Music Lessons in Santa Clara, CA

Instruments: Viola

For beginners, we'll start with the ABCs of Viola, and Hal Leonard's Essential Elements for Strings, along with Suzuki, Vol 1. We'll work on developing skills as a soloist, and simple duets that the student and I can play together. For intermediate students, we'll go further into the Hal Leonard books, and the Suzuki series, 2 octave scales, double stops, vibrato, musical phrasing. It's very important to enjoy the process of learning the viola, so I always want to make it fun! Read More

Instruments: Drums

I began teaching when I substituted for one of my previous drum instructors while he was gone on a short vacation, and I instantly loved the whole process. Shortly after, I began teaching a couple of weekly beginning African drumming classes, as well as teaching through the Boys Girls Club. My experience with both of these positions was invaluable, and helped me realize that I love helping students find that moment where everything clicks! Read More

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

I am motivated to teach students all aspects of music. Each lesson focuses on scales and exercises, performance pieces, and musical creation. I graduated from St. Mary's college in 2006 with a BA of performing arts. I am currently playing with the Walnut Creek Concert Band and The Community Womens Orchestra. I have had the opportunity to play with Awesome Orchestra, Dirty Cello, a Prince cover band and many other jazz and classical groups. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Ukulele Acoustic Guitar

Since my graduate degree days 25 years ago , I have been steadily teaching both as a private instructor, and in classroom situations... I'll confess that, while group lessons do foster an energy that can be exciting, the reality of dividing my teaching attention between multiple students is not quite as exciting at putting ALL my effort and attention int one private student! As a choir director, I not only have the opportunity to teach "voice," but "musicality," and I find that to be an highly satisfying experience! Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Accordion Music Keyboard

I am from a family of musicians. As a child I performed all over California. As an adult I still perform and teach piano, composition, and voice. I also have been successful in teaching through distant learning so although I am located in California, I am able to reach my students and make a difference in their musical lives. I am an accomplished composer, pianist and vocalist. As a piano student I was asked directly into the piano Masters program at California State University Fresno thus bypassing the bachelor studies. Read More

Instruments: Oboe English Horn

For beginning oboists I typically start with the Gekeler Method for Oboe. Once a student has moved passed the basics the fun begins with Ferling Etudes, the Barret Oboe Method, and the Vade Mecum! There is a wide variety of solos, sonatas, and concertos available for study between these method books intended solely for oboists. They also include duets that are fun to play together, and repertoir for the English horn as well. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I like to emphasize learning technique through pieces, rather than practicing only technique on its own, as that can get boring very quickly! For beginning students, I like to start with the Piano Adventures series, which has pieces which are easy, teach basic techniques, but also are musically interesting. Once they have the fundamentals, we can begin working on solo repertoire that interests the student. For older students who are interested in 20th century music, I like to teach Bartok's Mikrokosmos. Read More