Music Lessons in Nut Tree, CA

Instruments: Piano

My students are provided with a solid musical and technical foundation that allows them to feel comfortable in any of the countless musical contexts they will encounter as they embark on a life-long musical journey! Most piano methods books are "C and G-centric," causing students to learn to only feel comfortable playing on the white keys and then become either terrified or bewildered any time there is more than one sharp or flat in the key signature. Read More

Instruments: Bass Guitar

Music is such a fantastic tool for keeping children productive in a creative way. By simultaneously working on technique and theory, my students learn how to support an ensemble with their own creative input. I also help students understand their limitations not as faults or failings, but as guidelines for the creative process. Composition/Songwriting is a major element of this course. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

I have been paying guitar for over 15 years. My love of improvisation brought me to the California Jazz Conservatory where I have been studying since 2012. In fall 2016 I will graduate with a B.M. in Jazz Studies, focusing on guitar. I play in a local rock/funk band, The Electic Soul Factory, and I am a founder a of The Moldy Fig Improvised Music Collective, for which I compose and arrange the material. Read More

Instruments: Voice

My lessons are highly individualized and directed to the musical level of my students. My students always comment that my patience, passion and honesty help them achieve singing and performing levels that they never imagined possible. I start every new student with an honest appraisal of their starting point as well as their potential. I am very outgoing and try to understand fully each students aspirations and dedication, which is quite important. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice

Teaching people what they want to know and feeding their enthusiasm has been the best thing about teaching for me. Understanding what a student already knows, seeing where there may be gaps to fill and what new material they are ready for makes it a exciting experience for both the student and me. Using material that interests them and moving ahead in a way that encourages and rewards their effort gives them a true sense of accomplishment and heightens their enjoyment of the lessons and their own improved ability. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginner students who are children (or for students who are looking for a more traditional curriculum involving reading standard notation), I typically begin with Hal Leonard's Guitar Method books to develop a foundation and familiarity with reading notes and handling the instrument with correct posture and technique. For students who simply want to play the music they enjoy and prefer using tab over standard notation, I like to jump right in by learning first-position chords, which is usually followed by common finger-picking patterns/strumming patterns, and playing songs of the student's preference. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style is tailored to however the student learns best. I am very adaptive to the student's focus and will constantly check to see if the current topic we're going over makes sense or if they'd like to move on to something else. I also believe that positive reinforcement is very important and that one should always think positively about every accomplishment big or small. My philosophy is that you are only competing against yourself and that if you are better than you were yesterday, then it is a success. Read More