Lessons With Carlos

First, I set up a Skype or in person meeting with the new student to find about his/her musical goals. 

I want to know about the musical styles the student is intererested, what artists the student listens, what songs the student would like to learn, is there new music the student would like to explore? These helps me organize the right curriculum and material for our joint musical explorations.

I believe music lessons should always be fun first, but grounded in a strong curriculum that will help the student develop all the musical techniques and skills.

I earned a Bachelor of Music from Berklee, a Masters of Music from New England Conservatory and an Honorary Doctorate of Music Arts from Shepherd University.

Some of the teachers I studied with include Edgar Valcarcel, William Thomas McKinley, Herb Pomeroy, Ran Blake, Anthony D’Bonaventura, Stephanie Tiernan, James Williams and others.

I taught at Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, Musicians Institute in Hollywood and the Cornel School of Contemporary Music. Currently I teach at the California College of Music.

I am a music education author. I have written books on Latin Jazz, Afro-Latin Piano, Ear Training and Solfege, Keyboard Voicings, Keyboard Technique, Contemporary Improvisation and other music subjects.

I have worked as a producer, music arranger, songwriter and keyboardist in Los Angeles and the Boston area.

My standard fee is $60 per individual lesson onsite or online. I also offer discount for 5, 10 or 20 lesson packages. Please contact me for package discount details.

I was working a session pianist, arranger and producer in Boston and New York and thought that was the career I wanted to pursue. One day, I felt the urge to teach, not just piano, but arranging, composition, improvisation, aural skills, arranging, songwriting and music production. I decided to pay a visit to my former teachers at Berklee. I showed my professors all the work I had done in album production and music for TV and Radio. That meeting eventually led in being hired as an instructor and faculty member at Berklee. While teaching started to write and organize my own music educational material. Eventually I met Mr. Andrew Gordon who became the publisher of most of my books and media. Later on my music mentor, Ran Blake asked to teach a class at the New England Conservatory. I decided to move to Los Angeles and started to teach at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. I taught at MI for 15 years, developing many classes for the Music Bachelors program. Later on I was invited to teach at Shepherd University (Los Angeles) where I became the academic director for the Cornel School of Contemporary Music. Lately I have been teaching at the California College of Music where I have been offered the Piano Chair position. I want to explore online music teaching platforms which will allow me to connect with music students worldwide.

I enjoy teaching students of all ages, music levels and interest. My students range from beginners to very advanced. Their interest ranging from contemporary piano, songwriting, ear training, afro-latin styles, composition, music theory, arranging and scoring. I would like to share some of my students and music colleagues testimonials:

"I want to recommend Dr. Carlos Campos as one of the most inspiring teachers of music I have ever known. Do you truly want to learn music and enjoy the process of learning and working hard? Then, there is no one better, because he is a born teacher who specializes in knowing how to teach and enthuse the student to fall in love with learning the art of making music. It has been my honor to work alongside professor Campos."
–Abraham Laboriel Sr. (Professional Bassist with Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Barbra Streisand, Billy Cobham, Dolly Parton, Donald Fagen, Elton John, Freddie Hubbard, Herb Alpert, Herbie Hancock, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Nathan Davis, Paul Jackson Jr., Paul Simon, Quincy Jones and Ray Charles).

"Dr Carlos Campos is the kind of music educator that I would loved to have had when I was starting out! Not only is he brilliant in music theory and analysis, but his passion and insight into creativity is highly contagious! His mentorship in music inspires musicians to be well developed in their skills and excited about their own personal journey of discovery."
–Caleb Quaye (Professional Guitarist with Elton John, Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney, Hall & Oates, Shawn Phillips and many others)

"I have worked with Carlos Campos for many years, both in the areas of music education and production. As an educator, Dr. Campos can guide you through most areas of your music making; but most importantly, Dr. Campos will light your soul with inspiration, and infuse in you the drive to grow and to reach your full potential as a musician and as a complete human being."
–Daniel Indart (Owner, Indart Music, LMS Records; Composer for Dexter, The Sopranos, Mozart In The Jungle, Dance With Me, NCIS, Our Brand Is Crisis, House Of Cards and Orange Is The New Black)

"I have known Carlos for many years. He is an extremely talented musician with a unique approach to teaching piano, composition, ear training and other musical subjects. Carlos is a professional who understands the steps it takes in becoming a great player and writer. I would highly recommend studying with him." 
–Mauricio Guerrero (Six time Grammy Award winning producer, Shakira, Phil Collins, Beyoncé)

"Dr. Carlos Campos is one the best educators in his field and probably the most organized teacher I've ever met. He knows a great deal of musical anecdotes and is very funny! If you want to get a great musical education, just study with him. You won’t regret it. You'll start learning the right way!" 
–Kwang Il Lee (Professional Bassist)

"Carlos is not only a master in music theory and keyboard harmony, but he also helps students on philosophical concepts; for instance, he emphasizes awareness and being in the moment when playing music." 
–Eliseo Borrero (Bassist, Paco de Lucia, Oscar Hernandez)

"After more than 20 years of my career in the classical music field, I had never approached Jazz. I needed both an academic and step by step method to go about my Jazz studies. After studying with Carlos, he opened a new colorful door for a fresh palette of improvisation techniques that boosted my musical thinking."
–Yalil Guerra (Ph.D candidate, recipient of UCLA Cota-Robles Fellowship, Grammy Award winning Composer)

I started Live-Streaming an online music class on Ear Training, Solfege and Jazz Theory through my Facebook page every Saturday at 11:00am (PST). The class is free and open to all music students worldwide. Please join this free online class at:
www.facebook.com/lessonswithcarlos

Try working with different music teachers until you find one that understands your musical needs, and can guide you in a fun but organized way to learn to play all the music you love. I have students who have been studying with me for several years. I learned that there must be a certain level of communication, which has to be both fun and organized to have a long-term music student and teacher work relation.

The student should ask the music instructors about their experience playing and teaching in the musical areas the student is interested. Also, ask if the teachers have written their own material and if they have audio or video recordings of their music. Sometimes you may find a teacher who has little experience teaching or playing, but is the perfect match for you. He/she will be so interesting to listen and will go out of the way to find the right songs for you to learn. You just will feel very comfortable in that teacher’s presence and uplifted after every lesson.