About
A lot of people expect a teacher to simply convey information, or help a student learn things they want to know. A lot of teachers also only expect this of themselves. In my experience though, a good teacher doesn't just teach, but also encourages and motivates the student to practice and study and learn. A great teacher can make a student excited to learn, make students feel good about themselves when they're playing or singing, and show them a path to incredible musical experiences. That is the teacher I try to be every lesson, every day.
Beyond that, I teach multiple instruments at varying levels: Guitar and voice - Advanced; Piano - intermediate; and Violin - beginner. If multiple members of your household want lessons on different instruments, I can accommodate that. If you want to change instruments six months into learning, I can accommodate that.
Also, if you want to learn how to record your own music, I can teach that as well. I record music professionally using Pro Tools, Ableton Live, and Logic Pro.
I most enjoy showing people that they are capable of far more than they had even imagined. I love it when my students learn something they thought would be way too hard for them, and when they get to become somebody through that music that they never thought they could be.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
With first time beginners, especially if they are young children, I try to make the atmosphere fun an comfortable and try to get them reading music within the first lesson. If the student is a mid-late teen or adult, I'll still encourage them to read music but also try to help them identify their specific goals and aspiriations for music, and then go over a long-term strategy for reaching those goals. In either scenario, I like to give students the space to actually play or attempt to play their instrument within the first 10 minutes of the first lesson.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I studied music at California State University, where I graduated in 2012. I've been recording and performing as a rock/pop artist since then, and I've released three of my own albums as well as played or sung on countless others. I've also been teaching lessons privately all along and since spring of 2017 I've been teaching at Green Brooms Music Academy and Altadena Academy of music, where I've taught an average of 40 lessons per week over the last two years.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
If you'd like to have lessons in my home, my standard rate is $35 for a half-hour lesson, $60 per 1-hour lesson. If you'd like to have lessons at your home or location, I add a drive charge $4 per mile from my home.
How did you get started teaching?
I first started teaching lessons at Gadsby's music, a guitar and piano shop in my hometown of Salinas, California. I had taken lessons there growing up, and when it came time for me to teach there it was a natural fit.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with almost every kind of student there is. Young beginners (ages 4-9), intermediate and advanced young students, tweens and teens, college age, adults, elderly adults, and students with disabilities. I've coached professional singers and I've helped teens prepare for college auditions, as well as choral and theater auditions.
I have also worked with many students who have tremendous fear of singing or playing, as well as students with vocal injuries.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I would recommend deciding what your goals are first. Would you like someone to help your child begin their musical education? Or perhaps for yourself would just like to learn for fun? Or both (I've taught many children and their parents together)?
Or do you have a more specific goal? Do you want to learn to play more tasteful guitar solos, or hit higher notes with your voice? Or perhaps you might be applying to music schools and want help with the audition materials?
Once you've decided what your goals are, try out a few different teachers and see who is best equipped and most excited to help you reach them.