When I was in 3rd grade I learned music at school with a clarinet and fell in love with music. Once I reached Jr. High I learned Tenor Saxophone until I reached college. Once I reached college I learned to play trumpet and mellophone for marching band. Through out those years I was also playing piano. I am currently the main musician at my church and I play both the piano and trumpet/mellophone weekly. While I didn't get a Bachelors degree in music I was able to get a minor in music with plenty of exposure to theory. I work well with children and I have have a lot of patience.

I have been playing with classical ensembles and rock bands since 2001. Even though I started on classical trombone and rock guitar, I have come to expand my repertoire to a variety of instruments and genres. During my time in college I performed with the University choir, orchestra, and band. I also have organized, composed and arranged for, and performed with a variety of bands in my home state of New Mexico, as well as Japan and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Since 2006 I have been an active teacher. This profession has taken me everywhere from working with classical guitar classes in New Mexico high schools to Elementary students in Japan to a variety of private students of various musical instruments and genres everywhere I've been. Since settling in the Bay in 2010, I've had the pleasure of working with lots of great students from kids to adults with a wide range of ambitions.

I received my Bachelor of Music Education with Honors from New Mexico State University in 2008....

My name is Chris. I am currently a Jazz Studies major at San Jose State University. I began my musical journey at Dartmouth Middle School. I played saxophone, and was only mildly interested in music. I stayed in music in high school, but remained only mildly interested until my Sophomore year. I discovered the trumpet and began to listen to Louis Armstrong, and became obsessed with jazz and mastering the trumpet. In just 2 short years, I had studied enough trumpet to travel South America with the San Jose Youth Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra. This was an amazing experience that showed me how important music is (especially to people who don't have iPods and computers). After my South American tour, I decided to teach privately and share my talents with the world. I won a scholarship to San Jose State for music excellence in 2009, and joined the Spartan Marching Band. While in this prestigious organization I performed in Olympic Stadiums, Disneyland, and all over San Jose....

I have a BS in music education, I am a professional musician/ composer/ arranger.I received my teaching credentials at SFSU and have been a General music teacher as well as a, band teacher. I have studied trumpet with Classical and Jazz teachers and big band arranging with Frank Foster( saxophonist and arranger with Count Basie Band). At present I am retired and teaching privately.

I have been teaching music for over 30 years as well as being a professional musician. I enjoy teaching because it allows me pass on what my teachers taught me as well as what my experiences have been. I have found that teaching music builds confidence in students, not only in music but in other areas as well.

In every culture that we study, music is one way we learn a lot about how they lived. If we don’t pass this knowledge on we will be forgotten. Teaching to me is not only a pleasure but a duty I must perform for our survival.

I am a classically trained pianist and trumpet player with a
bachelor's degree in music education. I have taught for over 20
years, to both adults and children, with a focus on classical basics
and music theory for beginners and stylistic development in various musical styles for intermediate and advanced students. I teach from a standard
method, but adapt my teaching style to the personality and learning
strengths of my students.

I teach from my home in Castro neighborhood, but am willing to travel within the City of San Francisco.