Organ, Music Theory Lessons Online | All Levels | Joigny, FR

1) Who am I? Music and teaching are my passion. I am both a performer (organist) and a French Music Conservatory Professor. I teach two subjects I love: Organ Performance and Formation Musicale (sort of a Musicianship or Ear Training course that would go up to a high graduate specialized level). I have taught extensively, at all levels. I pioneered live online musicianship lessons in France in 2011, and was led to teach online in Europe, Asia, the U.S.A., and Madagascar. I believe that the best qualification for a teaching individual is this: Being able to understand students and help them progress. If you have a difficulty, nothing pleases me more than rising up to the challenge and helping you succeed. My approach to teaching is not dogmatic, but rather pragmatic, empirical, and based on neurosciences when possible. I am not choosing methods or teaching tools because they are old or new, but I am choosing them (old and new) if they work for YOU. So, I hope I will help fostering your progress soon! 2) Here are two of my key subjects that work very well online: a) RHYTHM Beautiful Rhythm is both precise & expressive. For the musician, it needs to be clear in both the mind & the body. Whether you are a beginner or a professional seeking help, I will be here for you. I teach the theory of rhythm and its practice. I can provide an all-encompassing progressive approach, or some training on a specific music piece (provided the piece really is at your level). Basic rhythms, or complex rhythm found in music from the Renaissance to contemporary classical music... anything can be addressed. Again, Rhythm needs to be clear in your mind and your body, therefore the lesson will be tailored around you and the score. b) LISTEN TO SEVERAL VOICES AT ONCE! Listening to several voices at once certainly is one of the most rewarding skills a musician can have, or can acquire. And, no, this is not only for those who are born with this gift. If you listen to music without being able to discriminate precisely the different layers of sound, you already know music is beautiful. I was like that a couple years ago. (Well, provided my gray hair, it must actually be many years ago). I can surely say that being able to listen to several voices at once has brought me much joy! Music became absolutely wonderful! When you can precisely hear the various voices, then you become aware of all the notes that are played, as if some nice new lights were shed on the music. Not only can you enjoy the music more, but as you play you can now shape all the voices in the best possible way, or if you play a duo for instance, you can be sensitive to the way the other musician plays, and musically respond to his or her interpretation. As a musician, that is a life-changing experience, a “must!” That can be learned, slowly but surely, with method. Now, when I say slowly but surely, I talk about mastery. But if we are talking about being able to listen for the first time to an additional note at once, this is usually quite quick (I'd say one lesson, two weeks at most). So, what can we work on? Harmonic intervals, recognizing chords, discriminating notes within a 4 voice chord or aggregate (i.e. hearing the precise voicing of an isolated chord), learning to listen to counterpoint precisely, you name it. That should be based on where you are at, and what you would like to achieve. Anything is possible. Let's talk about it and get started! 3) WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FIRST: My students often tell me I am very patient. I'd rather say I am understanding and straightforward. Actually, please know that I am also demanding: While there is no difficulty that I cannot understand, (and I found it absolutely thrilling to find a solution when the student seems stuck) yet I am not interested in approximation. If after reading this, you are still interested, please drop me a line! I am here to share my passion with you! PS: I use fixed DO solfège (French way), but if you don't that's okay! 4) My education? I have been trained in Europe and in the United States. I was awarded a Lurcy Scholarship (Fulbright-France partner) given annually to six French citizens for study in the United States. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester with a Master of Music in organ performance and literature, I am also a graduate of the Nancy and Metz Conservatories, with degrees in musicianship (ear training), organ, harpsichord, and baroque chamber music performance. I also won the First Prize in supérieur level at the 1996 “Concours International d'Orgue de Lorraine,” president of the board of examiners: Marie-Claire Alain 5) My experience and qualifications? Concert artist since 1996. Passionate teacher since 2000. Music Professor since 2009. Pioneer of live and real time online Musicianship lessons in France (since 2011). Accredited with the equivalence of the French C.A.* in both Organ Performance and Musicianship by the French Ministère de l’intérieur, de l’outre-mer et des collectivités territoriales in March 2013.  * The C.A. (Certificat d’Aptitude) is the highest teaching certification for teaching music in French conservatories. Published a Musicianship book in 2015 entitled "L2015 Leçons des premières années de solfège - formation musicale." And yet, as previously stated, beyond experience and qualifications, I believe it is the ability and the joy to understand and effectively help the person you teach that makes someone a qualified instructor.