Piano Lessons in Westchester, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar

I have taught private lessons with the guitar, piano, didgeridoo, ukulele. I usually try to find out where the student is at and their goals and try to build off of that giving them tools to keep them going and to inspire and create insight. Each lesson I give them a focal point like learning a scale and get them to focus different musical aspects such working on fingering, rhythm, tone, loudness or softness, phrasing. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute

As a professional flautist, performing and recording artist and teacher, Ljiljana is currently the principal flautist of the Los Angeles Valley Symphony Orchestra, Celestial Opera in Pasadena, "Casa Italiana" Opera Company, works as a flute teacher, freelance performer, and is a member of several chamber groups in Los Angeles. She also teaches music & movement classes in many preschools in Los Angeles area as well as beginners/intermediate piano.           Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Djembe

I am a very dynamic teacher. I like to commit to my students, motivate them to find their own music. One of my goals is to spread the idea that music is inside the person and not in the instrument. It is important find the inner music through ear training, rhtyhmic exercises and improvisation games, so student can develop musical skills that will lead them to enjoy the practice and grow as a performers. Read More

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Music for Little Mozart, Alfred Premier Piano Course, or Faber Piano Adventures. Once the student has progressed to have grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for them. For adults, I try to find out what they are interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun. I especially encourage my students to practice four to five hours per day, because it helps the students to develop techniques and strength for fingers. Read More

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

I believe each student is unique and requires lessons tailored to his or her individual strengths. While covering all the bases with each learner, some students thrive in enriching with improvisation. Others prefer to have set exercises to improve technique. Some have specific goals, like learning a particular song or a melody for an upcoming holiday. The great thing about one-on-one instruction is I can customize lessons to suit each learner. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

My Methods: Fundamentals of breath work - incorporating several physical exercises and methods of showing the coordination until it is ingrained Focus on the use of the resonators - projecting the sound to the different cavities where sound resonates before leaving your body and into the room (i.e. 'the mask', mouth resonance, chest resonance, etc) Reducing tongue tension - a common issue is root of the tongue tension and I have several exercises to address this Improving range - most of my students gain notes in their belt range and their head range, and often in their low range as well Increasing the legato vocal line - here we focus on linking the vowels properly supported by the breath Jaw tension - similar to tongue we have evercises for this Style - different approaches such as riffing, back phrasing, using a glottal attack, using a breathy attack - creating colorful expressive phrases that link to the emotion of the song and the style desired Musicality - learning to read music, counting tempo, sustaining pitch, syncopation, dynamics, etc Diction - correct vowel shapes and enunciation + awareness of when tension closes down the vocal line if diction is carried over from speaking habits Performance - using tools from acting training to perform a song effectively and believably Career consultation - when appropriate, also offered Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar

My main focus of teaching is on the student, and on developing and expanding their existing musical interests. I develop a lesson plan and schedule that begins with the musical interests and passions of the student, their favorite bands, favorite songs and musical styles. From there I take each of their favorite pieces of music and demonstrate how the building blocks of music were used to create each, and how they can not only recreate their favorites, but start to create their own musical identity. Read More