Music Lessons in San Jose, CA

Instruments: Cello

For younger students and beginners, I like to keep lessons fun and short, allowing them to learns the elements of playing while enjoying the thrill of making beautiful sounds. I like to start with New Direction for Strings for fundamentals and short songs , while peppering in pieces from the suzuki books and fun exercises I've picked up along the way to facilitate learning away from the instrument. For more experienced students, I like to make a musical diet of etudes, scales, exercises, and repertoire to facilitate a well rounded technique, dexterity, and musical freedom. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I emphasize technique for beginning students. I call attention to hand and finger control, and offer a number of exercises develop the muscles needed to play fluidly. I teach a few levels of the rudiments, and show students the opening pages of the famous George Stone book, Stick Control for the Modern Drummer. From there, I work with students on drum rolls, groves and fills. My approach to drumming is to be as innovative as possible. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I started to privately teach in the year 2003 in Italy, in my house. I always encourage my students to ask any question whenever they felt the need, and to constantly practice at home in order to get better and maintain their desire to learn something new. Despite teaching Rock music, and more precisely Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, I like my students to be open minded and learn as much as possible about different kinds of music because I think that a great musician is able to play anything. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium

I am a professional trombonist and music educator in the Bay Area. I have a masters degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance from Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio. Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, I started my trombone career surrounded and mentored by the leading brass players in the Chicagoland area. I am also a frequent freelancer in the area, having played with the Stockton California Symphony Orchestras. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

My only teaching philosophy is simple-- all learning comes from the student, not the teacher. If the student isn't engaged and having fun, no amount of teaching will have an effect! I like to tailor specific exercises to my students that most fundamental books do not have, giving them a level of individual attention that encourages fast, specific improvement. Students of mine typically leave lessons with a personalized set of exercises to help them achieve their goals. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Ukulele Acoustic Guitar

Since my graduate degree days 25 years ago , I have been steadily teaching both as a private instructor, and in classroom situations... I'll confess that, while group lessons do foster an energy that can be exciting, the reality of dividing my teaching attention between multiple students is not quite as exciting at putting ALL my effort and attention int one private student! As a choir director, I not only have the opportunity to teach "voice," but "musicality," and I find that to be an highly satisfying experience! Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Mandolin Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass

Normally with very young students I start with the parallel study of written music, basic technique and music learned by imitation. It is a question of repeating short fragments of melody and then composing the whole piece piece by piece. This practice is widely used in many musical traditions and leads the student to develop the ear and the memory, that is the main elements of the musical practice. This practice can be applied to all levels from the most basic to the most advanced. Read More