Piano Lessons in Olema, CA

Instruments: Piano Voice

My method is to incorporate proper technique and fingering, and though reading music is important, i also put emphasis on hearing what your playing and also understanding it theoretically. This way students will be well-rounded and be able to understand what they are playing from an audio and theoretical stance, rather than just being told what to play by the notes on the sheet music. What this does is it allows the student to become independent so that they don't have to rely on music and a teacher to be able to play or pick-up songs they desire to play. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I began instructing young adults in harmony, theory and piano when I was nineteen in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. After high school, I began putting my poetry to music and this led to a move to California to try and make it as a songwriter. I played with several music acts in the Bay Area, toured the east coast and Midwest, and wrote music for the theater, notably an original score for Bertolt Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I began teaching music in 2009 as a tutor for the local junior college teaching music theory and musicianship. I expanded to voice and guitar lessons and have been teaching for the last 12 years. I teach in my home studio, in my students homes and online. I know that consistent practice is the way for students to reach their music goals and so I make sure that each student knows what to practice and how to practice. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Ukulele Music Keyboard

My lesson plans are curated for individual needs. Over the past twelve years, I have worked with all ages, talent levels, and abilities, and have learned that it is absolutely essential for the teacher to adjust their methods for each students, as each individual has different goals, learning styles, interests, and needs. I strive to find new music my students will fall in love with, and am constantly learning new music to help them play their favorite songs at their current level. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Organ Ukulele Electric Violin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar

I always start a lesson with a new student by assessing their current skill level. If the student already has a certain curriculum they are working on, I usually have them pick up from where they left off so I can see where we're at. Taking things into consideration like intonation, posture, dynamics, form etc., I either assign a new curriculum or continue on. My lessons usually consist of 3 books: a scale book, an etude book, and a leveled song book like the Suzuki method. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Clarinet

Sometimes, my students will spend a couple weeks on a song, and sometimes they will spend five months on a song. It is all dependent on what they need to succeed. Practicing is a major concept that I focus on and therefore provide every student with weekly practice sheets as well as written monthly progress reports to their parents. In lessons with me, there is nothing we can't do and that is what I strive to show my students every week. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I like to emphasize learning technique through pieces, rather than practicing only technique on its own, as that can get boring very quickly! For beginning students, I like to start with the Piano Adventures series, which has pieces which are easy, teach basic techniques, but also are musically interesting. Once they have the fundamentals, we can begin working on solo repertoire that interests the student. For older students who are interested in 20th century music, I like to teach Bartok's Mikrokosmos. Read More