Music Lessons in San Quentin, CA

Instruments: Drums

I am super passionate about drumming and it is important that lessons are fun and engaging. I like to mix up the content of the class and am flexible as to the student's objectives and needs. I like to talk in terms of concepts and approach to drumming, both mentally and physically, in order to visualize and simplify ideas. I am quite detail oriented when it comes to foundational technique with a strong belief that understanding rhythmic relations and styles is key to significantly faster improvement. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

I have been paying guitar for over 15 years. My love of improvisation brought me to the California Jazz Conservatory where I have been studying since 2012. In fall 2016 I will graduate with a B.M. in Jazz Studies, focusing on guitar. I play in a local rock/funk band, The Electic Soul Factory, and I am a founder a of The Moldy Fig Improvised Music Collective, for which I compose and arrange the material. Read More

Instruments: Drums

To take students from introductory to performance level, to teach students a drummers main job to be the time keeper in any ensemble, an orchestra, jazz band, rock band, power trio whatever music ensemble in which they are participating; equip the student with the ability to play the fundamental styles, blues shuffles, rock patterns, basic jazz patterns, funk patterns Read More

Instruments: Piano Cello Keyboard

I try to balance the needs of my students and work to strengthen their musical weaknesses for example working on Vibrato or bow distribution. Usually, I like to spend 10 minutes warming up both hands with long tones, scales, arpeggios, and other fun exercises. During the next 30 minutes, we tend to focus on fixing issues relating to the music such as rhythms or intonation issues. In the last 20 minutes of the lesson I tend to focus on musicality and finding inspiration to give to my students so they can exploit their potential. Read More

Instruments: Piano Oboe

If a student is not interested in classical music, then I may introduce some film music, popular songs, or jazz music in solo piano versions. I am pretty open-minded to provide options for students and allow students to pick the repertoires they are interested. For advanced students, I may assign one or two pieces from each stylistic period (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century, and Contemporary) to prepare them for a full recital program. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I am an experienced trombonist and teacher with degrees from the New England Conservatory and California State University at East Bay (MA in Music anticipated Fall 2020). I have been teaching since the 1990s, and performing all over the world since the early 2000s. My primary instrument is on trombone, but have had students on tuba, euphonium, and beginning trumpet as well. My performance experience is primarily in the jazz, pop, and rock genres, but am conservatory-trained and well-equipped to prepare young students to enter the classical world as well. Read More