Music Lessons in Outer Sunset West Portal, CA

Instruments: Voice

As stated above, I have been teaching and coaching private voice for over 10 years.   I have been in demand as Vocal and Music Director for numerous community musical theatre productions.   I have enjoyed working with students age 8 to 78. I am well-versed in classical, musical theatre and popular repertoire.   The most important thing to note is that I believe there is ONE healthy and safe way to sing.  We just learn to color our sound to meet stylistic needs. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

For my beginning students, I start out with a mixture of my own exercises, as well as basic songs using open strings, string crossings and rhythms, before moving to songs with basic fingerwork on one string (scale plus rhythm based). I usually supplement this beginning process with Essential Elements, before intruducing the Suzuki Method Book 1, Doflein Method Book 1, and rhythmic exercises from the Kodaly method. For my intermediate students, I use a mixture of Galamian bowing technique, emphasis on etudes and position work, Suzuki method, Barbara Barber scales and rep. books, and level-appropriate classical literature, combined with solo repetoire of the student's interest/choosing. Read More

Instruments: Drums

Lessons are given on two drums sets: instructor and student. I fulfill the needs and desires of the students and make them progress as a musician. I inspire them in this way. I also stress to my students that there are no short cuts to become a great musician like taking drugs and alcohol. My philosophy to them is that anything that you want to become good and great in, you have to work hard for. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I grew up in a household full of music. My Dad loved jazz while my Mother loved opera and classical music. They constantly played their respective recordings throughout the day. I began guitar lessons at 9 with a music teacher in the neighborhood who had a good reputation. However, I found his teaching style to be lacking warmth or any specific direction. So I quit and began teaching myself by learning melodies and chords from rock, pop and jazz recordings. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

For beginning students I like to start in the Standard of Excellence Series as well as the Rubank Method Books. I also try to allow my students a chance to play something they want at the end of lessons. As my students advance we add in classical pieces as well as jazz, and improvisation. Older students and adults we can fgure out what you want from the lessons. I try to work it so it is enjoyable for you yet not as elementary. The goal is to become advanced enough to create your own music. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I have started piano students off with Piano Adventures Primer Lessons and Theory, and have taught adults using the Alfred Basic Adult Piano Course. I do have students learning from John Thompson's Teaching Little Fingers How to Play method (moves more quickly than Piano Adventures), and have a Blues Piano student learning from various sources including How to Play Boogie Woogie (Hal Leonard/Wise). I teach beginning guitar using the Hal Leonard Guitar Method, also Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method, and Mel Bay's Fun With Strums. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

My experience in teaching is not only in the musical aspect. I was also a Spanish teacher for Centro Latino in Berkeley. Teaching music is like teaching another languages. In my specialties, clarinet and saxophone, the pause, breathing and acentuation have a very important part in phrasing the notes. The melody should flow "as we speak", in a normal way and with the right entonation. I have two children who are also musicians, an 11 year old daughter and a 13 year old son. Read More