lessons with

michael

Thanks for your interest!!

As an instructor based in the Greater Kansas City Area I have 10+ years of experience teaching a wide range of private lessons, to dozens of students of all ages.

These lessons have primarily focused on piano and guitar, which are both super-solid “starter instruments” and the two I’m most proficient at.

Especially with my long-term students, learning experiences have branched out to include:

  • bass

  • acoustic/electric guitar swapping

  • lead electric keyboard playing

  • ukulele

  • songwriting

  • singing

  • computer programming and recording

  • ear training

  • drums (basics)

  • ensemble performance

  • music theory discussion

  • songcraft/lyrical analysis

  • college prep

  • and much more…!!!

Please continue browsing for more info about my lesson teaching style, and to learn how I might be a good fit you!

And when you’re ready, CONTACT ME to get started!

music lessons for everyone

My goal is to make music lessons accessible to anyone, regardless of age, experience, or preferred learning method.

As an independent instructor, I’m not connected to any organization, company, or school.

So my only rule book is: finding what you love, finding what you have the most fun doing, and we’ll do that.

How you practice (and how often) will be up to you, but I will also be totally honest about what it will take to meet your goals. I don’t compare anyone to anyone else, and fully understand that speed of progress is completely unique to each person.

Whether you’re parents to children of any age, or a professional adult looking for truly rewarding hobby, my laidback but insanely passionate attitude will be a great way to see if music is something you want to make a permanent part of your personality!

for fun…

for life.

for parents

Appreciate you! Apologies for the long-ish read coming up.

I feel it’s super-important to be on the same page with everything!

scheduling

While awesome fun can be had, and some progress made with occasional lessons, it’s really only when you commit to weekly lessons (at least 30 minutes) that students can start to maximize their potential, and I can customize my approach to give them the best possible experience.

This is also the only way I can guarantee a slot—until my roster is full—during prime hours, which I consider 3:00pm-8:00pm Sunday-Friday. (I currently don’t schedule Saturdays.) Once these times are taken, you can be placed on a Wait List for those most desired slots.

Also, with my being a traveling instructor, your patience and understanding are super appreciated. Not all scheduling requests can be fulfilled in order to avoid me driving across the metro.

If weekly lessons won’t fit into your schedule, and you’re cool with your kids advancing a bit slower than otherwise, I’m happy to place you on my “Part Time” student list. This way I can contact you (or vice versa) when I have any openings. A potentially great option for someone that’s already pretty sure music is third or fourth on their list.

I will have an interactive calendar system up and running very soon, which should make these “on the fly” lessons pretty easy to get scheduled! But again, no guarantee for lessons during prime hours without signing up for weekly lessons. Appreciate your understanding, just wanna do all I can to avoid disappointments!

If you’re unable to make our appointed time, I pride myself on being flexible, and always try my best to make rescheduling as easy as possible. Still working out the details, but my goal is to keep paid missed lessons to an absolute minimum!

lesson location

Please let me know what will work best for your family!

Traditionally I’ve held all lessons at my students’ homes, and Zoom lessons are also an option.

I’m located in North Overland Park, KS so if you’re in any surrounding cities (Overland Park, Leawood, Prairie Village, Mission, Shawnee, Lenexa, Olathe) we’ll find a time that works for everyone for me to stop by!

But for those who might be considerably far from me, or those who might prefer the experience of less distractions— loud dogs and babies I’m looking at you :) — my wife and I are opening up the front room in our home for lessons. Not only will students have access to a vintage upright full-size piano, but various electronic keyboards and synthesizers, acoustic and electric guitars, guitar effects pedals, ukulele, microphones, recording software for tutorials and recording projects… and much more!!

**Important note for those interested in lessons held in my home: we are cat owners, so wanted to give allergic folks a heads-up!**

For the curious—scheduling permitted—it should be possible for those with regular lessons at your house to try a one-off meeting at my house. Or, we can organize with friends for a group lesson, a band/ensemble type experience. My suggestion box is open if you have any cool ideas!

So just to sum up, lessons can be held:

• in person in your home

• virtually via Zoom

• in person at my house

Contact me if you have any questions!

for adults

Huge kudos for thinking about trying something new!!

Busy lives, jobs, and never enough time in the week. I totally get it! It’s why I do not require any of my adult students to stick to a weekly schedule. If you can be one of my “part-time” students, I’m down.

The trade-off will be that for my more infrequent folks (as adult students inevitably tend to be) scheduling will likely be limited to non-prime hours.

Prime hours for weekly students is typically 3pm-8pm Sun-Fri, so if it works for your schedule to grab anytime outside of that? Perfect. Or I can have you on my “Contact Me” list to get in touch with on a semi-weekly basis to see what you have available. Might sound flaky, but this has worked out great before!

*** Please note that I do not schedule on Saturdays ***

Lesson location will be 1) at your house, 2) via Zoom, or 3) at my house. This will vary depending on your preference, the time of day, and potential schedule conflicts, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out.

As you may have seen above I’m located in North Overland Park, KS and so please keep in mind I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to travel to you for in-home lessons… your location depending!

For folks completely outside of the Kansas City Area?

Zoom (or other virtual platforms) can work great. And if you think I’m the best fit for your needs, we can plan other non-live via video conferencing lesson packages. Whether that’s remote guidance on a specific area of music that I deliver pre-recorded video lessons to help you out with, or whatever else you have in mind.

Please get in touch!

for artists

No lessons needed?
You’re already good to go?

For those of you more interested in a limited-time, project by project-basis type experience, contact me and share some details about what you’ve got cooking.

My ear, arranging ideas, and depth of songwriting history might be an awesome assist to take your stuff to the next level.

Are you writing/recording an album?

In a band, rehearsing for an important live gig?

Is there an upcoming, crazy-important date coming up that you’ve got to learn THE SONG for?

Sounds fun. Let’s do it.