Music Lessons in Dogtown, CA

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Double Bass

I try to cater my lesson style to the individual students desire and needs. I like to always incorporate the fundamentals of music and technique while exploring the material at hand.  Some key points I try to incorporate into my teaching are an understanding of:  rhythm, technique, playing from ear, improvisation, theory, and most importantly making music! I usually encourage my students to seek out music they like and specific songs they want to learn. Read More

Instruments: Piano Ukulele Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I love everything about music, and that includes teaching music to my students! I bring over 20 years of experience as a composer, songwriter, sound designer, and performer to my music instruction. I've performed nationally, collaborated with theater and dance companies, received grant money from the San Francisco Arts commission for the completion of original music, and now I have just completed my master's in composition and music theory at California State University East Bay. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

For beginners, I typically focus on teaching straightforward open chords, along with scales and exercises to improve finger dexterity. Following that, I guide them in incorporating melodies or soloing over chords. We delve into strumming patterns and cover fundamental techniques for warming up. With intermediate players, my approach involves introducing chord inversions and delving into basic music theory. Topics include understanding how to stay in a key and identifying the diatonic chords within it. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Ukulele Music Keyboard

I've had the wonderful opportunity to build my private studio while simultaneously teaching with larger studios and music nonprofits. It has helped me grow immensely to learn from professional teachers, seasoned team-leaders, fellow-musicians, and the CEOs of the companies. Over the years, I've been able to glean the best practices from the top professionals in my field. I’ve work with children on the autism spectrum, stroke survivors, Alzheimer’s patients, people who went on to earn degrees in music, young children, teenagers, adult learners, and Seniors. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

For my beginning students, I start out with a mixture of my own exercises, as well as basic songs using open strings, string crossings and rhythms, before moving to songs with basic fingerwork on one string (scale plus rhythm based). I usually supplement this beginning process with Essential Elements, before intruducing the Suzuki Method Book 1, Doflein Method Book 1, and rhythmic exercises from the Kodaly method. For my intermediate students, I use a mixture of Galamian bowing technique, emphasis on etudes and position work, Suzuki method, Barbara Barber scales and rep. books, and level-appropriate classical literature, combined with solo repetoire of the student's interest/choosing. Read More

Instruments: Drums Latin Percussion Keyboard

It is vitally important that the environment of learning the drums be fun and comfortable. Nobody likes to come to a lesson stressed and nervous. This is not an audition, trust me, I've been in many of those and those are really stressful. Learning drums is going to be exciting, repertoire, and addicting, a good type of addict. Not only do I look forward to teaching a student how to play drums with me, but also learning at home with their own kit or practicing on a drum pad. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute Recorder Piccolo

I first started teaching in college, taking courses in flute pedagogy in 2007, and working privately with local high school students. Since 2011, I have had a regular studio of private flute (and recorder or piccolo) students as well occasional students on other wind instruments and piano. I've also taught a variety of wind and chamber ensembles. I believe that every student is unique and learns best when that individuality is celebrated. Read More