About
My knowledge is far more extensive than many other teachers in the area, and being vocal/multi-instrumental, I can teach classical music as well as pop, rock, country and jazz improvisation. I've done all kinds of music. Interaction with students and instilling the joy, love and understanding of music while having fun learning. I've taught public school, community college, universities, and master classes and clinics.
Watching the student grow. Positive reinforcement, grooming their performance to excellence. Sharing in their accomplishments and adopting them into my musical family.
Highlights
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Experience level
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Interest(s)
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Michael H.
Courtney Y.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I find out what the students goals are and then custom tailor the instruction to meet their needs. I have many resources to help students succeed, and I want to have fun with them as we explore the wonder of music.
I expect them to diligently practice at least 15 minutes a day. Now, this doesn't sound like much, but if the student will set aside this discipline each day for 15 minutes, the time will stretch and they will accomplish a great deal, long after the 15 minute goal has been reached. If this discipline isn't used, the time will disappear and practice will be lost.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Inclusive history, way too much info, on Larry A. Schacher’s musical journey.
5 years old, vocal soloing in church, began piano.
Transcribed first song at 9.
9 years old, added clarinet.
11 years old, added sax.
13 years old, added guitar.
Played with the Pal Boys Club band for the Rose Parade in Portland, Oregon.
Selected for All Northwest Choir.
Selected for All State Choir.
Scholarships to University of the Pacific and University of Oregon high school summer sessions.
Played first professional gig on sax at 13.
Played standards with family band on alto sax.
Began teaching guitar at a local music store at 15.
First rock/country band at 16.
Directed high school choir for months because music teacher was ill. The choir earned a #1 rating at contest.
Outstanding actor of the year at Eastern Oregon University for the role of ‘El Gallo’ in ‘The Fantastiks’..
Wrote most of the vocal music for a Christmas Concert at Eastern Oregon University.
Featured pianist with the Grande Ronde Symphony.
Played bassoon with the E.O.C.U.symphony.
Solo clarinet/bass clarinet with the Eastern Oregon University band.
Tapped for Phi Beta Kappa.
Selected for ‘Who’s Who In American Colleges and Universities’.
Was hired as music specialist for summer session at Eastern Oregon University’s writing, arts and music high school program.
Selected as a member of ‘The Ambassadors’ a folk/bluegrass touring group from Eastern Oregon University, to help publicize and recruit students to the campus.
Earned a Bachelors of Science degree in music education.
Taught public school at Lyle, Washington for 3 years, writing most of the instrumental and choral arrangements for the school.
Earned second place at the Stevenson, Washington stage band competition and my student earned the outstanding soloist award on piano while at Lyle, Wa. position.
Taught jazz improvisation and classical guitar at Mt. Hood Community College.
Choral arrangement original piece ‘It’s Easy’ placed second at the Mt. Hood Community College jazz festival.
Graduate school, studied composition.
Featured pianist on syndicated gospel show ‘King’s Corner’ and pianist/organ on the albums the trio produced.
Performed at major state fairs and festivals with other groups on guitar and sax…country to big band jazz.
Wrote and conducted ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ for Seattle Opera at a televised Seattle Super Sonics basketball game.
Taught ‘How to Create A Rock Opera’ for middle school students summer session at Montana State.
Arranged hundreds of songs for midi performances in night clubs and other venues.
Featured act in New York City at the Marriott Marquis for Association of Women Pilots, featuring songs from musical theater.
Commissioned to write the school song for the Overlake School, a private school in Redmond, Wa.
Created ‘Rock and Roll’ boot camp at the Overlake School that ran for several years. The students had little to no musical experience and these middle school students produced and recorded their own songs and all the students were able to play guitar on a blues tune with both chords and leads during the week of the camp.
Music written, recorded and performed for commercials on radio in Seattle, Wa.
Studied Logic DAW with Apple for recording and mixing and learned enough to record my own material, but I always want to learn more.
A former piano student of Larry’s was featured on Bill Moyers PBS documentary called ‘Healing and the Mind.’
Wrote a Christian musical ‘Sail On!’ the script centers around the rescue of folks in the middle east. The original songs are on available on Spotify and youtube.com.
Wrote arrangements and piano accompaniment for the musical, ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ by Robert W. Cabell that premiered at the Renton Civic Theater, Christmas 2017. Robert W. Cabell had two other musicals on broadway ‘Zorro-the Masked Musical’ and ‘Pretty Faces’.
Former guitar student, Patrick Rector, featured in concert, at The Hollywood Bowl, with the group ‘Rainne’ at ‘We Can Survive’… opening for Taylor Swift, Lizzo and the Jonas Brothers.
Casey Francis, sax, featured at The Troubadour, Hollywood, California, with kevinnevertalks
Original music on youtube.com (Larry Schacher) and 4 albums on Spotify.com (Larry Schacher) and many other streaming platforms.
http://fandalism.com/mystro1020
https://www.reverbnation.com
http://www.numberonemusic.com/larryschacher
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Each half hour is $30.
An hour is $60.
Teaching remotely via the internet.
How did you get started teaching?
I began in highschool and then continued as a certified public music teacher with a Bachelor of Science degree in music education with graduate work in composition.
What types of students have you worked with?
Students from 4th grade to senior citizens; average folks, gifted folks, and challenged folks. One of my most interesting was Maury. Maury came to me at age 84. Maury informed me that because of his age and goals, he needed a way to accomplish his goals that were not traditional music lessons. So I had Maury learn the treble cleff and taught him how to use and read lead sheets. Within just a couple of months, Maury was performing with his keyboard for senior centers in this area.
Mostly, I teach voice, piano, guitar, sax, clarinet and flute. Ltierature that includes clasical music, pop, jazz improvisation, country, rock, and practical applications that enable the students to express themselves musically and preparing them for performance.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Writing, arranging, and recording music for Robert W. Cabell's musical 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' that premiered at the Renton Civic Theater during Christmas of 2017. One of my vocal students also had a part in the musical, and his physical comedy stole the show.
I provided the music for the 2019 Memorial service at Sunset Hills Cemetery for our fallen heroes. The day was perfect, and an overhead salute by World War II B-26 bombers for our soldiers finished the day.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Set time aside for practice and remember, you are investing in yourself and your dreams. Learning requires repetition and with music, you are using all of your brain and your body. As with anything new, be patient and kind to yourself, and don't give up.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What long term goals are you wanting to achieve?