I cultivate my students’ musicianship by teaching: understanding, mindful practice, and authentic creativity

Composition Lessons

As a composition teacher, I design lessons to help students reach their own artistic goals while giving them the tools (technique) to truly create the music they want to make. Studying composition includes many different topics that all directly support developing and communicating music fully. These skills include:

creativity skills
music notation (by hand and on computers)
listening to a wide and diverse range of music
analysis of music
score reading skills
learning how to write for instruments and the human voice

Students will learn these skills during lessons and through their own work, which includes composition projects, short composition exercises, listening homework, readings, and live concert experiences. My composition students in middle and high school participate in the Young Composers Project here in Portland, have performances by the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and I help arrange performances of all of my students’ music at other times, as well.

Lessons are weekly at the same day and time and last for 60, 75, or 90 minutes depending on the needs of the student. I do not teach 30 or 45 minute lessons. Please read my studio policy for more information, including tuition rates.

If you are interested in studying with me or learning more, please contact me to schedule an initial trial lesson. I look forward to hearing from you!

Location

Lessons take place in my home studio and online via Zoom.

14418 SE Ellis St
Portland, OR 97236