Music Lessons in Pope Valley, CA

Instruments: Piano Drums Synthesizer Keyboard

My experience with music goes back since I have memories. Music has been in my life and family and this is why I decided to become a professional musician and study hard to improve my skills and knowledge. My first piano lession I had 10 years and my first professional keyboard I was 15. Drums came along with my brothers toy drum to finally buy a real kit. All my brothers are a musician and it really helped to open to different styles and concepts. Read More

Instruments: Piano Music Keyboard

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Faber's Piano Adventures or Suzuki's Piano School, however I am open to other books. Faber focuses more on written and piano practice whereas Suzuki focuses on auditory learning and piano practice. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter their ability level. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I teach many odd time signatures, four way independence. I teach out of the most educated drum books that all of the great drummers have studied. I also encourage my students all of the great drummers on recordings and videos. Here are the books that I use: Here are some important books: a) Louis Bellson's Snare drum book; b) Gene Krupa, Cozy Cole Sensational Drum Book; c) Jim Chapin's Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer; d) Ultimate encyclopedia for the drum set; e) George Lawrence Stone's Stick Control Read More

Instruments: Voice

I teach all levels and use a wide variety of methods for teaching, matching the students with what is most effective for their learning style and goals. I typically teach one-on-one with the student in my home office, giving vocal coaching and singing lessonsn lessons for children, adults, individuals and small groups; beginning or advanced levels. Students always love being in my class as I teach with patience and understanding, but have clear expectations about the proper way to sing and perform by creating a personalized lesson plan tailored to your needs. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I began instructing young adults in harmony, theory and piano when I was nineteen in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. After high school, I began putting my poetry to music and this led to a move to California to try and make it as a songwriter. I played with several music acts in the Bay Area, toured the east coast and Midwest, and wrote music for the theater, notably an original score for Bertolt Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trombone

For three years I was a camp counselor in the La Honda Music Camp (Hayward, CA). As a counselor, I looked after 10-12 middle school-aged girls, oversaw brass sectionals, coached trombone, and assisted in the junior wind ensemble. In high school I used to coach my classmates in the trombone section. In my grad school years I began to teach beginning piano and trombone. My hope when teaching music is that the kids have a lot of fun learning their instrument, so I always encourage them to learn songs they'd like to sing/play along to. Read More

Instruments: Bass Guitar Electric Guitar

Whenever someone describes what music is, they will use words like passion, expression, life, love, or things of that nature. NEVER will someone say music is scales, theory, or sitting alone in your room practicing. I aim to combine the theory and basic knowledge of music with the purity of expression that comes whenever you're on stage. With this style of learning, you'll never want to put your instrument down! Read More