Piano Lessons in Yolo, CA

Instruments: Piano Clarinet

Playing piano is my greatest reward in life, being able to bring a smile to a face of any age. After graduating from Cal Poly with a concentration in performance and theory, I was musical director of The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville theater. I was able to broaden my horizons performing, teaching, composing and arranging all different styles of music.and can even play piano upside down now! I was also music director of a local Christian church which has enabled me to become proficient in sacred/praise music as well. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute

For young students, we'll start our first few lessons with rhythm and singing games to break the ice. These games also help train the ear. For flute students, we will then progress to the basics of breathing, tone production, note fingerings, and music reading. Once we reach the point where the student can read and play simple tunes, we will start using Trevor Wye's Beginner's Book for the Flute. For teenage and adult students, we'll discuss your goals in our first meeting and go from there, whether those goals are learning to play for your own enjoyment, or preparing to apply for college and/or summer music programs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Cello

I am a strong believer of traditional teaching methods, however, I have learn that we all learn in different ways, so I let my students discover music by teaching them how to relate to the piano first, after they become familiar with the instrument by playing easy but wonderful melodies I start with the process of teaching music notation, scales, chords, analyzing songs, music history, exercises.I teach all ages, I am very patient and supportive, never pushy but firm with my students goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Organ Synthesizer Keyboard

If you’ve tried and failed, or even if you’ve never touched a piano, Smiley can teach you. And, you’ll have fun doing it because with my easy approach to learning, you will start playing the songs you like from day one, not practicing endless scales all the time, and boring music language that would be difficult to understand the first day. With my easy learning how to play approach, you would lean your first song and be able to play it, over and over until you learn a new song to share. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute

Various styles: Big Band Jazz, R B/Gospel, Salsa, pop rock, ska circus pit band. Also extensive session work in Los Angeles; soundtrack and album projects. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar

When it comes to teaching, I find the most important thing is that we work towards the goal of what the student wants to learn - in the case of their preferred styles/genres of music, and the songs that they really enjoy. Every student has their own individual skill level and pace that can be developed and worked around. First, I would find out the level of skill and musical interests of the student, then I would create a lesson plan utilizing all of the tools at my disposal - both from my personal experience and from other educational sources, such as: Blues books, Rock books, Classical guitar/piano books, theory books, and tablature books, or music from popular bands. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Trumpet Fiddle French Horn Electric Guitar

I'm a motivated and patient instructor who likes working with many different types of students and sharing what I know and love about music with others. I graduated from UC Berkeley with a microbiology degree in 2017; while most of my studies were unrelated to music, I took genre and performance classes in music throughout and played in several live music ensembles. I've played violin and guitar from a young age, learned brass and percussion in high school, and taught myself piano while in college. Read More