I received my education at the University of Wisconsin, majoring in Jazz Guitar. I’ve studied with some of the best guitarists in the midwest, and have performed live and in recording studios all across the country in a variety of styles (Rock, Metal, Bluegrass, Jazz, Classical, Country). I’ve performed internationally, and my playing has been featured on several prime time television shows. I’ve always had a love of music, and it’s a passion that I try to instill in all of my students!

Through focus on note reading, chords, improvisation, and technique, I try to give my students tools that they can take with them throughout their musical journey, whether playing music for fun or professionally!

B.A. in music performance & composition
M.M. in music composition (Pending)
18 years of musical experience ranging from piano performance, vocal performance, composition and audio engineering.

You will benefit greatly from what I can teach you. I will give you examples to practice, create specific music assignments that will benefit you the student more.

You will gain an understanding of the inner workings of music while learning the techniques necessary to perform the music that you desire to effectively. You can be certain that with me as your teacher you will have fun, learn something and grow as a person.

A little about me...
I am a musician who has always been in love with music. I work for myself mainly but also "for hire". I have worked on anything from CD recordings to Live recordings to simply creating lead sheets for a worship team.
I wrote my first piano piece at the age of 8 without any formal knowledge of music. I didn't write the...

I have played guitar since age 14 and now hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music with an emphasis in guitar from the University of La Verne in Southern California.
My musical range on the guitar covers several styles including classical, flamenco, rock, blues and Jazz. My influences include guitarist and close friend Michael Christensen, guitar teacher Anthony Titus, classical guitarist Paul Henry and professor Michael Ryan.
While I maintained my focus on perfecting my skills with guitar professor Michael Ryan at the University of La Verne, I demonstrated a passion for music education in my role as Ryan's teaching assistant and later as a guitar teacher at local area high schools.
Having completed my undergraduate degree with honors, I am currently in the Master of Education program at my alma mater. I am accepting private guitar students while working on a CD to further exhibit my diverse skills in music and to display my favorite elements from various styles such as jazz,...

The piano has always been my greatest passion; I have never been able to imagine life without it. I was very fortunate to have had the benefit of a great education in music starting at an early age. My goal as pianist and teacher is to pass on the wisdom of my own teachers, as well as my enthusiasm for this great instrument and the rich repertoire of music written for it.

I received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California, where I was a student of Daniel Pollack for 12 years. In order to become the best teacher possible, I minored in Music Education, gaining experience in the major theories of music pedagogy and teaching techniques. In teaching, I strive to create an optimal blend of old and new by combining the great and time-honored traditions of piano playing, as instilled in me through my piano studies, with recent discoveries and advents in the field of music pedagogy.

My performing experiences have taken me across great...

I received a B.M. in Jazz Trumpet Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and an M.F.A. in Performance/Composition from The California Institute of the Arts. I currently live and teach in Pasadena, California and perform throughout Southern California. I'm proficient in several styles, ranging from the straightforward jazz and classical to more esoteric practices, including afrobeat, salsa, klezmer, and experimental music. I compose extensively, usually writing for big brass sections with lots of percussion. I think the first thing a teacher should teach a student is that music is fun and rewarding.

My name is James and I have earned a Master’s degree in Music Performance and graduated from Cal State Fullerton. I also have a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education received from the University of Redlands. I have performed with a variety of musical ensembles (college, orchestra, band, chamber groups) and have experience in all musical genres. Currently I am Co-principal of the Corona Symphony Orchestra and play in other groups throughout Southern California as well as the Elementary level band instructor in the Monrovia Unified School district. I have also taught and coached at several middle and high schools for the past few years, and I teach privately throughout the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. My passion is educating the musicians of tomorrow and helping them discover their innate musical abilities and desires.

I wish to continue my teaching career through Take Lessons to provide its wide array of students the necessary privileges from music education. I have always embraced mentoring growth through music and aspire to continue pursuing such achievement this organization.

Many experiences have shaped my devotion to music education. I began my training in piano over twenty years ago. In high school however, I studied voice at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where I partook in many uncanny experiences as a performer. I then pursued a performance degree at California State University, Long Beach. Throughout college however, I developed greater desires to teaching music. I spent my summers mentoring children with emotional, physical, and or behavioral disorders. The interpersonal relationship I developed with these children and the necessary roles I proudly played in their lives impressed upon me the essential roles of teaching. Thus, I followed by participating in...

I began playing piano at the age of 5 and never stopped taking lessons until halfway through college. I entered into various competitions and festivals throughout myr young life and did pretty well. I began taking violin lessons at age 9 and continue to play violin as well as sing in a rock band called, The Denouement. My mom was an excellent music teacher and very successful choir director for almost 40 years so I have absorbed all kinds of musical wisdom from her. I have been playing music consistently for over 20 years and teaching music for over 2 years. I am extremely patient, encouraging and kind, but am also very particular when it comes to my students playing the best that they can play.

Hi! I'm April L! I’m enthusiastic & caring, fun & friendly, and I want YOU to SUCCEED!

I’ve had a love for music since I can remember! My first expressions of music were singing in the car, shower, living room … anywhere I could! I took music lessons as a child, and it wasn’t until college that I really developed my skills. I have been teaching Piano, Music & the Arts for over 15 years and love it! I’ve taught hundreds of successful students, and the two things they (or their parents) have in common is consistency and a desire to learn! These students have continued their love of music and performance thru high school, college, and adulthood!

The most important gift I can give you? To inspire you to Believe You Can! With some focus, consistency, and guidance, you can accomplish a lot! If you Believe You Can, YOU CAN! It’s true! You can achieve anything your heart desires!

Congratulations on beginning this exciting journey! I look forward to...

I am a brass, voice and percussion artist and teacher, local to the Whittier area, specializing in many styles such as Classical, Jazz, and Pop. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Tuba Performance from CSU Sacramento and I am currently pursuing my master's degree in tuba performance at Azusa Pacific University. At APU I am involved in many ensembles including the top jazz band, wind ensemble, graduate quintet, vocal jazz, and am the Assistant director of the Blackout Marching Band (APU). During my time in Sacramento I held the position of Principal Tuba for the Folsom Symphony for the 2009 - 2011 seasons. I was also the lead trombone for the Harley White Jr. Jazz Orchestra as well as Element Brass Band. In addition, I was privileged to win multiple downbeat awards with the Sacramento State Jazz Singers where I sung bass and was often a featured soloist. I am featured as the bass singer in Selfless Cold and Composed on the Ben Folds' College a cappella album released in 2009. As...

I'm a songwriting instructor that focuses on the basics of what you need to know to create an original song. This means learning the basics of guitar, piano, singing, and writing lyrics. My approach is to start by learning to play selected popular songs of the studend's choice, as well as my own recommendations. Then, as the student becomes more familiar with the rules of how songs are traditionally structured, we can properly break the rules! Music is about fun, so having fun is the bottom line, and writing the perfect song is the ultimate quest!

My background includes a B.A. in Music from Cal Poly Pomona, where my emphasis was in Vocal training for commercial styles (jazz, pop, rock). I've also developed skills in guitar, piano, and writing lyrics. For me, writing songs is purely for personal enjoyment and a means of creativity. And if songwriting ever gets you famous, all the better!

Nicole B., Soprano/Musician is receiving her Masters of Music from CSU, Northridge while actively working as a professional vocalist for groups like the Verdi Chorus, St. Luke's Episcopal, St. Mark's Presbyterian and playing countless roles in opera's and musicals around the Los Angeles area! Nicole has had a lifetime involvement in voice, theatre, songwriting and music and branched a career as a singer songwriter in the Santa Barbara area under the name "Nikki Bee". Nicole has also worked in the pop industry with the four girl pop group "Women of Wealth" based out of Montecito, CA and featured on KEYT with guest star John Cleese. Coming from a family of artists and musicians, Nicole has always found the art within live performance to be the inspiration for her life and her career. Melding artist expression with technical ability, Nicole’s talents and passion make her a performer and teacher with the ability to bridge honest and natural acting skills with a powerful and studied...