Cello Lessons in Highland Park, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Harp Accordion Harmonica Lap Steel Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Recorder Lute Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Euphonium French Horn Tuba Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Shakuhachi Oboe Bassoon English Horn Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Derek is most known for his association with the John Daversa Big Band. Derek has had the pleasure of meeting and performing with many of his musical heroes. He has recorded live and studio albums with Arturo Sandoval, Jon Faddis, John Fedchock, James Morrison, Greg Gisbert, Roger Ingram, Paul Stephens, Scott Englebright, Donny Dyess, the Tastee Bros, Bernard Wright, Gene Coye, Steve Reid, Kate Reid, Melvin Butler, Ed Calle, Richard Todd, Mike Brignola, Alex Norris, Dante Luciani, John Hart, Martin Bejerano, Chuck Bergeron, Rick Margitza, and appears on the Gary Lindsay album "Are We Still Dreaming" with the South Florida Jazz Orchestra. Read More

Instruments: Cello

I tend to tailor my method for the individual goals and desires of the student. Generally, for my beginning students, I assign a regiment of short pieces and technical etudes from a variety of method books. I find this to be an effective way to build technique while also cultivating musicality. As a student advances, I begin assigning works from the standard cello repertoire, which includes pieces such as Bach Cello Suites, concertos, and sonatas. Read More

Instruments: Cello

I began teaching at a very young age in church for various children's program. After seeing how rewarding working with children is, I began teaching music in an elementary school's after school program. I soon expanded into teaching at the middle school level, and adults. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Double Bass Music Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have been teaching for the last 14 years for other music schools as well as my home studio. I love to help new students from the ages of  4-99  in learning the joys of playing an instrument or instruments that they are going to enjoy. Nothing truly satifies me more than to see a student advance in their insturment as each lessons passes by. Daily quality and not quantity practice is something I like to encourage the student to be able to advance much faster in mastering the instrument. Read More

Instruments: Cello Music

The Culver City Chamber Orchestra has allowed me to present children's concerts, great works by famous composers, and it allowed me to form a superb "CELLO MANIA" ensemble. This ensemble is my favorite simply because it features 8 cellos!!! We perform classical music, pop music and even some Broadway music. The ensemble is represented by the best cellists in the Los Angeles area. Check out Culver City Chamber orchestra website: for our current schedule and especially "CELLO MANIA". Read More

Instruments: Violin Cello Viola

In my lessons, I take an integrated approach to music education, drawing connections between music of practically any style, genre, or tradition; between musical technique, analysis, and expression; and between music as an abstract entity (e.g., a score, an acoustic phenomenon) and the cultural and historical context in which it is both composed and performed. I work on music not only from the Western classical tradition, but also from pop, rock, jazz, and folk music from around the world, as I believe all musical styles are worthy of exploration and consideration. Read More