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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in El Monte . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Fiddle French Horn Piccolo Oboe
My approach to learning an instruments is to have the students learn to play by ear first before they can start learning to read music. I find that most students are able to progress quickly because it frees them to focus on the playing the instruments rather than reading notes. I consider reading music like different subject that they learn later. Learning music is like learning to speak. First we learn to talk and then we learn to read and write. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice
I am a musician, singer-songwriter, composer with a Master of Fine Arts in music from the California Institute of the Arts, specialization Performer-Composer and a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles. I have been composing and performing music for most of my life and enjoy connecting with all students at all levels and ages. I believe that each of us have different paths and experiences that lead us to expressing ourselves artistically. Read More
Instruments: Piano Trumpet Saxophone Euphonium
I recently moved to Orange County from Napa, CA where a majority of my training in piano began. I got my bachelors in Biochemistry/Chemistry, and near the end decided that a change was needed! I immediately threw myself into piano and music and haven't looked back since. 4 recitals later, 20 students later, Chopin Etudes I never thought I would ever be able to play in my life later... here I am. Read More
Instruments: Piano
Everyone learns differently, so I tailor my lessons to meet the needs and goals of each individual. In any case, regular practice and lessons are crucial to success. I encourage the parents of young students to be involved in their kids' progress to help establish good habits. With adults, it's all about developing a regular practice schedule that they can stick to realistic goals. I like to spend lesson time addressing at least 2 pieces of music, some sort of technical skill, and occasionally incorporating games and listening exercises. Read More
Instruments: Piano Violin
I stress the basics: scales, arpeggios and chords for piano and scales and double stops for violin. In regard to the piano, I have students practice each hand alone before combining them. Generally two pieces are assigned for students to work on and that work is continued for several weeks. I emphasize sight reading and rhythm. These are two aspects of music that are difficult for many. In regard to reading, the names and purposes of the various signs and symbols must be learned. Read More
Instruments: Piano Bass Guitar
I have given lessons over the years at middle schools and privately and enjoy seeing a student put in the work and hear them play what the songs/ riffs they wanted too. I have the capacity to record yourself and accompany you on keyboards or drums and can build on that. I have a team to bring your ideas and creativity to life and for everyone to see and hear or it can all be just for you. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice
I am a music composer and vocalist who enjoys writing music that breaks harmonic and timbral conventions. I have spent the past 12 years of my life studying to become a better musician, performer, and composer. I love to use my knowledge and experience to teach the next generation of musicians and performers. In 2016, I graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Composition and Vocal Jazz Performance. Read More
Instruments: Saxophone
If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have a Bachelor of Music degree from Western Connecticut State University in Jazz Saxophone Performance. Before I attended WCSU, I was in a classically oriented program at a liberal arts college and I found it to be stifling creatively. I greatly respect the classical saxophone tradition, but as a tenor player I found that there was a lack of interesting tenor repertoire that I was able to play.
By pursuing a jazz performance degree, I found that it gave me more than enough time to practice what I was interested in while giving me a lot of time to perform outside of school and make my network bigger.
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
There are a few that come to mind. One of the most prominent is the first time I performed a composition that I wrote in front of an audience. The feeling of being able to share my work with people while playing with a great band was indescribable.
Another proud accomplishment of mine was performing with one of my longtime heroes Orrin Evans at a concert while I was a student at WCSU. Orrin is one of my absolute favorite musicians and being able to play with him was truly a blessing.
Finally, winning the Jazz Chamber Group portion of the 2016 James Furman Concerto Competition. I was placed in a great combo with some of my best friends, and being able to win while we were just being ourselves felt great.
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I actually have had a few teachers who have inspired me to be a musician full time. The first was one of my saxophone teachers in high school, John Lowery. John taught at a summer camp I attended, and he introduced me to some of the older jazz records that helped me shape my concept of how to play the saxophone.
The second was Mike DiRubbo, who taught me while I was at working Litchfield Jazz Camp in college. At this stage I was feeling very unmotivated about pursuing music as a career and I wasn't practicing as much as I should have been. Mike gave me a tough love speech about how I wasn't doing myself any favors by not trying my hardest, and that all the natural talent I had wouldn't help me if I wasn't willing to work hard. This was the wake-up call I needed to start studying music with everything I had.
When will I start to see results?
This greatly depends on the student and how much they practice on a daily basis. If a student is highly motivated to learn and they practice consistently on a daily basis and they grasp the material, you could see results in as little as 1 or 2 weeks.
For some students, there will be some difficulties with certain topics or with finding the time to practice, so the process will take a bit longer. It's important to be patient and understanding with each student while they try to find their way. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
I find that splitting the allotted time I have to practice into 3 topics helps me tackle the most important elements of the saxophone: sound, technique, and music.
For example, let's say I have 1 hour to practice some things before I leave for work. By following the "rule of 3", I have 20 minutes for sound, 20 minutes for technique, and 20 minutes for music. I'd probably divide it up like this
Sound: 10 minutes of longtones with a tuner, 5 minutes of overtone exercises, and 5 minutes of altissimo practice.
Technique: 5 minutes of working on triad patterns, 10 minutes of scales in 3rds, and 5 minutes on arpeggios.
Music: 10 minutes working on a melody for a tune, 5 minutes on a transcription, and 5 minutes on an etude.
By doing this, I've covered a wide variety of topics in just 1 hour.
24 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Piano lessons in El Monte to students of all ages and abilities.
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