Piano Lessons in Shadow Hills, CA

Instruments: Piano Trumpet

The most important part of teaching for me is trying to make sure students are growing a passion for music, and that I am helping them in that way throughout the entire process. I've had teachers in my past that I felt didn't care for my interests, and were impatient with abilities, and those lessons always pushed me away from wanting to pursue music. As a private instructor, I want nothing more for my students than to see them flourish and succeed at their craft, but fun and passion always comes first in my book. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

My Methods: Fundamentals of breath work - incorporating several physical exercises and methods of showing the coordination until it is ingrained Focus on the use of the resonators - projecting the sound to the different cavities where sound resonates before leaving your body and into the room (i.e. 'the mask', mouth resonance, chest resonance, etc) Reducing tongue tension - a common issue is root of the tongue tension and I have several exercises to address this Improving range - most of my students gain notes in their belt range and their head range, and often in their low range as well Increasing the legato vocal line - here we focus on linking the vowels properly supported by the breath Jaw tension - similar to tongue we have evercises for this Style - different approaches such as riffing, back phrasing, using a glottal attack, using a breathy attack - creating colorful expressive phrases that link to the emotion of the song and the style desired Musicality - learning to read music, counting tempo, sustaining pitch, syncopation, dynamics, etc Diction - correct vowel shapes and enunciation + awareness of when tension closes down the vocal line if diction is carried over from speaking habits Performance - using tools from acting training to perform a song effectively and believably Career consultation - when appropriate, also offered Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Acoustic Guitar

Of course, acknowledging accomplishments helps students feel they're progressing, but finding what truly inspires them will help them want to practice and get better. For me, I found scales and theory boring as a kid, so I wished my teachers would teach me how to play my favorite songs and write my own with a little theory mixed in instead of only learning the theory and scales. I aim to encourage my students to want to be the best they can be and to help them feel accomplished by following their dreams and inspirations. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Music Keyboard

I'm a professional jazz/pop vocalist, and have appeared around the world as a soloist singing jazz and pop, places including the Blue Note, NYC, Maui, Key West, Paris, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Budapest, Phuket, Sydney, Australia.  I have also sung in ensemble groups including the Masterworks Chorale, NYC, the Verdi Opera Chorus of Southern California.  I have sung in Mandarin Chinese, Brazillian Portuguese, French, Italian and Spanish. Currently, I volunteer at the Senior Center leading/accompanying the Sing-Alongs doing songs from the early 1900's up to the present. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin

I always make sure my students and their parents have realistic expectations when they start taking music lessons. For instance, violin is a difficult instrument to play and it can take months of practice to play a simple tune. However, it can be fun and enjoyable as long as it is understood that these simple accomplishments in playing the violin are in fact rather big ones. I request the parents of young (5-7 years old) students to be present during the lesson as often as possible. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

It can seem that I demand a lot from the beginning, for example, rhythm, counting, hand position, and so on. But these are the basics that some teachers might forget but I always pay attention to it and remind my students so they get used to it and eventually do it automatically. I really give them a good base and knowledge that they can use their entire life. With that, in the future, they will be able to learn any songs by themselves. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have been teaching guitar lessons for about three years both online and in person. I have taught people who were 7 years old to about 50 years old. I love discovering what works for each person and what each individual wants to accomplish by receiving lessons. I also like to expand their goals to new possibilities. I like to engage students with music they already know while also presenting music to them that can help improve their skills, and they might also find enjoyable. Read More