Piano Lessons in Sonoma, CA

Instruments: Piano

I like to use supplementary materials if a method book isn't covering musical territory that the student wants to explore. Although I insist a student learn to read music, I encourage learning by ear and have helped students find a melody on the piano by ear rather than reading notes. Patience is my watchword but I will always encourage and document practice times. I tell the student, you can't achieve your music goals without practice, preferably every day. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Organ Synthesizer

I have no hard strict rules when it comes to teaching, because every student is different and they all learn at different speeds in different ways. I've taught out of the following books: Bastien Piano Basics Alfred Piano Method Faber Method John Thompson's Teaching Little Fingers to Play For more advanced students, I'm open to spending on time on whatever concepts they most want to cover. I also have a broad repetoire of jazz and classical as well as modern pop, rock, and even country and TV Themes to select from if the student has a specific style or song in mind.  Read More

Instruments: Piano Clarinet

35 years teaching piano, music arranging, composition, theory, technique, personal expression. Beginning - Intermediate - Advanced. Intructor for Music School of Alameda. Music School at Sherman Clay, Private Music Studio, Music Director, 1st Trinity Lutheran Church Pianist for string orchestra, chamber groups, duos, trios, quartets, quintets. Accompanist for Vocalists, Instrumentalists. Pianist for Jazz Quartet Solo Pianist Classical, Jazz, Contemporary for Private Celebrations, Weddings, Birthdays, Graduations. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Organ Ukulele Electric Violin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar

Each student learns at their own pace and it's important to understand that not everybody learns the same. Setting both short and long term goals with the student helps me understand what they want out of lessons. This makes it easier for me to engage with them and bring it back to something relevant to them at the end of the day. For example, no child understands advanced rhythm unless you disguise it in familiar terms e.g. using the phrase "run po-ny run" to describe two eighth notes sandwiched in between to quarter notes. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Since my teaching philosophy is that every piano lesson should be fun, I tailor each lesson according to the student's age and interests. For young beginners, I choose method books that contain fun songs. I also teach music theory through story telling. For older students, I tailor each lesson according to their interests.However, I encourage them to learn Classical music, so that students develop good musicality. My goal is that all my students enjoy music for the rest of their lives. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Organ

For beginner students who are pursing music on the tonal instruments, I typically start with learning the names of the notes on the instrument and the major scale in every key as it relates to the piano. For the bass guitar I start of with basic finger strength techniques and exercises while incorporating the major scale fingering form and Nashville numbering system for all tonal instruments. For voice, I start off by finding the range of the individual and then teaching warmup techniques while building the individuals technique through finding a song and learning how to sing along.  Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I am very encouraging and patient as a teacher, i understand how learning is when your trying to get over the hurdles. My compassion allows me to put myself in the students shoes, which makes me a better teacher. I like to encourage the student to listen to artists and incorporate musical philosophy to inspire the student to play and achieve and experiment. I think being curious is a musician's best friend, it creates the drive to want to learn more. Read More