Clarinet Lessons in La Mirada, CA

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

During a lesson I tend to organize the lesson so that there are three or four parts. Usually I begin with long tones then we move to articulation. Then I usually incorporate a few small musical studies that cater to style and performance type. During this time it is important for the student to pay attention to the timbre of their performance. Next I cater to the students ability to create their own character with a solo. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I am a professional multi-instrumentalist living in Los Angeles, performing, teaching, and recording regularly on saxophone, flute, clarinet, and trumpet.  I graduated from Oberlin Conservatory in 2011 with a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance.  Since graduating from Oberlin, I have had the chance to travel and perform around the country and world with many fantastic musicians in a variety of genres.  I specialize in jazz, but have classical training and experience in a wide varieties of music from salsa to funk. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

My main focus in my teaching, regardless of the level of the student, hones in on strengthening the fundamentals of playing clarinet (air, mouth position, posture, finger position, etc). When the student has a strong set of fundamentals, there's no limit to what they can do or play. If the student is more in the beginning stages of learning clarinet, I will mostly focus on these for the first two or three lessons before we advance on to playing music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Music Keyboard

Certainly, here's a more concise description of my teaching approach in music: 1. Personalization: I tailor lessons to each student's background and goals. 2. Strong Fundamentals: I emphasize music theory and technique for a solid foundation. 3. Practical Application: Students start playing music early, fostering creativity and a connection to music. 4. Music Appreciation: I include lessons on history and culture for a well-rounded understanding. 5. Performance: I provide opportunities to build confidence and stage presence. 6. Read More

Instruments: Piano Clarinet

I began teaching as early as 2003, while in high school on clarinet. I continued to teach during college as a voice coach, and have been teaching piano, music theory and music composition to this date. I have worked with both children and adults, in classrooms and one on one. One of the things that distinguishes me from other teachers is how I tailor my program for each student, because everyone learns differently and has different strengths and talents. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums French Horn Oboe

I truly believe that all learning, while serious in nature, should be fun and exciting in methodology. Living in the age of technology, there are so many ways to make learning fun and interesting for students. Whether it be sharing information from Youtube, educational sites such as The Teaching Channel, using digital music apps such as "Smart Music" for assessment, showing a student how to record themselves on their smartphones, all of these things can be brought in to the instructional experience. 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