Clarinet Lessons in Aliso Viejo, CA

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

I'm a professional saxophone player based in Los Angeles. At the age of 10, I started playing saxophone because my parents were asking me if I was interested in music. I started my first saxophone quartet at the age of 12. I was accepted by Shanghai Conservatory of Music's Contemporary Music department in 2012 under the instruction of the jazz saxophone professor Xiaolu Zhang. I recently graduated from New England Conservatory in Boston, where I did my masters under the instruction of Jerry Bergonzi, Miguel Zenon and Donny McCaslin. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Clarinet

I have the goal of helping students look at music the way I do: with passion and inspiration. I encourage students to open their minds and set goals for themselves. For example, I would ask them the question, "By playing music, what do you want to accomplish?" I have asked this question to myself many times throughout my life thus far, and it has worked because I have accomplished so much. Read More

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

Most recently Derek was the lead trombonist of the 2018 Disneyland All-American College Band. He has recently performed with Wayne Bergeron, Gordon Goodwin, Dave Holland, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman, Jimmy Heath, Shaun Martin, Christian Jacob, John Beasley, Troy Roberts, Frank Greene, Brian Lynch, Jeff Jarvis, Steve Houghton, Jiggs Whigham, Sal Lozano, and John Clayton. Derek has had recent performances at Dizzys Club Coca-Cola, the Smithsonian Institute, and the New World Symphony. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I love teaching; it is my passion! But most of all, I get great satisfaction in sharing the love of music with my students.  Seeing the accomplishments, achievements, an growth of my students is the thing that continues to inspire and drive me. I encourage my students to have fun and have a say in the music selection process, because I want them to feel like they too get to choose the music that they want to learn and play. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

After studying under some amazing private teachers, I started teaching saxophone and clarinet when I was in High School. Since then, I have taught hundreds of students of all ages and skill levels privately and in conjunction with music institutions. I was the manager of Educator's Music in Twinsburg, Ohio for 3 years. After moving to California, I continued teaching private lessons through Musika and other online services. I have over 20 years of professional performing and teaching experience. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Fiddle French Horn Piccolo Oboe

My approach to learning an instruments is to have the students learn to play by ear first before they can start learning to read music. I find that most students are able to progress quickly because it frees them to focus on the playing the instruments rather than reading notes. I consider reading music like different subject that they learn later. Learning music is like learning to speak. First we learn to talk and then we learn to read and write. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I use the Rubank method of books as a traditonal conservatory approach to early progression. I find their systematic flow efficient and effective to consistent improvement. We would then move to fulfilling repertoire that would qualify the student for collegiate study and competitive performance. For those interested in jazz, pop, and rock, we would proceed to study several instruction books and recorded material that over the years I have found to successfully progress a student in those genres. Read More