Overview
Vocal Lessons
Many times through the years I have had people tell me that they can’t sing. The reason they think they can’t sing is because someone told them when they were a child or teen that what they were doing wasn’t right. Most of the time I find that those people can not just sing, but sing well. No matter what age or ability level, I have been able to help beginners improve, intermediates to improve and those with some level of serious training improve. Any singer can improve by simply doing vocal exercises correctly each day. That is where I begin with every new student. After a few weeks of vocalizing I will assign a particular song to start working on technique. After 3-5 months I will ask the student to start looking for songs which they want to learn. I take each student from where they are and move them step by step through issues such as breath control, placement of the voice, diction, use of the tongue and soft palate, flexibility of the voice, increasing range and other abilities needed to become comfortable with their voice and using it correctly.
Piano lessons
Anyone can learn to play the piano. There is only one caveat – PRACTICE. Every piano student must develop a practice habit. It doesn’t matter if the student is 4 years old or 54. With practice anyone can gain at least some ability to play in a year of lessons. There are several different methods to start beginners: middle C out in both directions (John Thompson method, which I use); hand positions. For most students, the middle C method is the best. I have had a few students who needed the hand position method, which I have used with them, but only a couple in 40 years. There are also different levels of the middle C method which include the Easiest Piano Course, Teaching Little Fingers to Play, Modern Piano Method (not currently modern, but was in the 1960s when I started taking lessons). I currently have students in all three of these courses, which I placed dependent on age at the time they began, exposure to music and music aptitude, experience reading music.
Music Theory
As a college music major, I had a serious problem understanding traditional music theory (I, ii, iii, IV, V …) The circle of 5ths was a total mystery. Modes? Is that anything like moods? I didn’t get any of it. UNTIL … I learned about the Nashville Number System. I started using notebook paper with my students instead of music staff paper, and started using numbers my students would understand (1,2,3,4,5 …) instead of Roman numerals. I now understand the things I didn’t get in college, and can teach classical theory as well. Along with theory, I also teach reading rhythms. This class is a great “extra” for vocalists or instrumentalists including pianists, guitarists and drummers. Beginner Rhythm class will meet once a week for 30 minutes for 3 months. Intermediate Rhythm class will meet once a week for 3 months.