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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Pasadena . 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 Saxophone Flute
For beginners, I like to use affordable books such as "Standard of Excellence" or "Essential Elements." For intermediate and advanced students, I will present materials based off of the student's interests. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Synthesizer Keyboard
I am passionate and hard-working. A great deal of my free time is spent recording and producing music. I enjoy watching my students grow as much as I enjoy finding new ways of growing and learning myself. I am often most inspired by the raw and vulnerable, simple and yet hear-wrenching melodies I come across. Moments as a listener, when a melodic theme takes over and everything else seems to dim out, almost as background noise, are my absolute farovite. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
The best plan is to always make room for fun as much as possible, because the harsh reality of practice can be a downer. I emphasize learning with the interest of the student in mind. It is best to be enthusiastic, but I make sure to see where the energy level of the student is to term the approach for the session. I give helpful reminders of learning techniques to stay motivated in between lessons. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Harp Accordion Harmonica Lap Steel Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Recorder Lute Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Euphonium French Horn Tuba Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Shakuhachi Oboe Bassoon English Horn Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
Derek is most known for his association with the John Daversa Big Band. Derek has had the pleasure of meeting and performing with many of his musical heroes. He has recorded live and studio albums with Arturo Sandoval, Jon Faddis, John Fedchock, James Morrison, Greg Gisbert, Roger Ingram, Paul Stephens, Scott Englebright, Donny Dyess, the Tastee Bros, Bernard Wright, Gene Coye, Steve Reid, Kate Reid, Melvin Butler, Ed Calle, Richard Todd, Mike Brignola, Alex Norris, Dante Luciani, John Hart, Martin Bejerano, Chuck Bergeron, Rick Margitza, and appears on the Gary Lindsay album "Are We Still Dreaming" with the South Florida Jazz Orchestra. Read More
Instruments: Piano
As a teacher, I try to make music learning as fun and well-rounded as possible. Every student is unique, and I try my best to accommodate every individual’s needs. I encourage students to always ask questions, no matter how silly it might sound, and to trust me to help you achieve your goals. I encourage students to tell me their favorite songs and genre of music and use the knowledge to help keep them motivated, to remind them that learning is fun. Read More
Instruments: Piano Music
In addition to Piano, I also instruct a Music Theory I course. The book that I utilize for this course is "Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory: Complete Self-Study Course." (These books are a requirement for this course **All of these books can be purchased through Barnes and Noble). I have found these books to be an excellent and practical way to teach Music theory, Piano I, and Piano II, and I have been using them since day one. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Accordion Ukulele Mallet Percussion Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar
I'm a music teacher with 8 years of teaching experience and 17 years of performing experience! I love sharing that experience with students of all ages to guide them on their musical journey. I achieved my bachelors degree of Music Performance at the Schwob School of Music studying percussion, and have performed with wind ensembles, orchestras, percussion ensembles, as well as popular music ensembles. I'm well-versed in classical studies, but love playing and teaching rock, pop, blues, funk, as well as fundamentals of music and practicing on a variety of different instruments. Read More
Instruments: Piano
Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
Yes, I usually use piano adventure series for basic to intermediate level.
And from intermediate level I use Alfred sonatinas, artists literatures by FJH, Hal Leonard. These are very organized books for students.
When will I start to see results?
Practice makes perfect!
If you practice 30mins to 1 hour at least 3 or 4 times a week continuously, you will achieve amazing results that will even surprise yourself.
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
Yes, my piano instructor advised me to read extensively across various genres, cultivate a deep interest and empathy for people, and listen to a wide array of performances, ranging from young students to virtuosos. In practice, these principles have wielded significant influence and provided substantial assistance in shaping both my performances and teaching endeavors.
What is your dream piece to perform and why?
Chopin sonata
What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I love Romantic and Impression.
My favorite composer is Chopin.
I
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
In any instrument, technique is highly important, but especially in the case of the piano, it demands a significant amount of practice and effort. This is due to the endless endeavor of traversing a wide range of pitches, establishing a balance between both hands to bring out the melody line, and not only achieving fortissimo but also delicately shaping pianissimo tones, all of which require constant and dedicated work.
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
Yes, many of my students won awards Satori piano competition, SYMF,
Charleston international competition and state honors at CM test. Several reasons contributed to the students' success in various competitions, and I believe that some of these reasons were their choices and focus. They prioritized selecting pieces that allowed them to showcase their abilities to the fullest and then dedicated themselves to practicing with maximum concentration, resulting in impressive outcomes.
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I challenge myself by practicing and completing a difficult piece of music, but I experience an even greater sense of achievement and fulfillment when I see the students I teach progressively improve and help them bring out the hidden potential within them through our collective efforts.
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
The first step is to read the sheet music - when looking at the sheet music, practice slowly from start to finish, and for the challenging parts, break them down into sections for extra practice. The second step is to practice with rhythmic accuracy and musical expression in mind. The third step is to add the pedal and create the complete musical piece. Finally, in the fourth step, gradually increase the tempo, aiming to match the original tempo, as you continue to practice.
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
To gauge if your child is ready for lessons, observe their reactions when exposed to the subject. If their eyes light up with curiosity and they ask questions, it's a positive sign. Also, if they can focus on an activity for a reasonable amount of time and seem excited about learning, they might be primed for lessons. Remember, readiness is a blend of their age, interests, and ability to engage, so trust your parental instincts too.
Also If your child knows numbers and alphabet they're ready to start lesson.
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I have always been captivated by the rich tonality and expansive range of the piano sound, which I find to be more profound than any other instrument. The role of the piano in enhancing the brilliance and beauty of other instruments when accompanied by its melodies is something I deeply cherish and love.
25 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 Pasadena to students of all ages and abilities.
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