Piano Lessons in Encino, CA

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Euphonium

I always like to get a feel for the students ability first and then choose the right level to begin with them. I always start with some exercise work to strengthen the basics and then include a lot of fun pieces to boost the fun and satisfaction with the improvement. I am very effective at improving a players ability and enjoyment of the instrument. Read More

Instruments: Piano

Music as always been part of my life from an early age. My journey began when I started playing the violin in band. That soon transition into the alto saxophone, which I played for a few years, and then the guitar. I settled on the piano during my days in high school. I learned self-taught, but quickly fell in love with music theory, which has guided me to where I am today. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Every student is different so my teaching style changes depending their personality and interests. Some students respond well to tough challenges and criticism, while others buckle under pressure. For each student I will find a balance between their musical interests and information that I think they need to know in order to become a better percussionist. In lessons, I maintain complete honesty with my students about their progress, but in a reassuring way to watch them grow as performers. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola Trumpet Recorder Fiddle

My goal is always to take students where they are: beginning, intermediate or advanced and help them discover and develop their own love of music. I do this through introducing music that develops their skill and gives them the satisfaction of playing music that they enjoy. It is not only about playing scales and such but learning to play musically so that people they may play for in the future will enjoy listening to them and they will enjoy sharing what they have learned. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style is all about enjoying music and the instrument. I can pick up when a student is frustrated, confused or embarrassed and adjust the lesson accordingly. Overall, I want my students to have fun! I enjoy teaching how to read music and once a few notes are learned, I start applying it to songs that my students really enjoy. I also like to teach scales and harmonic structure so my students can begin to understand what's really going on in the music they enjoy. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums

My teaching experience dates back to when I was a student at the Los Angeles High School for the Arts. While pursuing my own education I also had five private drum students ranging from the ages of 7-15. I am fortunate enough to have learned a great deal about teaching all different ages from my father, who has been a private guitar teacher for over 35 years. During my time at Berklee College of Music, I taught group clinics and while our tour with the Karen Lovely Band I mentored mentally handicapped music students in the Netherlands with a group called United By Music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

My Methods: Fundamentals of breath work - incorporating several physical exercises and methods of showing the coordination until it is ingrained Focus on the use of the resonators - projecting the sound to the different cavities where sound resonates before leaving your body and into the room (i.e. 'the mask', mouth resonance, chest resonance, etc) Reducing tongue tension - a common issue is root of the tongue tension and I have several exercises to address this Improving range - most of my students gain notes in their belt range and their head range, and often in their low range as well Increasing the legato vocal line - here we focus on linking the vowels properly supported by the breath Jaw tension - similar to tongue we have evercises for this Style - different approaches such as riffing, back phrasing, using a glottal attack, using a breathy attack - creating colorful expressive phrases that link to the emotion of the song and the style desired Musicality - learning to read music, counting tempo, sustaining pitch, syncopation, dynamics, etc Diction - correct vowel shapes and enunciation + awareness of when tension closes down the vocal line if diction is carried over from speaking habits Performance - using tools from acting training to perform a song effectively and believably Career consultation - when appropriate, also offered Read More