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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Berkeley . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Piano
My wife Chappell and I collaborate on composing, recording, and performance. After a full time music adventure, I followed the muse of story-telling and poetry to San Francisco State University’s Creative Writing program (B.A. ‘93, M.A. ‘95). My goal as a teacher is to help the student achieve what they desire in their piano playing, to grow their love of music, to awaken the joy of creative expression and appreciation for beauty. Read More
Instruments: Piano
However, I consider these method books as merely one of the tools of my teaching (very often, I do not follow exactly the order/content of the book, but design my own lesson plan using the aid of the book) - Because I believe I am responsible for most of the teaching, not the book. I also occasionally provide supplementary repertoire, as well as incorporating a limited amount of rote teaching. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Viola Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
'm here to motivate and inspire. There is no one right approach to learning music and I'm adept at understanding how each individual learns. I can help to formulate and achieve goals or simply offer an expressive outlet that is safe, enlightening and encouraging. I offer mentorship and help with choices, in a professional or recreational capacity, within the music and entertainment fields. I facilitate the most enjoyable approach to practice so my students develop skills, confidence and a love of music. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Organ Ukulele Electric Violin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar
I always start a lesson with a new student by assessing their current skill level. If the student already has a certain curriculum they are working on, I usually have them pick up from where they left off so I can see where we're at. Taking things into consideration like intonation, posture, dynamics, form etc., I either assign a new curriculum or continue on. My lessons usually consist of 3 books: a scale book, an etude book, and a leveled song book like the Suzuki method. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Violin Cello Viola Ukulele Recorder Music Acoustic Guitar
My teaching experience comes from my experiences and lessons from my previous private teachers. During my 10 years of lessons I learned that importance of a regularly maintained practice schedule leads to the most effective practice sessions. I try to encourage students of all ages to seek out music that they find enjoyable and I do what i can to shape my lessons to make learning the music exciting. I try to anticipate a students need. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
I start my beginning students with Alfred guitar method. If someone wants classical lessons I start them with the Fredrick Noad books and some Sor and Segovia studies. For people interested in improvisation we begin with Blues and then take it where you want to go. Advanced students I give more master class type lessons where we discuss more advanced music ideas. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet
The most rewarding thing for me in teaching is learning how to create with my student. Finding the best tools for growth with the student and accessing them is the crucial component to how I teach. Gaining trust, confidence, and joy in lessons produces the highest and most sustainable growth and development of the technique, sound, and musicality of the growing musician. Read More
Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bassoon
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
This is a cop-out answer, but mastering anything is difficult and requires effort. There is no one individual thing on any instrument that stands out as the hardest to accomplish. Many difficulties for bassoon can be traced to reed quality issues, or inconsistencies in fundamental techniques such as half-hole, or thumb key usage. I don't believe in singling out one "hardest" part of an instrument, because so much of it is based on case-by-case situations.
Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
For bassoonists, I use the Weissenborn Method for Bassoon. It's the most comprehensive etude book, and it covers everything a student will need to know from beginning well into college. This is also supplemented with my own methods.
For other instruments, beginners often bring their method books from band, which I heavily supplement with my own materials. As the students progress, saxophones will move into the Ferling studies, and Clarinets to the Rose studies.
If using a method book, I choose ones that present a cross section of music typical to be performed and techniques that can be advanced. The point of an etude book is to build a vocabulary for the student.
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
I have prepared countless students for state Solo and Ensemble competition, youth orchestras, and even college auditions. My private students generally score Superior or Excellent, as well as the ensembles that I coach. I have had students participate in the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, the Contemporary Youth Orchestra, the Akron Symphony Youth Orchestra, and many district honor bands hosted at different universities. The students I have helped with college auditions were accepted across the board, and are enjoying their musical careers at schools like Kent State University, Cleveland State University, and Miami University.
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I've thankfully been put into many musical situations I can feel proud of, but a standout to me is winning the CCM Chamber Music Competition, Woodwinds Division with a close group of my friends. I began playing in the group filling in for a good friend who developed a hand injury, and we ended up clicking and gelling very well. Our preparation for the competition was very rigorous, and the music we played was extremely difficult, but the end result was putting on a spectacular performance. What was special about this performance compared to others was being able to accomplish it with the friends I had made, and feeling like we all put a distinct and individual touch on the piece. Even if we hadn't won, the music we played was at such a level that it felt like an achievement to get to the end!
24 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Piano lessons in Berkeley to students of all ages and abilities.
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