Music Lessons in Pacific Heights, CA

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Euphonium

For beginners, I use the Standards of Excellence book, especially if they are young children because that is the book that they will most likely use in middle school or high school. These books are good for teaching the fundamentals. I also assign a solo piece based on skill level along with an excerpt of a song that the student wants to learn. For more advanced students I use the Arban's book because all trumpet players learn from this book; from intermediate players all the way up to professionals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Oboe

I start playing the piano when I was 5 and started playing oboe at the age of 8 in Guanran Catholic Music Elementary School in Taiwan- a school that taught music theory, ear-training, aural skills, music history, choir, and orchestra, in addition to regular academic classes. Throughout my life, I have performed as a solo and collaborative pianist, instrumental and vocal accompanist, oboist, choral singer, and conductor in various venues in US, Taiwan, China, and Italy. Read More

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

I set goals and targets for my students every lesson, and design assessments to determine wether they have met those goals and what they need further to succeed. At the end of each lesson, I give the student my notes for things to remember as they continue practicing throughout the week. I design my plans to be flexible with the students goal and pace, but also designed to ensure the student is getting their necessary practice time and musical training each and every week. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Synthesizer Keyboard

At the age of 23, I traveled to the U.S.A. and studied Afro-Beat rhythms along with other African beats. Back in Chile I became a member of many different bands such as Uruz, Trboles, Avioneta, The Zulus Casi Famosos, and began my career as a Musician, Event Producer. I develop a great interest in sounds and Synthesizers. In 2010 I starts Armando Jarana Production Company participating in more than 200 live shows. Read More

Instruments: Voice

Im Kenya M., and Im so happy youre here and ready to begin this vocal journey. Ive been a professional singer for over 20 years, performing throughout the U.S., Canada, and Italy in a variety of musical styles - from Classical and Opera to Latin Jazz and Brazilian Bossa Nova; and have even contributed to Grammy nominated albums. Whether Im on stage with my Brazilian Jazz ensemble, or performing classical works, music has is (and has always been) at the center of my life. 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: Guitar

I use beginning guitar books such as Hal Leonard that show the basic layout of the guitar and are an introduction to reading. Also chord books, books on scales, jazz methods, fake books, classical books and such. I like to teach my own style,being creative and going beyond basics. I teach the student how to hold and place their hands properly on the guitar. How to develop a nice light touch and get a real nice sound. Read More