James Cortright
Piano lessons for all, with a focus on accessibility and fun, but also excellence through music
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James Cortright
Bachelors degree
Enroll after the free trial
Each lesson is 55 min
50 lessons
20% off
/ lesson
30 lessons
15% off
/ lesson
20 lessons
10% off
/ lesson
10 lessons
5% off
/ lesson
5 lessons
-
/ lesson
1 lessons
-
/ lesson
James - Your piano 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 piano teacher skills
Piano Repertoire
Finger Placement & Hand Position
Ear training
Performance Skills
Pedaling Techniques
Scales and Arpeggios
Rhythm and Timing
Improvisation
Types of learners for piano lessons
Piano for kids
Piano for adults
Piano for advanced
Piano for beginners
Piano for intermediate
Piano 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.
Trusted piano teacher for real results
88% students feel more skilled, confident, and ready to perform
Piano lessons that truly engage students
Parents report their children look forward to every class
Step-by-step piano lessons structure
Lessons break down complex pieces into manageable parts
Different types of piano lessons
Piano
Grand Piano
Digital Piano
Upright Piano
Jazz Piano
Classical Piano
Flexible Scheduling
Allows 1h early scheduling
Allows 1h early rescheduling
Can wait for 20 mins after joining
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10 day Refund
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Free Tutor Swap
Piano concepts taught by James
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.
Musical Phrasing and Practice Segmentation
Rhythmic Subdivision and Counting
Chord Voicing and Inversions
Reading Chord Charts and Lead Sheets
The Role of the Bass Note
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
The Student and Tutor reviewed guitar chord progressions, the use of a metronome for tempo control, and the identification of notes on the fretboard. They practiced playing the chromatic scale and explored various voicings for chords like F major and bar chords, with plans to review song structures and simple songs in future sessions.
Chord Progressions & Roman Numerals
Chromatic Scale & Note Naming
Barre Chords & Fretboard Navigation
Muting Strings & Chord Voicing
Approach & tools used in piano classes
PDF Sheet Music Libraries
Backing Track Libraries
Virtual Piano Apps
Metronome Apps
Looping Software
DAWs
Interactive piano lessons
Record lessons
Mobile joining
Parent feedback
Note taking
Chat for quick help
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Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.