Mount Vernon, VA Music Performance Lessons

s and colleges. I am also a judge in the Young Artist Award in Maryland. In addition, I have received two White House awards for my performances at the White House, I am also a member of Psi Chi International Honor Society.

Music has been an important part of my life. It represents so much that is good in life and I do my best to communicate this to my students. I am training my students not just to be musicians but to love music for life.

*** Lesson Details ***
I treat each student as an individual since everyone is different. For some I might use a traditional approach, some just the Suzuki approach and others a combination of techniques. Whatever produces the best results. My goal is not to make strictly classical musicians but to train students to love music and carry this love throughout life. My repertoire consists of everything including traditional, Suzuki, Disney, Showtunes, etc. I have taken students to perform little concerts at the White House, schools, hospitals and concert halls to get the real feel of performing. I view lessons as a three way relationship between myself, the student and the parent so that the parent is not left out. I even have a small group called Musical Magic which incorporates magic into music. I feel I am laid back but am able to accomplish my goal through positive reinforcement. Every child or student wants to feel good about his/her playing. If you believe in yourself, anything is possible. If you want online lessons, please contact me through Take Lessons since I have additional availability to teach online. In the past six months my students have performed for the National Humane Society at their animal ball, a multi teacher recital on a local stage, and just two weeks ago seven of them performed at Strathmore. This summer I have two more concerts planned. Coming up will be an all instrument graduation with several other teachers where students receive medals for their performances. No student is required to perform but if they want to the opportunity is there. All students are required to have an instrument prior to beginning lessons. If students need to rent a violin, I will provide you with the name of a violin dealer that both rents and sells string instruments. Piano students must have a piano or keyboard.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I teach at home and have both a grand piano and electric keyboard in addition to a harp and violin.

*** Travel Equipment ***
When my students have to travel to perform, I make sure they have everything they need.

*** Specialties ***
Traditional and Suzuki approaches for both violin and piano. I also teach children with learning disabilities.and have extensive summer programs to help students with auditions for youth orchestras and school orchestras.

o meeting you and hearing all about your goals and dreams in music and how I can help you along your path.

re completed at the American University, where I majored in Communications (B.A.), and minored in Music, voice being my instrument. During my undergraduate studies, I was recruited and performed as the lead female vocalist for a Rock band that a few fellow music students had formed. While in college, I was trained in classical voice, piano, music theory, musical theater performance, and vocal pedagogy (vocal training). My vocal pedagogy studies credentialed me to become a professional vocal instructor. I began teaching voice after I earned my degree, and have been teaching private voice lessons for over ten years.

Most of my present expertise in teaching voice grew from my vocal pedagogy studies, my teaching experience which has developed over time, my own personal vocal dedication, and my training and understanding of various genres of vocal performance. My present singing career is as an inspirational singer; my vocal students encompass various genres in which I have experience, including: Inspirational, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical, as well as various degrees of popular music.

*** Audition Preparation ***
I have coached many of my students to prepare for auditions: auditions to be accepted into performing arts schools, parts in musicals and plays, joining a band or vocal ensemble, as well as auditions for televised singing shows, such as "The Voice," "Sunday's Best," "American Idol" and "The X Factor."

*** Lesson Details ***
I teach students by using the tried and true techniques I have found to be successful, and allow the student to be my guide as to which direction to take with his or her vocal training. Whether the student is a novice, a professional, or somewhere in between, each student, after obtaining the basic singing knowledge and techniques, will have a vocal training schedule geared to his or her individual needs and development. Lessons are for the most part very casual in nature, and the student’s dedication (practice, practice, practice) will dictate whether or not the lessons become stricter. A few months into the vocal instruction, students will be given the opportunity to learn more about reading music and sight singing, if he or she so chooses, as well as vocal performance techniques for singing in front of an audience. Within one year, dedicated students may also have the opportunity to show off what they have learned, and perform in front of an audience at a recital with other vocal students. Please note that my preference is to work with teens age 13 through adults of any age. I believe that younger voices need more time to develop and stand to be damaged if too much stress is put on them too soon. However, exceptions for children under 13 may be made for gifted young singers.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Home studio- entry room of home, baby grand piano, seating area, dry erase board, mirrors
Music Studio- one recording studio, seating area, classroom

*** Travel Equipment ***
If needed, I provide a portable piano keyboard, microphone with amplifier, paper handouts of lessons, etc. The student needs to have paper to take notes and a writing instrument.

*** Specialties ***
Most of my voice lesson experience has been with adults, and contemporary popular and inspirational music.

al fundamentals of guitar technique including chords, scales and rhythm guitar playing as well as the art of improvisation. A significant amount of time in the lessons is spent actually playing with the students so that the technical concepts are put to use in real music situations. To further the student's understanding of music I frequently teach elements of music theory to those who are interested.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I have guitars and amps available for student use although I prefer that the student bring their own instrument. I also have all the needed accessories, cables, stands etc.

*** Specialties ***
Adult students (and older teenagers ) whether beginners or experienced are a particular specialty of mine. Adult learners want to be treated as adults and often times benefit greatly from a more mentor oriented approach to teaching. I like to describe myself as both a teacher and a coach so as to emphasize that the student and I are on the same team sharing the goal of improving their guitar playing and musicianship. We are both on the same path of musical discovery. I am probably just farther along on that path with insights and knowledge that will hopefully help them along their way.

ks better than the spoken word because it doesn't have to be understood to be effective."

In some instances, music works better than the spoken word because it doesn't have to be understood to be effective. Although many musicians agree that music is a "language" it is rarely treated as such.

Many of us treat it as something that can only be learned by following a strict regiment under the tutelage of a skilled teacher. This approach has been followed for hundreds of years with proven success... But it takes a long time. Too long.

Think about the first language you learned as a child. More importantly, think about how you learned it.

"You were allowed to make mistakes."

You were a baby when you first started speaking and even though you spoke the language incorrectly you were allowed to make mistakes - and the more mistakes you made, the more your parents smiled!

Learning to speak was not something you were sent somewhere to do only a few times a week. The majority of people you spoke to were not beginners, they were already proficient speakers. Imagine your parents forcing to only speak to other babies until you were good enough to speak to them! You'd probably be an adult before you could carry on a proper conversation.

To use a musical term, as a baby you were allowed to "jam" with professionals.

If we approach music in the same natural way we approached our first language, we would learn to speak it in the same short time it took to speak our first language.
Proof of this can be seen in almost any family where a child grows up with other musicians in the family.

Here are a few keys to follow in learning guitar or bass:

In the beginning we embrace mistakes instead of correcting them. Like a child playing air guitar there are no wrong notes.

Allow young musicians to play and perform with accomplished musicians on a daily basis.

Encourage young musicians to play more than they practice. The more they play, the more they will practice on their own.

Music comes from the musician, not the instrument.
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2) RockSmith 2014 becomes your personal accomplished musician or band for you to play in a daily basis as it monitors how you play, dynamically adjusts difficulty to your skill level, then slowly introduces more notes and phrases until you're playing your favorite songs note-for-note. Lead Rhythm and bass lines.

Rocksmith 2014 teaches you fast and effectively by letting you plug any real guitar or bass directly into your Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system, Windows PC or Mac.

The Rocksmith Method will first make sure you can PLAY the instrument.
You will play your favorite songs.
You will learn a new technique every month.
Rocksmith is designed to match the way your guitar is laid out, so there's no need to interpret tablature or learn sheet music to get started.
Have strings on your guitar? You'll see strings on the screen....

You'll need a game console, a screen and a electric guitar or bass. It's non negotiable.

If you don't have it. I will provide you with a loaner system until you catch up.

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3) A dedicated and passionate Teacher to tie everything together and keep you on track.

The early you start, the better. Kids age 6 or up are my best customers. They don't have adjust to anything other than to get their little fingers around a guitar appropriate to their size.
For young adults and people that tried play the guitar the old fashion way, here's my advise:

You will need to take a step back... or maybe two steps. Let me show you a better way.

These 3 things changes everything in how to learn or teach guitar. This is just to start the journey. I won't even mention custom songs or our musician club for you to perform your songs.

"If music is a language. You should never stop talking."

Remember that a language works the best when we have something interesting to say.
Many music teachers never find out what their students have to say. We only tell them what they are supposed to say.
A child speaks a language for years before they even learn the alphabet.
Too many rules at the onset will actually slow them down.
In my eyes the approach to music should be the same.

After all, music is a language too.

Let's Play & Grow Together.

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Private guitar and bass lessons are designed for students to progress at their own pace. Private lessons will follow the same RockSmith Journey structure. In a private guitar or bass lesson, the teacher has the opportunity to help the student individually for the entire lesson time, and structures each lesson personally for the student depending on their skill level and goals.

The Essentials/Techniques Plus:

Tuning
Strapping up
How to hold a pick
Plucking strings
Accents
Slides
Chords
Power chords
Double stops
Barre chords
Arpeggios
Notes Chords Scales

Shifting
Fretting
Sustains
Palm mutes
Slides
Bends
Tremelos
Hammer-ons
Pull-offs
Natural harmonics
Strumming patterns
Unpitched slides
Fret hand mutes
Improvising and jamming
Vibrato
Scales and modes
Changing strings

Additional Bass Techniques:

Fifths
Roots
Slapping
Popping

Advanced Players:

Double stop, Oblique, and Compound Bends
Two hand tapping
Articulation and phrasing
Pinch harmonics
Extended harmonies
Hybrid techniques
Advanced chords

yboard harmonies.
In 2000, I worked for the Jewish Primary Day School (Grades K – 6), where I introduced the conceptual structure of music, focusing on melody, rhythm, and harmony and their expressive and stylistic organization. Program objectives included: 1) ability to listen with discrimination, 2) ability to sing on pitch within a limited range, 3) ability to play simple rhythm and melodic instruments, 4) ability to interpret music through body movements, impersonations, and dramatizations, and 5) ability to associate symbols of musical notation with musical concepts.

Today, I perform professionally and provide private online and offline piano instruction for children and adults.

tudents, and tailor the lesson plan for the student's growth and practice.

ve gone on tour twice before. I specialize in electric bass and music theory, but am quite comfortable teaching beginner to intermediate guitar.

ure to focus a lot on confidence and stage presence to help students prepare for upcoming auditions, showcases, concerts, and talent shows. With my voice lessons it is absolutely possible to transition out of your stage fright and own that stage like you were born to be there, because you were!! These are not only vocal coaching sessions, but complete performance-ready-workshops.
I am here to make all your singing and vocal performance dreams come true! I can't wait to sing with you :)

nd learn some amazing things. I also teach video editing and production and have filmed and edited many videos that are used today in HR training