Join as a teacher
Sign up
Southbay Piano Lessons

Southbay Piano Lessons

5.0(3 reviews)
Offers online services
Offers online services

About

www.southbaypianolessons.com

Christoforo LaBarbera provides an exceptional curriculum developed over many years of experience. He has taught in many music schools and developed their music curriculum. Every student gets books and supplies for free, and has the option to play in two recitals a year organized and hosted by Chris.

I enjoy it when my students start to try music on their own without me helping them. Usually after a year or two of lessons I start to see my students realize that they can figure this stuff out on their own and they begin to download and learn pieces without my help! It makes me sooooo happy when this happens. I also love the hard work of putting recitals together. When I get to see all the performers get up and play for each other and then talk about their pieces during the reception, it fills me with joy.

Show more

Highlights

Hired 4 times
1 employee
18 years in business
Serves Hermosa Beach , CA
Offers online services

Payment methods

Cash, Check, Paypal, Zelle

Specialties

Instrument(s)

Piano, Violin, Guitar, Drum, Cello, Other, Student does not play an instrument

Experience level

No experience, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Students age

Younger than 6 years old, 6 - 9 years old, 10 - 13 years old, 14 - 17 years old, 18 - 25 years old, 26 - 44 years old, 45 - 64 years old, 65 or older

Interest(s)

Fundamentals (pitch, rhythm, chords, etc.), Harmonization, Counterpoint, Music subjects (notation, analysis, ear training), Other

Lesson length

30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes

Photos and videos

    • Reviews

    0.0
    0 reviews
    5
    0%
    4
    0%
    3
    0%
    2
    0%
    1
    0%
    LC

    Lisa C.

    My son really enjoys meeting with his Teacher Chris weekly, not only for lessons, but also for sharing things that are going on in his life. Teacher Chris goes above and beyond. I asked Chris to come up with a Talent Show act for my son and his two friends - where all three kids would play the same piano and change places. He spent hours creating a 3-part arrangement of the Can Can. Then he spent hours and hours doing extra practice sessions with the kids. The final result was awesome!!!
    ... Show more
    July 19, 2019
    GS

    Glenn S.

    We have been working with Chris for the past 7 years. We started with him and our daughter when she was 5-years-old. Chris is an outstanding teacher, especially with children. He is patient, encouraging and very knowledgeable about effective methods for teaching piano to children.
    We have continued to work with Chris all these years because he is very flexible not only with his time, but also with the curriculum. We have focused most of our daughters training in classical piano (Beethoven, Mozart, Bach), but more recently asked for pop (Pink, Ed Sheeran) and jazz-blues (Herbie Handcock, 12-bar form) training as well; which he is fully capable of teaching effectively.
    Finally, in terms of experience, Chris offers many years of teaching as well as his personal experience as a professional musician into his curriculum -- introducing interesting and useful ideas that make his lessons fun and exciting.
    ... Show more
    June 13, 2019
    BC

    Ben C.

    Professional teacher, and quite knowledgeable about piano and music theory.
    ... Show more
    June 06, 2019

    Frequently asked questions

    First we will determine what level of study we should start with.  I have detailed system for placing students in the correct books that consider age group, level of interest and amount of practice that is able to be scheduled.  This system is very pliable and can change to accommodate changes in musical interest and level of commitment.   
    For the 5- to teen ages I have created many musical games that help with learning to read music and perform proficiently.  If you hire me I can guarantee that your child will enjoy every lesson and learn a lot!


    “Teacher Chris” started taking lessons when he was all of 4 years old. By age 11 he started teaching piano to local friends for $5 a lesson and started his unique piano curriculum. All through college at the University of Louisville, where he pursued his piano and composition degree, he taught privately and group classes in Kentucky and and Indiana included starting a composition class for the prestigious Governors School for the arts.
    He has performed all over the world in such places as London, NYC, Chicago, Miami, Costa Rico, Mexico, Hawaii, San Francisco and throughout the Los Angeles area.
    For the past 14 years he has taught in the beach areas, worked as a teacher and music director for private music schools, and worked as a performer and composer in Los Angeles.
    Please contact me for pricing or visit my website www.southbaypianolessons.com Pricing is a flat monthly rate. Books are included.

    I started teaching when I was 11 years old by teaching weekly lessons to younger kids in the neighborhood. I was known in my town for winning piano competitions at the state level starting at 8 years old. I continued my studies as a composer from my father, John LaBarbera, a world renown arranger and composer.

    I have started teaching generalized music classes with students as young as 2 years old, but usually they start at 5 to 7 years of age.  Most of my students stick with it through high-school and I currently teach two via webcam that are in college.  

    Although I have not received special needs formal training, I have worked with many autistic children and others with special needs and had great success.  I find that type of work to be very rewarding and positive.

    I just had a student at Redondo Union perform in the orchestra pit as the first chair lead pianist. It was for a musical that had a 180 page book front and back. He was able to learn all of the music in less than a month! This is his 12th and 2nd to last year with me before he goes off to college. He's going to music school to become a composer!

    In the perspective of a parent looking for their child, I would suggest finding a teacher that makes them excited for the next lesson and for practice.  Ask for trial lessons from teachers until you find one that fits.  Try to look for a teacher that it willing to go over the lesson plan for the week and take the extra time to explain the assignments.

    If you are an adult looking for lessons for yourself, be honest about your knowledge or background with the instrument.  Also setup trial lessons with each prospective teacher until you find one that you instantly have a good rapport.  Teachers are always adding new students and doing trial lessons, so it will not hurt their feelings if you decide to go with another teacher.  It is part of the business.

    I think the best way to create a good working relationship with a teacher is to think about what your time commitment is and ask what is expected. Often parents start lessons without scheduling practice time in their child's schedule and then the child loses interest because they aren't progressing at an encouraging pace. Young beginners really only need about 15 minutes a day for the first few months to get acclimated to this new routine. Scheduling practice after a meal, like breakfast or dinner helps with the scheduling. Just like brushing your teeth before bed! You'll notice that they will stay a lot longer at the piano after the first month of practice. 5 days a week is the minimum. "Every day that is a school day" is my motto!

    Services offered

    Piano
    Music Theory