Music Lessons in Noe Valley, CA

Instruments: Guitar Voice Ukulele Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style flows from my teaching philosophy: Whole-heatedly meet a student where they are, and THEN, respectfully lead them to where you as the educator know that they need to go...Establishing a true RELATIONSHIP with a student, where they know that you have THEIR best interests in mind is absolutely fundamental. As in any relationship, trust and respect are essential, and establishing a firm foundation in those areas should be just as important as the academic and skill development aspects of teaching. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Ukulele Mandolin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I always say that rhythm is more important than the notes. Play the right rhythm and the notes will come instead of playing every right note while sacrificing rhythm. I encourage students to make their mistakes loud, proud, and in rhythm so everyone has a better idea of what needs to be worked on most. I also emphasize isolating parts to practice and working backwards. Example: play the last two bars of the song until comfortable with it, now play the last 4 bars, last 6, last 8...etc., whole song. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice

I have taught guitar throughout my career, working with beginners through advanced students, teaching both finger-style and flatpick techniques as well as why the chords fit together (music theory). I like to teach lessons that move step-by-step, with each lesson building on the one before, so that the student can see the improvement as they move ahead. I recently published the guitar instruction manual "Sounding Good on One Guitar". In college my singing won scholarships and awards where I helped singers develop character for their roles in opera productions. Read More

Instruments: Piano Ukulele Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I have 5 years of varied teaching experience, as a private instructor, working in several K-12 school environments, and I also hold teaching experience at the undergraduate college level. I enjoy working with students of all ages, and I bring an enthusiasm that centers fun for my young students, while also grounding my lessons in music theory that's tailored to the age and skill of my student. I like to encourage improvisation and spontaneity, but also provide a structure of lesson assignments and exercises. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

I like to ground my teaching in a line my own teacher, Carey Bell, often told me-- "if you make a mistake, no one dies!" Music is a challenging discipline in every respect, so I encourage my students to approach it from as positive and joyful a place as possible where mistakes are not a failure but simply a sign that further work needs to be done. Achievement in performance is only rewarding when the student takes ownership of their playing, so I do everything I can to allow clarinet to be a real and positive presence in my students' lives. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

There are many great method books out there for young students. Typically, I use whatever material the school provides, be it Standard of Excellence or Hal Leonard's Essential Elements. I like to incorporate other methods for more advanced students, such as the Conservatory Method by Jean-Baptiste Arban, Michael Davis's many offerings, and/or any of the great etude books out there. I feel it is best to use a well-rounded approach, especially considering the students needs as it pertains to their goals. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have been playing guitar for over 10 years and would like to share my knowledge with the world. Currently I am attending Cal State East Bay as a jazz guitar major, and have an music associates degree at Diablo Valley College. Having been taught privately since I was a kid, I would like to improve upon different teaching methods that I wish were taught to me including music theory and improvisation skills. Read More