About
Hello! My name is Todd and I've been playing music for most of my life. My first instrument was a Casio keyboard when I was about ten years old but as a teenager, I fell in love with the guitar. Over the years I have played in a handful of bands in the St. Louis music scene and toured most of the midwest and the northeast. I recently graduated from Webster University with a BA in music after receiving an AA in guitar performance at SWIC. In college, I learned everything from music theory to conducting as well as playing in the guitar ensemble, jazz ensemble and so on. I have been teaching music lessons since early 2014 for instruments including voice, ukulele, bass, guitar, drums, piano. I also teach theory, songwriting, as well as leading groups of rock bands. In January I moved to Portland, OR and am hoping to meet some friendly people here. I look forward to hearing from you.
My passion is helping people achieve their musical goals while also boosting their confidence and desire to learn. My favorite moments are when someone finally masters an idea, technique, or song they have always dreamed of playing.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Finding out their musical interests and goals to structure a personal learning plan that will help them develop the techniques to play the music they love.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I earned an AA in Guitar Performance from Southwestern Illinois College in 2014 and a BA in Music from Webster University in 2016. In the past 5 years, I have taught friends and various musicians across the country through takelessons.com (both online and in-person) and taught individuals and groups while working at two different music stores.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I usually charge $35 an hour ($20 for half an hour) but I am flexible with my pricing depending on the individual's income.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching when I was in college. It started with teaching to friends who were interested in learning music, but couldn't afford lessons. From there I found that I really enjoyed sharing my knowledge and everyone compliments my patience and encouragement with them. I have had many teachers over the years and developed my personal style off of what I really liked and disliked about their approaches.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with all levels of students. Students with no experience at all, gigging musicians, musicians transitioning from high school band to college-level performing programs.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Make sure you find someone who makes you feel good about where you are in your musical journey and is excited to get you to where you want to be. Someone who is extremely patient, encouraging, and doesn't view their roster as just a paycheck. They should be willing to teach you exactly what you are interested in so that you can continue to have fun.