About
I teach with a gentle touch and a sense of humor, but I also challenge students to push themselves. I love music and languages and enjoy helping other people develop their skills and deepen their understanding. My enthusiasm is infectious.
Private music lessons: For 25 years, I've taught piano, guitar, ukulele, music theory, hand percussion, and North Indian classical vocal. I also offer lessons in saxophone, my main instrument. I have a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music, and I took private lessons in India for two years. I have extensive experience performing, recording, and film scoring.
English as a Second Language: I have a TESOL certificate and have taught in Japan, Morocco, and France. I also taught ESL at Converse International School of Languages in San Francisco for nine years.
Other: I have taught high school Spanish and Japanese, and I'm currently tutoring in Moroccan Arabic. I can also help students with most subjects at least up to the high school level, especially the humanities.
I love watching someone discover that they can do something that they didn't know they could do, whether being able to produce music from an instrument or express themselves in a foreign language.
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Yooyoung H.
Nathan
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
In the first lesson, I do an assessment of the student's interests, needs, and abilities, and then I craft future lessons around that.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music and a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $60/hour and $40/half-hour, but I'm open to negotiation, especially if you plan to study with me long-term.
How did you get started teaching?
Teaching is the most common job in my family, so it was a natural fit for me to go into education. After I graduated from college, I began teaching private music lessons as a side gig. I got my start as a language teacher by working as an assistant English teacher at a junior high school in Japan, where I also visited elementary schools and taught an adult night class.
What types of students have you worked with?
In addition to my work in Japan, I have taught English as a Second Language to mostly young adults at an ESL school in Morocco and at an English immersion camp for children in France. I taught Spanish and Japanese at a high school in Santa Cruz. I taught adults at an ESL school in San Francisco until the school closed down due to the coronavirus lockdown. I'm also giving private lessons in Moroccan Arabic these days.
I have had many private music students over the years, children to adults. Currently, I'm leading music classes for babies and their parents.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I taught a seven-year-old boy how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. At first, he found it difficult and didn't want to do it. I encouraged him to keep trying, and after a few minutes, when he got it, he yelled for his mother to come to the piano so he could excitedly show her what he had just learned.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What do you want to know or be able to do? Why do you want to learn more about this subject? Is it for work, fun, some other reason(s)? How much time and effort are you able and willing to put in?