Music Lessons in Emeryville, CA

Instruments: Piano Flute Music

For beginning students in flute and piano, I use Trevor Wye flute books and Alfred piano books, respectively. These books cover fundamentals and hand technique and once that is learned and internalized, then I will introduce more solo or accompanied repertoire that they would eventually perform in a recital. For beginning composition students (which are taught remotely on Zoom), I will go over different "lectures" about fundamental music theory and integrate short composition assignments that go according to what was learned in the lesson. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice

For voice, I like to start with making sure the placement is good and that the tone begin produced is nice and full. After that working on moving smoothly though notes while keeping the voice aligned, handling vowels and consonants, and gradually extending range. Repertoire is used to help support the lessons and gradually increases with the ability of the student. For guitar, in either the styles that use a flatpick or the finger-styles, I like to build a library of chords and progressions linked to an understanding of keys and scales (music theory). Read More

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

Students are excited to see others perform and get trophies and performance awards which motivates them to practice. If a student isn't having fun in their lessons, then I feel I'm not doing my job. I am also a composer who plays with my own rock band and I teach both songwriting and composition. I help my students with composing original music as well as arranging covers of popular hits. Read More

Instruments: Cello

My teaching style is open book. What I find motivates a student is what they wish to learn and music they want to play. The basic foundation is one of the key elements to better musicality but also the study of listening and understanding music drives what we consider the originality of each musician. I believe that as much as physical practice drives the growth of a student, I want to build motivation for the student to pursue greater things with music and allow it to translate to other parts of his/her life as it has for myself. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I used to use the Suzuki method but mostly I used formal classical method. Although, I always fit my lessons depending of each student's needs and/or requests. Personally I like the classical method because I also teach my students music theory if needed as well as historical facts to understand the music better. I have also thaught the El Sistema method from Venezuela which basically teaches students the feeling of playing music phisically. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Synthesizer Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have 16+ years of playing experience growing up gigging around the Bay Area to studying guitar as my principle instrument at Berklee in Boston. I specialize in improvisation and songwriting and can equip you with the tools to unlock your flow state and create the music you feel called towards in any style. My lessons are hands-on, interactive and finely adapted to your skill level. You will be given weekly exercises and pieces to practice in order to facilitate the learning process. --- Whether it's online or in person, I will offer thoughtful and engaging activities, lessons, and conversations to help you grasp what you need to learn in order to reach your personal and unique creative goals. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching method for complete beginners is to take examples from method books such as the Aaron Shearer method book, and apply it so that the student can become accustomed to using their fingers to pluck and frets strings. After they get a sense of how to use their hands on the instrument, I would automatically start teaching pieces. I believe that pieces are the most practical way to learn an instrument because first, playing pieces is the goal that we want to achieve in the first place and second, I believe that all of the techniques that are needed when playing an instrument are all included in pieces. Read More