Guitar Lessons in Santa Clarita, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Viola Fiddle

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
Deciding to become a professional musician has been a gradual decision for me. Music has always been my greatest passion in life, but because I have far reaching interests in other subjects, it took me several years following high school to decide to pursue music teaching and music performance as my main career. Deciding to follow the thing I love most has been the best decision of my life!

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
If I wasn't a musician, I think I would still be doing some kind of art. I have always felt extremely connected to creativity and using that to connect with the world and my community!

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I love so many different styles of music, so it's hard to choose which is my favorite to play. One of my top choices is old-time fiddle music, because it's a very inclusive and community based style of music. Everyone learns the same fiddle tunes which have been passed on for generations, and you can sit down with a group of new friends and play a song together on the spot! Most old-time players know many of the same tunes, and this makes it a great way to generate community. Everyone plays together as a group, so I have never felt like I was "put on the spot" or nervous to play this style of music.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I started on the violin at age 5, and soon after, decided to take piano lessons at age 7. Taking piano was a mutual idea between my parents and I, because I wanted to take an instrument that would supplement my study of the violin. Taking piano gave me a deeper understanding of chord progressions, note reading, and improved my motor skills. Later in life, I chose to pick up the guitar. I chose to start this instrument because I wanted to write songs and needed a way to back up my voice. I have found that with each additional instrument, learning becomes easier and easier. Though every instrument is different, I can transfer skills from one to the other, like finger dexterity, note reading, scales, etc.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Music definitely runs in my family! My dad plays various instruments, and I grew up inspired by his fiddle playing in a gypsy jazz band called The Gadjo Playboys. When I was 4 I said- "I want to play the violin so I can fiddle like my dad!" I also have 3 older siblings who all preceded me playing the piano, violin, and cello. As a family, we grew up attending old time music festivals where we would jam on fiddle tunes together, and today, my oldest sister Maya is a professional musician who most recently was in the band The Stray Birds. My parents love to sing songs together, and when we're all home for the holidays, we book family gigs at local venues. Music is the glue in our home!

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