Piano Lessons in West Covina, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Synthesizer Ukulele Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
When I picked up the guitar, I was able to learn things pretty quickly because of my previous experience with the piano. However over time, as my knowledge grew and my understanding of the guitar broadened, I was able to pick up bass guitar and the ukulele. Bass guitar requires one to understand individual notes on a guitar fret board while ukulele involves understanding different ways in which you can play basic guitar chords.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
Sweep picking. There has to be absolute PERFECT synchronization and fluidity between the right and left hands. The picking hand has to "sweep" or flow in one direction smoothly while the fretting hand has to guide the picking hand throughout the whole motion.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Music does run in my family! Growing up, my mother was an aspiring singer while my father was a classical flamenco guitarist. I like to think that I have inherited both of their traits since singing comes naturally to me as well as understanding musical concepts and notions particularly when learning an instrument.

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I think it was more of a gradual decision more than anything. Over the course of my musical journey, I have been blessed to be involved in many opportunities and chances which have given me the confidence to pursue this full time as well as expand on possibilities and provide room for options and personal growth. Even to this day, I'm STILL continuing to learn new things and grow in my craft whenever the opportunity or chance arises!

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
Being able to write my own compositions and songs as well as contribute to others and their projects and songs. There's nothing more rewarding and satisfying when you reach a point in your musical journey when you're able to write original material (whether it's your own or for others) and release it out into the world. Its the ultimate form of musical application and mastery.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
That's a hard one to answer. I generally like to play in any and all styles of music that catch my interest just as my personal musical tastes are so diverse. Growing up, I loved playing classic rock, pop, and alternative but have now gravitated towards metal, progressive, jazz, R&B, country, and electronic/EDM. The reason being is because those styles of music constantly allow me to be inspired and express myself fully on my instrument the way I see it that is both personally satisfying and intellectual stimulating.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
If I wasn't a musician, I'd probably be an audio engineer, sound designer, or a production assistant of some sort. Besides music, I'm also very much into audio engineering and I love understanding and learning about the science behind all of it. I also personally think that by immersing myself into this field, I'm able to see and understand more fully my role (in whatever instrument I'm playing) in the bigger musical picture or spectrum.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I have two types of practice sessions: learning new songs or material for gigs or writing parts for original material and "noodling" or exploring new ideas and musical phrases. When I learn new songs or material for a gig, I usually like to break the song down into sections and make notes. I'll usually start at the song's chorus followed by the verses then the bridge (if there is one or an interlude). I'll also make notes of the sounds being used and how its being played in order to keep the energy and dynamics intact for the performance. When I'm writing parts for original material, I generally like to loop a section (make it into like a backing track) and just play along to it however long I wish or until I find an idea that I like that I would wanna build off of or elaborate on. Finally, when learning new concepts and or integrating and combining ideas, I like to incorporate them by changing up how I play things normally and experiment and find out how it would work for me as far as improvisation goes.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I was always drawn to the guitar because of its portability, sound, and the many different styles, genres, and ways you can play it. Growing up, I always found practicality in things to be paramount and guitar did that for me in multiple ways. Although every instrument can be played expressively, the guitar's visual expressiveness as well as showmanship qualities was what ultimately made me fall in love with the instrument. From beach bonfires and hang outs with friends to full on stage productions and studio sessions, the guitar has allowed me to experience so many things in life and make so many AMAZING memories I could only have ever dreamed of growing up.

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