Music Lessons in Valley Ford, CA

Instruments: Voice Music

For beginning students, I typically start with the foundational elements, focusing primarily on technique and simple application into song. I slowly introduce repertoire that is appropriate and can highlight their strengths. For more advanced singers, I continue to build upon the foundational elements and guide my instructions based upon the student's interest and goals. I am building custom lesson plans and materials suitable for the student, so the plans will be unique for the individual. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students I prefer to use Mathew Hinsley's method "Guitar for Young People". All of the peers that I grew to admire growing up with guitar used this method and became very good very quickly. Once the student has outgrown this method of introducing guitar I like to dive into what interests them, any style of music, and anything that will push their passion for learning guitar. The first and foremost thing for students is allowing them to grow with the guitar, and anything that might help with that is something I'll do. Read More

Instruments: Oboe English Horn

One of my teachers told me, x22Practice does not make perfect, practice makes permanent!x22 I focus not just on technique and repertoire, but how to practice properly. Proper practice helps a student to learn and grow at home after a lesson. Imparting a student with the proper fundamentals to learn with is important to me. (From the perspective of someone who had to un-learn many bad habits upon acceptance as an oboe performance major.) Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

I first started teaching at age 17, whilst in the UK, and continued to do so through college and University, I am also now a working Musical Director, which involves musicianship instruction and voice technique. Read More

Instruments: Voice

My lessons are highly individualized and directed to the musical level of my students. My students always comment that my patience, passion and honesty help them achieve singing and performing levels that they never imagined possible. I start every new student with an honest appraisal of their starting point as well as their potential. I am very outgoing and try to understand fully each students aspirations and dedication, which is quite important. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I use a variety of books, recordings, and online resources for all levels- transcriptions of classicstylesand newer artists , scale and chordreference books, solo pieces for different genres,beginning guitarmethods bytraditional publishers such as Hal Leonard and Warner Bros. plus newer books. Online video and audio content andrecording software such as garageband arealso valuable resources to work with.Learning to read and write music opens up great potential for communication and creativity- theory and improvisation are other topics that I like to teach. Read More

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

When teaching piano I always start with this question: "Why are you taking piano lessons?". The answer is very important to me because it gives me an idea of how to approach the lessons. There are many different reasons for taking lessons and both student and teacher need to be clear on what purpose the lessons will serve. No matter the level I will always focus on playing in a relaxed and natural manner. Read More