Piano Lessons in Port Costa, CA

Instruments: Piano Oboe

For beginning students (children and adults), I typically start with Alfred's Piano Lesson and Recital books. Before starting to read the music score, I seriously train their technique and hand/body posture. After students become fluent on note-reading and able to read and play basic rhythmic patterns properly, I will begin introduce simple solo repertoires and etudes such as Czerny studies, Bach minuets, Burgmuller studies, sonatinas, and simple classical repertoires in Keith Snell books. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For Voice: I always start with basic exercises. Breathing, Scales, Etc. After a few lessons, when the student is solidified in basic techniques, I will begin to introduce basic Art Song repertoire and work with the student to branch them out into their desired field of study, whether that be Opera, Pop, Musical Theater, Rock, etc. I always feel a strong base in Classical Technique is important to start with though. Read More

Instruments: Piano

However, I consider these method books as merely one of the tools of my teaching (very often, I do not follow exactly the order/content of the book, but design my own lesson plan using the aid of the book) - Because I believe I am responsible for most of the teaching, not the book. I also occasionally provide supplementary repertoire, as well as incorporating a limited amount of rote teaching. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Conga Latin Percussion

For beginning guitar I start out with Chris Parkening: classical guitar book...learning finguring styles, rudiments, and notes. We then go into various techniques and develop song repetoire and chording and strumming styles. For beginning piano I start with level one Hal Leonard book for beg. piano and various beginning classical composers: Beethoven, Mozart, Tchakovisky, Jazz, etc. . I split this class into musicianship-learning notes and reading music, fingering and scales, and theory. Read More

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

When teaching piano I always start with this question: "Why are you taking piano lessons?". The answer is very important to me because it gives me an idea of how to approach the lessons. There are many different reasons for taking lessons and both student and teacher need to be clear on what purpose the lessons will serve. No matter the level I will always focus on playing in a relaxed and natural manner. Read More

Instruments: Piano Clarinet

35 years teaching piano, music arranging, composition, theory, technique, personal expression. Beginning - Intermediate - Advanced. Intructor for Music School of Alameda. Music School at Sherman Clay, Private Music Studio, Music Director, 1st Trinity Lutheran Church Pianist for string orchestra, chamber groups, duos, trios, quartets, quintets. Accompanist for Vocalists, Instrumentalists. Pianist for Jazz Quartet Solo Pianist Classical, Jazz, Contemporary for Private Celebrations, Weddings, Birthdays, Graduations. Read More