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
Classical
Jazz
Metal
Pop
Rock
Hip-Hop
Folk
CoTutorAI modules
Summary
Podcast
Quiz
Learnings
Flashcard
Spotlight
Zero Risk Guaranteed
15-days refund
Free tutor swap
No cancel fee
1-yr validity
24/7 support
Learner types for music lessons
Music for beginners
Music for advanced
Music for adults
Music for intermediate
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
Music concepts taught by James
The student and tutor worked on refining the musical composition of a song, focusing on key choices, lyrical alignment with notes and rhythms, and exploring different notational techniques. They planned to adjust key signatures and continue detailed notation in future sessions.
Musical Transposition and Key Relationships
Melody Development and Lyric Alignment
Musical Notation and Notation Software
Vocal Performance Styles and Stylistic Choices
The tutor and student worked on improving piano playing skills, with a particular focus on timing and rhythm exercises. They practiced scales, arpeggios, and specific chord progressions, using a metronome and discussing visual aids for rhythmic understanding. The student will continue practicing these exercises, with a focus on developing accurate timing and internalizing steady tempos.
Effective Practice Strategies
Scale and Chord Transposition
Rhythm and Timing Fundamentals
The student and tutor reviewed chord progressions, focusing on the 1645 pattern and its application in different keys. They also discussed techniques for playing bar chords and practiced identifying notes on the musical staff and their corresponding locations on the guitar, with a plan to explore classical fingerstyle guitar next.
Chord Progressions & Roman Numerals
Barre Chord Techniques & Workarounds
Music Notation & Guitar Fretboard Mapping
Chord Quality: Major
Minor
and Diminished
The tutor and student worked collaboratively to learn and use music notation software to compose a song. They focused on inputting notes, rhythms, and lyrics, as well as arranging multiple musical parts and voices. The next session will continue this work, with the tutor providing the student with the current score file.
Multi-Voice and Instrument Management
Compositional Structure and Phrasing
Adding and Formatting Lyrics
Music Notation Software Basics
Handling Octaves and Accidentals
The Student and Tutor focused on piano technique, reviewing chord transitions in "Tiny Dancer" and practicing scales and arpeggios, including specific patterns for black key keys like B flat and E flat. They also worked on rhythmic accuracy and timing in "Tiny Dancer" and "Simple Gifts," with the tutor providing guidance on listening to recordings and developing a steady beat.
Chord Symbol Interpretation and Application
Black Key Arpeggios: Fingerings and Shapes
Rhythmic Precision and Interpretation
Learning New Music: Process and Application
The Tutor and Student worked on piano technique, focusing on practicing scales in various keys (C, G, D major) and applying transposition concepts. They also practiced and analyzed challenging sections of "Ode to Joy" and "Simple Gifts," discussing strategies for efficient practice and error correction. The homework assigned was to continue practicing "Ode to Joy" and the scales in C and G major.
Conquering Hand Independence in Piano
The Art of Transposition: From C Major to G Major
Deconstructing Arpeggios: Fingerings and Stretches
The Practice Pyramid: Isolating and Integrating
Perishable Skills and Consistent Practice
Teaching tools used in music classes
Backing Track Libraries
Recording Apps
Metronome spps
Vocal Warm-Up Apps
Resonance App
Pitch and Tuning Apps
Looping Software
Interactive music lessons
Mobile joining
Open Q&A
Record lessons
Parent feedback
Weekend lessons
Music teachers on Wiingy are vetted for quality
Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.