Music Lessons in Stinson Beach, CA

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

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

I am a dedicated teacher who plans his lessons individually for each student, based on their current level, needs, and interests. My emphasis is on making practicing fun while keeping the lessons challenging. I don't have a one-size-fits-all approach. I do not want to bore my students, or insist on working on music they don't enjoy. Also, one approach that works for student A might not work for student B, so I am flexible and happy to explain things from different angles, as many times as it takes for the student to fully understand the topic. Read More

Instruments: Drums

At age 13 years old, I started playing the drums, first with private instructions with some of the greatest drummers in New York City such as Gene Krupa, Cozy Cole, and Rufus Bede Jones. I played in High school Band, University of California Jazz ensemble. I toured at many schools. I was on the same teaching staff with Tony Williams, Steve Smith and David Garibaldi. I teach all styles of drumming. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

My teaching experience goes back to 1985 when I got my Masters of Music in Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music. As soon as I got back to California I started teaching privately. I have also been on the faculty of the Notre Dame college in Belmont, Santa Clara University and the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View. I also coach in the middle schools and high schools nearby. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I like to use supplementary materials if a method book isn't covering musical territory that the student wants to explore. Although I insist a student learn to read music, I encourage learning by ear and have helped students find a melody on the piano by ear rather than reading notes. Patience is my watchword but I will always encourage and document practice times. I tell the student, you can't achieve your music goals without practice, preferably every day. Read More

Instruments: Voice

In 2002, I participated in San Francisco Opera Center Merola Opera Program for young singers and sang Musetta with Western Opera on tour. In 2006 I became a First Prize and Special Award winner in Rose Palmai-Tenser Vocal Competition and Prize Winner in Opera Index Competition in New York. In 2007 I was announced the Best Leading Female Singer in North East in Season 2006-2007 by Opera Online. The most memorable moments of my career include performing Aida with Teatro Massimo Palermo, Requiem Verdi on stage of Academy of Santa Cecilia in Vatican and in Kennedy Center, performing as a principal soloist with Bolshoi Opera Theatre in Moscow. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

My method is to incorporate proper technique and fingering, and though reading music is important, i also put emphasis on hearing what your playing and also understanding it theoretically. This way students will be well-rounded and be able to understand what they are playing from an audio and theoretical stance, rather than just being told what to play by the notes on the sheet music. What this does is it allows the student to become independent so that they don't have to rely on music and a teacher to be able to play or pick-up songs they desire to play. Read More