About
I am a music teacher as well as health, wellness, and mindfulness life coach. I truly believe music is a universal language that is within every one of us and can be developed in a very natural way. I work with all age groups and most all instruments. I also teach Audio Engineering and music production to those who are interested in taking their music to another level. I am very out of the box in my approach incorporating psychology and neuroscience in everything i do.
What i enjoy most is being to interact with my student/clients and hopefully inspire every one of them to become the very best versions of themselves. Some come to me wanting to learn to play an instrument, others want to lose weight and learn to live a healthy lifestyle, and others simply want to work on quieting the mind and release stress, anxiety, and or depression. It is my passion to help any and all who can benefit from my experience and unique approach.
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Norton A.
Blake C.
Alyssa J.
Harshith M.
Lily K.
Megan K.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I always begin first with getting to know my students more personally, background, interests, etc. etc. and simply develop raport. Then, I spend some time sharing my philosophy, methods, and approach. Since every single student/client is different and unique, my methods may be different for each one. I tailor every class in a way to be able to achieve the greatest results in students while also keeping the classes fun and interesting.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I graduated from Wayland Baptist University with Bachelor of Science of Occupation Education in Music. (B.S.O.E. in Music), and minored in Theology.
I also studied Audio Engineering and Music Production at COMIA / Chris Lieck Studios
As for health, wellness, weightloss, and life coaching: I was obese for most all of my life, weighing well over 300lbs, until my 40th Bday when i decided to completely change my life. I successfully lost 150 pounds, and have maintained my healthy lifestyle for almost 6 years now without gaining any of my old weight back. I use yoga, meditation, nutrition, and continously fed my brain new information and in time was able to reprogram my own subconcious mind in regards to how viewed and approached health.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Due to the fact that I teach music as well as do life coaching, I am unable to have a standard pricing system. However, I do offer a free initial consultation for all my students/clients.
How did you get started teaching?
I taught Middle School and High School band for a while after college.
Right before COVID hit, I was teaching music full time at a Private Music Academy, and now have moved to teaching all my classes online from home.
What types of students have you worked with?
Because my approach to teaching music is so very different and unconventional, I am wiling to work with students of all ages and background. So far my youngest student was a little girl who had just turned 3yrs old a week before we started working together. That was truly an adventure and so very fun. I do also offer classes for parants and kids to learn music together.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Listening to my 16 yr old guitar student perform Bohemian Rhapsody beginning to end beautifully, and even played to entire guitar solo! She started taking lessons with me in January 2020, had never played an instrument before, and didn't even own her own guitar for the first 2 months of taking classes with me. Her motivation for wanting to learn guitar,,, QUEEN! She is obsessed with that band and LOVES Freddie Mercury! So listening to her play the entire song only 6 months into our lessons was truly priceless!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Please make sure that the teacher you choose is someone that can make your learning experience fun and exciting. I am truly saddened when i hear of a child who excitingly signs up for band class in middle school only to give it up and never play their instrument again because they had such a negative experience in the current musical education system.
I go as far as litterally making every one of my students promise me that they will never PRACTICE their instrument!! However, i do have them promise me that they will make time to PLAY their instrument everyday. Practice can tend to become a chore, a task, and a burden. All of which produces Cortisol (stress hormones), which will inevitably lead to the student losing interest over time. However, Playing the instrument daily leads to enjoying the process (releasing Seritonin) and eventually turns into a deep love and passion for music and exponential improvments on their instrument of choice.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Why do you want to take lessons? Why do you want to learn music? What kind of music do you see yourself playing in the future, which genres, etc etc.? The grand majority of music teachers are classically trained, and seldom have much experience with music beyond the notes written on a peice of paper in front of them, or in playing any other genre that is not classical in nature. I teach my students to plaly the music they already love! Classical, jazz, rock, hip hop, R&B, blues, latin, etc. etc. etc. I don't force my students to play music of my preference or style, but rather encourage and equip them to be able to bring forth the music that is already deep down inside them. My ultimate goal is for my students to be writting their own songs and compositions. For me, that is the true nature and beauty of Music!