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
Rhythm and Timing
Sight Reading
Pedaling Techniques
Finger Placement & Hand Position
Performance Skills
Piano Technique
Piano Repertoire
Improvisation
Types of learners for piano lessons
Piano for kids
Piano for advanced
Piano for intermediate
Piano for beginners
Piano for adults
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
Piano concepts taught by James
The Student practiced major scales in the circle of fifths and circle of fourths, focusing on fingering and rhythm. They worked on E major, F major, and B flat major scales, breaking down the fingerings and practicing hands separately. The Student was assigned to continue practicing all 12 major scales, focusing on the flat keys, and to keep working on the "Country Roads" song.
Circle of Fifths Scales: Fingering and Sharps
Circle of Fourths Scales: Introducing Flats
B♭ Major Scale: Starting on a Black Note
E♭ Major Scale: Building on Previous Scales
Effective Practice Techniques for Scales
Musicality: Balancing Rhythm and Sound Quality
The Student practiced various piano scales, including C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, B flat, E flat, A flat and D flat, with a focus on fingering and note groupings. The Tutor provided guidance on tackling challenging scales like B flat and strategies for improving coordination between hands. The Student was encouraged to continue practicing scales and arpeggios, with the option to reach out with questions before the next scheduled lesson.
Circle of Fifths and Fourths
B Flat Scale Fingering
E Flat Scale Fingering
D Flat Scale and Black Key Fingering
Arpeggios for Finger Dexterity
Grouping Notes for Scale Fingering
The Tutor and Student reviewed progress on a piano piece, then began learning "Amazing Grace." They focused on reading music, hand positioning, fingerings, and introduced major and minor scales as practice for dexterity and understanding musical theory. The student will continue practicing the new piece and scales independently.
Reading Bass Clef Notes
Slurs and Ties in Music Notation
Octave Notation (8vb and 8va)
Scales: Major and Minor Keys
The student and tutor engaged in a comprehensive music theory lesson focused on piano. They reviewed advanced chord structures, extended scale and arpeggio techniques (two octaves), and the classification and construction of various intervals and seven chords. The session also touched upon tuning systems and the theoretical basis of chords within a major scale.
Intervals and Diads
Seven Chords (Seventh Chords)
Triads: Building Blocks of Harmony
Scales Across Two Octaves
The Tutor and Student explored strategies for memorizing guitar fretboard notes and discussed techniques for improving fingerstyle playing, including finger dexterity and control. They also covered practice methods like using a metronome for gradual tempo increase and shared resources for further learning, including specific song recommendations.
Tempo Control & Musical Phrasing
Developing Left-Hand Finger Dexterity & Control
Fretboard Navigation & Note Identification
Fingerstyle Techniques: Hammer-ons & Pull-offs
The Student learned piano scales, arpeggios, chord construction, and basic music theory concepts like key and time signatures. They reviewed different musical styles and began sight-reading a simple piece. The Student was assigned scales and chord practice in specific keys and was given access to sheet music for multiple songs to learn.
Scales: Parallel and Contrary Motion
Arpeggios: 1-3-5-8 Pattern
Chords: First
Third
and Fifth Notes
Key Signatures: Sharps and Flats
Triads: Major
Minor
Approach & tools used in piano classes
Piano Tuner Apps
Looping Software
PDF Sheet Music Libraries
DAWs
Chord & Scale Reference Apps
Metronome Apps
Interactive piano lessons
Weekend lessons
Parent feedback
Chat for quick help
Mobile joining
Open Q&A
Piano teachers on Wiingy are vetted for quality
Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.
