510-240-5040
Musika Quick Stats
24 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
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510-240-5040
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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Music lessons in Oakland . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Guitar
I'm very easy going and very understanding. I have a true passion for teaching and helping others and patience is one of my virtues. I have a real undesrstanding as to how much different we can be from one another in our learning abilities, and it is my main goal to tailor each lesson to the specific student and individual at hand. I do my best to get into the position (point of view) of each one of my students and take into consideration every single aspect of their personality when I'm teaching them. Read More
Instruments: Saxophone
I preach the fundamentals, from building tone to gaining proficiency in theory. I will show my students long tone exercises to develop their sound, scales and arpeggios to develop their technique, sight-reading sheet music, and much more. I encourage my students to explore the genres that fascinate them. For example, if they wish to learn jazz, then I will help them learn standards, transcribe solos, and read chord changes, as well as gain an ability to improvise. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Viola Saxophone Flute Clarinet
I love seeing my students grow in their knowledge and appreciation of music! Excellence is rewarding, and I teach the process to get there from whatever level we begin. I use positive reinforcement and notice what the student is doing right. Then, I give critique and an action plan to improve performance. It feels good for the student and teacher when they learn the methods to break down what is currently difficult into smaller pieces so that it is both manageable and possible to go further than they thought. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice
For beginning students, I use the Piano Adventure Series by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. I also use the A Thousand Stories for a Little Pianist by Katrin Arefy. My special methods in teaching young students include stories, easy duets, and singing familiar folk songs. For intermediate level students, I use different method books according to the student's interests. However, I encourage them to play Classical music, which is very useful in developing good techniques in piano playing. Read More
Instruments: Voice
My teaching started at my time at West Valley College. As a teacher assistant, I assisted students of a wide range of ages and levels. My experience as a teacher with younger students comes from my background in music education and choral conducting. I began teaching privately about a year ago. I teach beginning students, who learn important musicianship skills and music theory, to more advanced students, who seek to expand their repertoire and gain a deeper understanding of their instrument. Read More
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 Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
A cheap guitar given to me by my parents for Christmas started this life in a direction that has formed me and sustained me for over twenty years. My love for the music is deep and true and it is, to me, still the greatest joy on the planet. Time stands still for me every time that I pick it up and play. I have become the music monk meditating on scales and chord substitutions, finding my balance with light strings and heavy rhythms. Read More
Instruments: Drums Music
Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
My brother and I were the only musicians in our family. He is older than me, so I was exposed to music and the instruments that he played throughout my childhood. He played Sax, Accordion, Piano, and ultimately stuck with the guitar. In the sixties, he auditioned for Sha Na Na while attending Columbia University, but my parents would absolutely not allow him to join.
When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
It sort of came with the territory for me. You work hard everyday, practicing, and playing with anyone who would have you, make a lot of mistakes along the way, apply course correction, and then repeat. Being a professional musician also applies to one's mindset. You van be good at something and sound great, call yourself a professional, but if it's not in your DNA, then it can become a constant struggle. Keep a positive attitude when you play. Don't look at it as work or a chore. If you love what you do for a living, then it's not work at all. You've arrived!
What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
Blues, Rock and Jazz Fusion are my favorite styles. These musical genres are challenging and provides an opportunity to play odd time signatures and polyrhythms that build up your skillset as a player that you will find yourself incorporating into your playing.
If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
Rhythm Guitar
Piano
Bass Guitar
My older brother played the guitar as his primary instrument and taught me the basics when I was 9 years old. He auditioned for Sha Na Na in the late sixties.
My daughter is a trained classical pianist and I took piano lessons from her for 5 years. This improved my ability to sight read music on a completely different level than drums.
I took up the Bass guitar about 5 years ago.
What does a normal practice session look like for you?
For me, I dedicate 45-60 minutes everyday to practice. I warm-up on the practice pad for 20 minutes moving through rudiments, looping exercises, method books, and a variety of etudes, etc. After the practice pad, I move to the drum set and go through variations in the Ted Reed Syncopation book, as well apply snare drum lessons to the drum kit. Then to top off the session, I play along to (and record) a number of Jazz Fusion tracks, classic Rock, Country, Latin, and Blues, and World music.
I record everything I do so I can listen back with a critical ear to identify my trouble spots and then make it a priority to hit those elements hard over the next few practice sessions.
What is your dream piece to perform and why?
I dream to master anything performed by Dave Weckl. Dave is a highly capable and technical drummer with a great feel. But his ability to shift and displace notes and beats is hard to copy. I always get a great workout practicing his music.
If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
If I wasn't a musician, I would be a music producer and a recording studio engineer. I was a recording studio and radio engineering in my twenties, and that experience taught me about acoustics, dynamics, mixing consoles, microphones, effects, and processors that I still incorporate in my life as a musician to this day.
24 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Music lessons in Oakland to students of all ages and abilities.
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