Voice Lessons in Oakley, CA

Instruments: Piano Voice

I love watching my students develop their passion for music! And so, I do my utmost to challenge each student as much as possible at their own pace. We will set goals for the students in every lesson. Hitting certain milestones help the students to feel motivated, and want to push themselves more. Each student is different and so they learn differently, I do my best to learn from the student and tailor my teaching style to their particular learning style. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Clarinet

When I was ten, I made the decision that whatever career I chose, I needed it to allow me to help people. As I got older and discovered that music was the thing I most wanted to do in this life, teaching voice and piano became the vehicle I needed to keep doing music as well as help people, like I wanted. In training my voice classically, I had the very best instructor who taught me how to sing the healthy way. Read More

Instruments: Voice Music

I have performed the professional role of Lady Ella/Chorus with Cimarron Opera in their performance of Patience. I was previously a member of the Wichita Grand Opera Chorus, and recently performed in their productions of Turandot, Don Carlo, Tosca, Guillaume Tell, Otello and Le Nozze di Figaro. I have alsoperformed other professional roles such as a Belle/Chorus in The Forum Theater's production ofA Christmas Carol. Throughout my various degrees, I have also performed roles in Hansel and Gretel, Bastien und Bastienne, Dido and Aeneas, Die Zauberflote, The Lonley Empress, Les Contes d'Hoffman, Dangerous Liasons, Ariadne auf Naxos and Eric Hermansen's Soul. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I sang in both the classical and jazz choirs, and was percussion section leader in the Concert and Symphonic Bands, where I worked with Susan Hamre in organizing an annual High School Honor Band event, with guest conductor/composer Gary P. Gilroy. I also sang as a soloist with the ARC Orchestra as a winner of the 2016 Concerto/Aria Competition. At CSUN, I currently study composition with Liviu Marinescu, A.J. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I love to see my students realize their growth as they work on their singing. The way their faces light up or the way they grow an extra inch with pride simply fills me with joy. I tailor each of my lessons around the student that I am teaching because no two voices are alike. I look for their strengths and help them showcase those and I discover their weaknesses so we can strengthen those. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Organ Synthesizer Keyboard

If you’ve tried and failed, or even if you’ve never touched a piano, Smiley can teach you. And, you’ll have fun doing it because with my easy approach to learning, you will start playing the songs you like from day one, not practicing endless scales all the time, and boring music language that would be difficult to understand the first day. With my easy learning how to play approach, you would lean your first song and be able to play it, over and over until you learn a new song to share. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For beginning students, I use the Piano Adventure Series by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. I also use the A Thousand Stories for a Little Pianist by Katrin Arefy. My special methods in teaching young students include stories, easy duets, and singing familiar folk songs. For intermediate level students, I use different method books according to the student's interests. However, I encourage them to play Classical music, which is very useful in developing good techniques in piano playing. Read More