Trombone Lessons in Modjeska Canyon, CA

Instruments: Trombone

The Arban book is available for free on PDF. For beginning students, I discuss long tones, sound, and simple scale studies. Once students grasp the fundamentals, I like to teach how they relates to the music they listen to. Through this, students can learn how theory and scales become music As we get advanced, I like to move in to scale studies, technical warm ups, and theory. When working on a recital performance, or simply learning the instrument, I like to concentrate on listening, developing a clean and full sound, breathing, and musicality. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Trombone

Forrest gained traction throughout the Bay Area as a lead player and soloist for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Tito Puente Jr., Momotombo, Luis Enrique, Tito Puente, Jr., Mendocino Music Festival Big Band, and Transcendence Theater Company. Additional recording and live performance credits include The Queen Latifah Show with Karmin, Center Stage Opera, Southern California Brass Consortium, Louie Cruz Beltran, Latin Sol, Son Mayor, Jungle Fire, Echo Park Project, For The Record: Scorses, 3D Theatricals, Musical Theatre West, Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley, Steve Huffsteter Big Band, Dirk Fischer Nonet, Bruce Lofgren Big Band, Skip Spiro Little Big Band, Urban Renewal Project, Jens Lindemann, Golden State Pops Orchestra, and Philip Lassiter. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Trombone Saxophone Clarinet

My teaching experience immediately began after high school, as I began teaching lessons part time I wanted to grow more as an educator and grasped at the opportunity . I got the opportunity to become a marching band coach for high school. Much of the focus on my work was the testing of the memorization of students' music and music tonality of a section in the marching band whether it be low brass or woodwinds. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

My teaching style is unique in that I do not push directly for quality. I believe that quality should be the natural product of efficient practice, which can only be achieved by early introduction to good technique, good habits, and positive motivation. When I start with a student, my goal is to make them smile and laugh. Students with a positive association with their instrument and playing it will be more inclined to listen and more inclined to practice. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet French Horn Piccolo Oboe

My approach to learning an instruments is to have the students learn to play by ear first before they can start learning to read music. I find that most students are able to progress quickly because it frees them to focus on the playing the instruments rather than reading notes. I consider reading music like different subject that they learn later. Learning music is like learning to speak. First we learn to talk and then we learn to read and write. 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

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Hal Leonards Essential Elements book, as well a basic understanding of music. Once the student has progressed to have a nice grasp of the fundamentals of music, I usually begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. I also believe in the importance of listening to as many professional recordings as possible of the instrument the student is taking lessons on. 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