🎶 Methods Of Teaching

Music is one of those rare things in life that connects everyone — across languages, across generations. And learning music shouldn't be this scary, overly academic, or disconnected thing. Whether you’re a complete beginner, an aspiring artist, or just someone who’s always wanted to finally understand what makes music tick, you’re in the right place.

My teaching is built on a simple idea: music should feel human. I don’t believe in dry theory for the sake of theory or exercises that go nowhere. I believe in learning things with context — why harmony developed the way it did, what makes a melody stick in your head, how to actually hear what’s happening in a song, not just read it on paper. It’s all connected: ear training, solfege, harmony, rhythm, performance — we just break it down in a way that makes sense, and build it up again around you.

This is a space where we’ll build your musicality step by step, without skipping fundamentals, but without ever letting things get stale. I’ll meet you where you’re at, help you move forward with clarity and excitement, and support you all the way — whether you're here for piano, music theory, ear training, or just to jam and feel more confident with your sound.

🎹 Piano Lessons

My approach to teaching piano is highly personalized. I believe every student is unique, with their own goals, interests, and aspirations — and I build my lessons around that.

Some students come to me simply wanting to enjoy playing — to be able to sit at a piano, play chords, jam with friends, and have fun. Others may be more serious, aspiring toward classical conservatory training, or perhaps they want to explore jazz or learn how to play their favorite pop songs. My job is to adapt to each student's direction and support them with a plan that’s both structured and flexible.

For children and younger beginners, my method is a little more defined, since at that age, musical tastes aren’t fully developed yet. I blend elements of classical training with popular and fun songs that are carefully arranged and simplified to suit their level. We’ll learn foundational skills — such as proper hand positioning, finger strength, rhythm, and timing — all while keeping it fun and engaging. And to keep you, the parent, in the loop, I track each student’s progress using online tools like Google Drive, so you can always see what we’re working on and how things are going. Requests are always welcome — if a student wants to learn a specific song, we’ll make it happen — but we also won’t get stuck on a single piece. Lessons are designed to be balanced, diverse, and never boring.

For teens and adult students, things become more dynamic and collaborative. We analyze songs, discuss what makes certain pieces special, emotional, or powerful, and try to emulate playing styles of great performers. We’ll explore technique, expression, creativity, and interpretation together. These lessons are more like an open conversation between two musicians working together to uncover the beauty of music — and I listen deeply to what each student wants. Your voice matters here.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your existing skills, we’ll build healthy musical habits from the start — from rhythm and timing to posture and expression. We’ll work on specific topics like legato or staccato when needed, but the overall journey will always stay balanced. I make sure no important foundational elements are skipped, so you’re always ready for the next challenge.

For technique and hand development, I use selective exercises from well-known classical method books like Beyer and Czerny. But we won’t be stuck in endless repetitive drills — I only use what’s helpful and effective. You won’t need to purchase any materials. I’ll print and share all the exercises and pieces you need in class.

As for repertoire, we’ll play anything you love:

  • For classical students, works by Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, and beyond are all within reach.

  • For pop enthusiasts, we’ll cover popular songs and artists, simplified and arranged to match your level and ability.

  • For jazz and blues lovers, we’ll explore standards and basics of blues structure, swing feel, and improvisation in a fun and approachable way.

No matter what path we take, the goal remains the same: to enjoy making music while building strong skills and confidence that will stay with you for a lifetime.

🎵 Solfege & Ear Training

In my approach to teaching music, I deeply believe that being a well-rounded musician goes far beyond just playing an instrument. That’s why I naturally integrate solfege and ear training into all of my piano lessons — not as extra homework, but as a core part of the learning experience. For students who are especially curious about developing their ears and musicianship, I also offer dedicated solfege and ear training sessions.

A Gentle Introduction, A Strong Foundation

We always begin with the fundamentals — singing major and minor scales, recognizing intervals, and identifying the character of chords (major, minor, diminished, augmented, etc.). Students gradually become comfortable with their voice and their inner ear, learning how to “hear music before they play it.”

Tailored to Each Student

I work closely with every student to understand their goals. If a student or parent prefers to focus purely on instrumental technique and performance, we won’t force a traditional solfege curriculum onto them. But for those interested, we can explore ear training more deeply — from melodic and rhythmic dictation, to sight-singing full melodies straight from the page.

I believe music should feel expressive, not mechanical — and solfege, when taught with care, opens the door to musical independence and freedom.

📚 Materials I Use

For solfege and ear training, I draw from both classical conservatory methods and more modern, accessible resources. Some of the materials and tools I like to use include:

  • Kodály method exercises (great for young beginners)

  • Functional Ear Trainer app (free and effective!)

  • Bona or Ottman sight-singing books (for more advanced students)

  • Simple solfege games and call-and-response drills that keep learning fun and engaging

Whether you're a young beginner or an older student looking to sharpen your ears, solfege will make music feel more like a second language — one you can hear, speak, and understand with confidence.

🎼 Music Theory & Harmony

As a graduate of a university music program, I’ve studied music theory in depth — from the basics of key signatures to advanced harmony and counterpoint. But my philosophy is simple: music theory should never feel like homework. It should feel like unlocking the secrets behind your favorite songs — not just reading a page of rules you have to memorize.

💡 Practical, Not Puzzling

In my classes, we focus on understanding theory as a creative tool, not a dry academic subject. I help students see the "why" behind the music — why certain chord progressions feel uplifting, why tension and resolution work the way they do, and how all the harmony we hear today has roots in centuries of musical development.

We’ll talk about modes, intervals, diatonic and non-diatonic chords, and even explore how to write simple counterpoint and four-part harmonies when students are ready.

And if you’re interested in jazz harmony — those colorful extended chords and voice leadings — we can go there too.

Step-by-Step Progression

Whether you’re an absolute beginner or already familiar with basic concepts, I tailor lessons to meet you where you are. We'll start with essential topics like:

  • Understanding rhythm and meter

  • Time signatures and note values

  • Scales, keys, and chords

  • Functional harmony and basic voice leading

Then, for those who are ready, we go further:

  • Roman numeral analysis and secondary dominants

  • Modal interchange and borrowed chords

  • Counterpoint (2-part, 3-part, and 4-part)

  • Jazz theory fundamentals (ii-V-I progressions, chord extensions, reharmonization)

📚 Materials I Use

I pull from a variety of resources — both classic and contemporary — to suit the student’s needs:

  • Tonal Harmony by Kostka & Payne (great for structured, academic learners)

  • The Jazz Piano Book by Mark Levine (for more modern, jazz-oriented students)

  • Interactive tools like musictheory.net and HookTheory (for visual learners)

  • My own worksheets and creative exercises designed to apply theory in real musical contexts

Whether you want to write your own music, understand what you're playing on a deeper level, or just impress your music teacher — music theory can give you the confidence and clarity to go beyond just notes and into true expression.

🎼 Songwriting & Composition

As a music composer and producer myself, songwriting and composition are truly where I feel my strongest. I’ve released my own original works, collaborated with other musicians on film scores, composed for classical ensembles, jazz combos, and everything in between. With years of hands-on experience across genres and formats, I bring not just theory, but real-world insight into how music is written, arranged, and brought to life.

Songwriting and composition, however, are more abstract disciplines — which is why they’re typically better suited for teens and adults. For younger students, we usually hold off until their understanding of music has matured a bit. But for those ready to explore it, the journey is both inspiring and empowering.

We’ll start by breaking down songs — how different songwriters build structure, emotion, and energy through form, melody, rhythm, and harmony. We’ll analyze chord progressions from various genres, learn how to use modes and tonal centers to convey different moods, explore lyrical phrasing and prosody, and look into arrangement decisions that bring songs to life.

From there, we’ll begin writing our own pieces. This might start with small musical ideas or improvisations and gradually evolve into full compositions. We'll explore concepts like motivic development, voice leading, modal interchange, tension and resolution, and writing effective bridges and transitions. We might experiment with counterpoint, or study how film composers create themes and adapt them throughout a score.

Whether your goal is to write singer-songwriter material, instrumental pieces, pop songs, or something cinematic or experimental — the process will always be tailored to your artistic identity and interests. And since this is such a creative and personal journey, I don’t use a fixed curriculum. All exercises and practices are designed by me for each student, and will evolve as you grow.

By the end, you’ll not only be able to write music — you’ll understand how and why it works, and feel confident in your ability to create something truly your own.