Music Lessons in Manhattan Beach, NY

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Piccolo

Most importantly, we are all here to have fun and enjoy playing music.  I always encourage my students to take risks, have a laugh and ask questions.  I work to build the student's confidence in their playing, ability to practice well, ability to perform in public and ability to be comfortable making mistakes.  We all progress at various rates and progress at any level is an accomplishment that each student should be proud to achieve.  If a student or parent of a student expresses their interested to move forward in a serious capacity, I am more than happy to encourage such movement. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet

I want you to be able to relax! And I'll do my best to make sure you are. You are free/ encouraged even to interject questions and make observations along the way. For beginners I introduce the instrument itself, its components and functions, how to care for the instrument, how to hold it and put it safely away in the case. Then we move on to air stream. A steady relaxed air stream surprisingly enough is all you need to produce a tone. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

For beginning young students I prefer the Rubank Elementary Method for saxophone, clarinet and flute, and my own (unpublished) method for recorder. For older beginners, there are many books on the market. I'll work with what the student perfers. For more advanced students there are classic works such as Klose for clarinet or saxophone, solo works for competition or performance, or just for fun. I want recorder students to learn the 2 basic sets of fingering, since ensemble playing usually requires changing instruments. Read More

Instruments: Voice

Two students are assigned to lead the Warm UP and LA Gah, lip trills and EeeYahh Technique Affective: includes the manner in which we deal with things emotionally, such as feelings, values, appreciation, enthusiasm, motivations and attitudes. (value, appreciate) 1. Students will learn self confidence 2. Students will be taught the following: Can do it, Will do it, Mission Accomplished! 3. Students are given Thulani Questionnaire asking them certain questions regarding music (attached in email) Psychomotor:Includes physical movement, coordination and the use of motor skill areas. (demonstrate, perform, exhibit) 1. Read More

Instruments: Piano Organ

For all students I stress fluent music reading and a natural stress-free technique. For the early stages I have had good results with Faber's Piano Adventure series, finding that these progress at a reasonable pace and build reading skills logically. For technique I like FJH Music's Accelerando series. These short exercises have a big impact on the student's technique and reading, and bring maximum results in a short time. I also like to assign keyboard harmony drills of my own invention which help the student understand how chords are built and how they are linked within each key. Read More

Instruments: Drums Bass Guitar Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

Although I have my own methods and "prescribed" teaching materials, I love to keep a dialogue with the student. I always ask what their goals with music are, as I will then tailor the lessons accordingly. If a student says to me that they want to work towards an audition, I know that I can push them harder in terms of expectation and material. Or, I've had students who want to learn how to play a specific style or song, and those lessons can be much more mellow. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I have been studying in Denmark the Complete Vocal Technique for 3 years. In the course of that time, I saw how much faster my students are improving and how content they are with their sound and singing. This method truly allows me to help singers sing in the way THEY wish to sing in, whether it's a delicate singing as in Folk music, or Extreme singing with vocal effects as in Heavy Metal. Read More