Music Lessons in Dogtown, CA

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

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: Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

This can be done in any style, including Funk, Jazz, Rock, Metal, Pop, RnB, Soul, Reggae, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, other Caribbean and Latin styles, and others. For my lessons, I use a mixture of books and my own exercises, tailored to the student's exact needs. Books I work with include: Ted Reed "Syncopation"; George Lawrence Stone "Stick Control"; Gary Chester "New Breed"; Fred Klatz "In Time"; Peter Retzlaff "Baby Steps to Giant Steps"; Read More

Instruments: Flute Clarinet

For flute, I use method books by Trevor Wye.  If the student is a beginner, I will start the student with the Beginners Book for the Flute by Trevor Wye (Book 1 and 2.)  Once the student is finished with these books, the student is now ready for the intermediate and advanced books by Trevor Wye.  It is a set of 5 books that focuses on each aspect of the flute, such as tone and technique. Read More

Instruments: Drums

My aim is to make a solid connection with a student, one where a student arrives with some basic knowledge, innate ability and real passion for the instrument. I can then observe, and correct slight flaws in technique and touch. I can also instruct several styles of music from the many genres that I have experienced over the years. I also find myself learning while I teach, and can pick up valuable ideas from my interaction with students. Read More

Instruments: Voice Music

For beginning students, I typically start with the foundational elements, focusing primarily on technique and simple application into song. I slowly introduce repertoire that is appropriate and can highlight their strengths. For more advanced singers, I continue to build upon the foundational elements and guide my instructions based upon the student's interest and goals. I am building custom lesson plans and materials suitable for the student, so the plans will be unique for the individual. Read More

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

A cheap guitar given to me by my parents for Christmas started this life in a direction that has formed me and sustained me for over twenty years. My love for the music is deep and true and it is, to me, still the greatest joy on the planet. Time stands still for me every time that I pick it up and play. I have become the music monk meditating on scales and chord substitutions, finding my balance with light strings and heavy rhythms. Read More