Piano Lessons in Alameda, CA

Instruments: Voice Bass Guitar Double Bass

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I didn't it chose me. Isn't that so cheesy to say. I started as a bass player, I always sang as well but I chose bass. I took lessons and had success in orchestras and bands as a bass player. But my desire for music was never enough so that lead to guitar and piano which lead me to harmonica and accordion and bagpipes and banjo. I kept picking up instruments and the one constant was that I was singing. Singing just made sense to me and I could be fully responsible for my instrument. So I became a singer and a teacher.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
The simple most difficult thing to master when it comes to voice, especially in commercial styles is that what you hear is not what you get. What I mean by that is that the sound of resonance in your head is not the same as the sound coming out of your mouth. The task at hand then becomes mastering the feeling, singing by feel and muscle memory, knowing the right placements and vowels. That, I believe, is the hardest part of mastering voice. If not the hardest it sure doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have a Bachelors of Music Degree from Belmont University. I majored in Vocal Preformance with an emphasis in history and pedagogy. So what that means is I have a degree in pop styles of singing. Commercial music would be pop, rock, country, folk, jazz, r&b, rap/hip-hop, modern musical theater and anything you hear on the radio. The history part means I am a music nerd and find it interesting to know useless fun facts about singers. The Pedagogy part means that I studied to learn how the voice works on a physical level and the theoretical side of how to control it.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I have performed in many styles. I am an accomplished musical theater actor, I was a jazz singer for 4 years at a restaurant, I have been in country bands, pop bands and everything in between. But my absolute favorite style to perform is Rock n' Roll. I love the theatrics and the high energy of it all. I was drawn into it, be the flashy lights but then was caught by the acceptance. The community surrounding the genre is so inclusive and welcoming and you feel that on stage while performing. Plus you get to wear leather pants and that is pretty cool.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
In short yes. I always joke I grew up under my grandpa's piano. My great grandfather was a piano tuner around the Detroit area. He was the only person the famed Victor Borge would trust to tune his piano. My entire family sings, usually in 5 part harmony. I was very lucky to grow up with music, it helped me to develop a very good ear. I learned to play guitar by watching my uncle, and piano by watching my grandfather. My mom would play a game with us when we were little where we would pick a song like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and she, my sister, and I would sing the song a half step apart from each other to train our ears.

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I think I always wanted to be a musician. In what context has changed a bit. I wanted to be on broadway for a very long time, I also wanted to be a rockstar, and I wanted to be a teacher. The choice between musical theater and pop/rock came at college. I had been taking classical voice for years and loved it but I knew I wasn't going to be an opera singer. I applied to two highly recognized schools, one for theater and one for commercial music, and said which ever I get into I will go to. Well I got into both, and was offered scholarships to both, and not a single defining sign seemed to show itself. I took a chance and moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University after a lot of thought. And rock n roll recognition happened and I have had many incredible experiences from being in Nashville, but it seemed my favorite part was teaching private voice. So the time came and my wife and I moved to Troy, MI and the clear choice for me is to do the one consistent thing in my career, and that is teach.

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