Piano lessons Vancouver WA

May 26, 2022
Piano Lessons

EMMY AWARD WINNING TEACHER - Making Music Fun for Kids and Easy on the parents!

I teach all kinds of instruments:
-guitar, bass, piano, voice, drums, woodwinds, ukulele, mandolin
and all kinds of music:
-classical, pop, rock, country, reggae, blues, jazz
to all kinds of kids:
-big kids, little kids, kids who climb on rocks!

My first objective is to make kids love music and to make lessons easy for parents to oversee and easy for kids to make progress!

Playing acoustic and electric six string guitars, electric bass guitar, piano and keyboards, drums, percussion and hand drums

, I majored in Flute and Voice at University of Florida School of Music and have spent my life immersed in and obsessed by the world of music. Performing, recording, teaching, producing, and still... LEARNING!

I teach lessons and classes full time, and also perform LIVE and in person frequently in local venues for profit and community service. My students often accompany me!

Having toured the East Coast Venues (NYC to Key West) for 30 years, and self produced 10 CDs, Jane Y. has 2 EMMY AWARDS for soundtrack music for the EXPEDITION FLORIDA SERIES, (PBS Nature Documentaries.) They were funded by the University of Florida, Museum of Natural History, and the Tourist Development Council of Alachua County, Florida.

*** Studio Equipment ***
STORY AND CLARK PIANO
Guild, Yamaha, Alvarez brands Classical, Acoustic and Electric Guitars.
Crate Acoustic Amp and Roland Cube Electric Guitar Amp. Line 6 guitar amp.
2 Ibanez Electric Bass Guitars, Gallien Kruger 100w bass amp, Line 6 bass amp
Ensoniq Digital Synthesizers (SQ-2), and Peavey Keyboard Amplifier.
Roland D-50 Synthesizer Keyboard
Yamaha PSS 480 keyboard
Peavey KB 60 Keyboard amp
Peavey KB 2 Keyboard amp
Casio SK-1 sampling Keyboard
Djembe hand drum, tambourine, shakers,
Alesis Drum Machine.
Yamaha Stage Custom 5 piece drum set.
Yamaha DP series 6 piece drum set.
Ludwig Breakbeats 4 piece Pro Bop drum set
Full Yamaha and Crate Sound Reinforcement PA Systems,
2 iBooks, Macbook and MacBook Pro, and Motu Recording Studio w/Mark of the Unicorn: Audio Desk software.
Presonus Recording Studio interface, software and hardware.
Garage Band and Audio box USB interface
Zoom H2 Portable Digital Recording device.
Behringer Headphone amp with five sets of headphones.
Shure, Audio Technica and Audix Performance Microphones,
ADK vocal and studio condenser microphones.
Flute, Clarinet,
All sizes of Recorders
Violin
Autoharp
Harmonica
Onkyo 100w Professional Stereo Amplifier with Magnovox and Technics Surround Sound speaker.
iPod 4, iPod 5, iPhone 5 (teaching app devices)
Djembe (hand drum)

*** Lesson Details ***
Lessons start with learning the names of notes, how to read music, a bit of music theory (time signature, sharps and flats) and how this translates to the instrument the child chooses. All instruments are taught by fingering first and then musical notes second. It is easier for the child this way, and he/she can be playing a song with both hands by the end of first lesson.

As the child learns the beginning steps of reading and implementing music, I encourage them to tell me what songs they like, and then try to find an easy one to start with.

So that while we are learning "real music" we are also having fun with a piece that your child enjoys and has "CHOSEN".

This way they have some discipline AND some fun!

As pieces are mastered, the same pieces can be redone on different, more difficult levels, so that pieces are always growing and improving.

Eventually the student can read music competently on the instrument, as well as hear and play by ear.

At higher levels I teach the ability to improvise and read music and chord charts in order to play professionally with other musicians. I also encourage students to get with other students and friends to have music "sessions." They can bring their musical friends to lesson to help learn songs for TALENT SHOWS or CHURCH or what ever their immediate needs or desires are. I can also record "Karaoke" tracks for songs they write or want to sing for talent shows/ auditions.

All lessons are custom designed for the student's abilities, tastes and goals. ALL LESSONS ARE DESIGNED TO BE FUN, and ENJOYED BY THE STUDENT as well as the instructor. I want both of us to have a great time in lesson and learn while we do.

Once a student becomes proficient at reading and playing the instrument, they are invited to be a part of the HUMMINGBIRD BAND which does regular performances at local retirement homes and other local events and festivals. Bi Annual student recitals are also held at a local retirement home with a grand piano and Recital room.

*** Travel Equipment ***
The Student is expected to bring a three ring binder to lessons, to hold all lesson materials, as well as any other required Instruction Books. Sheets will be provided with sheet protectors for your binder. String instrument and woodwind students are required to bring own instruments. All Amps provided
Drum and Piano students are not required to bring any instruments or sticks to lesson, only binders.

JOHN THOMPSON MODERN COURSE FOR PIANO: First grade book $7
JR HANON for the Piano: Complete book 1 and excerpts from Book 2&3 $9
Hal Leonard Guitar Method COMPLETE EDITION (Books 1, 2 and 3) in one volume $15
Hal Leonard Bass Method $10

Please have new strings on guitars before the first lesson. Or bring $5 for replacement steel strings. Classical and electric to be done by music store in advance.

Please make sure your child has eaten before lessons, as we burn lots of calories, and a hungry student cannot focus.

FYI for allergic people: Cats in household. Studio Cleaned (vacuumed, dusted, aired out) daily. Hepa Air purifiers/Ionizer in studio and home.

This is a SHOES OFF studio, please and thanks!

*** Specialties ***
FUN SONGS!
Jazz standards, Folk, Rock, Reggae, Bluegrass and Country!