Guitar Lessons in Studio City, CA

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style and approach to guitar instruction in particular starts by first assessing the wants and needs of the student. What does the student 'want' to learn? What does the student 'need' to do to achieve these wants. What will make the student most enthusiastic about the guitar? What will keep them enthusiastic and motivated to practice? What do they love about the guitar and what inspires them musically? Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Classical Guitar

In my classical guitar teaching, I take a highly individualized and structured approach, tailored to the students age, experience, and goals. For beginners, I focus on establishing a solid foundation in technique, reading, and musical understanding. This includes proper hand positioning, finger independence, and basic posture, often using exercises from Aaron Shearers Classic Guitar Technique and early studies by Carcassi and Sor. I supplement these with simple repertoire to develop both reading skills and musicality. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

While attending Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, Gabriel began formal lessons in jazz guitar with Tom Kozic (a student of Joe Pass, Howard Roberts, Tal Farlow, and Kenny Burrell) and Dr. Theodore Conner, as well as classical music theory and composition with Douglas Ovens. During his education, Gabriel was a member of several jazz improvisational groups, a big band orchestra, and he also played in the pit orchestra for musical  productions. 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: Piano Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For all students from beginners to adults I use Alfred's Piano books as they are very transparent and easy to follow. I also strongly believe that even beginner students as early as 4 can learn scales and chords even though many teachers don't introduce such things until they reach an older age and have more experience. It is very apparent to me that many teachers under estimate how truly brilliant children are and how they can soak up material much more quickly at a younger age. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Synthesizer Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

Teaching style could easily be summaried and paraphrased with my above stated pedagogy! Teaching style changes from student to teacher. I enjoy trying to decipher what the student enjoys hearing, wants to learn, prior knowledge, and desires are. These help in my search to find the perfect style at which the student understands and enjoys the task at hand.  Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Ive been playing bass and taking lessons since the early 2000s and playing guitar since 2010. I started working as a bassist at MI while I was still in school and I started teaching my own private lessons when I got out of school. Now I teach mostly out of my home studio or at the students home. Most of my musical experience I have learned from playing gigs around town. Read More