Warren McDonald Music Lessons
Some music teachers use one of two approaches:
Songs only: fun at first, but little learning of foundational concepts. Not understanding of why a song actually works. This can limit progress in the long run.
I don’t favor one approach over the other. I combine elements of both, so students get a well-rounded musical education built on:
Scales
Melody
Chords
Technique
Here’s the other thing I care about just as much. Music education shouldn’t be out of reach because of the cost of tuition.
No registration fees
Where this started
I grew up in a home where music was always playing. My mom was an artist and learned piano growing up. My dad picked up guitar as an adult, took lessons, and learned popular songs of the day.
I joined my first band in junior high and kept playing straight through high school and college. In college, I got serious about formal training, and it took me further than I expected:
Studied at Tyler Junior College and UNT where I learned how to practice, perform, and show up for a community, not just play notes
Trained in Spain and Italy, including master classes led by internationally recognized guitar virtuosos
Earned Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas
Two teacher trainings in Park City, Utah in the Suzuki method, adding an alternative teaching approach to my formal foundation
I started teaching music as a UNT student in the 1990s, subbing lessons in Denton. From there, I taught at:
Allen Music
Brook Mays Music Company in Plano
Music Conservatory of Texas in Frisco
Then I opened my own studio, right here in Allen.
[PHOTO 2: Warren teaching / performance shot]
Who I am off the Clock
I’ve called Allen home since the mid-1990s. My girlfriend and I have rescued dogs and cats over the years. We’re animal people through and through.
Family matters a lot to me. I spent the last six years caring for my elderly parents, including my mom until she passed last year. It’s part of why I’m so rooted in this community, and why I understand what it means to show up for people consistently, day after day.
Outside of music, I hold a degree in accounting and still help friends and family with bookkeeping and taxes. I’m into video and audio production, photography, and tech in general. I’m learning Spanish, and I hope to someday travel through Spain and Latin America.
What does success in Music Lessons look like?
Success doesn’t look the same for every student, and I don’t pretend it does.
For Young Learners
Learning the basics is what success looks like for younger students.
Learning optimal posture & sitting position
Learning the correct hand positioning
Learning technique for playing notes
Learning to feel and count rhythm
Producing a beautiful sound
Playing simple melodies
Playing simplified chords
For Teenagers
Success for teens could include:
Mastering a song by their favorite artist
Learning how to play in a band
Winning a spot in a school pop group
Winning a spot in a school jazz band
Playing in a praise and worship group
Learning how to write original songs
For Adults
Starting lessons after decades of wanting to do so.
Picking back up an instrument again after setting it down years ago.
Learning how to play beginner classical pieces.
Exploring the world of jazz standards
Delving into chords and improvisation
Checking out playing some BLUES.
Student Succes
A former student was passionate about songwriting. We built his guitar skills and enough theory to write his own material, then I pointed him toward voice lessons. He went on to study music composition at the university level and is now a working professional musician in Dallas. Other students I’ve coached have landed spots in competitive high school jazz and pop ensembles. I’ve written letters of recommendation for students heading into university music programs. Watching that happen, watching someone become genuinely independent, is the whole point.
Where is this Headed?
Over the next few years, I want to grow this studio to 30 to 40 students performing regularly in the community, whether that’s a recital or a local venue. Beyond that, I’m building an affordable online extension of the studio: on-demand video lessons, downloadable sheet music and backing tracks, and live-streamed sessions twice a week so students anywhere can learn the same way.
Come Visit the Studio
I’m located just north of Allen High School, with easy access from both sides of town off Exchange Parkway. Step into the teaching room and you’ll notice the calming sage green walls right away. There’s a large window from the waiting area into the lesson room too, so parents can watch as much or as little as they’d like.
“You get a teacher with decades of experience in the room with you. I can spot exactly where a student’s stuck and build a real plan to get them past it. That’s the difference a seasoned teacher makes.”
Ready to Start?
Lessons start at $25 a week billed monthly in advance. There is no registration fee, and you don’t pay for holidays and breaks. I built it that way on purpose. Come see the space, meet me in person, and let’s figure out where your music goes from here.
Book Your Trial Lesson
Book your TRIAL LESSON by CALLING or TEXTING to (214) 631-9819
You can also use the form below to book your trial lesson if you prefer e-mail.
