Piano Lessons in Pittsburg, CA

Instruments: Piano Voice

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
Becoming was a professional musician was not a gradual decision. As I have mentioned before, my middle production opened my eyes to performing and I could not see my future without music. Music has been a part of my childhood and have supported me and have given my many life lessons and have helped my understand the world better than any textbook or history class can. Now I want to help give back what I have learned and bring a similar experience to many other people of all ages and races.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
My father plays guitar and my little brother plays the violin. While my family members are not involved at an experienced level we all understand the passion music has on people and its importance in society. In addition, my cousin doesn't sing professionally, but he does have experience as a professional actor based in New York City. He has taken some private lessons to prepare for stage roles and we both share the same passion for performing, teaching and story telling regardless of our field difference!

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
Besides singing I play the piano. I started playing the piano more seriously when I entered university. As per my piano courses I had to practice but often times I would find myself putting in more hours than necessary because I loved it so much! It also reduced my stress and calmed my nerves. I also discovered I never grew tired of practicing piano unlike some of my other friends in my field. After I completed my vocal training I took up private piano lessons and improved my skills and it was one of my best decisions I ever made!

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
My favorite genre to play is without a doubt Classical music. Because of the several era within Classical music genre I feel it is like a bonus genre because are many different styles to perform in. I enjoy singing melimas and ornamentation and I would miss that as it is a style specific to classical singing. I also cannot find the same emotional drive with any other type of singing than the vibrant vibrato we use with classical singing. I also feel it is my goal as a teacher to demonstrate to my students that Classic music can be just as fun and exciting as popular music genres.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
Other than being a musician I also graduated with a minor in French Language. For as long as I can remember I've always been interested in languages. When I was younger I used to find various versions of Disney songs online. For me the French language has a very special rhythm and timbre which grew me closer to it than any other language. When I registered for university I took my first French course and I became even more inspired and decided to study more and minor in French Language.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have a degree in Music education with a specialization in Voice. I chose voice rather than piano because I came from a vocal background from my experience in a choir in middle school and high school. I choose education over performance because I am very passionate about teaching. I enjoy seeing the confidence that students see in themselves as they progress. To see students struggle and get up on their feet when they face challenges is truly inspiring and makes me what to be a better teacher.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
A normal practice session begins with a 5-10 minute warm-up. Sometimes physical movement will be added if a student feels stresses or overwhelmed. I feel it elevates tension dramatically. Depending on the goal of the lesson, I might give examples on a whiteboard to explain aspects they need to know prior to singing. Then we will proceed to sing a piece of music. I will have the student sing through the piece once then after we will work on specific spots that need more attention and we will focus on 3 vocal or performance aspects.

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