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
Piano Technique
Rhythm and Timing
Sight Reading
Chord Theory
Pedaling Techniques
Music theory
Types of learners for piano lessons
Piano for kids
Piano for beginners
Piano for intermediate
Piano for advanced
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
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 tutor and student explored advanced piano chord theory, focusing on triads (major, minor, diminished, augmented) and seventh chords (major seventh, dominant seventh, diminished seventh). The student practiced identifying and constructing these chords, with discussions on transposition, simplification, and their application in music. Future lessons will continue with chord theory and practice.
Chord Inversions and Sound Quality
Musical Notation: Ties and Slurs
Seventh Chords: Dominant and Major 7ths
Triad Types: Major
Minor
Diminished
Augmented
Scales and Arpeggios: Full Octave and Hand Position Changes
The tutor and student reviewed the student's progress on piano pieces and scale exercises, focusing on the challenges of two-octave scales and hand coordination. They practiced various scales and introduced a new piece, "Simple Gifts," emphasizing fingerings and hand positioning, and discussed strategies for managing practice-related fatigue.
Two-Octave Scales and Hand Independence
The Psychology of Practice and Brain Fatigue
Fingering Logic and Internalization
Developing Coordinated Hand Movements
The Student and Tutor worked on guitar techniques including hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slide techniques within the minor pentatonic scale, and explored shuffle timing. The Tutor provided feedback on finger coordination and offered to create instructional videos for articulation exercises. Future lessons were scheduled after the student's upcoming vacation.
String Bending and Vibrato Control
Chord Voicings and Voice Leading
Travis Picking Pattern
Shuffle and Swung Eighth Notes
Minor Pentatonic Scale Hammer-ons and Pull-offs
The tutor and student worked on piano scales, including major scales from the circle of fifths and fourths, focusing on proper fingering and technique. They also reviewed the song "Country Roads," addressing rhythmic accuracy and tempo, and began analyzing the introduction to Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You," concentrating on chord progressions and hand positioning.
Rhythmic and Harmonic Introduction to 'Shape of You'
Rhythm and Tied Notes in 'Country Roads'
Circle of Fifths and Fourths Scales
The student and tutor worked on refining the performance of "River Flows in You," focusing on rhythmic accuracy, hand coordination, and specific challenging passages. They also introduced a new, simpler piece, "Simple Gifts," to practice note reading and hand positioning, with the expectation that the student will practice both pieces.
Mastering Rhythmic Precision in Music
Intentional Practice and Sectioning
Understanding Piano Pedals
Developing Note Reading Fluency
The tutor and student reviewed guitar techniques, analyzed specific songs like "Dust in the Wind" and "Tears in Heaven," and discussed practice strategies including tempo management and breaking down challenging passages. The tutor provided new exercises for hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides, and discussed the benefits of AI-generated summaries for revision, with plans to send additional resources and corrected tabs.
Efficient Practice Strategies
Hammer-ons and Pull-offs
Chord Voicings and Arrangements
Developing Musical Dexterity
Approach & tools used in piano classes
Piano Tuner Apps
PDF Sheet Music Libraries
Virtual Piano Apps
Ear Training Software
Metronome Apps
Chord & Scale Reference Apps
Interactive piano lessons
Open Q&A
Weekend lessons
Record lessons
Pets are welcomed
Chat for quick help
Piano teachers on Wiingy are vetted for quality
Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.