Flute Lessons in Pacific Palisades, CA

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I began teaching as a student at OSU, then started teaching shortly after moving to California. I have been fortunate to have experience teaching students both individually and in group settings. My private students have been of all ages and different levels. One commonality I have found between students in these different settings is that they all have different goals and things that motivate them. With this in mind, I try to provide lessons that meet the individual needs of the student, while also keeping them engaged. 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

He is featured on the John Daversa Big Band's latest studio album, "American Dreamers". As a grad student at Miami, Derek was a guest lecturer in Jazz Pedagogy courses and guest conducted the Frost Studio Jazz Band. He has been a member of the Jazz Education Network since 2013 and the International Trombone Association since 2014. His teachers include Vern Kagarice, Jan Kagarice, Tony Baker, Steve Wiest, Andre Hayward, and Dante Luciani. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Flute Drums Bass Guitar Organ Electric Violin Double Bass

I am very flexible with my teaching methods and put together the best style matching the student's learning strengths. Furthermore, I update and change my methods if I feel the current method is becoming ineffective. I keep my lessons interactive with the student because the time is for the student to retrieve as much information as he/she can regarding their instrument and they can build a stronger week of preparation heading into the next lesson.  Currently my most used methods are teaching via classical, pop & jazz, and Suzuki methods. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I'm a passionate and motivated instructor who loves working with students and sharing my love of music. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it's important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel a students desire to progress, and makes students eager to learn more. Read More

Instruments: Flute

It is important to find out initially how much students know in relation to what they need to know as a measurable objective and establish a set of criteria for success in order to determine if the objective has been achieved. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel students desire to progress and encourages them to learn more. My style is to be patient, encouraging and prepare a new approach for existing and consistent challenges. Read More

Instruments: Flute Music

For beginning students who are children, I usually start with how to make a sound on the flute by practicing only the headjoint for the first week to help them develop the muscles in the lips and help to keep the aperture small. Once they feel confident with the headjoint, I would then teach them how to hold the flute properly and have a correct posture when playing. As soon as the student has progressed on these fundamentals, I will introduce them to the first notes on the flute which are typically B,A and G above the staff. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums

My methods depends on the skill level and interest of the student. Fundamentals are key, but I always try to incorporate them with music that the student is interested in learning. I believe that music should never be boring, and practicing should never be a chore! I also believe that musicians of all skill levels can and should improvise, as it is a fundamental form of creative expression that is often overlooked by classically trained musicians. Read More