Chester, VA Ukulele Lessons

Will provide sheet music and exercises. My students should have a working instrument as well as any method book or sheet music we are working on.

*** Specialties ***
I teach all styles and genres

bass, ukulele, banjo as well as write music.

*** Lesson Details ***
I am extremely patient and firmly believe that anybody can learn to play music.

I try to keep my teaching philosophy simple. We figure out your musical goals and aspirations and carve out a path to achieving them. Along the way I will try to illuminate how the path to attaining your goals and aspirations is best taken at an enjoyable, relaxed pace and with a strong work ethic.

I always prepare for your lessons based on your interests, integrating relevant books and videos, creating handouts tailored to what we are studying in order to maintain clarity.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Guitars, Keyboards, Ukuleles, Microphones, Amplifiers, Recording Equipment

*** Specialties ***
Any style you prefer (Rock, Pop, Folk, Country, Jazz, Bluegrass, etc.)

ist Jazz Festival, directing Jazz Ensembles I-II, Jazz Combo, Jazz Improvisation lessons, Jazz Pedagogy, online Jazz Appreciation, private saxophone lessons, saxophone quartets, private oboe lessons, and group guitar class.

Spaeth completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone performance at the University of Kansas in 2014, and his Master of Music Pedagogy and Performance from Oklahoma State University in 2011. He graduated from Harrah High School in 2002, earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2008, and was a 5th-12th grade Head Band Director at Fairview Public schools. He is currently a member of the North American Saxophone Alliance, the Jazz Education Network, Music Teachers National Association, National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, and an Honorary Member of Tau Beta Sigma. He has held previous memberships with Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Delta Pi, and the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association.

While at KU, Spaeth was also a graduate teaching assistant for the saxophone studio and jazz studies program. His responsibilities included Assistant Director of the KU Jazz Festival, directing Jazz Ensembles II-III, directing Jazz Combo III-VI, directing Saxophone Quartets II-III, teaching private saxophone lessons, assisting in saxophone studio class, and teaching the music education woodwind methods course. His Lecture Recital Document, A Performer’s Analysis of Selected Jazz Works for Saxophone Quartet, featured an interview with Bob Mintzer. Spaeth was a member of KU Jazz Ensemble I, KU Saxophone Quartet I, and KU's Helianthus New Music Ensemble. As a member of KU's Jazz Ensemble 1, Spaeth has performed with Dave Douglas, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Alex Sipiagin, Steve Owen, Gary Foster, Steve Houghton, Clint Ashlock, David von Kampen, Peter Epstein, Jeff Miley, James Miley, Roger Shew, and Brian Hamada, Brandon Draper, Rich Wheeler, Beau Bledsoe, Jeff Harshbarger, and Matt Otto. In July 2014, Spaeth went on a European tour with KU Jazz Ensemble I featuring Steve Leisring and Deborah Brown. Together, they performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Vienne Jazz Festival in France, and performed in several cities in Germany. Recordings by this band resulted in KU winning the DownBeat Student Award (Graduate College Large Jazz Ensemble Division) in 2015.

While at OSU, Spaeth was a GTA for the saxophone studio and music theory programs. His responsibilities included Music Theory I-IV tutoring and grading, sight-singing grading, piano labs, classical and jazz saxophone lessons, saxophone quartet coaching, saxophone studio Webmaster, and saxophone studio class. Spaeth was a member of the OSU Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble 1. He had a regularly performing jazz trio and played in OSU's X2End saxophone quartet. The X2End quartet performed locally at the 2011 Navy Band Saxophone Symposium in Washington D.C., at the 2011 NASA Region IV Conference, and has won the state and division rounds of the 2010-2011 MTNA Chamber Music Competition. The X2End quartet went on to win the 3rd place prize at the national final round of the MTNA Chamber Music Competition. They also were the Division II Chamber Ensemble winners at the 2011 Hubbard Music Competition where they were awarded the 2nd place prize in the overall finals. Spaeth's final degree paper at OSU was a study of composer/performer collaboration. He traveled to Texas, Michigan, and Ohio to interview saxophonists and composers including David Dees, Peter Fischer, John Sampen, Marilyn Shrude, Joe Lulloff, and Charles Ruggiero. He has presented his lecture at the 2011 Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, the 2011 NASA Region IV Conference, and the 2012 OSU Single Reed Summit. As a member of OSU's Jazz Ensemble 1, he has performed with Bob Sheppard, Conrad Herwig, Wayne Bergeron, and Andy Martin.

While at SWOSU, Spaeth performed as a member of the marching band, wind ensemble, Jazz Ensemble A, saxophone quartet, and his own jazz combo named Five-Seven. As a member of SWOSU's Jazz Ensemble A, he has performed with Dan Haerle, Bob Bowman, Jack Mouse, Fred Forney, Janice Borla, Eddie Daniels, Pamela York, Lynn Seaton, Carl Allen, Dr. Michael Cox, Tom Williams, Dr. Robert Chambers, Dave Hanson, Drori Mondlak, Delores Williams, Byron Stripling, Frank Wess, Kenny Drew Jr., Dennis Mackrel, Bill Watrous, Rich Eames, Jennifer Leitham, and Randy Drake.

Spaeth's primary saxophone instructors have been Vince Gnojek, Dr. Jeffrey Loeffert, Dr. Ann Bradfield, Dr. Keith Talley, and William Rodney Hull. He has had additional instruction in lessons and masterclasses from Gary Foster, Dr. Joseph Murphy, Dr. Michael Cox, Bob Sheppard, Johnny Salinas, Dr. Kimberly Goddard Loeffert, Dr. Geoffrey Deibel, Dr. Jonathan Nichol, Dr. Griffin Campbell, Dr. James Laughlin, and Dr. David Dees. Spaeth's jazz directors have included Dan Gailey, Bob McCurdy, Dr. Jonathan Martin, Dr. Keith Talley, and Dr. Terry Segress.

​Spaeth enjoys recording several instruments in his home studio and composing new music. His compositions that have been performed include his big band arrangement of Cat Battles by Joshua Redman, September in the Refrain (alto saxophone and electronics), Funk-o-matic (jazz combo), Smooth (jazz combo), and The Deadline Arrives at Dawn (alto saxophone and electronics). As an advocate of new music involving the saxophone, he has participated in a commissioning consortium for Alone Together by composer David MacDonald through Kick Starter. In 2013, Spaeth performed the premier of Cuento #3 by Nelson Ramirez Diaz. During summer of 2014, he recorded selections from Dr. John Walker's "The Alto Saxophone in the Attic," published by Carl Fischer. At the 10th Annual SDSU/Brookings Optimist Jazz Festival in 2015, Spaeth directed SDSU Jazz Ensemble I's premier of Dog, Tired by David von Kampen.

​Dr. Spaeth is a Conn-Selmer Endorsing Artist. He hosted the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 3 (ND, SD, NE, MN, IA) Conference at South Dakota State University on March 17-18, 2017. On Saturday, April 8, 2017, Spaeth performed Dreams in the Dusk by David Biedenbender with South Dakota State University's Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Jacob Wallace. On Monday, February 6, 2017, Spaeth performed the premiere of Lhotse for alto saxophone and percussion by Steve Danyew with Dr. Aaron Ragsdale. In April 2017, Spaeth performed solo tenor saxophone and orchestral clarinet in Ethan Bortnick's national PBS Special called "Generations of Music," which featured special guest, Peter Yarrow, from Peter, Paul and Mary.

gh school Cameron began playing more jazz music as he attended Bellevue College studying theory and composition with Dr. Brian Cobb and guitar performance with Mark Hillard Wilson. After this he soon met renowned Jazz Guitarist Chris Spencer, with whom he studied with for years to follow.
Cameron eventually found himself at Cornish College of the Arts where he received a Bachelors degree in Music Composition. While at Cornish he had the opportunity to play guitar and compose for Jazz Orchestras, Latin Jazz ensembles, and Modern Jazz groups while playing under the direction of internationally know musicians such as Wayne Horvitz, Tom Varner, Jovino Santos Neto and Chuck Deardorf.
In the realm of composition Cameron studied privately with composers Jarrad Powell and Tom Baker, with a deep focus in contemporary classical music. He is now the composer for the quickly rising interdisciplinary arts group the Pendleton House.
Currently Cameron spends his time working as a guitar player in Seattle while also writing chamber music for various ensembles and art groups. He performs on a regular basis with a variety of groups in the Seattle area including the Seattle based jazz trio Honeysuckle Rye, folk and bluegrass group Modern Bygones, as well as the orchestral pop band Sebastian and the Deep Blue.

*** Lesson Details ***
In the world of music education it is important to recognize that everyone learns differently and there is no universally prescribed teaching method that works for all students. Everyone must find how he or she learns best. As a teacher I acknowledge this and incorporate it into my method of instruction. Anyone can find success as a proficient instrumentalist if they are able to learn on there own terms and find what they are doing enjoyable.
Lessons will start with an assessment of what the student wants to learn and what their goals are. From there, we will determine the proper approach to meet those goals while keeping things fun and interesting. Once a particular skill level and interest are established I will develop an individualized lesson plan for the student to fit their wants and needs. The goal with beginning students is to get them up and running right away with chords and melodies, learning the fundamentals while being able to play their favorite songs. For all students I like to extensively focus on knowledge of the fret board and the many possible approaches to mastering it, as well as looking at creative practice methods and daily routines. A musician’s method of practicing can greatly determine their rate of improvement. For more intermediate and advanced students the general focus will shift to topics such as ear training, rhythm, music theory and music notation (if desired) and, their application to the guitar.
For students interested in composition, we will focus more on analysis and the application of theory. We will look at songs or pieces that are of interest to the student and take them apart to figure out what makes them great. We will also look at many different kinds of music and their construction. A large part of music composition in the 21st century is the integration of electronic and computer music. For students looking for an introduction into pre-recorded and live electronic music with or without the use of guitar or other instruments, this is strength of mine that I love to teach.
Whether you are a serious musician or just looking for a fun hobby, I can get you where you want to be in your musical life. I’m fun, friendly and music is my passion and profession and I love to share it.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can bring extra guitars if needed, acoustic or electric.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in getting beginners up and running right away while helping each guitarist to find there own voice and have fun at the same time! When playing non-original music I specialize in blues, jazz and popular music.

Website:

http://www.cameronarmstrongmusic.com/

Music Links:

JAZZ TRIO: HONEYSUCKLE RYE:

https://soundcloud.com/honeysucklerye

ACOUSTIC FOLK DUO VIDEOS: MODERN BYGONES

https://vimeo.com/187979926

https://www.facebook.com/elbrindiscocktails/videos/1046510482133705/
https://modernbygones.bandcamp.com/releases

VIDEO'S OF ACOUSTIC BLUES AND FOLK PERFORMANCES:

Summertime Acoustic
https://vimeo.com/130905051

In the Pines
https://vimeo.com/130905033

it is important to stay fluid and adjust to each student's learning style to create successful students at any age from 3 to 100!

My only goal is to help you reach yours!

-==Some of My Studio Equipment=--
Marshall, Crate, & Fender Amps
Williams and Yamaha Digital Pianos
Woodwind instruments
Violins of all sizes
Brass Instruments
Acoustic and Electric Guitars (Fender, Epiphone, Breedlove, etc..)
Computer and Multimedia Supplemental material
And others!

--=Materials Used=--
I teach Suzuki Method when appropriate, as well as popular scholastic methods when needed for a school band program however, I mostly teach to the student. Each student gets a unique and personalized experience tailored to their specific goals and needs using a variety of available materials, but above all I strive to teach fun when learning the arts!

and arranged music for many as well, so I'm very comfortable helping students with a variety of disciplines and interests. My professional experience in both the civilian and military music communities has given me an open-minded yet direct approach to WHAT you should learn, and HOW to develop each student's individual skills. I'm able to teach most students to an advanced level.

s the touring pianist for classical crossover group Vivace, as a solo singer-guitarist-pianist, and as the lead singer-guitarist-pianist-composer for my own symphonic-rock-fusion group, The Living. I've also toured extensively in Europe as keyboardist and backing vocalist for singer-songwriter Melanie Dekker.

My compositions have been performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, The Plastic Acid Orchestra, Turning Point Ensemble, Ad Mare Wind Quintet, Vivace, The Living, The Whiskeydicks and cellist-singer-songwriter Cris Derksen.

I have a B.Mus in Piano and Music Composition from The University of British Columbia. I'm an IVA Certified Level I Voice Instructor and have studied Vocals with John Henny, Jeffrey Skouson, Guy Babusek, and Spencer Welch; piano with Terence Dawson, David Vandereyk, and Ross Taggart; composition with Dorothy Chang, Keith Hamel, and Armanini; drums with Jay Deachman and Morgan Childs; bass with David Spidel; and accordion with Jelena Milojevic.

I've just moved to LA from Vancouver where I had about 40 students, so this is the time to sign up as I have room for new students for the first time in years!

n is a fun experience improving and creating music.

myself. Through high school I was in a few bands, and I have always had such a huge passion for music and seeing that passion grow in others.

My clients learn how to play in my comfortable and creative home. I have beautiful acoustics in my living room, with inspiring artwork on the walls and a ton of natural light. I work with singers and uke players of various age and talent range!