Music Lessons in San Mateo, CA

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion

My passion for music began when I studied classical piano at six years old. As a kid in church, I began to have a keen interest in the drums when watching the church praise band. It didn't take long for me to gravitate toward their kinetic and infectious energy as I was often found banging on the church drums after service. By the time I turned ten years old, I finally convinced my parents to get me drum lessons, and the rest, as they say, is history. Read More

Instruments: Piano

It's been my strong belief that every student is unique in all aspects - it is my responsibility to recognize the uniqueness of the student, and individualize the lesson for each student's need. I am familiar with multiple methods - the most common ones include Alfred Basic Library, PIano Adventures, Music Tree, and Piano Safari; other methods include Bastien Piano Basics, Hal Leonard's Essential Elements, and many others. I use different methods with different students - decisions are usually made after the initial interview or when I have sufficient observation of the student's learning style, background, and personality. Read More

Instruments: Double Bass

My teaching experience has not been particularly extensive professionally. I have taught privately on and off since I was 20, however I have never really had the time to pursue it the way I am now that I am out of school. With younger students, we work slowly and reach milestones confidently to ensure the student feels they are achieving something while we work to promote healthy playing habits that won't lead to injury down the path. Read More

Instruments: Mallet Percussion

Born in Tehran, I began playing the santour at the age nine. While studying with Mr. Behnam Mehrabi I found a deep spiritual desire to study music, an "unexplainable souvenir from the eternal truth". A graduate from San Francisco State University, I'm a Nagle Scholar, and the only World/Jazz music major in Northern California, with Persian santour as his primary instrument. As a fulltime musician, I'm active in the fields of performance, composition, ethnomusicology, and teaching. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching method for complete beginners is to take examples from method books such as the Aaron Shearer method book, and apply it so that the student can become accustomed to using their fingers to pluck and frets strings. After they get a sense of how to use their hands on the instrument, I would automatically start teaching pieces. I believe that pieces are the most practical way to learn an instrument because first, playing pieces is the goal that we want to achieve in the first place and second, I believe that all of the techniques that are needed when playing an instrument are all included in pieces. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Ukulele Recorder Euphonium French Horn Tuba Music

Making sure that the student is having fun, learning and achieving their musical goals is most important. I understand that each student progresses at their own pace and has diffrent goals and desires. While there are certian excersises that everyone needs to work on, solos and concert pieces are what students are drawn to. Therefore, I make sure that students are working on fun and challenging pieces that will keep them engaged in music. Read More

Instruments: Voice

My teaching started at my time at West Valley College. As a teacher assistant, I assisted students of a wide range of ages and levels. My experience as a teacher with younger students comes from my background in music education and choral conducting. I began teaching privately about a year ago. I teach beginning students, who learn important musicianship skills and music theory, to more advanced students, who seek to expand their repertoire and gain a deeper understanding of their instrument. Read More