Music Lessons in Onion Creek, TX

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

First off, I find out what inspired the student to want to play music and I'll get a feel for the type of music that they're interested in. Then I will create a custom lesson plan for that student. There is so much to discover about music, so I encourage setting small goals each lesson. I like to teach my students songs that present many different melodic scenarios and help them develop their ear so that can start to recognize all types of chord progressions, melodies and rhythmic patterns. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium Tuba

In 2012, I created the Jazz Trombone Workshop geared for high school tenor and bass trombone players who are wanting to learn more about the art of jazz trombone. In the inaugural year, Grammy Award winning trombonist Mark Gonzales of the band Grupo Fantasma was guest clinician at the workshop. Composing and arranging is a passion I have in addition to teaching. In 2013 and 2016, TJEA selected a jazz etude I had written to be used in the Texas All-Region/State auditions throughout the state of Texas. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I have my students start with sufficient stretching to get the body ready for singing. Following that, I warm up their voices with different scales and specific singing exercises, which I will use independently with students in different levels. Afterwards, we work on the music. I usually pick the music for my students. However, if there is a piece of music that my student particularly wants to learn, I am willing to compromise as long as it is suitable for his/her voice. Read More

Instruments: Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

My method of teaching varies from person to person because as individuals, we all have a different way of thinking and understanding to music. But basically I love to start with the fundamental approach no matter which category you fall as a student whether you are a beginner. Drumming is an art an a form of communication. Drumming was used as a communication tool to convey messages from the traditional chief or rulers to the ordinary cities or residents of most of the west african countries of which Ghana is an example of those countries, so it may depend on which style of music the student is interested in. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

When it comes to children, I believe that structure is necessary. So, I usually assign arrangements from a book based on their skill level. In most cases, I use Hal Leonard books and move chronologically from beginner and onward. As students progress, I tend to shift more towards fundamental skills, like how to properly pick certain songs, how scales work, and how to build relevant chords. Eventually, all of this will summate to being a fully capable guitarist. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Bass Guitar

Every student has the ability to learn and understand music at any level, as long as the teacher knows how to key-into that ability of that student, in order to teach the student. In other words, very person in the world has a motivating factor, or reason of interest, in whatever they do. The same applies to music knowledge acquisition. This, i take the advantage of, in order to bring the student to the point of learning where, motivation becomes personal as the student appreciates the learning process. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

I love to encourage my students to develop their teaching, technical and artistic abilities. For instance, the first class helps me to analyze and have an approach to the students playing. Then, I ask about his interests or concerns regarding technique, musicianship or repertory. All this allows me to make suggestions that help create a program based on the student's needs. I usually include mechanism and melodic etudes, also a solo piece and a sonata or concerto (one movement or the entire piece if the student wishes to work it all). Read More