Music Lessons

$100 a month for a 30-min lesson once a week.

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Have you always wanted to play a musical instrument?
Do you want to provide your child with musical knowledge?
Have you tried learning by watching online videos, but just can not figure it out?”
Contact me today, so I can make your dreams come true!
You will receive a musical ability that will last a lifetime!

Lessons are available for the following Instruments:

• Piano/Keyboard and Organ
• Ukuleles and Guitars: Acoustic, Bass, and Electric
• Violin and Mandolin
• Drums
• Harmonica
• Dulcimer
• Others are usually available upon request.

Why should I learn from a teacher instead of just watching videos online?

I have had several people who have tried to learn to play an instrument by watching online videos. However, often times, these just teach you to play one song and seldom provide instruction for basic techniques and theory required to learn an instrument.
While it is possible for some people to learn a musical instrument on their own, not everyone can. Besides, one will always learn quicker, while working with a private music teacher, where you can get the personalized one-on-one instruction that is so important. With hands on instruction, I can demonstrate for you and allow you to see, hear and feel the proper way to use your instrument.
You also get instant feedback. While you can learn fundamentals from a book or video, there is no one there to correct you or help you when you are not doing something properly. I also provide personalized training and will choose the exercises that are appropriate for your level.
It is easy for most people to give up when they do not have the constant support and encouragement that comes with having an instructor. When you stumble or feel like you are doing everything wrong, I will be there to support you and guide you to continue your musical journey.
In a private lesson situation, I have the opportunity, as a teacher, to work individually and directly with a student, at their own rate of progress.

When learning an instrument you get to learn the techniques of playing that includes the following:
The mechanics of the instrument
How to hold the instrument and finger placement
How to create a sound with the instrument
The technique of playing the instrument
How to read music notation
and much more.

Studio Policies

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Music Lesson FAQs

What instruments do you teach? I teach mostly piano, guitar, ukulele, and violin, because they are the most popular, but instruction for other instruments may be available upon request.

What is your experience teaching children? I have been teaching and working with children, for the past fifteen years, and I also volunteer with local schools and organizations.

What instrument should I play?
Ultimately, the instrument you or your child choose should depend on a number of factors. Here's a list of questions to consider:
Is your child excited about the instrument?
Does she like the way it sounds and feels?
Is the instrument too challenging?
Does your child's temperament match the instrument?
Can you afford the instrument and the maintenance that comes with it?
As a parent, do you like the sound enough to listen to your child practice it for hours at home?
Is your child specifically interested in a particular music style? If so, factor that into your instrument choice, as some specifically cater to certain styles. For instance, a violin player will have a hard time fitting in a jazz ensemble.
Experts don't always agree on which instruments are best for big kids to learn, but many music teachers do agree that it's hard to go wrong with the piano. The piano is sometimes refered to as a "gateway" instrument, because once you have lessons with the piano, it is eaier to learn another instrument. I have had several students who have started with one instrument then transitioned to another. The students that have the easiest time transitioning are those that start on the piano and later begin learning a different instrument. Some students, like myself, only have lessons for piano then are able to self-teach themselves other instruments. After having five years of piano lessons, I was able to teach myself a variety of other instruments and am still learning more all the time.

Do you have a studio or work from home? I work from my home studio, but it is separate from my house, so it is quiet and without distractions. I also have an sitting room in view of the student at all times.

What is the best age to start playing an instrument? Music Lessons are for people of all ages. They are a valuable investment, and the benefits go beyond just the musical instruction. I have had students from 4 years old to 74 years old. It is Never too late!
The recommended age depends on the instrument, but each student is different, so I sometimes start earlier than the recommended ages. The starting age for piano is 5 years old and up. The recommended age for guitar is 10 and up. These are simply based on the assumed finger strength and musculature of the student.

Will my child perform better in school because they took piano lessons?
Aside from an appreciation for music later in life and being able to "relate" to other instruments and musicians, they'll be more well-rounded. They will also have an extra way to earn money on the side as an adult. You do not have to major in music to receive the benefits of music lessons. You really do not even have to be very good at it.
A lot of people tend to focus on placing their children in sports over the arts, so if you are on the fence about choosing music for your child instead, take note of the benefits that come with signing up for lessons. Scientific studies are continually discovering new ways that music lessons positively impact the brain of not only children, but adults who begin taking lessons later in life. They have an easier time learning math, new languages, patience and discipline, and more. These are all skills that they would not be learning playing video games, and lately, things they are not learning in school either.Playing an instrument is really the only activity that simultaneously involves reading, language, and visual focus, ambidextrous fine motor skills and proper posture, auditory attention and vocal abilities, and mathamatics.
By understanding beat, rhythm, and scales, children are learning how to divide, create fractions, and recognize patterns. It seems that music wires a child's brain to help him better understand other areas of math. The more advanced a song is the more the student has to learn how to process fractions in order to play notes of various lengths. This helps in training the brain to interpret and become comfortable quickly solving complex calculations.
Musical lessons also introduce young children to basic physics. For instance, plucking the strings on a guitar or violin teaches children about vibrations. Even non-string instruments, such as drums, give children the opportunity to explore these scientific principles.
Learning to play an instrument can help your child fine-tune her ear and enhance skills needed for education and social interaction.
They help children develop coordination and motor skills. Instruments require movement of the fingers, hands, arms, and sometimes feet. Most instruments, like the violin and piano, demand different actions from your right and left hands simultaneously. It's like patting your head and rubbing your belly at the same time. Instruments not only help develop ambidexterity, but they can also enhance coordination. Perfecting timing can prepare children for other hobbies, like dance and sports.
It refines discipline and patience. Learning an instrument teaches children about delayed gratification. The violin, for example, has a steep learning curve. Before you can make a single sound, you must first learn how to hold the violin, how to hold the bow, and where to place your feet. Playing an instrument teaches kids to persevere through hours, months, and sometimes years of practice before they reach specific goals. Private lessons and practicing at home require a very focused kind of attention. Kids learn to show respect, to sit still and be quiet for designated periods of time, and to be attentive.
It boosts self-esteem. Lessons offer a forum where children can learn to accept constructive criticism. Turning negative feedback into positive change helps build self-confidence. They will likely be playing for family members and friends to begin showing off their new skills. Presenting yourself in public is an important skill whether you become a professional musician or not. This skill is easily transferable to public speaking.
It introduces children to other cultures. Many of the terms used in music are Italian, so they will be learning a new language. Also, different instruments introduce children to a wide variety of cultural styles of music. Versatile instruments, such as the violin and piano, can accompany a wide repertoire of styles, including classical and jazz. Learning to play it exposes children to classical music popularized by German and Austrian musicians as well as early American styles and history. It's important to familiarize children with other cultures at a young age because this fosters open-mindedness about worlds and traditions beyond the ones they know.
Grade school and high school students who participate in music are proven to have the lowest levels of drug use including alcohol and tobacco in their lifetimes than any other major group in society.
Because the study of music utilizes great analytical skills, students who take music lessons in high school show significant improvements in math scores compared to those students who do not study music.
College music majors typically have higher reading scores than all other majors including English, math, biology and chemistry majors.
Besides the academic and analytical benefits, music also affects humans on a deep emotional level. When one hears music that they respond to emotionally, there are physiological changes in the body which result in a feeling of joy and contentment and lessen the effects of sadness and depression. Many of my adult students say that they use their practice time as their therapy. It can also help younger students to deal with anxiety.
Not only does music strengthen the brain, it strengthens the rest of the body. The emotional and psychological benefits of music are obvious to anyone who has ever been cheered up or calmed down by listening to a beloved song, but there is good reason to believe music also benefits those in need of pain management and immune functioning as well as to the human nervous, skeletal, and cardiovascular systems.