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
/ 55 min
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
Improvisation
Pedaling Techniques
Scales and Arpeggios
Finger Placement & Hand Position
Music theory
Performance Skills
Chord Theory
Piano Technique
AI modules
Summary
Podcast
Quiz
Learnings
Flashcard
Spotlight
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1-yr validity
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Types of learners for piano lessons
Piano for beginners
Piano for kids
Piano for intermediate
Piano for adults
Piano for advanced
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
Student and Tutor practiced various piano scales, focusing on fingerings and black note keys. They reviewed music theory concepts including major and minor chords, chord identification, and inversions. The Student also practiced three repertoire pieces: the Bach Minuet, Wind in the Willows, and Moonlight Sonata, receiving guidance on performance consistency, musicality, and navigating specific technical and theoretical challenges. The Tutor advised on deliberate practice, mental preparation, and utilizing reference materials for continued improvement.
Developing Aural Recognition and Musical Phrasing
Optimizing Hand Positions and Fingering for Complex Passages
Achieving Performance Readiness: Mental & Physical Strategies
Triads and Inversions: Identification & Application
Comprehensive Piano Scales: Fingering & Practice Strategies
The Student and Tutor reviewed and practiced piano scales, arpeggios, and chord progressions from the Circle of Fifths (C-E major, B major) and introduced the Circle of Fourths (F major). They also worked on repertoire pieces including the Bach Minuet in G, "Wind in the Willows," and Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, focusing on refining technique, musicality, and strategic practice methods. The Tutor discussed providing materials for two-octave scales and encouraged independent practice of identified challenging musical segments.
Mastering Major Scales: Circle of Fifths & Fourths
Chord Analysis & Inversions in Repertoire
Deconstructing Music into Voices
Efficient Repertoire Practice Strategies
Advanced Notation & Fingering Principles
The Student and Tutor reviewed three piano pieces: Bach's Minuet in G, "Wind in the Willows," and Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, discussing dynamics, stylistic interpretation, and effective practice strategies. They also practiced fundamental scale, arpeggio, and chord progression exercises in C major and G major, with the Tutor introducing the Circle of Fifths for transposition. The Student's homework is to practice the first five keys of the Circle of Fifths for the fundamental exercises.
Effective Practice & Handling Mistakes
The Circle of Fifths and Fourths
Fundamentals: Major Scales
Arpeggios
and Cadences
Chord Analysis for Memorization and Understanding
Dynamics and Articulation Across Musical Eras
Repertoire Management & Performance Confidence
Student and Tutor had an introductory piano session where they discussed the Student's background, goals to strengthen music theory, and overall piano technique. They practiced major scales, arpeggios, and chords, delving into the theoretical construction of scales and chords, including inversions and a chord progression. The Tutor suggested practicing these fundamental exercises in all twelve keys as a future learning objective and offered to share materials.
Rebuilding Music Fundamentals
Major Scales: Construction & Fingering
Arpeggios & Basic Triads
Major and Minor Triads: Construction & Sound
Chord Inversions & Slash Notation
Cadences and Chord Progressions
Student and Tutor engaged in a comprehensive piano lesson focusing on jazz improvisation and theory. They reviewed the student's performance of a Debussy piece, discussing musicality and rhythmic density. The session also covered essential jazz concepts such as scale-chord relationships, 2-5-1 voicings and licks, and the structure of jazz performances, with follow-up recommendations for ear training apps and learning songs by ear.
Jazz Scales & Their Characteristics
Ear Training for Jazz Musicians
2-5-1 Chord Voicings & Licks
Standard Jazz Form & Improvisation
Flexible Chord Voicing for Smoothness
Solo Piano Arranging Techniques
Jazz Solo Piano Musicality & Flow
Student and Tutor reviewed a new song composition, focusing on refining its rhythm, notation, and chord placement using music software. They corrected several rhythmic and lyrical misalignments, experimented with notation techniques like fermatas and triplets, and discussed best practices for musical phrasing. Educational follow-up included the Student continuing to compose new songs and exploring alternative digital music tools for their iPad.
Rhythmic Precision and Chord-Melody Alignment
Song Structure and Varied Repetition
Streamlining Musical Notation for Readability
Expressive Timing with Time Signatures and Fermata
Introducing Triplets for Rhythmic Nuance
Optimizing Music Workflow with Digital Notation Software
Approach & tools used in piano classes
Looping Software
Piano Tuner Apps
DAWs
Backing Track Libraries
Metronome Apps
Virtual Piano Apps
Interactive piano lessons
Parent feedback
Mobile joining
Chat for quick help
Weekend lessons
Record lessons

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