Lipoaloha Studios
About
With 30 years of experience as a professional musician, 21 of them being full-time at Walt Disney World, I share valuable experience in performing & musical knowledge.
I teach my style of comprehension & learning which is mostly music theory by ear. I do teach basics in musical notation for accelerated learning & performing.
I also share my unique experiences as a professional entertainer & that invaluable information can’t be found anywhere else.
What I enjoy the most is teaching people in a way that I wish I was taught as a child.
I had a few piano teachers in my young life & they taught me basic musical notation & about notes on the Grand Staff. I played some easy songs from lesson books but that’s basically where it ended.
I struggled for decades to understand how music worked. But I loved it so much, I persevered by playing by ear which means, I was faking it lol.
It wasn’t perfect & had huge limitations but I was able to get by. I knew I needed to understand something that was missing so my skills could grow & get better. I felt I was still very much in the dark!
Then one day, it was like a light switch was turned on in my mind & soul! It came from years of playing w/other musicians & I thank God for this knowledge!!! It enabled me to improve my skills on the piano especially while playing w/other musicians!
It took me decades & decades of struggle to understand this information that I teach & my students have an advantage in that they won’t need to go through decades in the dark!
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
1. Ask them what their goals are in playing the piano.
2. Design an individualized course of action for their needs.
3. Agree on a time frame when certain goals will be met. Progress is based on how well the student retains the information & can apply it.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I learned music notation at a young age. Took further music & singing courses in High School at The Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, Hawaii where I learned under esteemed masters of voice & music, Robert Cazimero & Zillah Young.
I entered the professional realm as a singer & musician 30 years ago & continued on as a musician w/the Walt Disney World for the past 21 years here in Orlando, Florida. I attended Rollins College to study Music Theory under the direction of Jim Roberts.
I also played the the piano at my church growing up & that continued here in Florida & I’ve been playing keyboards at church going on forty years!!!
My experience is an invaluable arsenal of knowledge that I gladly share with my students!
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I am offering classes at $20 for 45 minutes or $15 for 30 minutes.
How did you get started teaching?
I’m starting up my business at this time because I am finally able to! After 30 years of working all afternoon/evenings, my schedule has changed in 2017 & I am now working early morning shifts and am finally able to offer classes in the afternoon hours after school is out! I’m very excited to have this opportunity in my life to share my knowledge with others young & old alike!
What types of students have you worked with?
I’ve taught friends & kids’ friends at some points in my life but just general knowledge. My schedule didn’t allow me to commit to teaching. But now all that has changed. I’ve had numerous individuals ask me for lessons but our schedule never permitted it & I wasn’t committed at the time, but now I am!