I primarily gear my piano lessons to teenagers and adults who want to learn to play jazz, blues, pop, new age, show tunes, music theory, improvisation, composition, use fake books, learn about hymn arranging, Finale, music publishing and more.
"My purpose and mission in life is to motivate myself and others through my music and writing, to help others find their purpose and mission in life, and to teach values and encourage everyone everywhere to do and be their best." - Jerald Simon
Call me (Jerald) to sign up for piano lessons or to have your name put on my waiting list: (801)444-5143. You may also email me (Jerald) at jeraldsimon@musicmotivation.com - in addition you may also click here for more contact info.
I offer one on one piano lessons (in person - or through Skype), I give group piano lessons (for adults and piano teachers) on request, and will soon be offering online piano lessons where piano students sign up for a monthly piano lesson plan and are given access to stream pre-recorded piano video lessons at their home in addition to one personal lesson via Skype). I also offer a "Crash Course in Composition" training which includes 1 hour of one on one instruction (either in person or through SKYPE) helping students compose and notate music of their own. With this optional focus on composing, music students learn composition ideas as well as receive personal advice on composing/notating, and marketing music of their own.
These are the available time slots I offer: half hour piano lessons (for beginning piano students and really little children), 45 min. piano lessons and 1 hour piano lessons. I do have some professionals who request 90 min. - 2 hours for specific training on composition, orchestration, music production, and marketing.
Skills taught to piano students and piano teachers (I teach many piano teachers privately and in group lessons):
- Piano lessons (primarily focused on teaching teenagers and adults)
- Music theory - learn chords, scales, etc., and how to use them
- Improvisation - change any style/key signature
- Composition - learn to compose music of your own
- Jazz, blues, new age music, pop music, and show tunes
- How to play/read fake books
- Hymn arranging
- How to play by ear
- How to use Finale to notate/create music
- Music publishing (self publish your own music - sell your music on your website, iTunes, CDBaby, Amazon, etc.)
- Music marketing (branding your name, image, and creating your own music niche in the musical world)
Additional skills taught:
Commitment, determination, focus, motivation, dedication, the ability to work hard on something, setting and reaching goals, creating a "Personal Life Map", completing the "Success Begins with Me" (personal development packet) and the "What is My Mission in Life" mission statement.
I focus on a specific music niche - primarily gearing my piano lessons to teenagers and adults who want to learn to play jazz, blues, pop, new age, and show tune music.
Most of my students are teenage boys who are wanting to take their music to the next level by learning jazz, improvisation, arranging, composing, orchestrating, how to use Finale, how to self publish the music they compose, and how to record and distribute/sell their own music through iTunes, CDBaby, Amazon, and all other online music stores.
Description: Music Motivation is dedicated to motivating music students of all ages with "Music that excites, entertains, and educates". The three main areas of focus for Music Motivation are theory therapy, innovative improvisation, and creative composition.
Mission: Our primary music motivation goal: Create fun, original piano music that is cool, exciting, entertaining, and educational to help motivate and inspire piano students. Click here to download all of the books I have written as "sample downloads".
Our music motivation goal (for music educators): One of our primary goals at Music Motivation is to help prepare the next generation of composers, arrangers, musicians, music teachers, and musicologists to use their music and their love of music to make a difference in their own lives, their community, and the world.
A brief message from Jerald to piano students and parents:
If you come to piano lessons each week and walk away only having learned about music notation, rhythm, and dots on a page, then I have failed as a music mentor. Life lessons are just as important, if not more important, than music lessons. I would rather have you learn more about goal setting and achieving, character, dedication, and personal improvement. To have you learn to love music, appreciate it, and play it is a wonderful byproduct you will have for the rest of your life - a talent that will enrich your life and the lives of others.
To become a better musician is wonderful and important, but to become a better person is more important.
As a music mentor, I want to mentor students to be the very best they can be. If you choose not to practice, you essentially choose not to improve. This is true in any area of life. Everyone has the same amount of time allotted to them. What you choose to do with your time, and where you spend your time, has little to do with your activities and more to do with the value attached to each activity.
I want students to enjoy music; to learn to be creative and understand how to express themselves musically, either by creating music of their own or interpreting the music of others by arranging and improvising well-known music. In addition, I encourage students to play sports, dance, sing, draw, read, and develop their talents. I want them to be more than musicians; I want them to learn to become well-rounded, complete individuals.
Above all, I'd love everyone to continually improve and do their best no matter what they choose to do. I encourage everyone to set goals, to dream big, and to be the best they can be in whatever they choose to do. Life is full of wonderful choices. Choose the best out of life and learn as much as you can from everyone everywhere. I prefer being called a music mentor because I want to mentor others and help them to live their dreams.
Your life is your musical symphony. Make it a masterpiece!
Jerald Simon
MY PERSONAL PIANO-ATTITUDE EXPECTATIONS (for myself and for my piano students): If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all! CAN’T is a FOUR Letter word - never say you can’t do something. You can do anything you put your mind to. Don’t be hard on yourself. Treat others with respect (especially your music mentor). Be positive and upbeat (smile, laugh, and have fun)! Bring out the best in others and in yourself! Play your instrument because you want to, not because your parents want you to and especially not because your music mentor wants you to.
QUESTION & ANSWER (most commonly asked questions I - Jerald - receive from others)
Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.
A. Most piano lessons are geared toward and primarily focused on teaching teenagers and adults.
These are the following skills taught and the primary areas of focus for my piano students and their piano lessons:
Music Theory - learn chords, scales, etc. and how to use them
Improvisation - change any style/key signature
Composition - learn to compose music of your own
Playing Jazz, Blues, New Age music, Pop music, Billboard top hits, and show tunes
How to play/read fake books
Hymn arranging
How to play by ear
Music business, marketing, publishing, etc.
Teaching piano teachers to play jazz, improvise, arrange, and compose.
Workshops for piano teachers and their piano students focusing on music theory, improvisation, and composition.
Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?
A. My work stands out from other piano teachers because I focus on a specific niche - primarily gearing my piano lessons to teenagers and adults who want to learn to play jazz, blues, pop, new age, and show tune music.
Most of my students are teenage boys and are wanting to take their music to the next level by learning jazz, improvisation, arranging, composing, orchestrating, how to use Finale, how to self publish the music they compose, and how to record and distribute/sell their music through iTunes, CDBaby, Amazon, and all other online music stores.
I teach traditional music theory and musicianship in a non-traditional way - principally using the music books I have written and self published - you may visit my website to learn more about my books: http://musicmotivation.com/musicbooksbyjerald. I also work with many piano teachers helping them learn more about jazz, improvisation, arranging, and composing.
COMPLETE BIO FOR JERALD:
First and foremost, Jerald is a husband to his HOT wife and a father to his wonderful children. Jerald Simon is the founder and president of Music Motivation®. As an entrepreneur, he loves business, composing music, and writing poetry and motivational self help books. He is a composer, author, poet, Music Mentor™, piano teacher (jazz, music theory, improvisation, composition, arranging, etc.), music educator, professional speaker, and life coach. Jerald loves music, piano, teaching, speaking, performing, playing sports, exercising, reading, writing poetry and self help books, creating companies, and spending time with and traveling with his family. Jerald and his wife, Zanny, and their children enjoy traveling together, eating at great restaurants, working, playing, and enjoying life.
He created http://musicmotivation.com/ as a resource for piano teachers, piano students, and parents of piano students. He is the author/poet of "The As If Principle" (motivational poetry), and the book "Perceptions, Parables, and Pointers™." He is also the author of 17 music books from the Music Motivation® Series™ including the popular best selling series: Cool Songs that Rock™ and Cool Songs for Cool Kids™ (pre-primer, primer level, and volumes 1, 2, and 3)", and has recorded and produced albums and singles of original music including TRIUMPHANT (https://facebook.com/betriumphant - watch the YouTube music video/slideshow - http://youtube.com/watch?v=zXd-NBDbPc8). He has created a "Fun to Play™" YouTube channel where Jerald teaches theory (Theory Therapy™), improvisation (Innovative Improvisation™), and composition (Creative Composition™) on the piano:http://youtube.com/jeraldsimon.
The books from the Music Motivation® Series have been featured in the American Music Teacher (MTNA) 2011 August/September issue, the Clavier Companion (2011 July/August issue), Publisher of the Month through Chesbro Music Co. (national distributor 1.800.243.7276), and various newspapers and media across the country. Jerald presents to MTNA chapters and various music schools, groups, and associations throughout the country doing workshops, music camps, master classes, concerts and firesides to inspire and motivate music students and teachers. He enjoys teaching piano students about music theory (Theory Therapy™), improvisation (Innovative Improvisation™), and composition (Creative Composition™). He is a Music Mentor™ and encourages music students to get motivated by music and to motivate others through music of their own.
SPECIALTIES:
Composer, Author, Poet, Music Mentor™, Piano Teacher (jazz, music theory, improvisation, composition, arranging, etc.), Motivational Speaker, and life coach. Visit http://musicmotivation.com/bookjeraldtoperform, to book Jerald as a speaker/performer. Visit http://musicmotivation.com/resources to print off FREE piano resources for piano teachers and piano students.
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