Teaching Philosophy
In recent years, new research (like this TED talk) has begun to show the benefits of music in exercising different parts of the brain together. Others show it's effects on the body. Not too long ago, I heard someone express how music acts as his form of spirituality. And in the past decade or so, Americans seem to be rediscovering the joy of communal music-making. So it seems that music touches the mind, the body, the spirit, and the community. Yet, many people still view the skills involved in music-making mysterious or a result of "latent talent". I believe, however, that music-making is a skill that can be learned and improved through practice, just like most other skills (like cooking or riding a bicycle).
Notes on a staff are just symbols that represent sound just like the written letters of the English alphabet. New research (such as the one discussed in this article) is usually just a matter of associating a heard pitch to the muscles necessary to reproduce it. Singing and playing the piano are just a combination of muscles, albeit a complicated combination. With direction and practice, anyone can learn the coordination necessary for all of these activities which can greatly increase their enjoyment. Because every person is different, with different bodies, different muscles, different learning styles, different aptitudes for the basic skills required, and different goals for learning music, it is important to meet each student at his or her starting point.
To this end, I believe catering lessons toward the individual. Whether you are interested in learning piano in order to play a specific song, to accompany or solo at church, or to eventually continue education in college, university, or beyond, I will strive to equip you with the necessary basic skills. Whether you are interested in learning how to sing in order to sing a specific song, to be a better singer in church or school choir, to try to get that solo, or to pursue further education in college, university, or beyond, I will work with you to establish foundational singing techniques.
Playing the piano and singing are both also physical activities. This means that they involve coordination of muscles and other tissues which is all governed by the brain. Forgetting this fact can lead to injuries as I can personally attest to. Therefore, I believe in teaching the fundamentals of physiology and anatomy as they relate to both activities, even to young students.
In the end, I seek to combine practical instruction with personal goals in order to create a personalized and enjoyable musical experience for each student.
Notes on a staff are just symbols that represent sound just like the written letters of the English alphabet. New research (such as the one discussed in this article) is usually just a matter of associating a heard pitch to the muscles necessary to reproduce it. Singing and playing the piano are just a combination of muscles, albeit a complicated combination. With direction and practice, anyone can learn the coordination necessary for all of these activities which can greatly increase their enjoyment. Because every person is different, with different bodies, different muscles, different learning styles, different aptitudes for the basic skills required, and different goals for learning music, it is important to meet each student at his or her starting point.
To this end, I believe catering lessons toward the individual. Whether you are interested in learning piano in order to play a specific song, to accompany or solo at church, or to eventually continue education in college, university, or beyond, I will strive to equip you with the necessary basic skills. Whether you are interested in learning how to sing in order to sing a specific song, to be a better singer in church or school choir, to try to get that solo, or to pursue further education in college, university, or beyond, I will work with you to establish foundational singing techniques.
Playing the piano and singing are both also physical activities. This means that they involve coordination of muscles and other tissues which is all governed by the brain. Forgetting this fact can lead to injuries as I can personally attest to. Therefore, I believe in teaching the fundamentals of physiology and anatomy as they relate to both activities, even to young students.
In the end, I seek to combine practical instruction with personal goals in order to create a personalized and enjoyable musical experience for each student.