Music Lessons in Danville, CA

Instruments: Guitar Voice

I have taught guitar throughout my career, working with beginners through advanced students, teaching both finger-style and flatpick techniques as well as why the chords fit together (music theory). I like to teach lessons that move step-by-step, with each lesson building on the one before, so that the student can see the improvement as they move ahead. I recently published the guitar instruction manual "Sounding Good on One Guitar". In college my singing won scholarships and awards where I helped singers develop character for their roles in opera productions. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I am an exciting young Mexican-American guitarist and composer, began playing guitar at the age of 13. In 2014, won the international, Lowden Young Guitarist of the Year competition for performers and composers under 25, organized by the Irish guitar company of guitars, Lowden. As the winner, I traveled to Lowdens Northern Ireland workshop to pick out a guitar (choosing a Richard Thompson signature model) and to perform alongside Lowden signature artists, Jon Gomm and Thomas Leeb, at the Lowden 40th Anniversary Concert. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Piccolo Music

I incorporate method books into all of my lessons, as well as any technique books that are appropriate for each specific student. The method books that I begin with are Essential Elements, the I Recommend series, Standard of Excellence, and Tradition of Excellence. The technique books depend on the specific instrument and ability level. I feel that it is very important to get every student playing actual sheet music as soon as possible, regardless of skill level. 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: Voice Music

When I work on songs with them, I help them improve their vocal technique by using any methods that they will understand for their own bodies. Because we can't simply touch and manipulate our vocal cords to make sound, my job is to help my students visualize how their body moves and feels when they make a healthy, beautiful sound. One of my favorite parts of the lesson process is when the songs are completely memorized and we can work on the emotional side of them. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Ukulele Music Keyboard

Each comes with their own set of creative challenges and goals, and helping them move to a place of satisfaction and joy in music has been the most meaningful kind of work. When I began to learn music as a child, I had no idea how much joy it would bring me, and the musical community I would gain, or the anchor this pursuit would be for me through the difficult seasons that would arise in my life. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Clarinet

The technique I use is based on the Alexander Method of teaching and promotes proper breath control and tone placement over volume production and belting. Most singers, young and old, come to me with the idea that to create volume, you must yell or sing from your throat. With that mindset, what oftentimes happens is the voice will give out after five years and will result in the need of surgery to remove things like vocal nodules. Read More