Piano lessons

I’ve taught piano students from 5 years old up to 85 years old, and I can say that there really isn’t a wrong time to pick up the piano. My creative approach keeps the learning process fun and engaging, while incorporating technique and music theory into the process. Whether you want to work your way up to playing Brahms, Chopin, and Mozart, or just want to rock out to Beatles songs, I’ve got you covered!

vocal coaching

Everyone has a voice, and everyone can sing! I truly believe that. From time to time I hear from people who say “I can’t sing, but I wish I could.” Talent and natural ability is part of the story, but that’s not where the story ends! I’ve coached singers who have booked gigs on cruise ships, worked on Broadway, and developed their sound for their solo album. I’ve also worked with singers who just wanted to build confidence with their own voice, and sing just because they love it.

composition

Do you want to write songs, but aren’t sure where to get started? Or maybe you already have songs that you’ve written, but you want to build your skillset to make more intricate and exciting songs? This track may be for you. Whether you write and sing songs on your guitar, or compose pieces for piano, or make digital music and beats on the computer, we can work together to expand your understanding of how music works in practice and help you tell your story. Composition is simply the act of creating music, so let’s make music together!

Music theory

If you want to better understand music theory and basically how music works, this class is for you! Want to brush up on how to read the notes on the page? Want to cover which notes make which chords, and why? Want to learn about the super secret and evil chord that the Catholic Church once forbid, going as far as to call it “the Devil in music”? We’ll cover this, and so much more! Depending on your experience level and area of interest, this class can be designed to function as a prep for college music theory classes, rudimentary note/rhythm reading (especially useful for singers who have never learned how to read music), or even piano/guitar players who want to learn what the chord symbols mean… even those really crazy jazz chords.

sight-singing/ ear training

Did you know that, just like a new puppy, a musician’s ears need to be trained? This is the skill that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough. If you’re a singer who has trouble finding their note, or if you would love to learn how to harmonize, or if you are planning on studying music in college, ear training is a vital part of your musical journey.

Sight-singing is the skill of reading the notes on the page and being able to sing them accurately, just by getting a starting pitch! If you are a singer who wants to be more independent and not rely on rehearsal tracks of accompanists “plunking out your notes” for you, or if you want to be more confident with auditions/call-backs when you have to sing something from the score, this is for you!

digital music

I don’t often see lessons specializing in the topic of digital music, especially with the beginner in mind. There may be super advanced seminar-style courses, but I find that most of my students simply want to record their music or build simple accompaniment tracks. Whether you want to create sweeping soundtracks for video projects, professionally notate your compositions, record a demo album, or learn how to create digital music collaboratively with other musicians virtually, this class is your gateway to the world of digital music! The programs I support are:

• GarageBand — DAW (digital audio workstation)

• Logic Pro — DAW

• Sibelius — music notation

• SoundTrap — browser-based DAW

Lesson packages and rates

I offer three tiers of lessons packages: individual lessons, monthly packages, and flex passes. Each have their benefit, so choose the one that best fits your needs!

Individual lessons —

• 60 minutes / $99

• 45 minutes / $89

• 30 minutes / $79

Monthly package (4-lesson bundle) —

• 60 minutes / $356 ($89 each)

• 45 minutes / $316 ($79 each)

• 30 minutes / $276 ($69 each)

Flex pass (10-lesson bundle) —

• 60 minutes / $790 ($79 each)

• 45 minutes / $690 ($69 each)

• 30 minutes / $590 ($59 each)

Individual Lessons are designed to tackle a specific area with a rather narrow focus. Need to get feedback before an audition? Want to learn how to do that one thing in GarageBand that has you perplexed? If you have a very clear idea of exactly the thing you want to accomplish in a half hour or so, this is the option for you.

Monthly Packages are simply a bundle of 4 lessons, designed to be taken weekly over the course of a month. Committing to a monthly package means we have time to explore concepts more in-depth, build good habits, and allow time for creative ideas to fully develop. The biggest key to success in music is consistency!

If you are ready to dive right in, I recommend the 60 minute Monthly Package (most students choose this option). Once a week, we would meet virtually and dig into the topic of your study.

If you are considering having a lesson once every other week, I strongly recommend the 30 minute Monthly Package. In my experience, I have found that when students opt for a longer lesson less frequently (rather than a shorter lesson more often), they have a difficult maintaining momentum in practice and have more difficulty staying connecting to the topic. By having shorter lessons weekly, students build strong practice habits and have a smaller workload to manage.

A Flex Pass is the most “bang for your buck”, with flexibility in mind! If you’re ready to commit to the journey but know that life can be crazy, this may be the option for you. A Flex Pass allows you the freedom to schedule 10 lessons anytime within a three month period. Wanna space them out from April through June? Not a problem. Wanna use them all up in a week? Bold move, but go for it!

This option allows for more structured study if you choose to have a lesson every week, similar to a Monthly Package. With 10 lessons, it works out to be roughly one lesson per week for three months, allowing for a couple of “free” weeks of no lesson for holidays, travel, etc.

Alternatively, you can use these lessons “on demand” (schedule permitting). If you tend to be more independent with your study, or have ebbs and flows in your availability/needs, the Flex Pass is a perfect option. This option can be especially helpful for musicians working on projects, but want a bit of guidance/development help. Want to schedule three lessons in one week, two the next, and take a month off? Not a problem.