Piano Lessons in Bernal Heights, CA

Instruments: Piano Clarinet

35 years teaching piano, music arranging, composition, theory, technique, personal expression. Beginning - Intermediate - Advanced. Intructor for Music School of Alameda. Music School at Sherman Clay, Private Music Studio, Music Director, 1st Trinity Lutheran Church Pianist for string orchestra, chamber groups, duos, trios, quartets, quintets. Accompanist for Vocalists, Instrumentalists. Pianist for Jazz Quartet Solo Pianist Classical, Jazz, Contemporary for Private Celebrations, Weddings, Birthdays, Graduations. Read More

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

My goal as a teacher is to make the student an independent musician as quickly as possible. For this, I work on developing multiple musical areas, from piano skills, to aural training, theory, sight reading, and more to make the student a well rounded and competent musician. The student should expect to have weekly assignments as well as practicing 3-4 days, if a beginner, or every day for intermediate for at least 30 minutes a day. 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

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

Students are excited to see others perform and get trophies and performance awards which motivates them to practice. If a student isn't having fun in their lessons, then I feel I'm not doing my job. I am also a composer who plays with my own rock band and I teach both songwriting and composition. I help my students with composing original music as well as arranging covers of popular hits. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Violin Cello Viola Mandolin Recorder Orchestral Percussion Music

I use various methods, books that will fit the student's needs. For instrumental, I use theory book with written activity that helps the student understand the fundamentals of music. In addition, I use various exercise and performance books that will develop the student's skill and master the instrument. For voice, I teach various vocal exercises and vocal techniques that will develop the student's voice. I have been passionate guiding students across various musical genres, including classical and contemporary, and languages such as English, German, Italian, French, and more. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute Music

Learning about music involves so much more than technique or scales, but also relies so much on their emotions and mindset. I want to prioritize their own independence within these lessons in regards to choosing their own repertoire or experimenting with their own compositional style so that they can embrace how liberating and fun learning about music and being creative can be, rather than seeing it as a chore! I also want to make sure that their musical journey is built with the right mindset - a lot of the time there is unnecessary toxic, competitive energy within other musicians which defeats the whole purpose of inspirational collaboration that can come from playing music with others. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I have started piano students off with Piano Adventures Primer Lessons and Theory, and have taught adults using the Alfred Basic Adult Piano Course. I do have students learning from John Thompson's Teaching Little Fingers How to Play method (moves more quickly than Piano Adventures), and have a Blues Piano student learning from various sources including How to Play Boogie Woogie (Hal Leonard/Wise). I teach beginning guitar using the Hal Leonard Guitar Method, also Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method, and Mel Bay's Fun With Strums. Read More