Music Lessons in Hawthorne, CA

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

I love working with both young people and adults. I feel that I get to know my student and try to work within their capabilities. I stress reading . The first year I try to build a strong foundation, teaching rhythm as well as notes and I work with everyone as an individual, learning their strenghths to better teach them, I am still a performer and so I teach my students How to Play. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching methods can be defined by a few words patient, fun, and above all, flexible. I believe maintaining great flexibility is the greatest way of making sure a student is not only learning at a great pace, but enjoying their journey as well. As this is the case, I create individual custom lesson plans for every single student I teach. For example, with younger students, I will generally try to make sure they are engaged and having as much fun as possible learning the instrument, this could come in the form of focusing on (at first) popular riffs or songs that the student would know and enjoy learning. Read More

Instruments: Voice Cello Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

In 1984 I was a music instructor for the Canadian Forces School of Music in Esquimalt British Columbia. Over the last three decades I have taught one-on-one lessons and ensembles at all levels including Elementary, Middle, and High School levels. More recently I founded MusiCali Kids with my wife, servicing families with the award winning program Music Together. I recently taught for the Crestwood Music Education center in N.Y. where I had over 30 students, as well as served as Conductor of the string orchestras and percussion ensemble. Read More

Instruments: Drums

For beginning students, I start with the Drummers Complete Vocabulary, which establishes good technique. Simultaneously, based on the students interests, I pick two styles that the student would like to begin working on. Once they've learnt a specific rudiment, I show them how to use that in everyday performance and get creative with it by applying that in beats, fills etc. If the student has a specific song or style that they want to learn, I help them break it down into simple parts so that they can understand and perfect it really easily. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola Electric Violin

I have taught in the classroom and privately for over 10 years. When students start on their instrument I encourage the parents to be part of the lesson so they can help and encourage practicing at home. When the students are at a beginning stage I have them practice about 20-30 minutes a day. At the beginning the student is getting adjusted to the instrument and I don't want to push them too much. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Violin

For beginning piano students, I love using Alfred lesson books. I like focusing on scales and using proper technique. For violin, I like using Suzuki, but I dont use Suzuki method. Focus is on scales and simple solo rep. I encourage composition at all ages and love finding a system that works for the individual student. Regular practice is encouraged. I am big on positive reinforcement and will be my students biggest cheerleader, even when I need to get firm about techniques. Read More