Andy Schiller offers private music lessons to students of any age or level, on guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, violin, fiddle, viola, cello, mandolin, and piano. He teaches in online, and in Tecumseh, MI, where he taught at Herb David Music from 1997-2000, and held an Assistant Professorship at Siena Heights University and Adrian College. Andy has earned a BA in Electronic Music, an MA in Orchestration, an MA in Classical Guitar performance, and an Honorary Doctorate in Gospel Music. Andy has performed in Carnegie Hall by age 19 and was faculty at two universities by age 22.
Several of the children Andy taught became professional musicians before their 18th birthday (Jaden Carlson, Rory Martinelli, Johnathon Ballou, Jacquelin Metivier). He regularly attends the Colorado Suzuki Institute in Beaver Creek Colorado. He takes this course every year to improve teaching skills and learn how to inspire young players. Andy is a registered Suzuki teacher. Here are his credentials.
We grow prodigies! Andy can teach your child prolonged concentration, artistic expression, problem solving, and focus. His classes build character. As a wonderful side effect, your child will also learn to play the guitar like a dream come true. Before enrolling your child in guitar lessons at a local music shop, do your homework. Be certain to ask for qualifications, and insist that your teacher is able to read music, and holds a degree in music.
Here are the 2021-2022 tuition rates:
$25 for 30 minutes
$35 for 45 minutes
$45 for 60 minutes
I teach the following styles on guitar:
Suzuki Method
Classical Gutiar
Electric Guitar
Jazz Improvisation
Bluegrass flatpicking and fingerpicking
Heavy Metal Rhythm and Lead
Flamenco
Songwriting and Composition
Adult Guitar
Music Theory and Music Reading
Understanding Music without notation
Recording and Production (Certified Pro Tools Operator)
I teach the following instruments as well:
Ukulele, Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano, Bass, Mandolin, Banjo, Ukulele, 12 String Guitar, Fiddle, Piano.
I teach using SOME tenants of the Suzuki Method. I am a Suzuki Registered teacher, however, I do not follow the method strictly.
Children as young as 3 can learn to play the classical guitar using the Suzuki Method®. Give me a call to discuss any aspects of the Suzuki Method® that you may still have questions about or to set up a time to come and visit the studio. I look forward to working with you and your child. Please wait to buy a guitar until you’ve spoken with me and visited the studio. A properly fitted guitar is critical to your child’s success.
I encourage my students to compose music and improvise above memorizing repertoire. I teach musicianship and fun above competitiveness. I expect my students to be open minded to all styles of music, and to question authority when faced with conservative classical music attitudes.
Every Child Can Learn
More than forty years ago, Suzuki realized the implications of the fact that children the world over learn to speak their native language with ease. He began to apply the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music, and called his method the mother-tongue approach. The ideas of parent responsibility, loving encouragement, constant repetition, etc., are some of the special features of the Suzuki approach.
Parent Involvement
As when a child learns to talk, parents are involved in the musical learning of their child. They attend lessons with the child and serve as “home teachers” during the week. One parent often learns to play before the child, so that s/he understands what the child is expected to do. Parents work with the teacher to create an enjoyable learning environment.
Early Beginning
The early years are crucial for developing mental processes and muscle coordination. Listening to music should begin at birth; formal training may begin at age three or four, but it is never too late to begin.
Listening
Children learn words after hearing them spoken hundreds of times by others. Listening to music every day is important, especially listening to pieces in the Suzuki repertoire so the child knows them immediately.
Repetition
Constant repetition is essential in learning to play an instrument. Children do not learn a word or piece of music and then discard it. They add it to their vocabulary or repertoire, gradually using it in new and more sophisticated ways.
Encouragement
As with language, the child’s effort to learn an instrument should be met with sincere praise and encouragement. Each child learns at his/her own rate, building on small steps so that each one can be mastered. Children are also encouraged to support each other’s efforts, fostering an attitude of generosity and cooperation.
Learning with Other Children
In addition to private lessons, children participate in regular group lessons and performances at which they learn from and are motivated by each other.
Graded Repertoire
Children do not practice exercises to learn to talk, but use language for its natural purpose of communication and self-expression. Pieces in the Suzuki repertoire are designed to present technical problems to be learned in the context of the music rather than through dry technical exercises.
Delayed Reading
Children learn to read after their ability to talk has been well established. In the same way, children should develop basic technical competence on their instruments before being taught to read music.
Andy Schiller 