James Cortright
Experienced tutor helping for grade improvement
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James Cortright
Bachelors degree
/ 55 min
About your music teacher
I've dedicated my life to teaching music, while constantly improving my abilities as a teacher and musician. For over 15 years of work experience I've taught lessons and ensembles, learned from some of the best teachers, and remained a life-long student of music pedagogy. My education includes a 4 year Bachelor's degree in music, and a 2 year certificate in audio technology. I've won first place as a performing member and a teacher with ensembles in world class international competitions, and received perfect scores in competitions as a soloist. Through all of this, I've learned that each student is a unique and special musical mind that requires adaptability from a teacher who has mastered their craft, but still has the ability to make the material understandable to a complete beginner. Thank you for reading this and considering taking lessons with me!
Your music teacher expertise
Jazz
Hip-Hop
Metal
Rock
Pop
Electronic
Folk
Learner types for music lessons
Music for intermediate
Music for beginners
Music for adults
Music for advanced
Music for kids
Music lessons at a glance
My teaching methodology is based on a combination of studying a variety of music education techniques such as Orff, Kodaly, and Suzuki, while also learning from first hand experience teaching thousands of students. I believe that there is no one right way to teach music, but instead it is best to have a large tool kit and extensive background of knowledge to draw from based on the needs of any individual student. From beginners to advanced, from elementary age to adults, there will always be some creativity and flexibility involved in how I go about conveying the information that will help a student learn about music and improve their abilities on their instrument. I incorporate lessons from all areas of the subject of music including music theory, history, and ear training, while drawing from a variety of styles including classical, jazz, and folk.
Expert in developing musical techniques
Breaks down complex techniques for easy, effective learning.
Trusted by 95% of parents
Parents observe tangible growth in their child’s musical talent.
Interactive feedback for performance
Students receive real-time feedback to enhance their music practice.
Types of music lessons
Music Production
Music Composition
Sight-Reading
Digital Audio Workstation
Music Mixing
Mashups
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15 days Refund
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Free Tutor Swap
Music concepts taught by James
The tutor and student worked on piano technique, focusing on mastering scales (A major, E major) and improving rhythm and timing in musical pieces ('Simple Gifts,' 'River Flows in You'). The student practiced challenging passages, and the tutor provided feedback on fingering, articulation, and tempo consistency, with plans to continue refining these pieces in future sessions.
Double Octave Scales & Fingerings
Rhythmic Precision: Dotted Quarter Notes
The Discipline of Musical Practice
Overcoming Practice Fatigue ('Brain Mush')
The student and tutor reviewed piano technique, practicing scales, arpeggios, and chord progressions in songs like "Leaving on a Jet Plane" and "Simple Gifts." They focused on hand coordination, rhythmic accuracy, and note reading, with plans to continue refining these skills on "River Flows in You."
Coordinating Hands in Polyphonic Music
Rhythmic Accuracy and Timing
Two-Octave Scales and Arpeggios
Chord Voicings and Accompaniment Styles
The student and tutor worked on piano technique, focusing on specific measures in "Simple Gifts" and addressing finger coordination and rhythmic accuracy. They also began exploring how to read and play popular songs using chord charts, understanding chord symbols, inversions, and coordinating hands for a more personalized musical interpretation.
The Role of the Bass Note
Reading Chord Charts and Lead Sheets
Rhythmic Subdivision and Counting
Musical Phrasing and Practice Segmentation
Chord Voicing and Inversions
The tutor and student worked extensively on jazz piano pieces, focusing on solo performance techniques and ensemble playing. They analyzed chord voicings, harmonic rhythm, and introduced strategies for adding musicality and complexity to jazz standards, including techniques for playing with other musicians.
Solo Piano Voicings and Chord Placement
Adapting to Musical Changes on the Fly
Adding Musicality and Interest to Bass Lines
Altered Chords and Voicing Specifics
Upper Structures in Chord Voicings
Ensemble Playing Roles and Voicing
The student and tutor worked on piano scales, arpeggios, and chord progressions in the key of C, focusing on proper fingerings and hand positions for full octave scales and arpeggios. The student received written exercises to practice, and a follow-up lesson was scheduled to assess progress and explore transposing to other keys.
Arpeggios - Full Octave
Major vs Minor
Transposition
Full Octave Scales
Chord Progressions (Cadences)
The student reviewed and refined their performance of "River Flows in You" and "Simple Gifts", focusing on specific sections and techniques to improve accuracy and fluency. The lesson also covered chord symbol reading and playing simple songs from lead sheets. The tutor assigned the student to practice the discussed sections and explore playing songs from chord sheets.
Understanding Musical Transitions
Reading Chord Charts and Lead Sheets
Recognizing Chord Shapes and Qualities
Breaking Down Complex Music
Importance of Consistent Tempo and Rhythm
Chunking and Repetition in Practice
Teaching tools used in music classes
Pitch and Tuning Apps
Vocal Warm-Up Apps
Ear Training Software
Backing Track Libraries
Looping Software
Breathing Support Apps
Metronome spps
Interactive music lessons
Weekend lessons
Note taking
Mobile joining
Chat for quick help
Open Q&A
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Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.