Piano Lessons in Hollywood, FL

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
A normal practice session starts with relaxation , deep and slow breathing , mental focus and visualization of the action about to take place. Finding the correct position and start with slow ,light notes for some minutes in order to focus and relax. In the guitar it would be right hand notes on each string and then slow easy melodies and two part contrapuntal music. In the piano ,slow and light symmetrical excercises on both hands slowly stretching out and in with the objective of warming up. A small break of 5-10 minutes A second session of either slow left hand patterns from boogie-woogie or blues in the form of a vamp or a groove and then finding a way to input either lines or chords with the right hand or an alternate session of slow two part and then three part contrapuntal music alla Bach. For Guitar either a session of right hand rasgueados or strumming different rhythms or bass patterns to create a vamp until ideas flow on how to input melodies in between strong beats or and alternate section of slow Bach music. A short break and a third section of scales and arpeggios A short break and a final section of repertoire.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
My degree is from Havana Cuba. The system is set for a degree in both performance and teaching for instruments. Anyone who graduates from performance also graduates as a teacher. I chose performance on my instrument because I love it but I was ok with the array of other subjects that are mandatory among them piano as a second instrument and all the music theory and history.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
In guitar my dream piece is Rememberings of Alhambra by Francisco Tarrega. I love it because it is a tremolo piece and the melody is extremely beautiful which makes it sound magical. In piano I love an arrangement for Air on the G string by Bach because of its depth , majesty and emotion.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
Probably translation or teaching languages.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
Late romantic ,early impressionistic with a pinch of world music , bit of the blues and jazz. Somewhere between Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, George Gershwin , Ravel and Joaquin Rodrigo. I think Rodrigo represents my Spanish heritage, Ravel is refined , Tedesco was the teacher of John Williams and Gershwin is a riot.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
Guitar was easier to get. It was popular and accessible but piano is very important for music theory and composition. It also creates more sound and wider range. Voice is the most direct communicator of words and messages.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
My father sang at home and in parties with friends and acquaintances. He also had a good appreciation for music of classical and operatic provenance. My uncle on my father's side became a wonderful popular guitar player by sheer genius. Sophisticated chords accompanying his popular songs and ballads in Spanish and a good singer too. All natural. On my mother's side, my aunt has a velvet voice and gorgeous singing and two of my cousins became professional musicians of popular and dance music in the guitar in their neighborhood where they did the parties.

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
Not long after starting music at age nine I knew this is my companion for life as a profession. It was not a gradual decision it was pretty much natural and spontaneous. Music was a prestigious and nice profession in Cuba , in Havana where many venues were built for that purpose and many people take lessons out of love for the music and the fun it provides.

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