Piano Lessons in Sonoma, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Flute Drums Ukulele Recorder Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I learn by doing and I believe that my students should play what inspires them! If it's classical, let's study Bach and Mozart together - if it's Latin, let's study Dave Valentin and Johnny Pacheco. I have always had a broad taste in music and I think it's wonderful when students bring me songs that inspire them. Let's work the chords out together and study the greats! I believe that the engaged student will be the successful student. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute Music

Learning about music involves so much more than technique or scales, but also relies so much on their emotions and mindset. I want to prioritize their own independence within these lessons in regards to choosing their own repertoire or experimenting with their own compositional style so that they can embrace how liberating and fun learning about music and being creative can be, rather than seeing it as a chore! I also want to make sure that their musical journey is built with the right mindset - a lot of the time there is unnecessary toxic, competitive energy within other musicians which defeats the whole purpose of inspirational collaboration that can come from playing music with others. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I write songs, teach guitar and voice and entertain folks. I am available for lessons locally and online. It gives me great joy to I know that even if a student doesn't make music a career that each student will be enriched from it! I have been performing and composing decades with folk groups, blues bands, rock bands and jazz bands and love to sharing my experience and knowledge others. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Clarinet

Sometimes, my students will spend a couple weeks on a song, and sometimes they will spend five months on a song. It is all dependent on what they need to succeed. Practicing is a major concept that I focus on and therefore provide every student with weekly practice sheets as well as written monthly progress reports to their parents. In lessons with me, there is nothing we can't do and that is what I strive to show my students every week. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trombone Euphonium Tuba Keyboard

For all students my primary focus is tone and sound production and going from there I usually have beginning students start on the standard of excellence books, these books usually go hand in hand all the way up to the end of junior high school For more advanced students I have them use the Arban's Method for Trombone/Euphonium, Melodius Etudes by Rochut, and any solo or ensemble piece which fits their current level. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

For voice, I will typically start with technique and breath. The first lesson is heavy in feeling the anatomy of the body to cultivate a coordinated breath for the most optimal and healthy singing. From there, we move into warm-ups, and will adjust vowels to find resonant spaces. Generally, with the voice, after the initial work with anatomy there is an improvisatory style of teaching that I develop, catered to the individual. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute Piccolo

For beginning students, I place a large emphasis on the fundamentals i.e. scales, chord progressions etc. I also start them on solo pieces and like them to choose the pieces they are working on. I believe that if they choose their repertoire then they will have greater love and enthusiasm for the music. I also encourage them to push beyond what they think they can do. I work hard to match my teaching style to the needs of each and every student. Read More