Paul F. TakeLessons Instructor music, Piano, classical and jazz Dewey Dr., Garden Grove, CA

Teaching piano is one of my passions, and with 8 years of experience I feel fortunate to have helped many students. My Piano Teaching Certificate from Fullerton Community College, and one year of study at Chapman University in piano inspired me to be a better teacher. Recently I qualified to enter a Graduate degree in choral conducting at California State University Los Angeles for which I needed to pass tests in Music Theory and Music History, as well as give a qualifying concert on piano, so I have the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in music and am working on my Master's. I have a background as a church musician in piano, organ and voice for over 30 years. Piano serves an important role in music. In addition to performance in classical, jazz, and popular styles, a pianist also can accompany, play in a rhythm section, play for personal pleasure or the enjoyment of others, as well as use piano to learn music and music theory.  I am familiar with all these different functions and can bring all these dimensions to your lessons. Plus we won't forget to have fun doing it! Beginners to advanced and young to old are welcome.

My lessons feature a minimum of drama and a maximum of concentration on your development as a pianist and musician. Piano playing is based in an appreciation and love of music as well as the development of musical skills. I encourage both. My overall goal is to reach the point where a student feels comfortable in sight reading any style of music, and then having the ability to reach an artistic performance level with that music through musical knowledge/theory and ear training. My preferred methods to start with in the first 3 to 6 months are Alfred's All-In-One, and A Dozen A Day, as well as introductory scales and arpeggios. Fundamentals of Piano Theory is another great method to include. As we get into piano literature, my preferred methods of development include the Czerny School of Velocity and Hanon the Virtuoso pianist. We will also begin some jazz related concepts such as the ii-V-I chord progression, and matching scales to chords for improvising. Another direction available is accompanying as well as church oriented music. My belief is that music is music and after learning the fundamentals you can choose your own musical direction.    

Methods I use are Alfreds all in one, Dozen a Day, and Fundamentals of Piano Theory (Snell and Ashleigh). As students advance they use Czerny's School of Velocity and Hanon's Virtuoso pianist. Scales and arpeggios are done regularly. I believe that music is music and teach classical and jazz together. Jazz is done on an interest basis.

music, Piano, classical and jazz