Guitar Lessons in Port Costa, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Organ Ukulele Electric Violin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar

From experience, these are all the basic tools a student needs to work on their fundamentals before diving into full fledged solo pieces for competitions. Beginning students have to start from the bottom. These students will start by learning how to hold the violin and the bow, for example, and slowly but surely get into reading music and eventually playing simple scales and melodies from an elementary book. Some adults, however, may be interested in learning an instrument because they want to play a song they love. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For all of my students, I like to blend what they need to know and what they want to know. I find that especially teaching guitar, learning it is very goal oriented. My students and I always come up with their goals during each lesson so they can have something to work up to for each week. Practice does make perfect, so I do strongly encourage practicing at least a couple hours a day. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Organ

For beginner students who are pursing music on the tonal instruments, I typically start with learning the names of the notes on the instrument and the major scale in every key as it relates to the piano. For the bass guitar I start of with basic finger strength techniques and exercises while incorporating the major scale fingering form and Nashville numbering system for all tonal instruments. For voice, I start off by finding the range of the individual and then teaching warmup techniques while building the individuals technique through finding a song and learning how to sing along.  Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

All of my lessons are built around songs to teach technique and I add materials to teach theory and musicianship if the student wants and needs it. I always interview each student to find out their interests and desires and and build a custom curriculum eight lessons at a time to insure satisfaction and success on the students terms. I have student assessments at the end of each eight lessons block to make sure that the student knows how they have improved and where they need more work. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I first began taking private students in the 1990s, and continued to teach privately through my undergraduate years in the early 2000s. Though I stopped for some time to pursue artistic and professional ventures in music, I recently returned to the teaching realm, and am exciting to take on new students. In addition to private brass lessons, I have taught music in public schools through various non-profits and, above all, enjoy the light that comes on in a student's eyes when he/she "gets it." It is why I do what I do. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I've been playing music, teaching, and performing over a variety of ways across the bay area for over 12 years. I received a degree in Jazz Studies and Composition from Sonoma State University in 2006 and have been utilizing my degree as a creative artist and sharing my knowledge with students since 2002 where I grew up in the foothills sound of Yosemite National Park. I play Saxophone, Clarinet, and Flute, along with Piano and Guitar for deeper ways of relating music to my life. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I developed a very good relative pitch. Luckily, my old teacher had taught me how to read music. While in college I fell under the spell of flamenco music and studied briefly with a blind Spanish guitarist in Manhattan. I performed in rock and pop groups throughout college. When I moved to California I studied with Jon Harris, a classical guitarist who had studied under Segovia. I began to compose my own music and to continue a grueling practice schedule. Read More