Music Lessons in Sebastopol, CA

Instruments: Bass Guitar Electric Guitar

Most of my curriculum will be based around what you'd like to do. For example, if you'd like to get into the start of great electric bass playing, we can cover Larry Graham, James Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, and all the intricacies of the lines that they made. And if you'd like to learn how to keep up with 16th note double bass at 280bpm or higher, I can show you that too! Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet Music

I have twenty years teaching and I think the key to success is to enjoy when you play and have fun. I´ll give you the tools to advance at your own rhythm, making consistence progress, exploring the music you like. We will practice long note exercises to develop sound and pitch, play scales in many different ways and connect them in different chord progressions, play tunes at your level capacity, transcribe, analyze and play solos of the masters (Parker, Coltrane, etc.), and create your own solos and language. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I've been playing music, teaching, and performing over a variety of ways across the bay area for over 12 years. I received a degree in Jazz Studies and Composition from Sonoma State University in 2006 and have been utilizing my degree as a creative artist and sharing my knowledge with students since 2002 where I grew up in the foothills sound of Yosemite National Park. I play Saxophone, Clarinet, and Flute, along with Piano and Guitar for deeper ways of relating music to my life. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trombone

My teaching style is flexible. One of my teachers asked me up front how hard I wanted him to be on me and thats something we would go over as well. Its important I learn the personality and learning style of the student. Its important to establish a trust and understanding so as not to take criticisms personally so that we can develop weaknesses and build on strengths. Every musician has different strengths and weaknesses my goal is to help them achieve their best musical self to grow their confidence and be as fully realized as possible. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

For my beginning students, I start out with a mixture of my own exercises, as well as basic songs using open strings, string crossings and rhythms, before moving to songs with basic fingerwork on one string (scale plus rhythm based). I usually supplement this beginning process with Essential Elements, before intruducing the Suzuki Method Book 1, Doflein Method Book 1, and rhythmic exercises from the Kodaly method. For my intermediate students, I use a mixture of Galamian bowing technique, emphasis on etudes and position work, Suzuki method, Barbara Barber scales and rep. books, and level-appropriate classical literature, combined with solo repetoire of the student's interest/choosing. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I believe in encouragement, fun and positive focus on the students progress at whatever speed that they progress. This makes each student look forward to each lesson with eagerness and actually accelerates their progress. I never push a student and instead encourage and edify the student and try to use their own favorite pieces of music to keep them excited about their next lesson. Acknowledging small progress is the key and I never let a student leave without celebrating their accomplishments no matter how small! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass

I have worked for many years teaching, counseling and assisting students with their love and joy of music. During my teaching career I have also helped students with conflict resolution, coping skills, issues with and surrounding pride and culture, college selection, application processes, financing and preparation for college. I have taught a very diverse group of students, which has allowed me to learn various approaches to communicating and working with students from all walks of life. Read More