Welcome to the new Kevin Wakefield Music website
A fresh look, a page for every instrument Kevin teaches, online lesson details, recital videos and a simple way to request a lesson spot.
Private music lessons · Spokane, WA
Find your voice. Then turn it up.
Private piano, voice, guitar and horn lessons from a musician with forty years on stage and in the studio, for students from first grade through high school, in Kevin’s Colbert studio or live online.
40+years on stage & in the studio
8instruments & disciplines
Ages 6+first grade through high school
Moogformer endorsement artist
Why music
Being a musician felt like a superpower.
Kevin Wakefield Music is a private music lesson studio run by Kevin Wakefield, a Spokane-area music educator, performer and recording engineer. Kevin teaches piano, keyboard, voice, guitar, bass, trumpet, saxophone and music production to students from first grade through high school (ages 6 and up), in person at his studio in Colbert, WA (north Spokane) and online.
Kevin started as a shy, skinny, insecure kid with a trumpet and a Herb Alpert record. Music gave him confidence, a career and a sense of purpose, and teaching lets him pass that on. Sure, his students become musicians. More importantly, they find their voice, and that changes things for them, their families and their community.
“If there ever was a time we could use a little more joy, it’s now.” — Kevin
Meet Kevin
Kevin’s first trumpet, age 10!
Lessons
One teacher. Eight ways to play.
for ages 6 & up ✦
Private lessons for young musicians from first grade through high school. Every lesson plan is built around how the student learns and the music they love, from Journey and Toto to Bruno Mars and today’s worship songs.
Not sure where to start? Take the 30-second instrument quiz →Piano
Classic method books, game-style apps and real technique for young pianists.
Explore piano lessonsKeyboard & Synth
Rigs, presets, splits and layers: play convincingly in a modern band or worship team.
Explore keyboard lessonsVoice & Vocal Coaching
Build breath, range and confidence. Sing the songs you love, your way.
Explore voice lessonsGuitar
Chords, strumming, riffs and reading: acoustic or electric, first song to first gig.
Explore guitar lessonsBass
Groove, timing and theory: become the player every band wants to hire.
Explore bass lessonsTrumpet
Tone, range and reading, with a focus on elementary and middle school band players.
Explore trumpet lessonsSaxophone
Tone, articulation and style: from school band to jazz, pop and funk.
Explore saxophone lessonsMusic Production
Recording, mixing, sound design and composition from a 30-year studio pro.
Explore music lessonsTry it
Every musician starts with one note.
Tap the keys, drag across them, or play with your computer keyboard. Switch to the B3 organ, then imagine layering seven instruments across 88 keys. Kevin calls that setup his “7-layer dip,” and he’ll teach you to build your own.
Keyboard & synth lessonsgo on, press a key!
Live keyboard
Go ahead. Play something.
Tip: use your computer keys A–L for white keys and W E T Y U for black keys.
Four decades on stage & in the studio
Learn from someone who has done the work.
40+years performing on keys, trumpet and vocals
30+years engineering in professional recording studios
Moogformer endorsement artist and sound programmer
2 For 1author of the 2 For 1 Scales piano method
Studio veteran
More than 30 years in professional recording studios, from 24-track tape to modern DAWs. Music director and engineer for National Music Service, then founder of SpiritFlow Music.
Sound design pioneer
Moog endorsement artist. Programmed sample libraries with Gary Garritan, Kirk Hunter and Ilio, and worked on Miroslav Vitous’s groundbreaking virtual orchestra.
Working performer
Keys, trumpet, sax, accordion, guitar and vocals in touring groups, variety bands, corporate acts, theme park shows and worship teams. He still gigs with his band, Alive and Kicking.
Classroom educator
Kevin also teaches elementary music in public schools, and he wrote 2 For 1 Scales, a piano method for learning and memorizing scales in all 12 keys.
How Kevin teaches
Teach the student, not just the curriculum.
Every student learns differently. Kevin’s approach has three parts, adjusted for each learner.
- I
Traditions of the past
Faber, Alfred, Hanon, scales and Bach. Methods that have worked for generations. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
- II
Technology of the future
iPads and game-style music apps make practice fun, and weekly progress reports let Kevin assign at-home challenges between lessons.
- III
Techniques from the masters
Good technique from day one, so students keep improving instead of fighting bad habits later.
More than music
Reading music is learning another language. Counting rhythm is math in its purest form. Studying styles and eras is a lesson in history. The discipline students build while learning an instrument stays with them for life.
That’s Kevin’s elevator pitch for music education: we’re not just making music, we’re making a difference, one family at a time.
Recitals
Where practice turns into applause.
every student gets a turn in the spotlight ★
Halloween Recital ’23
Why take music lessons? I believe in the power of music.By Kevin Wakefield
2 For 1 Scales for piano.
An integrated approach to learning and memorizing scales, and the fastest way Kevin knows to train your ear and fingers to play major and natural minor scales in all 12 keys.
Kevin couldn’t find a scales method that worked the way he teaches, so he wrote one. His students use it every week.
About the book
Questions
Good questions, straight answers.
Don’t see yours? Call or text Kevin at 509-850-2068.
All FAQsWho is the best music teacher in north Spokane for private lessons?
Kevin Wakefield of Kevin Wakefield Music teaches private piano, keyboard, voice, guitar, bass, trumpet, saxophone and music production lessons from his studio in Colbert, WA, just north of Spokane, and online. He has four decades of performing and studio experience and also teaches elementary music in public schools.
Where are Kevin Wakefield’s music lessons held?
In-person lessons are held at Kevin’s studio at 61 W. Ballard Rd., Colbert, WA 99005, in north Spokane County. Online lessons are live and interactive over video.
Does Kevin Wakefield teach online music lessons?
Yes. Kevin offers real-time, interactive online lessons. With a stable internet connection and the right setup, online lessons are the next best thing to being in the room.
What ages does Kevin Wakefield teach?
Kevin teaches students from first grade through high school (ages 6 and up), from first lessons to advanced high school players. His studio focuses on kids and teens and is not taking adult students.
How much do music lessons with Kevin Wakefield cost?
Rates depend on lesson length and format. Send a lesson request or call 509-850-2068 and Kevin will share current rates and availability.
How does Kevin decide which new students to take?
Kevin keeps his studio a close-knit community of young musicians. Before scheduling, he talks with each family to make sure the student and family are a good fit with the rest of the group, so every student has a great experience.
Lessons in Spokane & online
Your spot is waiting.
spots fill fast ✦
Kevin’s studio is a close-knit group of young musicians, and spots fill fast. Send a request and he’ll reach out to talk about fit and timing.