Santa Cruz Music Lessons

About Me

When I was 10, my family, fed up with my experimental fumblings at the piano, decided to enroll me in music lessons. What happened afterward changed my life completely—and I am very thankful for it. That gift of knowledge gave me the ability to explore worlds I never could have otherwise.

These days, I am a professional freelance musician, specializing in solo and ensemble vocal music from 1750 and before. I utilize my background in classical music to build a solid musical foundation in each student, while striving to incorporate the student's own interests into their lessons.

About Me

My name is Steve W.. I live in Santa Cruz California. My passions are surfing and all things Music. I have a Professional Musician certificate from Musicians institute in Los Angeles California and a Bachelors of Music in Audio Production and Recording Technology from CSU Monterey Bay. When it comes to teaching I believe in the age-old Chinese proverb, which states, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life.” Meaning, that I strive to teach people the fundamentals of guitar technique, songwriting and self expression through music so that one day they can understand their instrument on a level that will allow them to acquire true music knowledge on their own.

About Me

I am formerly a resident of Seattle who recently moved down to the Bay Area. I studied music at the University of Washington and my fortes include jazz, blues, classical, pop, punk, metal, theory, songwriting, ear training and generally learning to speak on your instrument. I work with all levels of ability and commitment. Realize your passion and start playing music today!

About Me

My mother tells me I was reading music before I was reading words. One of my earliest memories is singing with my church children's choir; I must have been about four. I began piano lessons when I was six and in fourth grade took up the clarinet. In sixth grade I really wanted to sit next to my best friend in band class, who happened to play the oboe. So I made the switch and it stuck!

Most parents want their kids to grow up to be doctors. Mine saw my passion for music and so encouraged me to go to music school. I rebelled, naturally, thinking I would get my degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (with a double-major in Music to appease my folks). After it became painfully clear to me that music was really my strong point, I decided to pursue it as a career. I received my Bachelor's degree in oboe performance at the University of California, Santa Cruz and continued on to receive a Master's in choral and orchestral conducting.

As an undergraduate in college,...

About Me

Hello students/parents:

I have been drumming for 15 years and currently I am playing professionally in the Bay Area, after studying Music Performance at Berklee College of Music, in Boston, MA. I am funny, friendly, outgoing, and love to play drums, along with teaching music.

I tend to work mainly as a "For Hire" drummer on multiple acts including the styles of; Pop/Rock/Funk/Reggae and Hip-hop.
I have been fortunate to have toured with great acts such as; The Vans Warped Tour, BANG!/Street Drum Corps, Rise of the Revolution, Collie Buddz, Blood and Water, The Phenomenauts, The Groovie Ghoulies, and many others in both sides of the Music Business, not to mention sharing the stage with; Sunspot Jonz, The Grouch, Murs, Living Legends, Tech-9, Andre Nickatina, and The Hieroglyphics’ Crew.

I have had the pleasure to study with such greats as; Mylious Johnson (Pink, Nsync), to the Berklee College of Music Percussion Staff, to locals such as; Rick Alegria (Bo Diddly, Paul...

About Me

San-San C.

OBJECTIVE: Piano/Flute/Music Theory teacher in a professional music studio

EDUCATION: Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Jose State University-Spring 2006

Bachelor of Arts Degree from San Jose State University, Spring 2003, in both Piano Performance and Music Education

SKILLS:
* University skill-level in piano proficiency

* Proficient knowledge of the Suzuki Method and Orff Instruments

* Proficient knowledge of Solfege

* Two Years of Marching Band at Lynbrook High School ('97-99)

* Proficient knowledge of teaching children vocal skills

* Proficient knowledge of teaching children beginning brass and string

instruments

* Proficient...

About Me

I am a solo classical guitar performer and graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University with both Undergraduate and Masters Degrees in Guitar Performance. I have performed everything from Classical Guitar solo recitals to R&B themed fashion shows to classical arrangements of Miles Davis' Jazz legend "Kind of Blue" to internationally debuted film soundtracks. I have taught guitar for five years privately, as part of an outreach to middle school students in inner city Baltimore, to recovering alcoholics and narcotic abusers in a half-way home, and in various music schools in Maryland. I am desperately passionate about music and love to explore it in every way possible. And so I play guitar everywhere I can, I orchestrate musicals, I compose film soundtracks and try to learn everything I can about anything related to music.

I love to see the joy students experience when they realize they can create the music they want and this is what drives me to teach....

About Me

Hristo is a modern jazz guitarist/composer from Sofia, Bulgaria. Residing in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1998, Hristo has performed with some of the premier musicians in the region and has toured nationally and internationally with a wide variety of formations. He has performed guitar clinics all over Japan and Europe and has published a book on chordal development and construction entitled “Between the Voicings.” He has also published different articles on jazz improvisation. He leads the “Hristo Quartet;” an impressionistic jazz ensemble which showcases Hristo’s completely unique voice as a composer, featuring Brazilian pianist Weber Iago, drummer extraordinaire Joe De Rose, and one of the most original bassist in Northern California - Dan Robbins. Their debut record “Song for Messambria” presents a unique blend of modern jazz (ECM), classical, and Brazilian tone textures. The album received outstanding reviews by the international jazz community and it was...

About Me

Thanks for checking out my website. I have been playing the guitar for over twenty years, and teaching guitar for the past 16. I began my musical journey when I picked up one of my grandfather's mandolins at the age of three. Soon after, I discovered that my grandfather had a guitar in his garage. I felt naturally drawn to the guitar; as though my hands were meant to play. I taught myself until the age of twelve, when I inquired about formal lessons with a guitar teacher from my church by the name of James Garcia. I have played with a number of groups throughout the bay area, including legendary saxophonist Bob Mintzer. I hold a degree in music and have studied with teachers such as James Garcia, Rich Hawthorne, Mike McKenna, Doctor Paul Setziol, and Ron Dunn. My goal is to ensure that each student leaves every lesson a better guitar player. Whether you have been playing for a while but simply want to improve, or you are an absolute beginner contact me today to set up an...