Dr. Lee Chambers

When meeting a new student, I like to get a sense of where they've come from and where they're going--their musical interests, backgrounds, and goals. The first lessons typically emphasize expanding or transforming something they already can do, some sort of skill they already have--even if they don't realize it. This sets them up to begin making room in the present for their future musicality.

My musical education has been a lifelong journey encompassing a variety of activities on four continents: performing since childhood; teaching private lessons, music history and theory courses, and student success seminars; speaking and publishing on musical topics; and consulting on a wide range of projects. Formally, I hold a PhD in musicology and graduate certificate in historical performance from Texas Tech, MA in music from Ball State, and BA in vocal performance from Olivet Nazarene University.

Most importantly, these experiences have taught me that we live in worlds of meaning--and that those worlds are powerfully musical! On our paths of discovery together, we explore each person's relationship(s) with music in those worlds, unlocking new possibilities for technique, interpretation, and creativity that extend well beyond musical encounters.

Students typically pay for 30-, 45-, and 60-minute lessons month-by-month at a rate of $100 per hour. Please reach out to discuss package discounts or financial hardship scholarships.

From an early age, I approached every project with an expectation of discovering something new with or for others, something they could use moving forward. Inevitably, those same moments always shaped me moving forward.

My very first student was a friend to whom I gave eight lessons for my vocal pedagogy class in college; although it was a positive experience, I didn't anticipate a teaching career. Three years later, I found myself with a growing studio, and as my concept of teaching gradually shifted to transfering "knowledge" to unlocking something new, I fell in love with teaching.

I never intended to teach, yet I found that teaching was what I had always aimed for!

The students I have worked with span from elementary school to the Golden years. They include beginning musicians, college students, music teachers, and community choristers, among others.

One evening earlier this fall, I stepped outside to see if I could locate the planets visible at that time and immediately returned inside to tell my family. We stood in the yard, capturing the rings of Saturn even with the camera on my phone, watching my children's eyes light up as they stared at Jupiter (their favorite planet), and seeing the deep red of Mars contrast with everything else in the sky on my wife's Canon. I had a new sense of the reality of our solar system--worlds we don't know personally but vantage points that intersect, interact, and impact one another seemingly unnoticed.

The absolute most important factor in finding the right teacher is whether that teacher "fits" with you as a student on an individualized level: Does his temperament make you comfortable? Do her questions encourage and inspire you to work toward the next step in your musical journey? Do you understand their critiques and explanations clearly? How can they help you with the styles that most interest you?

Speak with potential teachers, ask questions, and take advantage of trial lessons, if available. As you meet and especially as you work together, you start to sense how that teacher can serve your needs and how well you can work together.

What do I most value about music? What do I least value about music?

What excites me? What apprehensions do I have?

Why (and what) do I want to learn? How do I envision lessons helping me do that?

In a perfect world, what kinds of musical skills would I have?