Piano Lessons in Monte Sereno, CA

Instruments: Piano Organ

I'm a teacher who has experience with ages 8 to 80 (at least!). Collaborating with people at all levels of development is wonderful! Adult beginners find that they know more than they had anticipated. They will be playing familiar songs with two hands together in just a few lessons. My background includes diverse styles and genres, collaborations from church music positions and choral accompanying to teaching piano lessons and working with singers and instrumentalists. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trombone

I learned my fundamentals as a musician from my musician mother who is a vocalist and childhood piano teachers she set me up with from ages 4-12. At the age of 12, I picked up the trombone in the school instrumental program. I continued to play in school bands throughout my education and in high school, I was set up with a private trombone instructor. Throughout high school and college Ive studied with professional trombonists: Don Kennelly - SF Opera Bass Trombone, Dave Martell, David Taylor - New York, and Doug Beavers and John Gove. 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 Voice Clarinet

The technique I use is based on the Alexander Method of teaching and promotes proper breath control and tone placement over volume production and belting. Most singers, young and old, come to me with the idea that to create volume, you must yell or sing from your throat. With that mindset, what oftentimes happens is the voice will give out after five years and will result in the need of surgery to remove things like vocal nodules. 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 Ukulele Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I'd say my teaching style is first tailored to each individual student- their learning style, their genre interest, and their goals. Some student respond to more traditional classical structure, and some respond to improvisation as a way of learning musical concepts. What's exciting is finding out which style each student has, and always come back to the joy keeps them motivated. While I am flexible in this regard, I do have specific practice assignments and repetition exercises that are the work of learning an instrument. Read More

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

i individualize my teaching approach based on the unique needs of each student, whether they are children or adults. Each student learns differently and some learn by hearing and copying; others learn best with reading music. I don't use one approach for everyone. I change my method for each student and based on their schedule, we move at a pace appropriate to their needs. Everyone learns differently. Some rely on listening so with these students I show them how to do parts of music and they listen and copy. Read More