Richardson, TX Piano Lessons

ough high school while accompanying myself on piano or guitar when singing privately or for others. I wrote my first song at 17 and worked my way through college playing original music in coffee shops while earning my bachelors degree. After college, I started touring across the US (this was long before American Idol and the Internet when if you wanted to make it, you had to "pay your dues" on the road first). Working in the studio was always the most fun and challenging, my first original song got air play in 1990 (this was before CDs).

I received international distribution of my original music starting 2004 - that summer I worked and sold CDs in Munich Germany; however, upon returning to the US realized that performing was not my preferred way of providing service to others - teaching then become my passion. So while working for a local public school district as substitute teacher for general music classes (orchestra, band, choir as well), I was asked to write and teach a beginning songwriting class. From the very first day I had kids' attention in the palm of my hands (some of those students eventually recorded their own songs in studios).

After 30+ years of professional musicianship spanning across two continents (US and Germany) with originally produced music available on iTunes and two CDs on the market, I have found a unique way of teaching music to others. I especially enjoy teaching families (children, parents, grandparents, cousins, etc.) that want to learn to play a variety of instruments and music together. Married couples are wonderful to teach as well, I can usually get any combination of two or more people playing music together.

I usually host annual recitals. I do not force anyone to play in the recital, however most everyone enjoys the experience.

*** Specialties ***
Piano: Beginning/intermediate classical piano; then onto pop, blues, jazz, hymns, praise music (piano/voice).

Guitar: Beginning Classical Guitar (nylon strings; notes, chords, fingerpicking); Beginning Acoustic Guitar (steel strings; notes, chords, fingerpicking, strumming, using a plectrum or flat pick).

Ukulele: Beginning note and strumming patterns while accompanying voice.

Voice: I can take you to professional levels! As proof, one of my adult male students, singer/songwriter/pianist/guitarist/trumpeter, came to me to enhance his "character" voice. After 30 lessons, and assistance arranging vocals (including mic technique) in home studio four-song demo, my student signed a four-song demo recording deal with an eight (8) time Grammy award winning music producer Joe Chiccarelli - in LA with studio right on Sunset Blvd.

Lastly, I would love to enroll students who want to learn Joni Mitchell's style of piano and guitar playing. Mitchell never had formal music training, she played by ear; particularly on guitar she used more than 50 open tunings.

*** Lesson Details ***
First of all, I'll need to know you or your children's goals, dreams and natural talent(s). What types of music do you love best? Are you more the serious type or fun-loving (I can work with both types of personalities but do require a respectful demeanor).

Lessons are once per week. It is extremely important to develop the brain, nervous system, physical coordination all together with momentum and repetitive physical movements; particularly, the first six months of learning.

I do schedule students on "Schedule-As-You-Go" however usually only after consistent weekly lessons.

If you already know an instrument and want to take Combination Lessons - Voice/Piano or Voice/Guitar - I am an excellent teacher for that purpose.

Please do not expect overnight success, hand/motor skills need to be developed and that doesn't occur with one or two lessons, unless you've had prior experience on your instrument and just need to refresh your brain's neural pathways.

If you are the creative type and wish to compose your own music, then by all means let me know as I teach not only composition, but arranging, music production, and the legal aspects of copyrights and international distribution.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Piano lessons will be given on my parlor grand piano. For guitar lessons, I use either my Yamaha acoustic-electric classical nylon string guitar OR my vintage Epiphone steel string guitar. Please see the photo noting the studio's microphones/vocal monitors, plus I have a variety of hand percussion.

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 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.

and piano music, the students have to provide notebooks.

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

ortunities 4 times a year for those students who are ready to play for a judge!. The more you perform, the easier it gets!

*** Lesson Details ***
I believe that most people would say that they wish they could play the piano. Taking piano lessons keeps you practicing and working on improving your skills. I can always help a student to play better in some aspect of their playing. I break down skills into as small a step as needed so the student can understand what needs to be done. Reading music is similar to reading words, so sometimes the problem is not with the fingers being able to play, but what the student is seeing. I can take whatever series you are currently playing out of and move forward with you from that series.
Rhythm can often be a problem when playing and that usually is just a matter of getting that rhythm into your vocabulary and really hearing how it goes.
Fingering is another area that can be the reason that a passage is not working for you and I can help you figure those areas out. I always try to correct and help you improve by using humor and positive reinforcement. I have several books that work on technique in fun, short exercises that will apply to any songs or literature that you are working on.
We will spend some of every lesson sight reading (looking at music that you will practice at home). Improving your ability to read music at sight will make your piano playing more enjoyable for you.

As with any lessons, the more you practice, the more progress and fun you will have! Every student needs a spiral notebook that we will use to keep track of your lessons. I have found it best if I buy the books you need and then you pay me for the books - that keeps you from having to search at a music store for the correct books and I make sure you have the correct book/levels. If you prefer to find the books yourself, that will be fine also. I am flexible and want your piano playing years to be lifelong for you.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Yamaha Grand Piano, Baldwin Acrosonic Studio Piano, Suzuki 88 key electronic keyboard,

*** Specialties ***
*Teachers
marked as a Student Favorite have taught a minimum of 25 lessons and
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Piano, Handbells, Music Theory, Sight reading
I can teach from any series, have tended to specialize more with beginning and intermediate students. I have taught from almost every series over the years.
Right now I have students in Faber & Faber, Bastien, John Thompson, Schaum, David Carr Glover, Hal Leonard, FJH, Dozen a Day, and Alfred series.
I think that breaking skills down into small steps works well for mastery and understanding. I like to expand my students' appreciation of different types of music, from classical to pop, looking for music that is at the student's playing level.

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. After getting to know you, we can move to hour long lessons if warranted.

*** 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.

, and ear training. In Addition, I was studying with Dr. Allison and attended Sheila Paige's Keyboard Wellness Seminar, I will use Keyboard Wellness method to teach my students how cooperate the body, arm, hand, and finger moving together to make the playing so easily, efficiently, and music artistry.

I speak English and Chinese.