Maple Valley Music Lessons

have a strong classical background so I enjoy teaching all my students, even as young as 4 to learn about and play classical pieces (e.g. Beethoven, Bach, Mozart). Since my vocal involvement has allowed me to participate in school, church and community music groups and singing solo, I have a strong background in pianist accompaniment which is a unique skill that every piano musician should master. This creates a well rounded approach so that the pianist can participate and showcase their talent in various ways. I like to teach students to play beyond what is in the written page, and to develop a musical ear through improvisation and memorization. My students have the opportunity to play in optional recitals with other students and for family.

or jazz -- and I teach rock bands how to learn music by ear and have fun playing with other people! I have also been teaching privately (independent home studio) since 2007.
**I organize and teach vocal workshop classes, where singers can learn how to work with a band.
**I joined the Cornish College of the Arts adjunct jazz faculty in Spring 2015!

I moved back to Seattle in April 2014 after being in NYC for four years -- completing my Master of Music degree (NYU), living, teaching, and performing in Brooklyn and Manhattan. NYC was amazing, and I'd love to share with you all of the cool things I picked up during my time there. From 2005-2010, I lived in Seattle and taught music lessons. I graduated from Cornish College of the Arts in Jazz Performance (voice) and performed a lot around Seattle-- from jazz clubs to concert halls-- performing pop, rock, soul, jazz and even working in a Steely Dan Tribute Band!! (your parents might appreciate that more than you do)

More than anything, I'm fascinated by the different ways that students learn and always love figuring out what kind of learning works best for YOU.

*** Lesson Details ***
I love watching my students progress and enjoy their music, no matter what style they enjoy or what level they are. I work with students to pick out music that they'll enjoy working on-- it's always more fun to learn songs you love!
I'm a pretty laid back teacher, but I work to inspire my students to try their hardest and do the best that they can do. I will provide you will the exercises, materials, and right level of songs to help you meet your goals, and together we can create a plan for our lessons.

In our lessons we will cover a variety of topics, including:

--Strong, Healthy TECHNIQUE so that you can gain a command of your instrument and play or sing whatever you choose. Through various EXERCISES you will develop strength, control, musicianship, and good habits.
(Vocalists:)
It is important to develop a healthy technique so that you can sing whatever you want without getting fatigued or injuring your voice. We'll work on developing strong technique and finding your own unique SOUND-- we'll choose music that is right for your vocal style and music that YOU connect with so you can really express yourself.
(Pianists):
No matter whether you want to play classical, pop, or jazz, you'll want your fingers to be strong and agile enough to get the sound that you want out of the instrument. With good technique you can play anything!

--Rhythm, subdivision, and groove

--Ear-training & Music Theory (chord qualities, pitch matching, easy transcription)

--Building your REPERTOIRE so that you have songs to play, and discussing techniques specific to each style of music you study

--Arranging or Communicating with a band (if that is something which interests you)

--Performance considerations.... developing confidence and personal expression!

My goal is to inspire students to play their instruments (or sing!), develop good habits and encourage healthy curiosity..... but most of all to Love Playing Music! 

*** Studio Equipment ***
full music room with 88 f/w keyboard with music stand, amp, microphone (if applicable), acoustic guitar, seating for parents.

I will provide lesson plans and corresponding handouts, exercises, examples, etc. If the student is taking piano lessons they should have access to a keyboard or piano at home. I also have a vocal microphone & amp to work on microphone technique.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in jazz/pop piano and voice, and have a strong background in classical and jazz theory and technique. I typically design curricula which include technical exercises from my classical background and then focus stylistically on the genre that the student is interested in. I have extensive experience both performing and teaching in many jazz, pop, rock and soul styles-- I try to help the student find their unique voice while establishing a strong foundation of healthy technique.

king Suzuki piano lessons when I was 5 and quickly fell in love with the piano. Since the Suzuki method incorporates such thorough ear-training and the ability to play without sheet music, I quickly began to explore my creative side and was improvising on the piano by age 7. Naturally, this led to composition! Music was flowing through me, and I was able to both improvise and compose my inspirations on the piano. I entered and placed in the Reflections state composition contest each year. Throughout my youth, I was also very involved with the band (played trumpet), dance, drama and attended many symphonies, ballets, plays and operas - giving me a well-rounded artistic upbringing.

I pursued my passion and earned a Bachelor's degree in music composition from Mills College, followed by a Master's degree in music composition from the renowned California Institute of the Arts. My thorough education has taught me to compose for any instrument or ensemble as well as compose for film, dance, and theater. It has also taught me to understand the piano in-depth, along with theory and ear-training. Since graduating in 2006, I have scored several films, received commissions to compose for ensembles and musicians, and taught both composition and piano lessons. I also created an ensemble named SIRËoNa that I composed for, managed, and performed piano, percussion, and indigenous flutes in, and I was interviewed and featured on NPR along with local radio stations and newspapers. I have produced two CD's. Most recently, I composed a score for a silent film, premiering live with the Seattle Jazz Ensemble as part of the moisture festival in Seattle.

Do you want to learn to sit at any piano and simply play what you feel? Or turn that tune running through your head into a song that you or others can perform? Or to master every detail of a piece of music so that you can express it exactly as the composer intended? I can teach you! I encourage all ages and backgrounds to explore their creative musical passions and discover the endless possibilities of piano performance and music composition!

*** Lesson Details ***
When teaching piano, I take a similar approach to the Suzuki method. But instead of teaching from the Suzuki books, I teach my own composed exercises and pieces that I believe are more fun and accessible to today's student of any age! I create MP3 recordings of each exercise and have students listen to and memorize the exercises in their own time.This is a very important aspect of my lessons that thoroughly develops the ear - giving the student the ability to play the exercise from memory and to deeply understand the connection between their actions and the resulting sound.

I develop my exercises to progress each student through an increasing degree of technique difficulty and musical parameters - such as rhythm, melody, chords, harmony, key and range. Beginning exercises will isolate a specific musical parameter to bring thorough understanding of its possibilities, while advanced exercises and pieces will work on coordinating multiple parameters and techniques at the same time. Within 6 months, a beginner piano student will have tackled and perfected simple yet fun exercises that incorporate each major musical parameter, as well as develop correct posture and finger technique, and have developed some ear training and basic music theory skills. I also have my students do creative exercises, which develop more thorough ear training and the ability to eventually improvise and compose on the piano. More advanced piano students will perfect their ability to interpret and express each piece of music that they play and will receive thorough ear training, music theory lessons, and develop their creative abilities through piano improvisation and composition. Once they have tackled the fundamentals, intermediate and advanced piano students will learn the classics as well.

Along with piano lessons, I'm also highly qualified to teach music composition - including beginning to advanced composition, music theory, composing for any instrument or ensemble, Sibelius computer notation program, film scoring, and orchestration.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Private room, desk, professional digital piano - 88 keys fully weighted, piano bench. 2 professional cameras and iMac computer for online lessons. Percussion instruments for young students. Sibelius for composition students... Parents can sit in.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I expect students to have their own piano or keyboard when having a lesson in their home.

*** Specialties ***
Piano, Composition, Suzuki method, Classical, Contemporary, Ear Training, Memory Training, Piano Improvisation, Music Theory, Piano Ergonomics, In-depth Holistic Approach, Music History, Rhythm and Percussion. Success in teaching ages 3 and up, all backgrounds and ages.

t and how best they learn. While familiar with most teaching methods, I prefer to modify my style of teaching to what is effective for each student. If the student is motivated by what we are playing, then skills grow exponentially faster. Students are encouraged to perform in spring and winter recitals to showcase their progress.

After three to six months, my students can expect to have a solid foundation in the subject they are studying, a start on the repertoire or subjects of their choice, and motivation to keep going!

formal music training when I began to play the cello. From then on, I was hooked on the sound and I immersed myself in music as much as I could; performing, competing, working in as many musical groups and productions as possible (as both a vocalist and cellist), and even teaching.

I moved to Seattle in 2003 to study opera at Cornish College of the arts, only to later change my major to Jazz, and then again to Latin music studies. Since graduating from Cornish in 2007, with my Bachelor of Music degree, I have been actively and diligently working in the local music scene; performing and recording with artists and groups of many different styles. Everything from various Latin genres, to Rock, to R&B/Soul, to Hip Hop, and Jazz. Through my music, I aim to reach out to people of all cultures. I also aim to teach my own students with the hope that they too can discover the same continuous love of music that I have grown to feel (and still am growing to feel) over the years. :)

*** Studio Equipment ***
88 key piano, cello, various percussion instruments, guitars, ukulele, library, computer, lessons are given in a private studio.

*** Specialties ***
As far as voice goes, I teach all genres and styles but I personally specialize in the Latin genres. I teach all aspects of the music; rhythm, harmony, theory. I even teach performance; how to work with a band in real-time communication, song communication (or story telling as I like to call it), and developing ones own personal style. I believe that there is much more to singing than just vocal technique alone, so I believe in teaching musical fundamentals and functions so that my students will not only be considered vocalists, but competent musicians.

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As well as being a prize winner in the National Flute Association's Baroque Artist Competition, Joshua has appeared in concert on baroque flute in every major city on the West Coast with the American Bach Soloists, Portland Baroque Orchestra, the Byron Schenkman and Friends concert series, Pacific Music Works, Early Music Underground, and Agave Baroque. On baroque flute, Joshua has taken lessons with Janet See, Wilbert Hazelzet, Claire Guimond, Sandra Miller, Stephen Schultz, Philippe Allaine-Dupre, and Greer Ellison.
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Joshua currently holds the 3rd Flute/Piccolo chair with the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra and is on faculty at Music Works Northwest. Joshua’s primary teachers have been Timothy Day, Marianne Gedigian, Jeffery Zook, and Janet See.

*** Lesson Details ***
Joshua believes in giving students the tools to express and perform at their highest level by instilling a strong sense of core fundamentals and musical awareness. With these tools, students can leave lessons inspired and with a clear idea of how to improve during their private practice.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Three music stands
Metronome
Tuner
Music Library

*** Travel Equipment ***
One to three music stands
Metronome
Tuner

*** Specialties ***
Orchestral performance and auditioning
Solo recital preparation and performance
Competition preparation and performance
Concerto preparation and performance
Piccolo Performance
Historical performance practice on baroque flute.

e I’ve taught music theory, composition, and musicianship at the college level for seven years, and where I continue to perform with the UW Modern Ensemble, Inverted Space Ensemble, and Seattle Modern Orchestra.

A major priority of my guitar teaching is to have students making expressive, compelling music every time they touch the instrument. And as I believe that a good guitarist is, first and foremost, a strong musician, I fold a number of diverse activities into weekly lessons, developing skills in music theory, fretboard knowledge, ear training, sight reading, composition, and improvisation, all of which reinforce the acquisition of strong technique.

I teach a wide array of styles—including classical, folk, rock, flamenco, and heavy metal—and I look forward to helping you realize your musical goals!

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-I've helped students learn the ins and outs of ear training by teaching them how to play their favorite anime theme songs from memory alone.

-Like classical or jazz? I've shown people how to shred on everything from Chopin to Count Basie.

-Video game nerd (like me)? There are a ton of amazing soundtracks in games, and I've taught many students how to play songs from Zelda, Halo, and Final Fantasy, as well as indie games like Undertale and Journey.

-Want to be that guy/girl that can bang out awesome Karaoke jams at parties? I've taught people to play hits by Lady Gaga, Journey, 21 Pilots, and many more.

I've worked with kids and adults from beginner to advanced, so no matter what your age, background or skill level, I'd love to meet you and chat about what you want to get out of learning music.