Piano Lessons in Montrose, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I believe that choosing lesson material should always be a collaborative experience between student and teacher. Flexibility is one of my core values in teaching music, as I’ve found that each student has unique interests, goals, strengths, and weaknesses. Rather than going into lessons with a set curriculum, I like to give students some agency over what they’d like to learn while making sure to cover fundamentals as they apply along the way. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I believe every mind and thus every student is different. So especially when teaching something inherently creative like music, I almost always have to be inventive with my pedagogy. Every student has their own interests, learning style, and goals, and as an educator, listening to and really HEARING those is just step 1. Step 2, 3, etc. is to "creatively" construct a curriculum that fits that student; creativity is a requirement. To use specific example to highlight my teaching style, I worked with a boy named Adam from the time he was 9 through about 13. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Synthesizer Keyboard

I'm a motivated music teacher who loves teaching and working with students who have a desire to learn more about the piano and teach vocal technique. In 2005, I earned my music degree from Cal State Los Angeles University,California. I had a opportunity to study under the great Gerald Wiggins,the renowned jazz pianist, in the Santa Monica College Music Mentor Program.                    Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga

I have always loved music. I write and create music everyday. When I graduated high school I earned a band scholarship which allowed me to play in many different genres of music. I played in Big Jazz bands, Small Jazz combos, and pit orchestras. I toured with the Pittsburg State University Jazz Band and played timpani and snare for The Pittsburg State University Syphonic band. All four years. Fast Forward, in 2001 I placed an original piece of music in a film called "Punks". Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For beginning students, I focus on building a solid foundation of vocal technique (including: breath, resonance, posture, register, and diction). We build this foundation through singing pieces that the student is familiar with and lots of vocal exercises. At the same time, I like to introduce basic music theory concepts. I typically start with Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course Theory. Upon grasping and understanding fundamentals, I will begin to introduce repertoire from different styles of music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Ive had mixed success with students singing in tune. Some have no problems. With others, Im working hard with them at recognising and singing high and low notes as well as pitch matching. From there, I teach them to play each song on the piano through imitation. Through spaced repetition and regular review, I expect them to play these pieces from memory. What Ive observed is that there seems to be a spectrum: some students have a far easier time of memorising the songs and playing them at the piano. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

My first emphasis is that you have to like what you're playing. I really try to focus on what music gets the student excited. For some of them, it comes quickly. Others it might take a while, and that is okay. Once I find the switch that engages the student's interest, that is my focus. I really emphasize getting students to read music and also understand the key components of music theory, so that they understand what it is they are playing. Read More