James G
Instruments: Piano, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, R&b, Gospel, Funk, Latin Jazz

 My teaching experience dates back to my College days when I tutored students while a student at Berklee. I have been performing private lessons for the past twenty years. Encouraging regular practice on a consistent schedule is one of the most important key points, as it tends to help the student progress and gain a passion for the instrument. I teach both Classical and modern jazz styles and techniques and the combing of the two can go a long way to help the students enjoy playing more. Alos because Music is a language I encourage students to practice reading-writhing and listening as a big part of their development. After graduating from Berklee, I continued to freelance in and around the Boston area before moving to California in 1979.  I continue to freelance and lead many of my own Jazz groups.

Jazz, Improvisation, Musicianship, Technique, Functional Piano. Topics also included are 1) Breathing 2) Phrasing 3) Articulations 4) Scale Studies 5) understanding Chord Symbols 6) Chord Symbols and there related chord scales 7) Harmonic and Melodic anaylsis. For more advance players I like to introduce them to Aebersol play-along, Berklee method books and lennies Nehaus to work on phrasing and articulation for the student that plans on playing in a jazz band at school. For beginner students who usually are Children or sometimes adults who have maybe never played a musical instrument I will typically start with Hal leonard or Rubank method and once the student has grasp some of the fundamentals I will begin to either introduce Solo material ( Classical) or if thier interest is in Popular Music-Jazz start learning to play either some Blues and Standards depening upon the path the student is interested in. I think it is very important for the Student to start playing recognizeable melodies as soon as possible so that they can relate to performing for either a recital or for friendly family and fried rectial so that they can start feeling good about themselves and where they are headed.  On Clarinet I teach the" Eugene Gay Method book." In closing I will always try to find out what the Student really wants to learn and try having fun doing so.