Viola Lessons in Seal Beach, CA

Instruments: Violin Viola Music

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with the Suzuki Violin Method (Viola version available) with occasional ear training with the piano with the Kodaly method. For intermediate and advanced students, I introduce a variety of etudes, scale books, and solo repertoire, e.g. Carl Flesch, Kreutzer, Mazas, Dont, Dounis, and Unaccompanied Bach, etc. For viola students or violinists who are looking into doubling the viola, I introduce many techniques including Karen Tuttle and Primrose Scales to help along with the transition. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Harmonica Recorder Electric Violin Fiddle Piccolo Oboe English Horn Keyboard

I never yell or scold. I can keep the boat on even keel, and not sink to drama. I am warm but firm about requiring hard work on improving. My teachers include some of the world's greatest professors at prestigious Universities. My teaching is world class as you they say. I am familiar with the textbook techniques handed down for centuries, so you will be learning the tried and true technique that the world's best musicians use. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Fiddle 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: Violin Cello Viola Double Bass

I was a featured soloist at the First World Violoncello Congress in Washington, D.C in 1988 and in a featured faculty trio for the World College Chamber Music Conference in Berlin in 1995. Two of my cello solo recitals were recorded and released in 1981 by Hong Kong Audio Production LTD. MAJOR PROFESSORS Janos Starker, Distinguished Professor of Cello, Indiana University School of Music Chi-wen Szeto, Professor of Cello, President of Cello Society of China Peter Spurbeck, Professor of Cello, University of Memphis TEACHING EXPERIENCE Music Faculty, Charis Conservatory (Yamaha Music School), Cerritos, CA 2003 to present Music Faculty, Arroyo Pacific Academy, Arcadia, CA 2003 to 2007 String Instructor, Mississippi Symphony Outreach Program - Jackson Public Schools, Jackson, MS, 1987-2002 Music Faculty, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS, 2000-2002 Assistant Professor of Music, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, 1988-1998 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE Director of Music Programs, Arroyo Pacific Academy, Arcadia, CA, 2003-2007 Director, Waltrips Music School, Arcadia, CA, 2002-2003 Music Director and Conductor, Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra, Jackson, MS, 1993-2002 Guest Music Clinician for youth music programs in Mississippi and other Southeastern States, 1987-2002 Music Counselor, Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts, Murfreesboro, TN, 1985 ORCHESTRAL EXPERIENCE Assistant Principal Cellist, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Jackson, MS, 1987-2002 Cellist, North Carolina Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Festival, Bonne, NC 1987-1991 Principal Cellist, Meridian Symphony Orchestra, Meridian, MS, 1992-1996 Associate Principal Cellist, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Sioux Falls, SD, 1987 Principal Cellist, Germantown Symphony Orchestra, Germantown, TN, 1985-1987 Cellist, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Memphis, TN, 1984-1987 Principal Cellist, Tupelo Symphony Orchestra, Tupelo, MS, 1985 Cellist, Symphony Orchestra of National Ballet Theater, Beijing, China, 1968-1980 Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Double Bass Music Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I know everyone learns  at different speeds so making sure they are comfortable yet challenging is important to me.Being able to know when the student is enjoying and not making it a chore is a key to helping and encouraging a student learn. Watching them progress in their insturment is rewarding in of itself and nothing is more satisfying. As the student starts to see him or herself accomplish each lesson I like to praise, push and encourage to keep on. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

For beginning students, i like to start with the Essential Elements method book. The pieces in this method book are good for beginners because they are short and simple. For more advanced students, I like to delve into the Suzuki method books and then into more advanced solo repertoire from there. However, each student is different, so each student's lesson may look different. I also like to see what pieces or scales the student is interested in learning and incorporate that into the lesson plan. Read More