Now off the road for a signifigant amount of time, Art has resumed teaching full time and is resuming enrolling students. Art has been a guitar teacher for over 6 years and has taught (and played) everything from taylor swift to metallica to james brown. He believes every student learns at their own pace and does not believe in a "one size fits all approach" for learning the guitar. He tailor makes every curriculum for the student and can help every individual achieve their goal whether its strumming around the campfire or wanting to dazzle crowds with technical wizardry.

*** Lesson Details ***
Students taking lessons from me can expect a balanced music lesson. A combination of practical skill based things such as technique, scales, theory but also learning your favorite songs from your favorite bands or artists. I bring conservatory based training mixed with real life world experience to students from my training at the Musicians Institute and the hundreds of gigs and recording sessions. I have a very laid back approach and believe that music lessons are healthiest and most fun activities a human being can engage in. I use a wide variety of curriculums based on the students skill levels and wants and needs. Whether you're an absolute beginner intermediate or advanced or you want to learn acoustic pop, funk or heavy metal i've performed it, recorded it and taught it. After a few months of lessons with me students can expect to be playing along to there favorite songs, able to improvise over chord progressions and developed some technique and sense of rhythm.

*** Studio Equipment ***
The lessons are taught in the living room with all equipment. Seating is available. Parking is on the street.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide copies of material as well as my own supplies from paper and pen to cabes tuners and amp. I expect the student to have a quiet space {assuming an in home lesson} to teach in as well as guitar, amp, and picks. I also provide the music stand and metronome.

*** Specialties ***
Various method books published by Musicians Institute press, Alfred and Hal leonard and cherry lane. Fluent in ALL styles - Rock, Pop, Country, Funk, R&B, and heavy metal etc etc. Also very fluent in sight reading, Theory and how it applies to the students prospective instrument as well as Ear Training

and piano music, the students have to provide notebooks.

*** Specialties ***
Classical piano,accompaniment, theory.
Church music

h beginner to advanced students of any age. I also can provide pro and amateur electric guitarists an in-depth study of correct hand postures and left-hand/right-hand technique which can help to refine their overall technique and stylistic approach. I can also advise professional electric guitarists on their electronics, effects pedals, and amplifiers to achieve their own individual sound. I also teach Bass, and reading the Bass clef.

My teaching specialties include: Solfeggio, Sight Reading, Music Theory, Scales and Modes, Left and Right Hand Technique, Blues Progressions, Jazz Standards the Classical Repertoire, Flamenco styles, techniques and repertoire, and the works of Sor, Giuliani, and Carcassi, Brouwer, Aguado, Villa-Lobos, Sabicas and Paco de Lucia.

I have an in-depth knowledge of the stylistic approaches and techniques of such guitarists as Eric Johnson, Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Randy Rhoads, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, and SRV to name a few, and I can teach you the components they use to build their signature licks.

As a rule I only transcribe to give the students examples for lessons. I intend for all of my students to grow as musicians, so my lessons do not consist solely of transcribed solos and riffs.

I have a vast library of music, so I can draw from my own resources to teach you, or from a method of your choosing.

My schedule has a few openings right now. I do teach outside of my stated teaching radius, but ONLY at the 60 minute rate.

I teach people of all ages, from children to adults. I believe everyone is on an even keel, if they are willing and eager to learn.

*** Lesson Details ***
Emphasis on classical posture and technique.
Emphasis on sight-reading.
All students learn to play basic blues and jam
Technique varies depending on the particular style the student wishes to learn.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I presently don't teach in my home studio. I can bring a folding music stand or extra footstool if necessary.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can provide a limited number of learning materials such as copied exercises, listening or practicing CD on occasion. However, I feel that it is the student's responsibility to provide their own guitars, and the bulf of their own learning materials and necessary electronic equipment. This can include footstools, music stands, method books, amps, cables, pedals, etc.

*** Specialties ***
I've been playing guitar for 25 years, and this has given me the time to study, perform, and perfect many styles of guitar playing.

I studied classical and flamenco guitar with Robert Guthrie for 4 years before and after my studies in the SMU program. I've also played in jazz and rock ensembles since the age of 14. I studied with Chuck Pangburn, pro jazz cat, and Brad McLemore, an indie rock songwriter, early on in my studies as an adolescent.

I encourage most students to learn to play on a classical or nylon-string guitar early on in order to develop proper technique, posture, sensitivity, and sensibility. I also encourage all students to learn to sight-read at a very early point in their studies. Once, this hurdle is cleared many other challenges are easily surpassed.

Presently, I am developing a new method which incorporates solfeggio, blues and popular music forms, and improvisational playing. I also am exploring the vanguard of new guitar technology such as the Moog Guitar, analog effects, and various guitar synthesizers.

I try to introduce an understanding of music theory early on so that students develop a full comprehension of not only the written language of music, but also the sonic-aural language of music.

various degrees, I have also performed roles in Hansel and Gretel, Bastienund Bastienne, Dido and Aeneas, Die Zauberflote, The Lonley Empress, Les Contes d'Hoffman, Dangerous Liasons, Ariadne auf Naxos and Eric Hermansen's Soul. I began teaching voice lessons during my vocal pedagogy class, while getting my Masters Degree. I have been teaching consistently for a total of ten years. I began teaching for a community school for the arts in Muncie, IN. After I graduated with my Masters Degree, I taught lessons for a children's theater company in Manitowoc, WI until I started my Performer's Certificate. I taught for another community arts school during my Performer's Certificate in DeKalb, IL. After that, I began a private studio out of my home and have been teaching privately at my in-home studio ever since. I also have experience teaching Music Theory and Ear Training, Music Appreciation and Private Voice Lessons at the college level as an Adjunct Professor at Kishwaukee College in Malta, IL. I have always loved and enjoyed teaching! It has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I am always eager to welcome new students of all ages!

*** Lesson Details ***
I teach classical technique that can be applied to any type or genre of music. I usually start with standard singing and breathing techniques. Then I will listen to a student's voice and determine their range and pick out a solo song based on their range, ability level, and the preferences of the student. I am a firm believer that no student fits into the standard "box" of teaching. Therefore, I tailor my teaching style to match the individual needs, issues, and goals of a particular student. It is very important to me that students enjoy their lessons and feel engaged in the learning process. My biggest rule is that they need to have fun and enjoy what they are doing. I am a very kind, up-beat and friendly teacher that believes in positive reinforcement and constructive criticism. I encourage my students to communicate with me on an equal level and to always ask questions if they don't understand something. Watching people learn and grow as singers, and knowing that you had a hand in it, is probably one of the most rewarding parts of being a teacher. It is this ideal that fuels my need to teach others.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I have set aside a complete room in my house for my teaching studio. I have a Baldwin spinet, a Manhasset music stand, a wide library of music and a sofa for students and their parents to sit on.

*** Travel Equipment ***
In travelling to student's homes, I would expect students to have access to a piano or keyboard with at least 65 keys.

*** Specialties ***
Opera and musical theater.

, but can assist you in making the right choices to navigate your own way in the business. I offer private coaching to actors in theater and film, and singers in the US and abroad. I would love to share my knowledge and experience with you.

*** Lesson Details ***
I offer private coaching to children, teens, adults who have an interest in acting or singing performance, and for those who simply have an interest in performing or speaking in front of others. In addition to coaching those who wish to better their skills in acting, voice and speech, and singing, I also offer coaching for non-actors; i.e., attorneys, business professionals, teachers, politicians, pageant participants, and other creatives, who want to improve their public speaking and communication skills.

*** Studio Equipment ***
High definition, quality camera for video and stills
High quality lighting equipment and MAC monitor
Ideal for video auditions and on-camera classes

*** Travel Equipment ***
High definition, quality camera for video and stills
High quality lighting equipment and MAC monitor
Ideal for video auditions and on-camera classes

*** Specialties ***
Acting for film, TV, theater, and commercials
Audition Etiquette and Technique
Light Career Coaching
Agent Ready Coaching
Voice and Speech
Public Speaking
Neutral American Speech
Singing; including Musical Theater

g, and more. Even piano lessons start with learning chords. Chords are what the musicians play behind the vocals.

Give me thirty minutes of your time and I will show you why students keep coming back to me, even after stopping for a while.

*** Lesson Details ***
Note Reading provided on request only.

Beginner Guitar - We start with simple chords and eight easy one-verse songs. These teach chords, timing, hand technique, ear training, song construction, and the start of music theory.

Intermediate to Advanced Guitar - all of the above plus tablature, different styles, advanced chord theory, performance, lead guitar, and more.

Beginning Piano - We start with simple chords and go straight into the songs the students like. These teach chords, timing, hand technique, ear training, song construction, and the start of music theory. I can teach you every major chord on piano in one sentence.

Bass Guitar - We start with learning the location of notes on the neck and move immediately into major chords so you can start playing with songs. The chords are divided into their single notes, but viewed as chords because that is what the other musicians are playing during the vocals.

Banjo - I teach from the book "I Can Teach Myself Banjo" but you really need a teacher/mentor to show you all the things that seeing and being able to ask questions covers that just can't be covered in a book.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Piano, amplifiers, cords, computer, free WiFi, all in a spacious room with a window for parents to view the teacher and student. Parents have a large, comfortable waiting area. Restrooms and water fountain provided.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in mentoring, being a friend as well as a teacher. I have never gotten mad at a student and never will.

I have written three books on chord theory, "Chordmaster Chord Theory for Keyboard," "Chordmaster for Beginner Piano Students," and "Chordmaster Chord Theory for Guitar." You can learn more about these online.

You can read my article for Takelessons.com at http://takelessons.com/blog/lead-guitar-tips. Just paste the address in your browser.

. Guitar and bass guitar lessons are available on a limited basis.

Riley employs the latest in teaching curriculum and uses software like Garage Band, Transcribe, Guitar Pro, Logic , Sibelius and Pro Tools to ensure students learn quickly and enjoy the process!

Due to his gigging schedule, regular student lessons are occasionally rescheduled for in the field "research" in the form of live shows. Unlike college professors, this "research" is used to rigorously test information in the "line of fire." This means students learn the latest techniques that work under real world conditions.

Don't settle for mediocre! If you're been looking for the best in learning guitar or bass, contact TakeLessons now!