Hayden Arp

A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music with six years of teaching experience, Hayden Arp is focused on cultivating a joyous and expressive relationship between his students and the music they make through engaged, creative, and patient instruction. 

 

Specializing in songwriting, electronic music production, guitar, piano, singing, composition, and music theory, Hayden has taught students ranging in age from pre-teen to adult, in both group and one-on-one settings. His private studio has been active since 2019, and he has taught as part of extracurricular programs such as IBWISE - IB revision camps in Vienna, Austria and Passion Academy in Richmond, Virginia. 

 

Hayden believes that music can serve a powerful role in the lives of young people: 

 

• Learning to express themselves through music can help young people come into greater, more compassionate contact with their true selves and inner feelings. 

• Playing music with others can create powerful connective bonds and build important friendships. 

• Performance (large and small) can help young people develop self-confidence and pride in who they truly are. 

• Listening deeply to the music of others can develop empathy and cultural understanding. 

• And, as anyone who has done so can attest, investing in a personal relationship with an instrument or musical practice can enrich one’s life profoundly, opening up wonderful opportunities for collaboration, interaction, and play with other musicians.

 

All of Hayden’s instruction is catered to the interests and needs of the student(s) he is teaching. Here are a few examples of the activities that make up his teaching practice:

 

One-on-one:

 

• With electronic music production students - using software such as Garageband or Ableton Live to produce an electronic dance song.

• With songwriting students - writing a verse of a song in the style of one of their favorite songwriters.

• With music theory students - analyzing the harmony of a favorite composition. Repurposing certain concepts in new, original compositions.

• With guitar students - learning basic chord structures by identifying and simplifying a favorite song of theirs. Learning to play it together.

 

Group settings:

 

• Attending live performances of new and exciting music in Vienna, Austria. Including discussing the work before and afterwards.

• Group play/jams. Students of all skill levels and instruments are welcome. Focused on listening to one another and having fun together.

• Collaborative music production. Students work together to build up an electronic music production, trading responsibilities of creating drums, basslines, vocal ideas, etc.

• Group listening. Mindful listening to and discussion of recorded music. Discussion can go in many directions: meaning/intention of the artist, production techniques, compositional techniques, arrangement, social/political context, sound design, etc.