Music Lessons in Hazard, CA

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Djembe

I first like to establish a strong internal clock in a new student. I think it is important to understand the feeling of each beat. To learn proper coordination I like to use the book "Syncopation" to practice playing rhythms with multiple limbs as well as learning how to read music. I think it is important to balance this technical work with passion. Figuring out popular songs that the student is into is crucial for them to continue to be interested in the instrument! Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

My main focus in my teaching, regardless of the level of the student, hones in on strengthening the fundamentals of playing clarinet (air, mouth position, posture, finger position, etc). When the student has a strong set of fundamentals, there's no limit to what they can do or play. If the student is more in the beginning stages of learning clarinet, I will mostly focus on these for the first two or three lessons before we advance on to playing music. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

The Arban book is available for free on PDF. For beginning students, I discuss long tones, sound, and simple scale studies. Once students grasp the fundamentals, I like to teach how they relates to the music they listen to. Through this, students can learn how theory and scales become music As we get advanced, I like to move in to scale studies, technical warm ups, and theory. When working on a recital performance, or simply learning the instrument, I like to concentrate on listening, developing a clean and full sound, breathing, and musicality. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums

For piano I use a combination of the Bastien books, if you are a beginner. For more intermediate or advanced I use whatever music the student is interested in. It could be the Great American Songbook or classical music. For percussion, for beginners I use the Garwood Whaley book, Fundamentals for the Snare Drum. For drum set I use the Syncopation Book by Ted Reed and a variety of other books depending on the need. Read More

Instruments: Cello

Being a private instructor affords me the opportunity to really tailor each learning experience to my student's needs, personality and musical aspirations. I enjoy the lesson most when my student is enjoying the lesson, so it's important to me that we're working on enjoyable music, making good progress and working hard enough to have fun. While I make sure to keep a record of goals and achievements in lessons, I also like to go with the flow of the student's pace of learning. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Mallet Percussion

I began teaching 19 years ago and as one drum student grew to two, then to the occasional piano and guitar student, I eventually was teaching 35 students weekly.  I've been lucky in that I have taught such a wide variety of ages and skills.  I've taught actors to drum for roles, writers the lingo of the jobbing musician, and family bands pop songs for the school talent show.   I've always been open to scheduling whatever is easiest for the student, and I'm happy to do in-home lessons but since I began teaching the technology has advanced substantially. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Organ Keyboard

Typically, I favor using traditional curriculum for beginning students (Alfred, Faber, Bastian). As a student progresses we typically incorporate Clemeneti sonatinas and the students favorite pop/modern songs. When a student achieves an advanced level of difficulty curriculum is purchased depending on the student's goals, college aspirations, and learning objectives. I typically administer a Classical Method of education, whether in private lessons or the classroom. It is my hope that time in my classroom encourages dialectic conversation and reaps gains in every learning situation. Read More