FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
My rate is $60 per hour, $45 for 45 minutes, and $30 for a half hour.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Like anything musical, listening is the most important thing! I take time to listen to my students and understand his or her needs, goals, and interests. However, all my students, whether beginner or advanced, receive a variation of the same training. I devote much time to teaching the fundamental styles of jazz, blues, classical, or gospel, depending on the student. I also teach Taubman Approach to technique and Barry Harris harmony. There are levels to the methods I teach, but I strive to teach a student to fish, so to speak. I want to show my students how to listen and how to learn music for themselves, so that even with one lesson, they will have important tools they can use for the rest of their music careers.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
My education experience has been invaluable to me as a musician and a music teacher. I have a degree in jazz studies from the University of Michigan, and I completed additional coursework with Berklee College of Music. I will begin a Master's of Music at Canterbury Christ Church University in 2021. I've studied with great musicians. Many of them have been friends and mentors who helped form my views on music and life. I've done long-term study with Barry Harris, Bob Hurst, Geri Allen, Richard Clements, Christina Dragone, Rob Pipho, Marion Hayden, Vincent Chandler, Big Ive Williams, and more. I've also had the opportunity to learn from Victor Wooten, Esperanza Spalding, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Ron Carter, Tony Monaco, Rossano Sportiello, and Ruslan Sirota through either one-off lessons, workshops, or masterclasses. Experience has been one of the best teachers. I began gigging as a teenager, and in college I performed live music several times per week. I went on to play gospel and R&B in Detroit's legendary music scene. The experiences, the repertoire, and the people I met humbled me and taught me so much about the music I love.