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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Vacaville . 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
From experience, these are all the basic tools a student needs to work on their fundamentals before diving into full fledged solo pieces for competitions. Beginning students have to start from the bottom. These students will start by learning how to hold the violin and the bow, for example, and slowly but surely get into reading music and eventually playing simple scales and melodies from an elementary book. Some adults, however, may be interested in learning an instrument because they want to play a song they love. Read More
Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Music Keyboard
Throughout the years I have gained more and more students, but I have never stopped seeing myself as a student as well. I am constantly discovering new musical concepts and ways of teaching those concepts to my students. I still seek out the expertise of musicians I look up to and pass that expertise on to my students. I also find that my students themselves have a lot to teach me. Read More
Instruments: Piano
I like to use supplementary materials if a method book isn't covering musical territory that the student wants to explore. Although I insist a student learn to read music, I encourage learning by ear and have helped students find a melody on the piano by ear rather than reading notes. Patience is my watchword but I will always encourage and document practice times. I tell the student, you can't achieve your music goals without practice, preferably every day. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Clarinet
The technique I use is based on the Alexander Method of teaching and promotes proper breath control and tone placement over volume production and belting. Most singers, young and old, come to me with the idea that to create volume, you must yell or sing from your throat. With that mindset, what oftentimes happens is the voice will give out after five years and will result in the need of surgery to remove things like vocal nodules. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Conga Latin Percussion
I was raised up in Northern California in the arts of music and dance since a young age of three. I started lessons in Oakland, CA in dance, music and acrobats with Peggy and Leon Valdez and then tap performance and theater arts with Chorlene and Art Duane in Hayward, CA. I became very active in elementary school choirs with music instructor, Ms. Bell. My father was head coach for Oakland Dynamites-Pop Warner in which I would do cheerleading and coordinate field marches. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Organ Synthesizer Keyboard
Smiley has studied piano since the age of 5 and has been fortunate to study with the Carl Wheeler the musician who wrote and played for Tony Toni tone, as well as Beyonce and high profile headliners. Smiley has played for celebrity singers including Carlos Santana, comedian Tommy Davidson, as well as John Witherspoon. He a Degree in music from the University of Berklee, and has taught piano and voice since 2005. he enjoys working with people and uses his patience and perceptiveness to communicate music to others. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Trombone
I love teaching the trombone! I think more kids should check it out, and adults should continue playing throughout their lives even if it isn't a profession. I am a graduate from the Lamont School of Music in DU, and received my bachelor's at Cal State Northridge, both degrees in performance. I've played in venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and the Kennedy Center in DC. I am classically trained but also love to play jazz music. Read More
Instruments: Drums
What is your dream piece to perform and why?
Just about any Pink Floyd song!
If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
I would likely be teaching another subject. I absolutely love teaching.
What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I typically would warm up and start by locking into a metronome. I then usually loosen up with stick control and rudiment based exercises. Next, I work on new concepts, songs, and styles; with a great deal of repetition.
Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
For very young students, I typically start with the Hal Leonard Book, Drums for Kids. For older or slightly more experienced students, I start with exercises that cover: Fundamental drum patterns, phrasing, and fills. When the student can show that they have a grasp of the fundamentals, we then typically move on to more challenging concepts, including: Sound source (voicing) exercises, note subdivision exercises, more challenging books, and (last but not least) songs. All of the above is supplemented and reinforced by two great books called: Stick Control for the Snare Drummer, and Syncopation for the Modern Drummer. Those two books are great for developing control, proper articulation (stick rebound), coordination, and sight reading skills. For more advanced students, I would typically jump directly into songs and styles; along with concepts that are generally more advanced (i.e. polyrhythms, strange time signatures, and independent coordination).
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
On the drum set, orchestration is often the trickiest to master. Orchestration could be seen as how a drummer can make each part of the drum set speak, in a relative way.
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
I am very proud of a student who recently was selected to join, Camp Chase Drum and Fifes. This is an extremely selective group of Civil War reenacting musicians.
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I showed a sense of rhythm from a young age. My ears naturally hone in on the percussion instruments.
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am very proud to have performed at many of the major venues, in the Detroit metropolitan area. Most notably one of my groups opened for the legendary Jazz-Funk group, The Headhunters. This group was formed by the amazing Herbie Hancock!
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
In my humble opinion, if the child shows genuine enthusiasm for the instrument.
When will I start to see results?
In my experience, that is largely dependent on the students willingness to practice, in a structured and routine way. Usually, the more practice and repetition, the quicker the progress.
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
Absolutely! I studied under two outstanding teachers, Donnie Gruendler and Darryl Pierce. I learned a GREAT deal through private instruction, and therefore teach through direct experience; by practically applying subjects that improved my playing (i.e. techniques, concepts, and books).
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
In my experience, structured practice, is most effective. For example, practicing specific concepts and exercises will generally result in quicker progress. While there is something to be said for creative practice, when the student plays any old thing, progress can be much slower; if that unstructured and non-specific route is taken with a practice routine.
What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I like groove oriented music a great deal. There is nothing like having people dance to your music.
When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I decided to begin working as a professional musician, when I was about 20 years of age. It was a gradual process, that represents years of hard work and dedication.
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 Vacaville to students of all ages and abilities.
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