James G
Instruments: Piano, Keyboard
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Blues, Folk, Latin Jazz, New Age
James G
Instruments: Piano, Keyboard
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Blues, Folk, Latin Jazz, New Age
Where I Teach:
In Your Home
My Studio
Ages Taught: 5-80
ABOUT
Degrees / Training / Special Info:
BM, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, piano performance,pedagogy
Awards:
2006 - recipient of California Music Studios FORTE AWARD for excellence in music education
1992 - became a member of Music Teachers National Association and began adjudicating piano competitions in Southern California
1989 - scholarship to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music
1986 - tour of the United Kingdom as piano soloist with the San Diego Youth Symphony - BBC interview/recording
1983 - Winner/1st Prize and scholarship - the Hidden Valley Concert Previews Assoc.
Overview:
I graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1990 and began my professional teaching career in 1992. I consider myself an ambassador for and devotee of fine music - no matter what the genre may be. My goal in my teaching and performances is to transfer my passion and love for music and to inspire people - the way music has continually inspired me. Teaching and judging competitions does not leave me a lot of time for concertizing, though I do still perform. I feel that a very important facet of teaching is to know how to practice intelligently and perform compently.
EXPERIENCE
From the time I started myself in piano to the time I graduated from a conservatory of Music - I had worked with a total of nine piano teachers in seventeen years. Of these teachers - one was stellar, one was horrid, and the rest fell somewhere in between. That experience taught me what works well and what doesn't in teaching others and inspiring them to excel. The pedagogy program at my conservatory also gave me hands-on training and kick-start ed my teaching career in San Francisco. From there I fell in love with teaching as a way to inspire people to meet and exceed their musical goals.
METHODS USED
Teaching for over twenty years has allowed me to hone and refine my craft - and to work with a lot of really great and fun people! Early in my career I gravitated toward a 'socratic' approach to teaching, which is instructing just enough - then asking questions. In this manner I try to engage and involve the student's mind/imagination as much as possible. At a basic level, when we 'teach' we actually learn - as students do when they begin to 'instruct' the teacher. I have found that using this approach, each student has better retention, and a much more rewarding experience.
LESSON STYLE
In my teaching I foster a 'singing' approach to the piano. Nothing though makes my heart sing more than to witness a student meet and exceed his or her musical goals. I facilitate this by nurturing a respectful and caring rapport which eventually transmits itself through the instrument as beautiful music. This is enabled (by both parties) through much patience and hard work. I have seen discipline like this translate into better study habits and scholastic success. Mainly though I think it's easier to believe in ourselves if we know that a dedicated teacher believes in and cares about us!
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
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