Trombone Lessons in City Ranch, CA

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium Music

I'm a passionate and dedicated teacher who loves working with students of all ages and levels. I completed my Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Southern California in 2009, and since then I have been an active teacher and performer all over Southern California. I have performed at many different venues across the Los Angeles area, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, and have appeared with many different groups including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Harp Accordion Harmonica Lap Steel Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Recorder Lute Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Euphonium French Horn Tuba Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Shakuhachi Oboe Bassoon English Horn Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Most recently Derek was the lead trombonist of the 2018 Disneyland All-American College Band. He has recently performed with Wayne Bergeron, Gordon Goodwin, Dave Holland, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman, Jimmy Heath, Shaun Martin, Christian Jacob, John Beasley, Troy Roberts, Frank Greene, Brian Lynch, Jeff Jarvis, Steve Houghton, Jiggs Whigham, Sal Lozano, and John Clayton. Derek has had recent performances at Dizzys Club Coca-Cola, the Smithsonian Institute, and the New World Symphony. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

I have an easy-going style of teaching where I focus on the interests of the student first. The reality of learning an instrument is that unless practice is fun and interesting, there will not be enough of it. As such, I make sure to gamify the practice and find concrete ways to measure the progress of the student. In the end, I find that building a deep interest and encouraging a passion for music is a sure-fire way for students to grow as musicians while enjoying the journey at the same time. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

I work primarily with young students, we start with Book 1 of Accent on Achievement. Trombone fundamentals take a lot of time given that students must build actual muscle strength in addition to learning to read music and understanding the instrument. After a student has hit a sufficient range, we move onto the Rochut etude books. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone French Horn

 I formally began teaching private lessons fifteen years ago and love to see the rapid musical growth that can be achieved with focused one-on-one instruction. For the last ten years, I have been a band, orchestra, and choir director at the middle school level in the Long Beach Unified School District.  This experience has helped me to streamline my music teaching process and become a much more efficient teacher in private lessons. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Synthesizer Recorder Euphonium French Horn Music Keyboard

For the younger beginning students, I usually start with Alfred's Beginning Piano Series. Once the student has a grasp of the fundementals, I will begin introducing major and minor scales as well as solo repertoire. For my adult students I will see their level of ability and musical interests, find appropriate material based on their taste and formulate the lesson to include fun stuff as well as build proper mechanics.  For my horn lessons depending on the skill level I being with Essential Elements or the Arban book and build from there incorporating solos of the greats, and songs that they want to learn to play. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trombone Synthesizer Keyboard

I want to see my students gain knowledge as well as a passion for music from their time of study. I intend to fulfill both of these objectives by assessing and evaluating each students individual skill set and catering to the ideas concepts that in my opinion will help them progress in the way most needed. I find it very important that music becomes fun for those learning it. The enjoyment of the art is what continues to push me forward in my learning to this day, therefore it is very important that music becomes a place of joy and fun, even within education. Read More