Music Lessons in Portola Hills, CA

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Lap Steel Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I find a balanced approach to studying technique, sight reading, theory and the students favorite songs to be the best recipe for keeping motivated and engaged. Beginning students will use Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method (Book 1) to get into the basics of these elements down, while learning basic voicings of the most common chords that will allow them to dive into playing some of their favorite songs almost immediately.  Lessons for more advanced students will be tailored to their individual needs, and can cover anything from improvising, to songwriting to learning complicated solos and advanced guitar techniques. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

For seven years, I have taught private trombone lessons in cities as far away as Los Angeles and as close to home as Boston itself. Although my primary instrument is trombone, I am able to teach lessons in composition and arranging, and can work with beginning piano students. I also use the piano as a tool for developing consistent tone on the trombone, and to teach ear training and music theory. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

Regardless of a student's skill level, I utilize my own personal methods and lesson plans when teaching. I find that building a personal plan with each student helps in building and maintaining the student's interest in continuing to learn. for beginners, as well as younger students, I start with showing the student how to hold and get sound from the instrument. I then assign them a single major scale and possibly a simple song to play along with. Read More

Instruments: Piano

For young students I use Faber and Alfred books. As well as Famous and Fun books which have popular tunes to help keep the students motivated to practice. My older students work in the standard Hanon exercise book which helps develop agility and evenness in the hands and fingers. I also teach my students all 12 Major and minor scales, arpeggios, and chord progressions. My more advanced students usually learn classical music and Jazz/Blues Rags series by Martha Mier. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I have had the passion of teaching piano since I started building experience through further studying Piano Pedagogy. The courses I was honored to take were extremely valuable for the piano teaching jobs I was able to find for the next decade. My most rewarding experience was when my long-term student of 5 years won first place in her first "Battle of the Bands" for playing Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are". Read More

Instruments: Piano Clarinet

As a piano teacher and composer, I have always loved teaching and working with children in the area of music and the arts. I graduated from Ithaca College School of Music with a BA in music composition and an instrumental emphasis on string bass and piano. I have been performing throughout grade school, in college and after college. I have been with groups such as the New Patlz Symphony Orchestra and the Saddleback Church Orchestra on string bass, and the Ulster County Concert Band on clarinet. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute

I love to transmit to my students the passion that led me into music, without that it would have been impossible to pursuing my career in the first place. I encourage them to listen and explore different style of music and experiment with improvvisation, having fun and learning at the same time. Read More