925-215-3543
Musika Quick Stats
24 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
- Have questions? Check out our
- FAQ
- CONTACT US
-
![call-icon]()
925-215-3543
Lesson Special - Up to 20% OFF! Get Started Now with a Risk-Free Trial!
Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Orinda . 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 Bass Guitar Organ Ukulele Electric Violin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar
Music is something that takes time to understand. It clicks in some students, but most kids take a while to develop musically. Patience is the most pronounced characteristic in my teaching style. It's easy to tell the student what they're doing wrong and what to correct, but that doesn't mean it's the most effective practice. Some kids will get nervous and make the same mistake over and over again. This is where it's important to use positive reinforcement and give the student time and space to be able to understand their mistake and fix it. 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 Voice
I graduated in 2015 from Albion College with degrees in both Vocal Performance and Cell Molecular Biology. I then went on to get my MM from Bowling Green State University in Vocal Performance with an Opera Concentration. I have also spent time studying language and opera in both Italy and Vienna. I have had the opportunity to perform around the world as well, and those experiences have inspired me to teach so that I can help others reach their goals in music. Read More
Instruments: Piano Trombone Euphonium Tuba Keyboard
My teaching style is meant to cater to each students specific needs but above all else is having an understanding of what a brass musician should sound like. Many times young students only hear computerized recordings or recordings from their method books and they have not concept of what the instrument should truly sound like. The use of technology is something that I am a big fan of and resources such as YouTube is a great place to hear these recordings. Read More
Instruments: Piano
For beginners, my method is simple. To be able to read music is important to me. Therefore, I teach them to read notes, count, hand and finger positions. For advanced students, I will focus on teaching them to interpret a piece rather than copying from others. I will motivate the students to feel the piece so that they can play it easily and genuinely. Above all, all my students have to be able to read music fluently. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice
For beginning students, I use the Piano Adventure Series by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. I also use the A Thousand Stories for a Little Pianist by Katrin Arefy. My special methods in teaching young students include stories, easy duets, and singing familiar folk songs. For intermediate level students, I use different method books according to the student's interests. However, I encourage them to play Classical music, which is very useful in developing good techniques in piano playing. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar
When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I have know the majority of my life that I wanted to be a professional musician. I have always enjoyed that it is all about community and all the amazing people I have been able to work with. Music education has been a vehicle for me to enact positive change in other's lives.
What is your dream piece to perform and why?
I really enjoy playing most of Charlie Parker's bebop music. I am currently learning some of his compositions. I hope to play them on gigs in the future for their beautiful and challenging melodies.
Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
I am a first generation musician. While I may be the first to use music as my career, music was constantly playing in my home. Most of my Mother's family played or plays musical instrument.
If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I have been playing guitar and piano for about as long as I have been playing trombone. While I don't perform professionally on them, I have found their skills extremely essential for learning how music works. I have been attracted to those instruments for their ability to play harmony with one another. I have been teaching all brass instruments for all of my education career as the approach for those instruments are almost identical to that of trombone.
What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
My favorite style to play is Jazz. Most of my freelance work is in Jazz and Commercial styles. I really enjoy that every artist has their own voice and how individualistic the performances are.
If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
If I wasn't a musician, I would have entered the biology/ecology field. I am and Eagle Scout and have always had a desire to learn new things about the world and the Earth. This desire to learn has been extremely beneficial in my artistic development.
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 B.A. Degree in Music Performance. I started as a double major in Music Ed and Music Performance. My 3rd year in my Undergraduate, I won a job with the United States Marine Corps band and decided to only finish my Music Performance degree to enter the service. In the service I attended the Naval School of Music where I graduated as a Basic Musician with Instrumental Honors.
Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I'll use the Arban, Rochut, Rubank, and Jazz Conception for student's first starting out. While I like to use these resources, they are not necessary for learning music or trombone. We will also work on classical solos and etudes, and jazz standards and transcriptions, as well as make up fun exercises that address instrument technique.
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
The greatest challenge on my instrument is playing music written for other instruments. Both in classical and commercial/jazz settings you will find trombone performing music composed for other instruments. This leads to a set of challenges and skills necessary to learn... and they are fun to learn too!
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
My students have been selected to attend honors ensemble festivals. We have succeeded by being extremely focused on the musical product rather than the competition. The only thing that is in the student's control is in their own performance. I have discovered that students find this approach way more rewarding as the focus becomes about the growth journey rather than the outcome.
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I was guided towards trombone by my first band director. They could tell I had a good ear for hearing pitch, so trombone was suggested for me. I have enjoyed the sound and challenge ever since!
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my military service. I never thought that I would be in a position to travel the country making music and serve my community and a country. What a wild ride it has been!
When will I start to see results?
You can expect to see results as early as the first lesson. I have techniques to ensure growth occurs right away and students will get excited about continued growth!
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
My first private teacher really inspired me to go into music. He taught me that you can make your dreams a reality and showed many sustainable and steady career options in music. I was able to see how he developed me to prepare for professional study. At every lesson I grew and it was exciting! I strive to uphold his legacy of teaching excellence.
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
The key is both persistence and enjoyment! We will make sure that all the music we play is something you will want to practice. If you like it, you are more likely to find the time to do it! Each student will find different practice techniques to work better for them. Together we will discover what works best for you!
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Teacher guidance is essential to growth. If your student is interested in music, then they are ready for private lessons! Music is supposed to be fun and enjoyable. In my studio it will be fun, not a chore.
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 Orinda to students of all ages and abilities.
We'll then reach out to the teachers for you.
Schedule the risk-free trial lesson directly with the teacher.
Continue with that teacher or try someone else.
