Piano Lessons in Newark, CA

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Music Keyboard

My lessons are student driven. I typically assign some technique, repertoire, and theory assignments each week. I often try to include a “student challenge” most weeks in order to gauge how much a student is understanding during the lessons. I modify my styles based on what seems most effective for the student. Sometimes a student really needs 5 pieces to work on over a longer stretch of time. Other times, a student can only reasonably work on one piece for the week. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Conga Latin Percussion

I have been teaching music since 2001. I was the music program director at Mission Hills Middle School and the guitar and conga teacher at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Oakland. I have also been a music instructor with Star Power Music, COVA, Art and Soul Music Studios, Hayward Music Center and ALMA. I teach all levels of guitar and congas, as well as beginning piano, voice and drum set lessons. Read More

Instruments: Piano

Especially for young students, my lessons involve a great deal of activities including numerous musical games, movements, theory time, rhythm clapping, music story telling, etc. In fact, in my graduate studies, the topic of my graduation project was Musical Games. The variety of the lesson can not only solve the issue of short attention span of young children, but also reinforce learned materials, prepare for and follow up on important concepts, and simply spice up the lesson. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For beginning students I start with breathing. I ask the student if there's anything they're interested in learning and by the third lesson have chosen something for them to sing. In an hour long lesson there is typically a half hour warm up to introduce new concepts and reinforce old ones. The second half is spent working on music and utilizing the concepts we have just discussed. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I learned to play the piano at around age 11 and have been playing ever since. I play mostly for fun but I also play the piano and the organ for my church congregation, have accompanied many musical numbers including solos, choirs, high school performance groups and have played to entertain at weddings and in retirement homes. I have experience teaching children of various ages (from 4 to adult). I teach from either Faber Piano Adventure books or the Alfred's Basic Piano Library. Read More

Instruments: Piano

As a musician, I believe that performers must convey not only the logic, but the artistic and emotional warmth inherent in the music. As a teacher, I emphasize that one utilizes technique for the purpose of communication, and I know that this is a truth at all levels, whether in a Class Piano situation or with very advanced talents. I feel it is also vital for students (again, at all levels) to gain experience with literature from a variety of musical periods, so as to develop a diversity of taste and interpretive style. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

My teaching experience dates back to high school, when I tutored fellow students in Mathematics. I went on to teach music at UC Santa Cruz as a member of the music department, including teaching an original course I developed entitled "Sound, Listening, and Consciousness". My dissertation research included inquiries into cognition, learning, as well as educational methods and the ways that humans learn. I have given talks about this work, and consider myself to be an educational professional, as well as a pedagogue. Read More