Guitar Lessons in Downey, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have been teaching music since I was 16 years old and I want to share the same experiences I had as a student. Many teachers won't admit it, but a student's musical future depends almost entirely on who is teaching them. If a teacher is fun to get along with and understands how the student communicates then this can ensure longevity in a student's playing career (even if the student only plays for fun). Read More

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

I know everyone learns  at different speeds so making sure they are comfortable yet challenging is important to me.Being able to know when the student is enjoying and not making it a chore is a key to helping and encouraging a student learn. Watching them progress in their insturment is rewarding in of itself and nothing is more satisfying. As the student starts to see him or herself accomplish each lesson I like to praise, push and encourage to keep on. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Music

Emily Retsas is a musician who currently based in Los Angeles. Since 2018 Emily has been playing bass for Phoebe Bridgers as well as having played for artists such as Kim Gordon, Boygenius, Better Oblivion Community Center, Shirley Manson(Garbage), Fiona Apple. Emily recorded bass on the four time Grammy nominated album Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers. In her young career Emily has become a regular on the international festival circuit, playing on huge stages including Glastonbury, Coachella Lollapalooza and Primavera as well as appearances for Saturday Night Live, Ellen, Conan OBrien, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Last Call with Carson Daly, KEXP Radio, Tiny Desk NPR, Google and Spotify. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Nothing is more rewarding than helping a student develop a passion for music and express them musically. I always emphasize the fun in music. Music is fun, so I makes it a goal to keep the lesson fun, with clear and achievable goals to keep the students inspired and practicing. Even more so, my experience in teaching has shown me the improvements in other aspects of student developments, especially in the younger ones. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar

I am a very easy going, passionate and patient human being. I think discipline is game changer, but also understanding at the same time. Balance in between a good practice schedule and our will to actually seat and practice is a good key for someone at the beginning of her/his journey. For intermediate up to advanced levels discipline is not anymore a possible issue, so I directly work on the developing of their personal style, since in many cases is already flourishing to some degrees at those levels. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I believe that choosing lesson material should always be a collaborative experience between student and teacher. Flexibility is one of my core values in teaching music, as I’ve found that each student has unique interests, goals, strengths, and weaknesses. Rather than going into lessons with a set curriculum, I like to give students some agency over what they’d like to learn while making sure to cover fundamentals as they apply along the way. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

My first emphasis is that you have to like what you're playing. I really try to focus on what music gets the student excited. For some of them, it comes quickly. Others it might take a while, and that is okay. Once I find the switch that engages the student's interest, that is my focus. I really emphasize getting students to read music and also understand the key components of music theory, so that they understand what it is they are playing. Read More