Alex M
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, R&B, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Salsa, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Punk
Alex M
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles:
Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, R&B, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Salsa, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Punk
Where I Teach:
In Your Home
My Studio
Ages Taught: 10-80
ABOUT
Degrees / Training / Special Info:
BM, Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, Jazz Bass and Afro Caribbean Music
Overview:
I have been a musician for over 10 years. I started out in my high school big band as a trumpet player before I switched to playing the bass. I completed my studies at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico in 2016 where I was born and have now relocated to the state of Washington. I have been fortunate enough to have the privilege to play with some of Puerto Rico's greatest local players in the Jazz and Latin scene. I have honed my skills as a player, a composer and an arranger during my time there, especially in the fields of Jazz, Latin Jazz, Rock, Pop and Funk. I have been taking on students for the past five years and have developed a fun and yet thorough approach to the world of music, whether you just want to learn a specific song, better your technique or you want to further your develop other skills like sight reading and musical theory.
EXPERIENCE
As a musical teacher, I believe one of the most important goals is to learn to have fun while you practice. If your goal is to become a serious musician, many hours of practice is key but that cannot happen if you don't have the drive and motivation for it, so you must first enjoy what you are doing. I have always found that young children give up on their instruments too quickly because they find it to be too tedious or even boring. I have taught people of many ages for several years now and depending on what their level and individual goals are, I begin a lesson plan accordingly. I always try to have my students find the same passion for music that I discovered and enjoy helping them develop their abilities.
METHODS USED
There are several methods I use as a professor and they're all dependent on the student, their age and their goals. If they are younger, I like to employ elements of the Suzuki method because subjects like musical notation and theory might be too dense for the student. If the student has the aptitude/and or the discipline I can begin to apply a more systemic approach in terms of practice regiments like scales, practicing sight reading, their rhythmic feel, and even ear intonation and sight singing if the student is prepared for it. For real results and musical growth, consistency and discipline are key elements. There are several books that I particularly enjoy like the classic Dandelot, Louis Bellson Modern reading in 4/4 and in odd meters when they are more advanced.
LESSON STYLE
My teaching style can vary from student to student but I believe the most important element is that the student remains engaged and enjoys practicing their instrument, regardless of their individual level. If they are very young, I try to have them listen to as much music as possible when they are not practicing because listening to new music is just as important to musical growth as practice. If there is a particular song they are aiming to learn, we tackle it in class and have them practice it at home at least half hour a day. When they are more serious, I try to establish a 45 minute practice regiment that the student should do everyday that can range from certain warm ups, scales and even sight reading if the student is inclined to dive into that musical world. The key element to having the discipline to do so is by having and fun and enjoying this so it's important that nor the teacher nor the student lose sight of that during their lessons. I truly enjoy seeing students learn and grow as a musician and understand all too well when it can be frustrating and seems to difficult. It's easy for me to relate and to find different methods to keep fueling that passion that people like me have for the world of music.
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