Voice Lessons in Meadow Vista, CA

Instruments: Voice

I tailor my lessons to the student and their goals. I pull my methods and practices from experience and A Spectrum of Voices by Elizabeth Blades-Zeller. I also like to teach my students basic music theory to give them a better understanding of how music is structured and to deepen their overall musicianship. For that, I pull from Music in Theory and Practice Volume 1 by Bruce Benward and Marilyn Saker. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Music Keyboard

My teaching experience dates back to my college days, as I began teaching private lessons almost 20 years ago, and have been consistently teaching students in my home studio, several Piano Academies, and students' homes. Encouraging regular practice on a consistent schedule is one of the key points I like to emphasize for younger students, as it tends to help the student progress and gain a passion for the instrument. I've also found that a combination of classical and modern music can go a long way in helping students enjoy the piano and motivate them to practice and continue to learn. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Conga Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

No matter the skill level, I like to keep my curriculum concise, applicable, and easy for all students to understand. I begin with a crash course in music fundamentals to give students a classical understanding of their playing, reading, and writing techniques. Next, I teach them scales, chords, and playing techniques that correlate with their level of playing and music comprehension. Once they have mastered said curriculum I teach them songs that they are genuinely interested in. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Ukulele Keyboard

For beginning and intermediate students on piano, I generally teach out of Piano Adventures as a supplement, but teach other songs the student requests. For voice lessons, I tailor my supplemental book teaching to the students individual learning abilities, as well as learning songs they are passionate about. My philosophy on learning music is that a students should NEVER play a song that they hate! I tailor my instruction accordingly to keep lessons engaging and fun, no matter what their skill level. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I love to see my students realize their growth as they work on their singing. The way their faces light up or the way they grow an extra inch with pride simply fills me with joy. I tailor each of my lessons around the student that I am teaching because no two voices are alike. I look for their strengths and help them showcase those and I discover their weaknesses so we can strengthen those. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Organ Synthesizer Keyboard

If you’ve tried and failed, or even if you’ve never touched a piano, Smiley can teach you. And, you’ll have fun doing it because with my easy approach to learning, you will start playing the songs you like from day one, not practicing endless scales all the time, and boring music language that would be difficult to understand the first day. With my easy learning how to play approach, you would lean your first song and be able to play it, over and over until you learn a new song to share. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I do create my own custom lesson plan for each student depending on their age, experience and desire. I include acting, vocal warm ups, tongue twisters, song selections and audition prep and stage presence and microphone use. I send each student a specifically designed program that will best suit their needs and is age appropriate. Thus, they have a lot of material to practice from vocal warm ups, tongue twisters, different musical genre including all types and a vast selection of acting scripts, commercial copy, monologues, vocal warm ups, tongue twisters, different musical genres including all types from them to choose from. Read More