Piano and Composition Lessons in Portland and Beaverton
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Types of Lessons Offered
  • Music Arranging Services
  • Are you accepting new students?
  • Recordings
  • Contact
  • Links
  • The Benefits of Piano Lessons

Types of Lessons

Contact
I offer various types of lessons (in-person, online, or hybrid) that are provided separately or in combination.
​
Traditional, Classical-Oriented Piano Lessons
Lessons focus on:
  • note-reading
  • rhythm
  • dynamics
  • theory
  • sight reading
  • musical expression and interpretation
  • classical repertoire and technique
I begin with the Music Tree method books, which focus on learning the notes through intervals (rather than position playing or finger numbers), in addition to sight reading, theory, and solos, either classical or pop. Intermediate and advanced students move on to learning classical repertoire and technique, scales, and arpeggios, and continue their theory and sight reading studies.
​
piano lessons in Beaverton
Jazz Piano Lessons
Jazz lessons can be taken along with classical lessons. The jazz curriculum involves:
  • learning chord symbols
  • how to play from a lead sheet
  • improvisation
  • jazz styles
  • jazz technique
  • ii-V-I progressions
  • listening
  • transcription
  • theory 

Composition Lessons
Students can learn to compose in various styles and genres, as part of piano lessons or as individual composition lessons.

Singing While Playing the Piano
For these lessons, I focus on:
  • how to accompany yourself on the piano while singing either pop or jazz
  • how to play from a lead sheet and chord symbols
  • how to create accompaniments
  • how to draw on recordings for ideas
  • how to create an arrangement that includes an introduction and ending to a song
 Singing technique and breath control are not addressed (I recommend a voice teacher for those skills).

Optional additions to lessons
  • Composing
  • Learning to play from a lead sheet
  • Choral and vocal accompanying
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Types of Lessons Offered
  • Music Arranging Services
  • Are you accepting new students?
  • Recordings
  • Contact
  • Links
  • The Benefits of Piano Lessons