Doran Modern
School of Music and Japanese
est. 2015
philosophy
"Follow your bliss"
-Joseph Campbell
My singular goal as a teacher is to guide students to become lifelong musicians and linguists - to stoke a passion that burns for life. Every student arrives with different goals, tastes, and strengths, and I meet you where you're at as you evolve weekly.All lessons are personally customized for you, so you can feel excellence in your bones while having fun with the music and language you love. No cookie-cutter lessons, no fluff.while i honor time-tested traditional techniques, my approach to teaching is decidedly modern. It's the 21st century! Learning music by ear, understanding chords, using production software, or navigating Japanese slang is a part of the world we live in. Your time is precious, so I’ll teach you how to practice effectively and how to make learning genuinely enjoyable by following your bliss.
Cameron Doran
Hi there! I’m a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter/producer, and educator based in Portland, OR. I've been running Doran Modern for the past 10 years and teaching for about 20. I studied vocal performance and music education at St. Olaf College and graduated with a degree in Japanese Language and Literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder. As a lifelong learner post-college, I’ve been fortunate to study with many inspiring teachers, and their influence continues to shape how I listen, teach, and create.Along the way, I’ve founded multiple bands and a cappella groups, toured with an indie rock band, sung with the St. Olaf Choir, played guitar/keys for Portland Center Stage’s production of RENT, scored a wedding ceremony, sung jazz standards in Tokyo, and shared the stage with artists such as Haley Heynderickx, Each Both, and The Low Bar Chorale. I'm currently assembling a darkwave band and preparing to release an acoustic singer-songwriter EP. Outside of teaching, I enjoy rock climbing, backpacking, snowboarding, and travel photography.
Lessons
Voice
Build a healthy, expressive voice through songs you love! We'll focus on style, breath, tone, range, phrasing, intonation, and using your natural voice to communicate authentically across genres. Your voice is unique, and I'll strive to bring out its best qualities.
Piano
Piano is both a beautiful instrument and an excellent creative tool. We'll balance technique, chord theory, reading, rhythm, ear training, and improvisation so you can play songs you love and write your own music. If you're adventurous we'll dive into the world of synths and organs too!
Guitar
From chords for self-accompaniment to lead playing, rhythm to tone, guitar lessons are tailored to how you want to use the instrument, electric or acoustic. Choose your own adventure! Emphasis on musicality, feel, and making the guitar work for songwriting and collaboration.
Electric Bass
Bass lessons focus on groove, pocket, and locking in with others. Learn how to support songs tastefully, visualize the fretboard, and play with intention across genres. We'll explore learning your favorite songs by ear, tab, and standard notation.
Drums
With a focus on rock foundations, you'll develop solid time, coordination, and feel while learning to play musically with others. Lessons emphasize groove, dynamics, and listening - not just chops. You'll learn songs you love by ear/notation and how to write your own tasteful drum parts.
Ukulele
A fun, accessible way into music that still builds real musicianship. Learn chords, rhythm, fingerpicking, and how to use the ukulele for singing and songwriting. Great as a stepping stone to guitar or as a beautiful, portable instrument in its own right.
Songwriting / Production
Explore songwriting as both craft and mysterious expression. Balancing deep analysis and non-judgmental play, we'll look under the hood of your favorite songs and create our own prolifically. I'll help you refine your lyrics, harmony, melody, rhythm, arranging, recording, and producing - meeting you wherever you are in the creative process. I use Logic Pro X but can teach you arrangement principles in any DAW.
Bands / Collaboration
Experience the joy and excitement of making music with other people! These sessions focus on listening, arranging, communication, and building something bigger than any one player - perfect for friends, families, and student bands. Inquire for rates.
Japanese
Real-world Japanese balancing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills all through a culturally aware lens. We'll use the most fun and effective study tools, refine your pronunciation / intonation, learn when to use honorifics and when to use slang, and integrate movies and shows that you love. よろしくお願いします！
the studio
Lessons at my home studio located in Overlook near Alberta/Interstate, just off the I-5For those who live in N/NE, I also offer traveling lessons to your home for a feeOnline lessons are also available for those who need them
Rates
45 minutes
basic lesson
1 instrument
ideal for 4-6 year-olds
$60
60 minutes
full lesson
1+ instruments
or Japanese
$70
90 minutes
comprehensive lesson
1+ instruments
and/or Japanese
$90
Regular lessons are offered on a weekly basisA travel fee of $10 will be added for lessons at your home in N/NETuition is due on the first lesson day of the month for the month’s lessons, payable by cash, check, Venmo, or PaypalA late charge of $10 will be applied after a 3-day grace period24-hour notice of cancellation is required to reschedule a lesson or credit it to the following monthAccommodations can be made for sudden illness and family emergencies
Testimonials
McKenna
"Cameron is our family’s music guru! I’m a mom of two teenagers, and we have all three been studying separately and sometimes together with Cameron for a few years. We have three very different personalities and musical abilities and Cameron adapts his teaching style and curriculum perfectly to fit us each personally. The effectiveness of our lessons with him has us learning and growing at rates that have made our music journey absolutely delightful. Cameron has opened up a world of magic to us. As a parent, there aren’t many greater gifts I could give my children than the opportunity to explore the joy of music with someone so knowledgeable, patient, passionate and fun-loving. Cameron has helped my family create a truly beautiful experience together. We recommend him with the most authentic enthusiasm."
Craig
"Cameron is a fantastic music teacher. My daughter has worked closely with him for 8 years. Cameron has high expectations, yet learning music theory, executive skills and songwriting is always fun and rigorous. There hasn't be a day yet when my daughter hasn't looked forward to her time learning with him. There aren't enough characters here to celebrate what Cameron brings."
Riley
"I've learned so much from Cameron. One of my favorite parts about his lesson is you get to choose which songs you get to learn. When I started I was not that good at piano but I have gotten so much better! It’s really cool because you can learn so many different songs on many different instruments. On my birthday we had a karaoke lesson where my family played the instruments and I got to sing my favorite songs!"
Michael
"Cameron is a master. I have been taking lessons with him for eight years and it is one of the best things I do. His ear is outstanding and he can learn a song by ear virtually instantly. He understands music at a very deep level and can offer insights on a broad range of musical styles and genres. My own playing and singing has improved greatly over our time together. I very much enjoy our lessons and would recommend him to anyone with a passion for music and a desire to improve!"
Maeve
"Cameron is an amazing teacher. He makes learning instruments easy and fun. I can now play all my favorite songs on the piano! He can literally play any song without even having to use sheet music. I would recommend him over any other teacher."
Parker
"I took lessons from Cameron for many years and was set up for learning any music I was interested in. I now play jazz piano around town and will remain a life long musician with the technique and love of music Cameron taught me."
Gene
"We met Cameron 10 years ago after going through three different teachers and continue to be impressed by his ability to tailor his approach to different stages of development (pre-school, middle school, adulthood) and to different goals and instruments. Cameron can also sense when a learner is engaged and when they need a break or a change in direction. His recitals, which feel more like a warm community gathering than a high pressure performance, are a good reflection of his ethos. Most of all, Cameron’s love of music is contagious and his dedication to his craft as a teacher is undeniable. We would recommend Cameron to anyone, at any stage of their musical journey."
Joanne
"Cameron has a remarkable gift for engaging children with his gentle, playful, and consistent teaching style. We’ve been impressed by his ability to support our daughter in learning musical skills and achieving her goals, even during times when she felt discouraged or lost interest. When something isn’t working, he creatively adapts his approach to keep her engaged. We deeply appreciate this flexibility, as it has made her lessons both enjoyable and challenging. Under Cameron’s instruction, she has truly thrived, and we are excited to see how her love of music continues to grow. Cameron celebrates her passion for music while maintaining a rigorous and challenging curriculum. Since teaching her how to produce her own music, we often find her spending hours writing, playing, and digitally producing songs in her room—culminating in the release of her first album! This incredible milestone is a direct result of Cameron’s guidance and expertise."
Andrew
"We highly recommend Cameron. Our 10 year-old has taken lessons from him for over a year and is loving it. He balances solid fundamentals with infusing newer hit songs to keep our daughter interested week after week. When she expressed interest in singing, Cameron adjusted the lessons to include both."
Marcus
"Cameron has worked with our son off and on for years. Not only has he adapted to the changes in a growing young man, he has nurtured those changes and helped him develop his skills and own style. Highly recommend!"
Keith
"Cameron is truly a master of all things sonic. While taking lessons from Cameron he helped me to not only discover my voice, but also taught me how to HEAR. Different voices, rhythms, sounds, timbre, mood - he has an understanding of it all. He has helped me with everything from winning Japanese speech contests to playing the ocarina. I found his greatest strength lay in the way he quickly identified my own strengths and weaknesses and helped me to push past previously self imposed limits. If you put in the work you will not be disappointed with the heights he will help you to reach!"
contact
If you're interested in lessons, I'd love to hear from you! Please tell me about your goals, experience, preferred location, and general availability, and I'll be in touch as soon as I can!
[email protected]
503.819.2914