Heidi W, Bothell Music Teacher | Teaches Private Music Lessons in 98012

Free Lessons
FREE Lesson with your First Package! Refer a student and get one FREE lesson! Returning students: Upgrade your package and get one FREE!
Discounts
Webcam Lessons: 10% (first-time customers)

About Me

Heidi works with students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. She helps students who have physical and emotional challenges or learning disabilities to be able to enjoy and excel in music. No matter what challenges one may have, Heidi encourages students to overcome. There is more to a music lesson than simply learning how to play notes on an instrument, she says. I encourage my students to learn more, to push themselves beyond what they believe they can do, because I hear some students say that they can’t do something and then we work through a challenge together and then they say I can! I want each student to explore the language of music, to have a working knowledge of and vocabulary to, communicate with. When a musician has a developed ear, an internal desire to create, and the proper foundation in music education, they are more prepared and therefore have the abilities that allow them to succeed in almost any musical setting! Music theory and music history are the foundation of music and exploring and exposing oneself to these aspects will allow the student to build a firm, core foundation to grow from. Of course using your ear, and your soul/heart to express the music, is another important aspect, and why not have the whole package! Those along with commitment, work, proper practice, following direction and suggestions, you can reach your goals. Talent is not required!

Heidi W has over 35 years of music experience in the Bothell area.

Heidi W is proficient in and teaches Guitar Lessons, Bass Guitar Lessons, Drum Lessons, Keyboard and Piano Lessons, Vocal Lessons .

Degree and Field of Study:

Bachelors Of Arts, Music EducationMay 2003

CSU, Chico

Award Name:

Deans ListDecember

CSU, Chico

John Phillip Sousa Band Award May 1995

CHS/National Award

What to expect in my

Beginner - Advanced - Intermediate

No matter what instrument I’m teaching, and I play and teach over 10, as well as teach Voice, music theory, composition/arranging, ear training, intro to DAW& more, you can expect that I will be providing you with an individualized, structured, well rounded, comprehensive music education, with a classical foundation, to build from, rather than just teach you how to play songs on a particular instrument! I have experience playing and teaching many styles of music and can help you with learning and improving your improvisational skills and incorporate learning to play other styles of music. I have worked hard for many years to develop the proper training, experience and education necessary to achieve the knowledge and abilities to be a quality teacher. Although I have a formal classical education and foundation, which I believe is very valuable, I encourage and support students exploring other styles of music and I have experience playing/performing and teaching many different styles. I’m passionate about teaching music, and I’ve taken the time to develop a diverse, quality education as well as have a wide range of experience teaching, playing, performing, composing/arranging and recording music, which I believe, in turn makes me a more successful teacher and better able to provide my students with a quality foundation to grow from. In our first lesson, I do my best to get to know my student, listen to them, create a comfortable learning environment, discuss any previous musical experience, share some of my experience & education with them, explore their expectations & goals, attempt to get a sense of their personality and learning style. I work with each student to evaluate and determine what skills and knowledge they have and what areas need to be focussed on and strengthened. If they are starting from the very beginning, we explore the instrument, get familiar with it, and start to understand the basic concepts and techniques, while we work through a Lesson book to help the student learn the language of music, as it’s a very important and a necessary foundation of learning to play music! Each student is different, so I individualize my lesson plans and practice materials to fit what each student need and what works best for them. I also provide a brief overview of how I conduct my lessons, what my expectations are, and express to the student that I am here to help and support them in their musical progress. I emphasize that I will continue to motivate, encourage, and challenge them to achieve their/our goals and help them continue to improve. I want to support my students to push through and overcome any challenges. It’s valuable to learn from mistakes and celebrate the progress that each student is capable of making. It’s important to understand that each student needs to be willing to practice properly and regularly, to remain teachable, to trust me and my suggestions as well as what I provide as practice materials, to stay positive & willing to give their best effort, and to feel comfortable to ask questions! Do Your Very Best to keep “I can’t” out of your vocabulary!! “You Can”, and “You Will”, with the proper help, support and by doing the work, having discipline, focus, motivation, and a positive attitude! We will have Fun learning more about the language, art & joy of music! This is an amazing creative outlet for anyone who wants it, and remember, music is all inclusive, empowering, brings people together and has no limitations! I offer an annual Student Recital for my students to participate in and it’s a great way to have the opportunity to share your progress and abilities with an audience. I teach students from 3&1/2 years old to students in their 70’s, you’re never too young or too old, I have experience teaching students with different disabilities and I celebrate students from different backgrounds and cultures. Music is for everyone!

Formal Education:

Heidi attended California State University, Chico where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education. During her last year of study, she decided to take a few extra credit courses in Physical Education, her other passion. She decided that since athletics and music have been such a huge part of her experience and joy in life, that she would take enough courses to earn a Coaching Certificate, which adds more diversity and skills to her teaching abilities. Heidi maintained an honorable grade point average through her College Career and earned her way on the Deans List for several semesters, indicative of her hard work, focus, and dedication to striving for excellence. She has been playing and studying music formally since the age of 9 years old/4th grade. She has participated in many different music performance opportunities, such as School Band starting in the 4th grade, Junior Honor Symphony in Elementary School, Jr. High School Honor Band (Regional and State), Pep Bands, High School Honor Band (Regional and State), many various talent shows, Solo and Ensemble Festivals in Jr. High & High School, performing with the University Wind Ensemble in High School, playing in the Marching Band then became Drum Major for 2 consecutive years, performing many concerts in her local community as well as playing in several Blues, Funk, Worship, bands during her College time. She has continued to perform and record with many Bands and has experienced playing in many diverse groups, playing many different styles of music. She continues to educate herself by furthering her studies on each instrument she plays& teaches, music theory, jazz theory and continues to study vocal techniques. She considers herself a lifelong learner!

Private Education:

Heidi has continued to educate herself and challenge herself by taking private music lessons on clarinet, alto sax, flute, drum set/snare, piano, trumpet, trombone and voice. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education, which required learning each instrument, exemplifying proficiency to be able to play through the first lesson book on each instrument, as well as piano experience, vocal experience, elementary music education experience, lesson planning, music theory, ear training, composition, conducting, early childhood education, and more! Heidi’s Motto is Always be open to learning, always be hungry for knowledge and remain teachable and your mind will expand beyond what you have planned! Heidi has attended clinics with such musicians as Tower of Power horn section, and has had the honor of playing with 3 of the horn players from the Buena Vista Social Club band. Heidi continues her training and education, practices on all the instruments she teaches and plays, composes and arranges on her own projects as well as is hired to compose and arrange for other artists, records on other artists projects, currently with Carla Torgerson, creator and lead vocalist of The Walkabouts, Mr. Paul Polo Jones, Musical Director and Bass Player for Italian Artist/Band Zucchero Fornaciari, and composer, arranger, recording artist and producer. This is only a small example of her professional performing and recording experience.

Performing Experience:

Heidi has had many opportunities to perform live as well as in recording studios over her many years of playing. She has also arranged many horn charts for bands and for recording studios. She has had several opportunities to perform live on trombone and trumpet with Bands that she has never played with and never heard their music, but she was hired to play and therefore sight read the Gig! Heidi has had the privilege of performing with such amazing musical organizations as; The Seattle Rock Orchestra. If you haven’t heard of the SRO, they are a local prestigious orchestra that plays cover music from artists such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Micheal Jackson, Prince, Pink Floyd and more! Heidi has also performed with Kobo Town, a touring Trinidadian Calypso Band, La Banda Gonzona, a Oaxacan Banda style Band, Sunga Rose, a turn of the century Blues/Jazz style Quartet, The SANCA-pators, a local Circus music-Vaudevillian style band, and many other various Bands and Orchestras of all styles and colors! She has and still does perform and record on Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion, Drum Set, Bass Guitar, Piano, and Voice.

Experience Teaching:

Since College, Heidi has taught in California as well as Washington State, where she currently, happily, resides. She has been teaching group and individual instrumental music Lessons for over 20 years. She has been employed as a Para-Professional (assistant to the teacher) in Edmonds, Wa School District, co-teaching beginning guitar and worked at The Overlake School (a Private College Prep 5th-12th grade school) in Redmond,Wa teaching group and individual classes on Clarinet, Saxaphone, Flute, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone/Euphonium, Bass Guitar, and Snare Drum/Percussion. Heidi has been employed by Kinnelly Keys (Shoreline,Wa) retail music store and was able to learn about a different side of the music industry. Heidi also taught music lessons at 4/4 School of Music (Seattle,Wa) Clarinet, Alto Sax, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, and Drum Set/Snare Drum. She not only teaches around 10 different instruments, she can play them all proficiently and offers Students a well rounded, comprehensive music education, along with offering all of the important instrumental techniques about how to play well and how to play with musicianship. Heidi offers more than a music lesson, she provides a comprehensive music education with a solid foundation to build and grow from, along with a warm and supportive attitude to support each student on their path to develop confidence, knowledge and skills through learning how to play an instrument, or sing!