Piano Lessons in Placentia, CA

Instruments: Piano Voice Acoustic Guitar

For my students, I like to see what type of music they are interested in and listen to a few of their favorite songs. From there we can learn chords (guitar, piano) and melodies for vocal lines. We could go the route of learning scales and theory, but since I didn't grow up learning that way, I'd prefer to go the more modern way by learning strumming patterns, chords, inversions, melodies and harmonies, and teach dynamics to make a song come together. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Music Keyboard

For beginner students of drums and piano, we start with the basics. That includes, grasping a solid understanding of common musical terms, and applying them to properly learn to read and play songs. Once a student has a solid grasp of basic music theory, I will begin to challenge them and push them to new heights with new standards, and more challenging pieces to play. When a student has truly become adept, I love to look toward competitions and festivals that will give students that extra push that helps them build motor skills and self-discipline that will be of use in all areas of life. Read More

Instruments: Piano

As with methods, I do not have one lesson style.  My approach with a three year old is different than with a seventy year old. I am detailed in my critiques, but patient, positive, and creative with explanations.  My goal is for the students to learn to love and appreciate music and for them to use it not as a short term goal, but as something they can live with and enjoy for the rest of their lives.  I sets appropriate goals with recitals, festivals and examinations to both motivate and encourage students, ensuring that they have a positive experience. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I have an arsenal of exercises and tools that I apply as needed for each student, and generally give each student an overview with lots of reinforcement in subsequent lessons at my concepts of technique. Generally each lesson involves vocalese - scales, triads, increasing in difficulty as appropriate and based on individual areas of need, followed by work on the repertoire. We work a lot with sheet music and a keyboard or piano is needed for the work. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing ome of my students develop a passion for Music beacuse it really is the gift that keeps on giving. The more time you put into it the more you are rewarded. I will always try to find out what inspires the Student so that I can successfully tailor my instruction and help devlop their own path of Musical development and Musical growth. For younger students a more traditional approach is recommended ( John Thompsom Piano books-Scales studies-Hanon etc.,) as well as bacis Musicanship skills 101 learning to read Music ( Lines spaces both F Clef and G Clef) Key signatures-Form ( Repeat signs-codas) Clefs signs Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Music

Since I mainly work with teenagers and adults, I like to start with Alfred's Adult's Piano Courses. I like to find music that the student is interested in and to put together solo repertoire that they enjoy playing. This can be anything from classical music to the Beatles, Jazz Standards or pop tunes. I also encourage my students to write, to record themselves and play for others. If they are aspiring songwriters, we work on their material, as well as learning songs by their favourite musicians and specific songwriting exercises, which include rhythm, melody, harmony and lyrics. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Music

For students earlier in their journeys, I do believe a practical understanding of music and basic theory is fundamental to unlock both the art and the science of performing. After warm up exercises that help acquire the vocabulary and sonic principles of agile musicianship, I would immediately dive into material that the student finds engaging and personal! I am an advocate for storytelling in the arts first, with mechanical technique and instruction used as vehicles to empower the pure love of expression! Read More