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Brian B.

Personable Technical Expert for Individuals and Small Business

Personable Technical Expert for Individuals and Small Business

$40/hour

4.9 (138 ratings)

  • 573 hours tutoring

About Brian

Bio

My passion is helping others use technology to enrich their own lives. I equally enjoy general computer assistance or targeted tutoring in PC, tablet, or smartphone software. My diverse background in computer software allows me to assist with hardware/network/service configuration, teach you the nuances of social networking, or educate you in how best to secure your computer.

So how does a Broadcast Communication major and Music minor end up spending nearly two decades at Microsoft...

My passion is helping others use technology to enrich their own lives. I equally enjoy general computer assistance or targeted tutoring in PC, tablet, or smartphone software. My diverse background in computer software allows me to assist with hardware/network/service configuration, teach you the nuances of social networking, or educate you in how best to secure your computer.

So how does a Broadcast Communication major and Music minor end up spending nearly two decades at Microsoft supporting or teaching others to use computer software? I guess it started with before that when they trundled a little thing they called "a microcomputer" into the electronics store where I worked. I discovered an amazing creative tool for personal expression, whether it's writing books or blog posts, editing videos or podcasting, writing or recording music, or communicating with others.

Mostly I listen to what you want to achieve and, together, we design a way for you to get there. Each person has different needs, varying levels of expertise, and his or her own learning style. My goal is to find those points and enable you to succeed in what you want to do.

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Education

Western Washington University
undergrad

Policies

  • Tutor’s lessons: In-person
  • Hourly Rate: $40
  • Travel policy: Within 15 miles of Seattle, WA 98155
  • Lesson cancellation: 8 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 2/21/2014

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Subjects

Art

Composition (Music)

Composition (Music)

Music has been at the center of my consciousness since elementary school and still is a creative part of my life. My original goal was to write music for motion pictures, but that was set aside part-way through college as my major became a minor in music composition. A little over a decade ago, I started writing again with the added advantage of hearing my work digitally. My initial training was jazz-based and my classical schooling helps me understand music forms and instrumentation. A deep background in film music history and analysis has given me a pretty diverse palette and point-of-view that music can come from different places and evolves through different means. The key is to harness that energy and find a way to share it to others in a meaningful way.

Business

Microsoft Excel,

Microsoft Excel

A user of Excel since 1989, I continue to use Excel to arrange, organizes, and calculate items every day. As a result, I can offer insights on how to approach layouts, optimize data entry, build appropriate formulas and produce quality results.
Microsoft PowerPoint,

Microsoft PowerPoint

As a course developer, trainer, and presenter over the past 25 years, I started with PowerPoint 1.0 and continue to use the latest version of the product extensively. I am not only technically proficient with PowerPoint, but experienced enough to guide you towards a quality slide deck with just the right amount of eye candy to engage your audience.
Microsoft Publisher,

Microsoft Publisher

An early user of Microsoft Publisher (version 1.0) up through version 2010, I have seen this simple paste-up tool evolve into a desktop publishing application. I have used and guided others through the production of posters, banners, handouts, brochures, and other professional documents with Publisher and have used it in combination with other Microsoft Office applications..
Microsoft Word,

Microsoft Word

As a whitepaper and course developer, I have been using Word since version 1.0. Besides understanding the capabilities of different versions of Word, I can help in document creation, layout and formatting, as well as building references and indexes. While able to discuss advanced topics, I also enjoy helping beginning users learn to get around and create their first Word documents.
Public Speaking

Public Speaking

There are many elements to effective public speaking besides having something interesting to say. How you present yourself and interact with your audience can either elevate your content or sink it. While I had a background in theater, my first real public speaking experience came in the classroom teaching Continuing Education classes at Bellevue Community College in the 1980s. Since then, I have trained support engineers for software companies, presented both technical and non-technical topics at international conferences and seminars as well as regularly moderate local discussions groups. I have prepared other trainers to be successful in "Train the Trainer" sessions that emphasize presentation as much as information.

Computer

General Computer,

General Computer

I first started working with computers when they were called "microcomputers" on a TRS-80 Model I. I taught computer classes on MS-DOS 2.2, and 3.2, Lotus 1-2-3, and Intro to Computers for the Continuing Education Department at Belleveuw College in Bellevue, WA As Technical Support Manager for a small software company, I trained and managed support for the company's software product and, often the computers on which it ran. As a Support Engineer and Engineer Trainer for Microsoft, I helped people use Microsoft's MSDOS, Windows, and other Microsoft products for many years. In 1999, I was certified as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
Microsoft Excel,

Microsoft Excel

A user of Excel since 1989, I continue to use Excel to arrange, organizes, and calculate items every day. As a result, I can offer insights on how to approach layouts, optimize data entry, build appropriate formulas and produce quality results.
Microsoft Outlook,

Microsoft Outlook

As a trainer, I would orient Microsoft support engineers in the use of Outlook and its predecessors, Microsoft Mail and Schedule Plus. I am adept at Outlook 2000 through Outlook 2010. I have also been a heavy user of Outlook for 13 years.
Microsoft PowerPoint,

Microsoft PowerPoint

As a course developer, trainer, and presenter over the past 25 years, I started with PowerPoint 1.0 and continue to use the latest version of the product extensively. I am not only technically proficient with PowerPoint, but experienced enough to guide you towards a quality slide deck with just the right amount of eye candy to engage your audience.
Microsoft Publisher,

Microsoft Publisher

An early user of Microsoft Publisher (version 1.0) up through version 2010, I have seen this simple paste-up tool evolve into a desktop publishing application. I have used and guided others through the production of posters, banners, handouts, brochures, and other professional documents with Publisher and have used it in combination with other Microsoft Office applications..
Microsoft Windows,

Microsoft Windows

I have supported Microsoft Windows both at Microsoft and other organizations since version 3.1. I understand the underlying architecture of the OS from Windows 95 onward, including Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. I can help with system setup, configuration, and personalization.
Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word

As a whitepaper and course developer, I have been using Word since version 1.0. Besides understanding the capabilities of different versions of Word, I can help in document creation, layout and formatting, as well as building references and indexes. While able to discuss advanced topics, I also enjoy helping beginning users learn to get around and create their first Word documents.

Corporate Training

General Computer,

General Computer

I first started working with computers when they were called "microcomputers" on a TRS-80 Model I. I taught computer classes on MS-DOS 2.2, and 3.2, Lotus 1-2-3, and Intro to Computers for the Continuing Education Department at Belleveuw College in Bellevue, WA As Technical Support Manager for a small software company, I trained and managed support for the company's software product and, often the computers on which it ran. As a Support Engineer and Engineer Trainer for Microsoft, I helped people use Microsoft's MSDOS, Windows, and other Microsoft products for many years. In 1999, I was certified as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
Microsoft Excel,

Microsoft Excel

A user of Excel since 1989, I continue to use Excel to arrange, organizes, and calculate items every day. As a result, I can offer insights on how to approach layouts, optimize data entry, build appropriate formulas and produce quality results.
Microsoft PowerPoint,

Microsoft PowerPoint

As a course developer, trainer, and presenter over the past 25 years, I started with PowerPoint 1.0 and continue to use the latest version of the product extensively. I am not only technically proficient with PowerPoint, but experienced enough to guide you towards a quality slide deck with just the right amount of eye candy to engage your audience.
Microsoft Publisher,

Microsoft Publisher

An early user of Microsoft Publisher (version 1.0) up through version 2010, I have seen this simple paste-up tool evolve into a desktop publishing application. I have used and guided others through the production of posters, banners, handouts, brochures, and other professional documents with Publisher and have used it in combination with other Microsoft Office applications..
Microsoft Word,

Microsoft Word

As a whitepaper and course developer, I have been using Word since version 1.0. Besides understanding the capabilities of different versions of Word, I can help in document creation, layout and formatting, as well as building references and indexes. While able to discuss advanced topics, I also enjoy helping beginning users learn to get around and create their first Word documents.
Public Speaking

Public Speaking

There are many elements to effective public speaking besides having something interesting to say. How you present yourself and interact with your audience can either elevate your content or sink it. While I had a background in theater, my first real public speaking experience came in the classroom teaching Continuing Education classes at Bellevue Community College in the 1980s. Since then, I have trained support engineers for software companies, presented both technical and non-technical topics at international conferences and seminars as well as regularly moderate local discussions groups. I have prepared other trainers to be successful in "Train the Trainer" sessions that emphasize presentation as much as information.

English

Public Speaking

Public Speaking

There are many elements to effective public speaking besides having something interesting to say. How you present yourself and interact with your audience can either elevate your content or sink it. While I had a background in theater, my first real public speaking experience came in the classroom teaching Continuing Education classes at Bellevue Community College in the 1980s. Since then, I have trained support engineers for software companies, presented both technical and non-technical topics at international conferences and seminars as well as regularly moderate local discussions groups. I have prepared other trainers to be successful in "Train the Trainer" sessions that emphasize presentation as much as information.

Music

Composition (Music),

Composition (Music)

Music has been at the center of my consciousness since elementary school and still is a creative part of my life. My original goal was to write music for motion pictures, but that was set aside part-way through college as my major became a minor in music composition. A little over a decade ago, I started writing again with the added advantage of hearing my work digitally. My initial training was jazz-based and my classical schooling helps me understand music forms and instrumentation. A deep background in film music history and analysis has given me a pretty diverse palette and point-of-view that music can come from different places and evolves through different means. The key is to harness that energy and find a way to share it to others in a meaningful way.
Music Theory

Examples of Expertise

Brian has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 1 question submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Brian ’s answers ›

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

4.9 (138 ratings)
5 star
(125)
4 star
(11)
3 star
(1)
2 star
(1)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Show reviews that mention

All reviews highly recommend patient understanding educational competent

Very good tutor

I came to Brian with a specific project utilizing Word for Mac. By the end of our two hour session, my questions were answered, my project was nearly complete and Brian had prepared a summary of what topics we covered and the detail so I can replicate what we did. Brian was very good at explaining the steps we took and also some of the underlying concepts. I would recommend him without hesitation.

Bernadette, 1 lesson with Brian

Unbelievable tutor!

I couldn't be more pleased with the tutoring I received from Brian. I needed help with putting together a memorial video of photos and videos of my mother who recently passed. Photos of her were in so many different places that I did not know how to retrieve them in a systematic way. Brian taught me this, plus sent me notes of what I learned so that I did not need to take massive notes during our session. I will be working with him until the project is completed. He has taken all of the frustration out of the process and I am very grateful.

Diane, 3 lessons with Brian

Very knowledgeable, helpful, earnest and makes topics easy to understand

Brian has helped all of us in our home office get both the basics and more complicated IT issues resolved and in a way that we can learn how to troubleshoot. He is very patient as a tutor and can resolve all types of issues while teaching us at the same time. Invaluable resource for our small company.

Jane, 68 lessons with Brian

Brian is extremely knowledgeable, patient and has a great sense of humor.

Brian helped me navigate the different functions and applications, how to minimize tiles and magnify text and the proper care and feeding of the machine to keep it in optimum condition. I have a long way to go but I know that I will get there with Brian.

Rachel , 7 lessons with Brian

Is able to pace session for a Senior.

He doesn't make me feel stupid when I forget things. Is able to help me with both my computer and my Smart Phone. Knows when to slow down for me. Is good at explaining in simple words the answers to my questions.

Sandra, 15 lessons with Brian

Sympatico

Brian knows his computer stuff, and more importantly knows how to teach. And: he's a nice guy. We meshed well, and his summary report was thorough and accurate. I am able to go back to it, supplement the notes I took on my own, and 'do good practice'. I intend to further this (never-ending?) computer discovery, and I will no doubt need him there to guide me. Highly recommend him!

Mark, 1 lesson with Brian

Patient and Knowledgeable

Brian B. was patient, Helpful, and knowledgeable for our first meeting. I am looking forward to our next visit in the near future.

David, 2 lessons with Brian

Very experienced and competent public speaking tutor

I needed a fast and intensive training to prepare for my first panel. Brian worked with me through all the details of how panels are run, types of questions to expect from the audience and co-panelists, various public speaking tips and tricks. His understanding of computer industry was especially helpful; his targeted questions allowed me to look at my presentation subject from the angles I did not think of. I highly recommend Brian as an experienced tutor with broad knowledge and charming personality.

Eugene, 2 lessons with Brian

Good tutor

Brian was patient and a good communicator. It felt like he was truly trying to understand my needs and meet them. He seems to have a good grasp of technology and I definitely recommend him if you need help understanding computers. The only negative experience I had was finding Brian, it took me 10 minutes to locate him at our meeting place. This was partly my fault. Next time I work with any tutor I'm definitely going to have that figured out ahead of time.

Robert, 1 lesson with Brian

Great teacher!

Brian is a great tutor and very well organized. He is efficient and has a strong understanding of how to present material in a comprehensive and simple manner. I think so highly of him; I cannot recommend him enough.

Mollie, 4 lessons with Brian
Contact Brian

Response time: 3 hours

$40/hour

Brian B.'s Photo

Brian B.

$40/hour

  • No subscriptions or upfront payments

  • Only pay for the time you need

  • Find the right fit, or your first hour is free

Contact Brian

Response time: 3 hours