About
When it comes to teaching music, Matthew's philosophy is that every private music lesson has to be uniquely tailored to best fit each individual student; every budding musician, like every plant, has a unique balance of needs in order to truly thrive. Matthew can both teach at a very advanced level that may require more of a rigorous teaching curriculum, but he can also teach complete beginners where his lessons focus on equipping the student with all of the tools to become a fantastic musician while having a fun time doing it! He is very willing to listen to the individual need of every student and adapt his teaching style to fit each student whether that be very critical and detailed, or more fun and nurturing. With his extensive competitive music side in addition to his more adventurous rock climbing side, he knows how to make his lessons focused yet exciting and fun! When it comes to repertoire, Matthew is very classically trained which is how he chooses to pass down his knowledge of music to his students. For advanced pianists, he most enjoys teaching music from the romantic and impressionistic periods which include composers like Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, and Ravel.
Highlights
Reviews
Ellen R.
Tyler H.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
For beginning piano students, Matthew usually recommends students start with the Piano Adventures book series by Faber or the Alfred Premier Piano Course book series. For intermediate to advanced piano students, he evaluates each student to see what repertoire best fits their individual needs.
For beginning violin students, he recommends the Suzuki violin books in addition to unique individual pieces of sheet music depending on the student. For intermediate to advanced students he also recommends that they have a scale book (preferably Carl Fleisch), the Galamian 6 Bach Sonatas and Partitas, and every other piece will be individually chosen.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Matthew is a current undergraduate piano and neuroscience major at Washington University in St. Louis and he has been teaching music since his junior year of high school. He has been intensively studying piano for 12 years and violin for 6 years. He has been studying piano with Shanti Daya for 4 years and Amanda Kirkpatrick for less than a year.. Other teachers of influence have included Angela Peterson, Joe Nuval, and Joan McCallum. Matthew has participated in the Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs festival for 6 years, receiving the highest score every year. Along with Federation, he has participated in WSMA State for three years, and in addition to receiving the highest score each year, he has been awarded the highest honor of Exemplary Performance. Although out of everything, his most prestigious award was winning the MMTA Debut Piano Competition/Recital where he was awarded a private 1 hour long recital and a $500 cash prize.
Besides piano, Matthew has played French horn and violin extensively, both in and out of school. He was part of the first violin section in MYSO’s Senior Symphony; he has participated in MYSO for 5 years (2 of which were for French horn). In the 2019-2020 concert season, he was given the opportunity to participate in MYSO’s Honors Chamber program, directed by Frank Almond. In the summer of 2019, he attended the Elm City ChamberFest Camp held on the Yale campus, where he played works by Mendelssohn, Schubert, Elgar, and Prokofiev. At WSMA State, he was awarded an Exemplary nomination for the first movement of the Bruch Violin Concerto. Outside of music, Matthew is very committed to competitive rock climbing.
Additionally, Matthew is a Piano Performance Major at Washington University in St. Louis, and he used to be a "Progressions String Mentor" for the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra where he worked with many school aged children to help them along there music journey.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I teach lessons that are 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, and in special cases 90 minutes for advanced students. My base rate is $60 per hour.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching as a junior in highschool looking to share my love of music with others and grow my musical portfolio for my future.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with students as young as 7 years old to over 50 years old. I have taught students of all skill levels and learning styles.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Over the past year I have really grown to love paddleboarding on lakes!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I definitely know the struggles of trying to find a music teacher who fits your needs, as I have gone through eight music teachers between violin and piano trying to accomplish this goal. What I can say is that it is very important to find a teacher who you connect with on a personal level and one who is willing to adapt to your goals and learning style.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Students should ask themselves, "What do I want to get out of lessons? Do I want a teacher who is fun, nurturing, and leniant, or one who is direct, focused, and to the point? How much work am I willing to do to accomplish my music goals? What does my teacher need to know about my personality, learning style, and goals in order to help me reach my maximum potential?"