About
I love to empower aspiring ukulele students to learn to play ukulele in exactly the way they want, and achieve their goals with this fun and versatile instrument. When the weather is nice, I love teaching lessons outside!
Ukulele is often known as a teach-yourself-to-play instrument, but the truth is that I work with a lot of uke players who have purchased their instrument (or their parents have purchased it for them), gotten frustrated with the overwhelming amount of hard-to-navigate information online or in books, and given up. And then the ukulele sits in the closet, and they still wish they could play it.
And that's exactly where I come in! I want to help you pull that ukulele out, dust off those strings, and give you the skills and confidence to keep learning! Or, better yet, have you never put that ukulele away in the first place!
I've been strumming, picking and playing my heart out with the ukulele for almost a decade now, and teaching it for going on three years. I have a classical music background (viola and choral), but I love the versatility and ease of the uke. My trusty ukulele and I have carried each other through many years of campfire music jams, long road trips all over the world, and countless hours busking on sidewalks.
I perform as a solo singer/songwriter, and with Sad Girl Music Club- a ukulele-centric indie jazz project. I organize Ukulele Nights and Outdoor Ukulele Jams in Asheville, that are open to all ages.
The thing I love most about the ukulele is the way that it brings people together, and getting to teach people how to play my favorite instrument is a part of that.
Photos and videos
Reviews
Andrea L.
Jerry M.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Ahead of the first lesson, I ask students to tell me their 4 favorite songs- ideally songs that they know almost by heart and like to sing or hum along with.
At the first lesson, we go over basic ukulele techniques, theory and information, and then work on our target skills using one of the songs the student has selected.
Over time, we build skills and add new songs to the student's personalized songbook.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been playing music since a very young age- I was brought up with classical training in viola and voice. I play 5 string instruments (ukulele, guitar, piano, viola and violin), and have studied using many different methods over time, which influence my student-centered approach to lessons.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My lesson pricing is $1/minute.
Lesson options are 45 or 60 minutes for new students.
Lesson options are 30, 45 or 60 minutes for recurring students.
Students outside of Asheville will be asked to pay a $10 travel fee.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with a wide range of students: from young teenagers up to retirees.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
This is a video from an Outdoor Ukulele Jam in Carrier Park that I organized (Affectionately known as Uke Til You Puke): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq8CbuAnclY
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
My advice is to find a teacher that is inspiring and makes learning music fun and enjoyable for you! Practice and learning can be hard work, but the process should be exciting and engaging.