Rausch Music Studio

Private Suzuki Piano:​​​​​​​​​​
Private piano instruction is based upon the Suzuki philosophy of "talent development." This approach differs from traditional methods of teaching instrumental music because it involves the student at a very early age (typically, 4 - 7 years of age), thus necessitating much participation on the part of the parent (usually the mother) in the role of "home teacher."

Coursework is a comprehensive curriculum which includes technique, listening, music theory and history, sight-reading, ear-training, composition, performance, and music appreciation. I use traditional reading books to build reading skills right along with the Suzuki books which builds memory and musical expression skills.

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Suzuki: I got my love back for teaching piano after going to my first Suzuki Institute for
teacher training. Here I had a Master’s degree in music and had taught in public schools and privately for 10 years but was very frustrated with the many piano methods I was using. I quickly found it wasn’t the methods that were the problem.

Suzuki training taught me how to really “teach”. The Suzuki Method is not just about the music. It’s about the philosophy of teaching each student so they CAN learn- connecting with the student to guide her/him to be an independent thinker that makes good choices. I teach each student in the way they learn best: kinesthetic, auditory, or visible. I can apply this philosophy to any teaching I do now.

Before I just taught the music and now I teach the student how to enjoy making music.

I choose to teach the Suzuki Book 1 & 2 curriculum to private students because it is so
easy to teach all the technical skills needed to play intermediate level music and works so
well with the very young. I use many of the other method books as supplements for
developing reading skills. Suzuki Book 3 is the same intermediate (Sonatina) music that is
found in most other method books of that same level so I branch out into my favorite
editions after Book 2.

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Bow: We always begin lesson with a bow. To me the student’s bow means s/he is ready to
focus on our activities, the teacher’s bow means s/he is going to give 100% focus to the
student, and the parent’s bow means s/he is ready to write notes and follow along. We do
not bow until we are ready to focus. Often we all have many things we just got to tell each
other. We get this done before the bow. We bow at the end of the lesson as a way of saying
thank you to each other.

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Feet & Seat: I use an adjustable foot bench so students' feet feel flat on a floor and knees
are at the right angle. Dangling feet cause restlessness and loss of focus very quickly. At
home students can stack thick catalogs and duct tape them or buy a foot bench. I also use an adjustable seat bench so students’ elbows are at a right angle to reduce back strain. At
home students can use carpet remnants stacked up to proper height.

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Routine: We follow a routine for the lesson tasks. Students are much more secure with
consistency. We do leave room in each section for the student to make choices. I try to ask
and not tell what to do. I try to guide them to think for themselves. They are so much more willing when they have some control. The routine includes:
1. Keyboard/Technique Skills- scales, chords, cadences, arpeggios, finger exercises
2. Reading Work
3. Solo Work
4. Theory, Music History, and Ear-Training Work

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Private Voice Lessons:

 

Voice lessons are offered to students in 2nd grade through adult.
I teach a spiral curriculum using a basic routine and build the skills in each area.

Your Whole Body Is Your Instrument
• Body, facial, vocal chords, lungs, abs- understanding their importance
• Full Body alignment- using Alexander Technique & Body Mapping
• Vocal Health and How the Voice works- based on level of understanding

Produce A Beautiful Tone
• Vocalizing- sustain a beautiful resonant tone in entire voice range at all dynamic levels
                      with least tension. We start with gentle warm ups then technical vocalizes.   
                      Students find their own natural voice that is unique to them.
• Diction- how to use our articulators, address consonants, address vowel words, vowel
                 modification, diction of foreign languages.
• Ear Training- we start with pitch matching, echo songs, singing and identifying intervals,
                         echoing long phrases, and part singing.

Vocal Technique
• Sight-Singing- we use various books based on skill level but starting with solfeggio.
• Literature- we start young ones with unison Children’s literature in a limited range, then
                      add Disney, Broadway, Folk Songs, Art Songs in different languages, Oratorio,
                      Arias, Jazz, Christian, and Pop.
• Artistry- memorization skills, score preparation, expressive musical line & phrasing,
                 rhythmic accuracy, using correct style to the period of the song.
• Performing- stage deportment, using eye contact and body language, working with an
                        accompanist, working with a microphone, specific preparations for recitals,
                        contest, All-State &  college auditions.
• All private voice students will study music theory & basic keyboard skills.

 

Private Flute Lessons- Suzuki & Traditional:

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Private Flute Lessons are offered to students in 2nd grade through adult.
Young students do very well with a curved head joint.
Many beginner flutes come with both curved and straight head joints.
The curved head is also great for marching band. It takes the stress off the shoulders and arms.
Since I teach such a wide range of ages and abilities I teach a spiral curriculum using a
basic routine and build the skills in each area.
Students who start private lessons before 5th grade will study Suzuki Flute and parental attendance is preferred.
Students who have had band lessons before starting with me will study in the traditional flute way but I will apply Suzuki Philosophy in my teaching.

Basic Routine:
• 1. Body, facial & breathing exercises
• 2. Aligning body to flute using Alexander Technique & Body Mapping- students need to
      understand that they have to keep readjusting as they grow and when braces are a
      factor there will be constant mini embouchure adjustments.
• 3. Tonalization- sustain a beautiful tone at all dynamic levels in entire flute range with
      least tension. This includes embouchure exercises and harmonics exercises.
• 4. Finger Dexterity- using finger exercises, scales, arpeggios, and thirds.
• 5. Tonguing & Articulation- clean single, double and triple tongue building speed, clean
      attacks at all dynamic levels and entire range of flute.
• 6. Vibrato- develop slow & very deliberate to natural then control of different speeds.
• 7. Suzuki, Lesson, & Etude Books
• 8. Sight-Reading & Duet playing
• 9. Solo Literature from Baroque to Contemporary
• 10. Theory

Students will learn how to prepare for recitals, contests, and All-State auditions:
1. Proper etiquette
2. Choosing literature
3. How to be confident and in control
4. Working with accompanist

 

Private Clarinet & Saxophone:

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Private Clarinet and Saxophone Lessons are offered to students 4th grade through adult.

Since I teach such a wide range of ages and abilities I teach a spiral curriculum using a
basic routine and build the skills in each area.

Reed care: We will learn how to choose, shave, seal, and store.
Basic Routine:
• 1. Body, facial & breathing exercises
• 2. Aligning body to clarinet and saxophone using Alexander Technique & Body Mapping-
      students need to understand that they have to keep readjusting as they grow and  
      when braces are a factor there will be constant mini embouchure adjustments.
• 3. Tonalization- sustain a beautiful tone at all dynamic levels in entire range with
      least tension. This includes embouchure exercises.
• 4. Finger Dexterity- using finger exercises, scales, arpeggios, and thirds.
• 5. Tonguing & Articulation- clean and crisp tongue building speed, clean
      attacks at all dynamic levels and entire range of instrument.
• 6. Sax Vibrato- develop slow & very deliberate to natural then control of different speeds.
• 7. Lesson and Etude Books
• 8. Sight-Reading & Duet playing
• 9. Solo Literature- Baroque to Contemporary with proper ornamentation according to time period.
• 10. Theory and Music History

Students will learn how to prepare for recitals, contests, and All-State auditions:
1. Proper etiquette
2. Choosing literature
3. How to be confident and in control
4. Working with accompanist

Private or Group Guitar:

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Guitar  1 will cover:
Correct posture: sitting, standing and holding pick
Identify the parts of the guitar
How to tune guitar by pitch matching with piano or tuner
How to change a string and guitar care
Playing with beautiful tone
Identify and use p-i-m-a
Rhythm and feeling the beat
G treble staff reading for string 1, 2, 3 single notes in 1st position
Play melodies using strings 1,2,3 in 1st position
Basic notation and theory
Suzuki Book 1A- 1st half of book
Full Chromatic Scale in 1st position up to A
G scale on strings 1,2,3 in 1st position
3 String Chords & how to read chord charts
Symbols indicating up and down strokes
Flat Picking
Basic strumming patterns with proper right hand motion
Beginning chord progression in key of G, G7, C, & D7
Switching chords smoothly while strumming
How to read tablature using rock songs

Guitar  2 will cover:
Review of Guitar  1 & building on those skills
Tuning guitar by ear using 5th method
G treble staff reading for string 4,5,6 single notes in 1st position
Suzkui Book 1B- 2nd half of book
Play melodies using all 6 strings in 1st position
Power  diads/chords using roots on open sixth, fifth and fourth strings
Play arpeggios in a finger-picking style as an accompaniment
Ear Training
6 String Chords using chord charts
More chord progressions building smooth chord changes
Playing guitar for church
More tablature reading
Be able to teach someone else how to play a song
Must take Guitar 1 before Guitar 2.

After Guitar 2 is completed you may choose to continue to intermediate guitar where we develop skills. We continue with Suzuki Book 2 and Hal Leonard Guitar Method.

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