Guitar Lessons in Corona, CA

Instruments: Drums

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Yes. Dad is a guitar player, sister sings & plays the flute. We've all been involved in musical theater, often together.

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
Of course there was a calling all along, but it was the realization that I could make money from playing. It's something that I love doing and sharing, but at the end of the day- there's nothing unartistic about making money! Who wouldn't want to make a living doing what they love?!

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I had three fantastic teachers growing up, each of them led me down a creative and passionate path and were fantastic role models to look up to. It's important to have a mentor!

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
Music was a big part of my life since I was a wee lad- earliest memories involve my dad (a guitar player himself) playing me Abbey Road by the Beatles and Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & the Dominoes. After seeing footage of Ringo, that was it!

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
In no particular order: -being a paid musician since 14 -graduating from music school in 2007 -the ability to establish oneself and find work in music after a move (SE Michigan, Los Angeles, Austin, greater NY area, etc) And for something much more specific: I recall filling in for a top 40 band in Santa Monica, CA. At our set break, one of the band members came up to me to exclaim at how much the crowd was dancing, and that they never would dance with their regular drummer. Getting people up and dancing? That's what it's all about!

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
Discipline and restraint!

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Hitting pots and pans? Singing along to music? Is in need of a creative outlet? Really, it's all of the above! If there's any interest in the arts at all, we should be fostering that!

When will I start to see results?
Depends on the student and their interests/work ethic. Important to remember that everybody learns and processes information differently, and music is in no way a competition so comparisons to other musicians/students are unwarranted.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Practice does not equal perfection! If you're lucky, practice will make you better than you were before, and the most efficient method is simply pick a few specific things to work on and make a 'practice session road map'. Practicing a few things for a shorter amount of time will allow for more focus and intent instead pushing oneself in no direction for hours on end. It's also important to document what was practiced, what progress was made, and what to focus on for the next session.

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