Piano Lessons in Sonoma, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Conga Latin Percussion

He has also studied voice with Jane Sharp and piano with Ellen Wasserman.  Jake has been teaching music since 2001. He was Music Program Director at Mission Hills Middle School, in Union City, for 3 years. He was also the guitar and percussion teacher at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Oakland. Jake has also been a music instructor with COVA, Art and Soul Music Studios, Hayward Music Center and ALMA. Over the years he has performed with musicians such as Josh Jones, Michael Aaberg, Dayna Stephens, Ambrose Akinmusere, Jonathan Finlayson, Geoff Brennan, and Ray Brown. Read More

Instruments: Piano Ukulele Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

For my young piano students, I use the structure of the Faber series to slowly introduce concepts. For my guitar students I have had great success with the Mel Bay series, which combines initial chord playing and some music reading fundamentals. For ukulele, I utilize the Hal Leonard service. With all of my students, I always want to have the students choose songs they like and that they can set as realistic goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I am an active solo and ensemble pianist. I have worked with renowned soloists from Europe, America, Australia and Asia and I enjoy playing music with other musicians. I had my highly acclaimed solo recital series Watermark, a sad bird, and Imaginations at the National Recital Hall in Taipei. I have a master degree of piano performance from Manhattan school of music. Aside from performing, I am an experienced piano teacher. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Keyboard

For piano the first part of the lesson is always technique (like doing push ups and running laps before u get on the court or field). Scales, Hanon, arpeggios etc... Then working on reading music and learning repertoire. Also fun parts, which depend on the student. Fun parts could be learning chord progressions of their favorite songs or writing their own music, or learning an cool jazz or rock jam song, learning how to be comfortable improvising, jamming with others etc.. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trombone

Trombone - I utilize the books Abrams and Rochut-Melodious Etudes. I develop custom curriculum for each students level and learning style. At the first lesson, I evaluate what the student wants to get out of the lessons, what sparks their interests in music, and skill level. From there, I share exercises from the books, exercises I create for developing certain skills, and later on, creation or exercises by the student. Read More

Instruments: Piano Music Keyboard

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Faber's Piano Adventures or Suzuki's Piano School, however I am open to other books. Faber focuses more on written and piano practice whereas Suzuki focuses on auditory learning and piano practice. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter their ability level. Read More

Instruments: Piano

As a musician, I believe that performers must convey not only the logic, but the artistic and emotional warmth inherent in the music. As a teacher, I emphasize that one utilizes technique for the purpose of communication, and I know that this is a truth at all levels, whether in a Class Piano situation or with very advanced talents. I feel it is also vital for students (again, at all levels) to gain experience with literature from a variety of musical periods, so as to develop a diversity of taste and interpretive style. Read More