Markham, VA Guitar Lessons

the east coast, I found my life's work in 2003 when I began teaching music.

I've successfully taught hundreds of different students since 2003, from 5-year-olds with special needs to middle-aged professional opera singers, from a professor in Saudi Arabia to a 65-year-old doctor of music, from kids of Radio Disney to students of the famed Actors Studio in New York, from busy stay-at-home parents to retirees with bucket lists, from CEOs to touring singer-songwriters.

I've created and led a workshop about singing called, "The Whole Body Singer". I've written dozens of articles about music and music education for the blog at TakeLessons.com.

My extensive knowledge of the voice has encouraged and empowered hundreds of singers and prepared many of them to win competitions, pageants and auditions, as well as roles in operas and musicals.

Having both taught myself piano and received formal training at a conservatory has prepared me to teach almost anyone how to play.
The intensive training and education that I received at Westminster Choir College in songwriting, music theory and sight reading has benefited my students at every level.

My current work as singer and keyboardist in the acoustic rock duo, Timberwood, has strengthened my knowledge of a broad range of styles and genres. I have a strong commitment to continuing my education. That's why I recently (2014) studied songwriting online with the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

In the lessons that I teach, I'm flexible, positive and encouraging. While I want my students to have fun and love music, not dread it, I expect hard work and persistence. I am caring, patient, nurturing, and compassionate. In piano lessons, I usually allow the student to choose a piece with which to warm up and then move on to technique and repertoire. In voice lessons, I usually warm up the singer and discuss technique and sight singing before focusing on song choices. Joan Frey Boytim wrote a book for voice that I like to use, and I like the Estelle Liebling exercises for the more advanced singer. Hanon exercises are a big part of my piano curriculum, and I enjoy the Bastien and Alfred books for young and old. I have used completely random songs pulled out of a piano bench and a karaoke CD for kids. I will use almost anything I can get my hands on if it means effectively teaching music.
Acting lessons consist of exercises and games that apply learned concepts, and monologue and audition coaching. Parents, siblings and spouses are always welcome to observe lessons quietly.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide an acoustic guitar to bring to both voice and guitar lessons. I expect my piano students to have a piano, an organ or a keyboard.

***Home Studio Equipment***
In my home studio, my students will have access to an acoustic guitar, an electronic keyboard, an acoustic piano and PC audio recording.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in teaching classical, country, pop and musical theater singing, classical and pop/rock/chordal style piano, and sightreading, including solfege syllables. I enjoy using Estelle Liebling as my voice method and Hanon for piano technique. My education includes coursework in jazz and pop theory and songwriting from both Westminster Choir College and the Berklee College. Teaching special needs individuals is also one of my specialties, and one that I highly enjoy. I've been trained in Meisner technique, and have experience in both theater acting and musical theater.

m the Florida Department of Education. I have taught in Florida as a preferred substitute for general music classes, K-12. In college, I have given study sessions for music theory levels ranging from 4-part writing to post-serialism.

Degrees:
Doctorate of Musical Arts: Guitar Performance; Shenandoah University, expected May 2017/2018
Master of Music: Guitar Performance; University of Akron, May 2014
Bachelor of Music: Guitar Performance; Stetson University, 2011

While giving lessons:
I ensure that every student receives fundamental foundation pertaining to the subject. While learning the basics, I advise that the student organizes their lessons and materials in a way that displays progress over time. With the proper knowledge, we can treat the heart of a subject with refinement in order to grasp it's purpose and reason---whether its music or math.

Why?
My students have grown with confidence through a sense of accomplishment. Success does not only affect a person's well-being but can also impact other dimensions of their lives.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Equipment available if needed:

Foot stools
Music stands
Pencils
Complete home recording studio
Computer/tablet/smartphone w/ internet
Speakers and playback devices
Reference books

*** Travel Equipment ***
Each student is expected to bring with them (if applicable):

Notebook or log
Reference/score materials
Instrument(s) and case
Accessories
Portable sound recorder (optional)

*** Specialties ***
Classical, Jazz and Rock Styles.

Performance, Music Theory, Arranging, Composition.

Elementary Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Statistics, Trigonometry, Pre-Calc.

able experiences and knowledge with my students.

goal.

Every student has a different motivation for taking lessons. Whether you simply want to show off for that special someone or you're trying to get into an elite music school, it is my objective to get you there with a smile on your face.

Want to learn the top ten guitar solos of all time? And nothing else? Just say so!
Want to learn piano theory until you're dizzy? We can do that too!
Always wanted to play drums but think you're too uncoordinated? No such thing!

Or, maybe you're already a polished musician lacking the theory to get another degree - no matter what your motivation may be, together we can make it happen.

You don't have to listen to a specific type of music to be a real musician. Yes, believe it or not, Britney Spears is a musician too! We'll work on the types of music YOU enjoy, not the stuff your parents, friends, or coworkers consider 'good' music.

Whether you want to learn Justin Bieber or Rachmaninoff, it's cool with me - believe it or not, the two have something in common...don't believe me? I'll prove it!

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in online music lessons. I have an extensive background in computers and technology, and incorporate a lot of unique tools to my online lessons to greatly improve the user's experience, such as multiple camera angles; picture-in-picture views; displaying sheet music on your screen and being able to highlight, point, and change pages for you; as well as interactive games similar to Rock Band that I control on my end as the student participates on their end.

I teach all styles, though my interests are mainly in pop, electronic, rock/hard rock/classic rock, metal, and classical.

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PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING LESSONS:

- All students must meet at least once a week.
- Cancellations are allowed once every three months.
- Rescheduling is always allowed and requires at least 24 hours notice.
- Rescheduled lesson must occur within two weeks.

granted a merit scholarship to Le Domaine Forget International Music Festival, where I studied with Bruce Holzman. I was a finalist and top prize winner in the 2015 ASU guitar competition. During my last year of study at Peabody, I also studied privately with Matt Palmer, who authored "The Virtuoso Guitarist: A New Approach to Fast Scales."

In 2016, I was granted a scholarship to study at the Aspen Music Festival under Sharon Isbin. I am now pursuing my masters degree under full scholarship at the Florida State University College of Music, where I am also a graduate teaching assistant to Bruce Holzman.

I play and teach classical, jazz, rock, acoustic, and have extensive knowledge of theory, ear training, and guitar technique/pedagogy/fretboard harmony.

Here is an article of mine!

http://takelessons.com/blog/learning-classical-guitar-right-hand-technique

ow my students to be as open-minded as possible. I look forward to meeting you and helping you reach your full potential as a musician!

guitar and have performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra as well as done concerts in the USA, Italy, and the UK.
I have experience playing in many different bands in many styles including: Rock, Reggae, African, Blues, and Jazz groups.

SUZUKI METHOD: I am trained and certified in the Suzuki Guitar Method and spent 3 years teaching Suzuki in studio with children as young as 5. This involves a significant parent-teacher-student commitment and regularly yields impressive results.

ON TALENT: I agree with Shin-ichi Suzuki that talent is irrelevant and a myth. I believe that the potential of all my students are the same but they come to me with various starting skills levels and all learn at a very different pace. I believe that the myth of “talent” really just means that the individual has had a long exposure to music. This is why I emphasize critical listening in my lessons. If you have a large knowledge of music and sounds in your head it makes it easier to make connections and better assess your ideas.