Yelm Music Lessons

will enable you to learn to play in any style you choose to study. Ultimately my job is not to teach you to play, but to show you how to teach yourself. I will arm you with a thorough understanding of technique and theory.

I love working with kids and adults. I love brand new players with no experience as well as seasoned players who just want to fill in some gaps in their knowledge. Whatever your age, and wherever you’re at with your playing, I hope you will give me the chance to help you have more fun and confidence in music.

Every player I work with gets access to a personal online Lesson Journal where you can see my notes from our lessons, do homework from your “Stuff to work on” lists, and access my entire digital library! Every lesson is designed just for you.

Let’s get started…

You can take lessons at my studio, in your home, or online via Skype.

For lessons in my studio, I can provide instruments and amplifiers for both of us.

There is ample seating for parents to sit in on lessons. Parking is available in the driveway.

You’re going to love your lessons!
-Alex

ter performing group and spends most of its time performing in and around the Pacific Northwest. When not leading his own group Kareem can be seen and heard performing as a sideman with many other top notch musical acts and projects, most notably The Paperboys from Vancouver BC.

As an educator Kareem divides his time teaching jazz improvisation as an artist in residence at The Tacoma School of the Arts, directing the award winning student jazz ensemble at Pierce College, conducting masterclasses and workshops at schools around the Puget Sound area, and maintaining a full load of private students. Along with his teaching duties Kareem is the director or The Tacoma Jazz Association, serves on the Tacoma Arts Commission, and is a D'Addario Woodwinds performing artist.

Kareem holds a Bachelors Degree of Music from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle Washington which he attended after receiving a full scholarship.

Throughout his years of teaching Kareem has worked with students of all ages and abilities, from beginners just getting started, to advanced players who simply want new ideas and direction.

*** Lesson Details ***
Lessons are relaxed and are focused on what you would like to learn.

I usually begin with assessing where students are in their abilities and then come up with a lesson plan based on what they already know and what they would like to accomplish.
They can be geared towards a 5 year old with no musical training whatsoever, or to an advanced musician who wants to further develop their skills.

Topics that I cover in lessons throughout a typical day of teaching include: Instrument technique, sight reading skills ( note and rhythm recognition ), memorization skills, music theory, ear training, improvising, and composing.

After 3 to 6 months of lessons and regular practice a beginning student should have a good command of their instrument and a strong foundation of sight reading. At this point we normally will also have started some music theory as well. For students wanting to focus on jazz we will have already begun improvising as well.

*** Studio Equipment ***
5x10 room w/ piano and seating for parents

*** Specialties ***
I focus on the basics of learning to read music and basic technique on the instruments that I teach. From there I proceed with theory, ear training, improvising, composition etc. It all depends on what the students want to learn. I am comfortable teaching classical music as well as jazz, rock, composition, and improvisation.

I studied at Centralia College under the phenomenal Professor of Music, Donna Huffman, having completed my Associates of Arts with an emphasis in Music Theory.

I have been teaching now on and off for the past seven years, doing in home lessons, online lessons, and teaching in an actual studio. I teach any student from age of four to ninety-nine...anyone can have fun learning music! I emphasize GREATLY on theory, for I believe it is a key building block to understanding music. However, I also emphasize greatly on having FUN! We sometimes forget music is to be enjoyed, not something to stress over, so I try and make every lesson enjoyable and educational, both hand in hand.

From a young age, my musical career started when I got the opportunity to play piano for a local dance studio when I was living in Washington State, called The Dance Academy in Centralia, WA. I played there for just over six years, accompanying in lessons and performing in the dance recitals.

Also at a young age, i got the opportunity to teach young children the basics of the Finale program, where we took a summer to help these children compose their own pieces. I also got the chance to help them learn the program ProTools, a digitally composing program that assisted with their composing and ear training skills.

Prior to these events, I have had gigs as a church accompanist, for a high school theatrical event, where I was the solo accompanist for an entire show, vocal accompanying gigs, performances for schools and churches, etc.

I have performing experience including master classes, adjudications, dance recitals, theatrical performances, church services, private occasions, dinner shows, etc. Anything you can name, I am 99% sure I have played for!

I am confident in my abilities to play, sing, and teach, and have a deep passion to share it with anyone who is willing. I am studying Music Therapy simply because I understand the potential of music, and how much it can touch one's life in such a positive way. The gift of music can not only change your life, but those around you to. I have seen it done in so many circumstances, and it pleases me to think I can help someone reach that someday. So let's learn this crazy thing called "music" together, and have fun with it every step of the way!

Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon, Cascade Clarinet Consort, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and Chamber Choir during her undergraduate career. She also taught two students privately throughout her undergrad. Stephanie auditioned for and received the Southern Oregon University Solo Concerto Competition in 2016. She has just finished her Masters in Music Education degree at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California with a 3.95/4.0 GPA. She has attended numerous music education conferences including CASMEC, Bay Section and Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference. She presented research a research study at CASMEC in 2017. She has recently relocated to Tacoma WA. Stephanie will be teaching public school music in Des Moines, WA for the 2018-2019 school year. She loves to spend time outdoors and has a sweet kitten named Addie too!

arps. In addition, if you hope to purchase your own harp I am happy to assist you in your search locally for a quality affordable instrument.

I have openings currently on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the middle of the day, perfect for homeschool students and flexible adults. No evening or weekend lessons, including Fridays. School aged students have lessons once a week. Some adults choose to come every other week, or less frequently.

Feel free to ask any question or just stop by to say HI! and tell me what your goals are. We can start there and discover how to best serve your musical needs.

are not necessary as long as I have a good view of the keyboard. Also, printer scanning capability for theory homework is recommended. I work off of a Yamaha digital DGX 650 and offer a comprehensive curriculum which includes some or all of the following: Core lesson, technique, theory, ear-training, sight-reading, scales and chords, lead sheets and basic composition. Understanding that everyone is unique, the curriculum may be customized upon request or need.