Clarinet Lessons in Watts, CA

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums

A student will never practice if they're not having fun, and they won't have fun if they're being pushed harder than they want to be pushed. Therefore, when I start with a student, I always ask how much they want to improve and how quickly, how important music is to them, and how much time they're willing to invest daily. We continue on the student's pace, and find the most efficient and fun way to get the student's goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola Saxophone Flute Clarinet Oboe English Horn Acoustic Guitar

I use a wide variety of methods depending on the student's current ability level, musical preferences, and goals. I'm also willing to work with a method or book that a student is currently using. Generally, my students have a varying ratio of technique/scale study to work on the foundations, an etude/short piece study to help connect musical ideas and teach expression, and a solo piece that is prepared over a long period of time, most likely for a future recital. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Harp Accordion Harmonica Lap Steel Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Recorder Lute Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Euphonium French Horn Tuba Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Shakuhachi Oboe Bassoon English Horn Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Derek is most known for his association with the John Daversa Big Band. Derek has had the pleasure of meeting and performing with many of his musical heroes. He has recorded live and studio albums with Arturo Sandoval, Jon Faddis, John Fedchock, James Morrison, Greg Gisbert, Roger Ingram, Paul Stephens, Scott Englebright, Donny Dyess, the Tastee Bros, Bernard Wright, Gene Coye, Steve Reid, Kate Reid, Melvin Butler, Ed Calle, Richard Todd, Mike Brignola, Alex Norris, Dante Luciani, John Hart, Martin Bejerano, Chuck Bergeron, Rick Margitza, and appears on the Gary Lindsay album "Are We Still Dreaming" with the South Florida Jazz Orchestra. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

I started teaching clarinet privately in 2012 during my undergraduate career and have been teaching students consistently ever since. I often encourage my students to bring in music that they would like to learn because working on music that you are inspired by and excited about encourages practicing (the same goes for me too!). I encourage students to enter as many performance opportunities as they can, especially since I am an avid performer myself, and am looking to expand my studio so that I can create student recitals where my students will be able to share their music and perform for each other. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

This is important for students of all ages and skill levels and is something students can forever practice and improve upon. I also focus part of the lesson on learning various scales, arpeggios, and other theory based materials. Lastly, I like for students to work on real songs that can be used for performance during every lesson. Thus, the 3 areas I focus on are breathing and overall sound, theory and technique, and perfomance repetoire. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

During my study in Shanghai, I started teaching middle school wind ensembles as well as saxophone and clarinet lessons. Starting 2012, I also have been teaching jazz combos and saxophone ensembles for Shanghai International Saxophone and Jazz Summer Camp. I designed my course on the topic of jazz history while I was in Boston. I demonstrated a few lectures in front of the jazz history professor Mehmet Sanliko and Dr. Robert Labaree, and they speaks highly about my class. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I began teaching during my undergrad work and now have over 9 years of experience providing private lessons in saxophone, clarinet, flute, music theory, and conducting. I have worked with students from elementary school through college as well as adults, and in addition to my private studio, I am also the resident woodwinds instructor at 3 community music schools in the LA area. My main aim as a teacher is to enrich the lives of my students, whatever their specific goals. Read More