Christopher Kouldukis

For the past 8 years I have been successfully teaching music in both private and classroom settings. My teaching career started in 2013 while pursuing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Washington, where I majored in vocal performance. While developing my own skills as a professional musician, I started working part time as a private voice, guitar, and piano teacher at a local music studio. After graduating with my degree in 2016 I made teaching my full-time job at the same studio, where I expanded my teaching to include ukulele, bass, as well as group ensemble classes. In 2018 I decided to open my own private teaching studio and slowly began to build my student base until I was eventually able to quit my old job and support myself fully with my own private practice. I also worked in music departments at various public and private schools during my time as a freelancer, leading musical ensembles of different genres and instrumentations in classroom settings.

It is my belief that music is not only about technique and precision, but also about expression and creativity. My approach to teaching is a balanced one: I employ a mix of technique exercises, theory and repertoire with my students while staying within the frame of their musical abilities and interests. This keeps the lessons fun for students while pushing them to become better musicians with every new activity. I also emphasize the importance of creativity and enjoyment of playing during my lessons, encouraging students to explore the different ways they can push their own musical boundaries through things such as songwriting and improvisation. My own musical background includes many different genres, instruments, and musical groups, which allows me to meet students wherever their interest lies. Whether it is singing classical art songs, improvising over jazz changes, or simply playing some three-chord punk guitar music I am equipped with the tools to help students mature and grow musically.

While freelancing, I also gained many practical organization and communications skills that are not related to my teaching practices. I learned how to advertise myself to new clients, including building a website and presenting myself to parents at local schools. I organized community events such as bi-annual recitals for my students at local churches and public performances at farmers markets. I put together weekly schedules for lessons and kept in constant communication with my clients about lesson times, makeup lessons and company policies. I also had to open my own business and do my own accounting work, keeping track of expenses and paying taxes. Overall, my time teaching has made me well-rounded, resourceful, and creative, preparing me to successfully jump into most any position in the job market.