Josef Kardell

Lessons Offered

Where are Lessons Offered

About Me

My name is Josef Kardell - I'm a fun and reliable teacher with plenty of experience and references.

I've been playing music all of my life, whether it's playing in bands, composing, improvising, or arranging. Currently, I write and perform music with my brother in our band, KARDELL!

I've been teaching music professionally for 5+ years.
I'm mainly a piano teacher, but have equal experience teaching guitar, drums, trumpet, and bass. I also have taught 30+ bands (bands of kids, like the movie 'School of Rock') since 2007, teaching them covers or working on original tunes. At least five of my bands have won the annual Battle of the Bands, hosted by Bach 2 Rock, at the 9:30 Club in DC. I have also taught Music Theory and Composition, which I learned about extensively at school.

In May 2012 I graduated from the Peabody Institute of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, where I studied Composition and Computer Music. For four years I was lucky enough to be immersed in music, and I couldn't ask for a better education. The amount I learned through my teachers, peers, and the facilities at Peabody gave me strong footing to teach others.

Although I have taught adults, I specialize in teaching kids (ages 5-15), and have an excellent track record of turning beginning students into dedicated musicians.

I currently have 10 private students, but I am looking to pick up more in-home lessons. I'll come to you!

I work in the DC area mainly, but also in Baltimore.

Thank you!

My Musical Education Background

Nantucket High School, Nantucket, MA
Class of 2007
Activities included: School band, composition competition, arranging for chamber groups, and performing in bands.

Peabody Institute of Music, Baltimore, MD
Class of 2012
Activities included: Recitals of original compositions, multiple solo piano performances, orchestration, arranging, recording, computer music, and performing in bands.

Genres and Subjects Taught

Piano - I have the most experience teaching piano, from beginning students to advanced. Piano is the best instrument for any aspiring musician to start on, since you can play any song on it, and it is a perfect visual to understand how music works! I mainly teach classical piano pieces, pop music, improvisation, composition, and method books.

Guitar - Guitar is often seen by kids as the 'coolest' and 'most fun' instrument to play. I enjoy mainly teaching rock, punk, metal, and pop music, but would be just as comfortable teaching notes or learning chords!

Drums/Percussion - Drums are the most important instrument in a band, because they give us the pulse, the rhythm, the backdrop. Learning about rhythm through the drum set will give a student knowledge about music for life! With Drums, I enjoy teaching beats, and running through the changes of a song. If a student is in a school band and needs to run through a snare drum part, or any other various percussion part, that's great too!

Bass - I've played bass more than any other instruments in bands, and have much respect for this often overlooked instrument. Learn how to rock bass lines from your favorite songs!

Trumpet - I've played trumpet since I was 10 years old (now I'm 24.) Trumpet is a great instrument to teach, because it is very technical and sometimes a student just needs a helping hand in order to make the sound he/she wants. I currently have 3 trumpet students, and our lessons are always full, whether it's working on something out of a method book, playing duets, or reviewing a piece for school band.

Music Theory/Composition - Music Theory and Composition come last, because most students should have a grasp of an instrument before they try to tackle the inner-workings of music. Yet, when a student is ready, composition and music theory are among my favorite subjects to teach! I am a composer/songwriter first and foremost, so teaching it is my area of expertise.

Lesson Rates

$50 per hour
$40 per 45 minutes
$25 per half-hour

I recommend doing 45 minute or hour long lessons, because more can be accomplished.

Ages / Skill Levels Taught

5-18

My Certifications and Awards

1st place - Southeast Massachusetts Composition Competition, 2007.
Dean's list - Peabody Institute (2008, 2009)

My Musical Influences

Steve Reich, Metallica, Iron & Wine, The Field, Operation Ivy, Terry Riley, Michael Jackson, pop, rock, jazz, metal, etc etc..

Service Area

Michele
Chevy Chase, MD

Josef started teaching our daughter just as she turned 6 - his endless patience and engaging teaching style won her over immediately. She feels like a genuine "rocker" and enjoys playing with her brother, too!

Greg
Bethesda, MD

Our two daughters love learning music thanks to Josef's teaching style and endless patience. In no time at all, Josef connected with each of our kids' style of learning and playing piano and adapted a method to match.