Dr. Bret Wagner

As a life-long student and teacher of music, I have always been passionate about discovering how music lessons can be made more effective and relevant for students. I believe that most people come into music lessons wanting to know how to play their favorite songs or express the sounds from their head. There is an inherent intrinsic motivation within each student, and it is important to focus on nurturing this from the very beginning while providing them the tools toward becoming an independent musician.

I have been fortunate to have studied and worked in music my entire life. Through my years of study and experiences alongside a wide variety of musicians, I have collected a wealth of knowledge regarding music theory, composition, arranging, improvising, producing, and performing. My mission has been to not only internalize as much information as possible, but to learn how to connect students with the information they need to satisfy their curiosity while maintaining their enthusiasm by empowering them to think independently.

I have experience with many genres and styles, but I’ve learned that my favorite thing about teaching music is connecting with students about their favorite artists/songs, and then creating a path for them toward becoming the musician they want to be. With a background in composing, arranging, and improvising, I am able to adapt musical material in real-time to meet the level of the student (while modeling for them how to do the same). I provide students with the knowledge and the practical examples they need to know for the fastest path to their success.