Music Lessons in South Gate , CA

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Saxophone

I was born in the town of Hebron, Ohio and graduated from a small rural high school. I first found my love for music with the help of my high school band director Mr. Scott Coffey, a graduate of Ohio University. From the 7th grade until high school graduation, I studied saxophone privately with Mr. Coffey, and held the highest position in the high school symphonic band. I was a part of many honor bands around Ohio including two years of Ohio University honor Band, two years of District Honor Band, and Capital University Honor Reading Band. I participated in marching band for all four years of high school and for two years at Ohio University with the Marching 110. In high school I arranged music for the marching band to play. After high school graduation in 2009 I attended Ohio University, studying Music Composition privately with Dr. Mark Phillips and Music Production at Ohio University Scripps College of Communication. I was a part of a variety of projects during my four years. One of the first major projects was being the music director for the musical “Rent” for the Los Flamingo Company, and I spent much of my time training vocalist and organizing the orchestra pit. With Dr. Mark Phillips and Professor Andre Gribou, a film composer, I began studying film music. I composed for countless films for the HTC Ohio University Program and for graduate student films, and also wrote the full score for an 88 minute film. The main focus of my music composing was in Midi composing and sample music, and while in college I maintained many sound libraries from Sweetwater Music and learned to perfect sample library composing. The study of Music Production came very easy for me and I enjoyed learning how to use many Digital Audio Workstation’s (DAW’s), as well as recording artists, finding talent, and learning the art of mastering albums. I had the opportunity to work at Ohio University School of Music as their sound engineer from 2009-2012, in charge of recording, mixing, and mastering the concerts for school records and educational use. Outside of working for the School of Music, I also got to record countless bands and watch professors recording artists professionally in the Radio Television Recording Studio.  As a recent graduate of Ohio University, I moved to Los Angeles California in pursuit of a film music and sound engineering career. 

Instruments: Voice

I am a singing-actor who enjoys performing and passing on my knowledge of singing to others.  I graduated from the University of Southern California twice, earning both my masters and bachelors degrees from the Thornton School of Music in vocal performance.  My career so far as given me wonderful opportunties to sing in Europe and in well respected music festivals in the United States, such as the Aspen Music Festival.  

Instruments: Voice

Our lessons will have three broad areas of focus: Discovering a unique and personal sound through playful vocal exploration. (Influences: David Jones, Joan Sutherland, Monseratt Caballe and Seth Riggs) Developing concrete skills like range and agility with classic singing exercises. (Influences: bel canto, rythmn & blues, and musical theater singing.) Understanding how thinking and physicality play a necessary role in vocalization. (Influences: the Alexander Technique, Neurodynamics, and acting training.) What is it like in my studio? First, there is no nerve-racking 'audition' to prepare, and no one is turned away because he or she isn't 'good enough'. (In fact, I enjoy working with beginners!) When I first meet a student, I don't ever assume that just because he or she has had years of vocal training with other teachers, he or she has actually learned or acquired good technique. (Most of my students have come to me after they have already studied with other teachers, but were disatisfied with the results.) Nor do I assume that a singer with absolutely no formal instruction in singing in his or her background doesn't already have some good fundamental skills to further build upon. Every new student, regardless of skill level or experience, starts with a clean slate when he or she walks through my door. The success I experience as a teacher encompasses the creation of a safe and welcoming classroom environment, positive rapport with students, individualization of instruction, knowledge and application of the new state standards, and practicing multiple modes of instruction. Technique: Solid technique helps my students learn to sing properly, skillfully and healthily. The fundamentals of breath management (e.g., utilization of the correct 'support' muscles, breath pacing, timing breath renewals, regulating the airflow and air pressure, etc.), tone, resonance balancing (configuring the vocal tract in order to achieve optimal resonance and unforced volume), evenness of scale (so that the voice sounds like one consistent voice from the bottom of the range to the top, without register breaks), appropriate and skillful registration events (shifts between registers), smooth legato lines (fluid transitions between notes), range extension, stamina, versatility (the ability to produce a variety of sound qualities and to sing in a variety of styles), agility and flexibility (the ability to move the voice readily, easily and quickly between pitches, intervals, registers, etc., which is particularly helpful for singing embellishments and mellismatic runs), healthy, 'free' voice production and vocal care are essential to being able to sing well, and they are the focus of my teaching I also incorporate performance coaching, acting coaching and audition preparation when appropriate.

Instruments: Guitar Saxophone Electric Guitar Djembe Acoustic Guitar

I began teaching guitar lessons back in 2008 and have been doing so for almost 10 years. After my bachelors I was then hired by the Community Arts Partnership through CalArts and have been teaching/facilitating workshops throughout Los Angeles teaching West African drumming, singing and dance. I have taught all ages from kindergarten to adults. I have also had the privilege to teach in the Juvenile Justice System, The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and other community based centers throughout Los Angeles. In 2012 I had the opportunity to go to Mexico City and teach a 2 day workshop with local music students at the Cultural Arts Center which culminating into a final performance of the taught material.