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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Elk Grove . 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 Guitar
Throughout the past 17 years I have been both a student and ambassador of music. Whether it has been explaining and showing chords or scales to another student, or describing the inner workings and wonder of a guitar solo with a friend - seeking to create and teach music will always be at the forefront of all that I do. To me, the first and most important thing for learning music is that you have to play something you enjoy and find fun. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Music Keyboard
Together with my students, we discover a wide range of repertoire, from Mozart, Bach, Schumann, and Prokofiev to classics of Blues, Jazz, Reggae, Pop, Rock and other genres. I also equip students with the practical skills of sight reading, accompaniment styles, transposition and improvisation so they can take their creativity and love of music in many directions. But my goal is to do more than teach piano. I help students become problem solvers and independent learners, as they find their own artistic voices. Read More
Instruments: Piano
I always try to make the lesson fun. I look for things that will keep my students inspired. I am extremely patient. I always encourage my students in a positive way. I try not to be too pushy. If a student doesn't want to learn a piece then I will try and find something that they are more inspired to learn. I like to give them a choice. I will play a few pieces for them and see which one they like more. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Trombone
For beginners, I like to start with the Standard of Excellence book 1, and intermediate students with book 2. The trombone is such a versatile instrument that there are tons of different styles of playing to practice. Depending on the student's level I will build curriculum for them. We will also play duets together, because it's very important to learn how to play well with others. Scales, lip slurs, and other exercises will be implemented as well. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Conga Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
I began teaching Guitar and Piano during college as a way to expand my playing and teaching skills. Over the years I gained extensive knowledge of teaching techniques and how to work with students at all levels, ages, backgrounds, and understanding of theoretical music application. I handle my students with care, respect, and motivate them through positive reinforcement of their milestones while learning. Moreover, I have taught guitar and piano to over 200 students in the last decade - many have pursued careers in music, and some have even surpassed my accomplishments. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Conga Latin Percussion
My teaching experience dates back to 1996, when I began teaching lessons to children in at-risk communities in dance and music, while going through school in Oakland. I then continued in Stockton, CA, where I developed music and dance programs in the Recreation Centers, and later developed my own non-profit organization. I began writing my own grants to teach classes in after-school programs, and in 2013, while attending my music program, I began instucting private music classes in classical guitar, beg. piano and beg. voice. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Ukulele Mandolin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
I always say that rhythm is more important than the notes. Play the right rhythm and the notes will come instead of playing every right note while sacrificing rhythm. I encourage students to make their mistakes loud, proud, and in rhythm so everyone has a better idea of what needs to be worked on most. I also emphasize isolating parts to practice and working backwards. Example: play the last two bars of the song until comfortable with it, now play the last 4 bars, last 6, last 8...etc., whole song. Read More
Instruments: Piano Organ
What does a normal practice session look like for you?
My practice is different every day. The window of time available changes, sometimes during the practice session. Rather than stubbornly sticking to my original plan for that session, I have found much more peace of mind in revising the goal for the day. Example: When you have planning on practicing for two hours and then the phone rings, changing your plans, when you reassess the time available and find something that can be accomplished within that amount of time, you will have reached a goal and will feel good about it.
There is no requirement to adhere to a rigid goal and feel down on yourself for not accomplishing it. Life happens!
FYI, it took me a long time, i.e. years, to learn that!
What is your dream piece to perform and why?
I would give my right arm, as they say, to be able to perform Twenty Portraits of the Infant Jesus by Olivier Messiaen. It's too hard! Several years ago, I found four movements that seemed to be more accessible than the others. I would practiced them for two months, say, then put them aside. Six months later, I would try again. The result was always the same. My fingers remembered nothing and I had to start over.
After four rounds of this, I decided to look at Messiaen's Preludes instead. I have happily performed three of the Preludes many times.
Pierre Laurent-Aimard performs the Vingt Regards (Twenty Portraits) on tour, from memory. I have ceded ownership of the piece to this wonderful pianist.
Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Yes, music was something that was always around when I was a child. My father was a minister. He had sung in his college's male quartet. He had a lovely bass voice, and with further training might have had a professional singing career.
My mother had been a public school music supervisor before I was born, after which she taught kindergarten and supervised the elementary Sunday School department in our rather large church. She led a brief worship service for the children before smaller classes were taught, including a music component. My parents met in college choir.
In the Midwest, ministers' children at the time typically took lessons. My three older siblings all played instruments, with my sister playing both piano and organ. She played organ for our church before I did.
It must have been an unspoken part of the circumstances that the minister's children play for church. Even if that was the case, it was fabulous training. Playing congregational responses and hymns well requires good listening skills, the ability to adjust to changing acoustics depending on the size of the congregation, providing inspiration for the congregation to keep a steady tempo, and dreaming up something to bridge unexpected gaps in the service. That's quite a challenge for a 14-year-old!
Also, church services and choral rehearsals have many similarities in terms of the number of participants, size of the space, location of the piano or organ, listening and response skills needed.
When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
When thinking about college choices, I began thinking about various possible majors. Since I felt very strongly that I would never be able to live without music, the decision was an easy one.
Settling on the piano took a little longer. I started out majoring in organ. However, my older sister is such a good organist, that was a big factor in my choosing something else. In addition, it turned out that I was more comfortable playing the piano, while my sister found a better fit with organ.
That said, I have had organist/choir director/choral singing jobs in different churches and denominations since age 14.
25 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 Elk Grove to students of all ages and abilities.
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