Alex M
5.0
(4)
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Trumpet, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Music, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Country, R&B, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Latin Jazz, Swing, Soul, Marching Band, Punk
Alex M
5.0
(4)
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Trumpet, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Music, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Country, R&B, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Latin Jazz, Swing, Soul, Marching Band, Punk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
2020 - Graduated Summa Cum Laude (#1 in class)
2018 - Awarded Presser Scholarship
2017 - Halberstadt Scholarship
2016 - Cornish College of the Arts Music Merit Scholarship
2016 - Louis Armstrong Award for Outstanding Jazz Performance
I am a songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer with a lifelong passion for learning. This Spring, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cornish College of the Arts with my BM in Music Composition and Performance. While at school, I performed with several Jazz ensembles, Chamber Ensemble, Creative Ensemble, Latin Ensemble, African Drumming, Gamelan, and Guitar Ensemble. I studied instrumental and electronic composition as well as jazz theory, classical, and contemporary music theory. During my time there, I also self-recorded and produced my first three full length albums as well as Elizabeth Boaz's album "Forgiving the Rain." As a trumpet player, I was a member of the Seattle Chinese Orchestra for three years and the Seattle-based band Dismal Thinkings. Following graduation, I moved to Petaluma to quarantine, teach music lessons, and work on musical projects with my duo Honey Disposition. While my primary instrument is trumpet, I also love to teach piano, guitar, songwriting, producing, composition, and theory. I teach all ages and all styles of music - I'm always happy to learn something new if it interests my student!
I began teaching music lessons to my friends and peers who were beginning to take up new instruments(piano, bass, & guitar) when I was in middle school. At that time, I had developed a strong foundation in piano, begun learning trumpet in school, and self-taught myself the guitar. In high school, I taught younger students throughout the school district private lessons in trumpet through an organization called Arts Without Boundaries - many of these students took lessons with me for multiple years. In college, I tutored other students in music theory. Since my graduation this Spring(2020), I have been teaching a studio of students in trumpet, piano, and guitar ranging from age 9 to 75. I am excited to connect with more great students through Musika!
Being an independent artist myself and having to wear many different hats, I understand the importance of curiosity and versatility. I approach every student differently as each student is a different person with a different background who holds their own unique interests and mode of learning. I don't see any reason why a student shouldn't be refining their songwriting chops while also brushing up on classical piano skills or why a jazz trumpet student shouldn't feel empowered to learn the art of recording and producing. My teaching approach encourages continual expansion and exploration, as opposed to molding students to be a specific type of musician.
As a teacher, I believe in supporting the student to be the best they can be with positive reinforcement rather than using pressure and guilt to make the student practice. My teaching philosophy stems from a couple of core values: 1. fostering curiosity & 2. Building the student's confidence as a student, artist, and human so that they may follow their curiosity in the direction of their dreams. Each human has a unique voice and it is their gift to share with the world. As an educator and mentor, I wish to awaken that voice and empower students to express it through their musical being.
Elizabeth Boaz
Alex is truly the kindest, most compassionate human, artist, and teacher I have ever met! He brings a wide variety of knowledge and skills to each lesson, approaching every student with a true passion for music and a clear intention to meet each student where they are and form a unique teacher to student friendship. One of the most special things about Alex is that he can talk about trumpet, piano, guitar, bass, songwriting, and producing all in one lesson! He is the perfect fit for anyone looking to casually explore different outlets of music, or anyone looking to hone in any one of these skills with a level of precision and dedication. I can't recommend enough!!
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