Costa Mesa Music Lessons

"Alex progressed much further with guitar than he did with piano and he actually got to the point where he enjoyed playing on his own. That was a great accomplishment and very impressive to me...you helped instill some discipline and over the course of your instruction, Alex learned a lot. You were always positive with him, even when that was difficult, and I admired that and still appreciate it. I always looked forward on Sunday mornings to hearing the material the two of you were working on and I know he enjoyed his lesson with you."

*** Lesson Details ***
As a teacher, one of my biggest goals is to keep my students motivated and get them enthused about their music and committed to daily practice. I will strive to inspire my students, and ensure that all the while, they are having the time of their life! Practice and commitment are key. Students' curricula vary according to the student's goals and strengths and weaknesses. All students will learn how to play in tune and in time, know their fundamentals, work with music theory and learn how to use written materials. (And they will have fun learning!) More advanced students can learn about blues and jazz improvisation, slide guitar and also participate in blues jams with other students, record, and You Tube video production.

*** Studio Equipment ***
All kinds of guitar and bass guitar equipment and portable hard disc recording equipment for student demo recordings.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Students need a well functioning guitar, music stand, guitar tuner and metronome. Students will also need a notebook to organize written lessons I will hand out.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in blues and jazz mostly, but also have vast knowledge of rock music from it's blues roots to the more modern styles. I also can play in country style, and I play blues slide guitar.

ty world premiers and re-imagined classics. Most notably she played the lead role of Keely Smith in the big band jazz musical “Louis and Keely: Live At The Sahara” during its eight-month run at Westwood’s Geffen Playhouse. She also formed her own rock band, The Honeysuckle Jones Revival, with whom she performed her own songs all over Los Angeles. And she began working as a studio session vocalist, providing demo vocals for other songwriters, as well as arranging and performing back-up vocals for original artists, including Laura Roppe (currently in the Top Ten on Billboard’s Uncharted list of emerging artists.) Crystal played the lead role of Brooke in the new operatic rock musical “The Burning Opera LA” during its Los Angeles run in 2011 as well as providing ensemble vocals and playing piano and bass. She also performs holiday tunes from the Golden Age of American songwriting with musical quartet The Sleigh Belles.

Crystal believes that music is serious business but that it should be fun. She encourages her students to play music they love, as well as expanding their musical knowledge. She is a firm believer in basics first and emphasizes theory and technique as the tools to support creativity and provide freedom, power and control. She believes effort beats talent every time and the student who practices consistently will see results, whatever their level of ability. Most of all, she believes we were all born to make music.

*** Lesson Details ***
Lesson structure varies depending on the student's instrument, age, level of experience and musical style. However, all lessons focus on:

Technique
Music theory
Performance style

After 3 or 6 months of consistent lesson attendance and practice, students will have a clear understanding of how their instrument works and how to care for it. They will be able to read basic music notation. They will be working toward clearly defined musical goals and they will have at least three performance pieces learned.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Loft Space: full size electric piano with weighted keys, small digital recorder, microphone, Garage Band, parents can sit in on lessons

*** Travel Equipment ***
I bring a small keyboard for vocal students with no piano, karaoke tracks and a digital recorder. I also bring a selection of games. Students are expected to purchase all necessary books and sheet music.

*** Specialties ***
Young beginners (piano)

I told everyone that I was gonna be a rockstar when I grow up.

I spent my teenage years playing in bands and eventually moved on to the guitar. I played actively all over Sweden but told everyone that I was gonna move to LA to further my career. And in 2012 that dream became reality.

Since then I’ve been fortunate enough in this rollercoaster called the music industry/life to combine my two biggest passions; music and traveling. I have toured all over the US, the UK, played Warped Tour, US Air Force Bases in the Middle East and Japan and even cruise ships in the Caribbean (my favorite place on earth), all with several different bands. Somewhere along the way I also started passing on my knowledge and teaching music, with a contemporary pop/rock approach and focus on getting more girls into music.

When I’m not performing or teaching, I write as much music as I possibly can. I am signed to BMG's music library both as an artist and songwriter.

Endorsed by:
Gibson Guitars
Pacifica Beauty

I am looking forward to rocking with you! :)
- Moa M

no when I was 14 years old and I haven't looked back! I've performed all over the world as a singer, and have always incorporated my piano as much as I can. I have had a joint number one in the UK, as well as other singles in the charts and have done arena tours throughout the UK and Europe. I have masses of performance experience and a lot of industry contacts as well.

Get in touch and we'll go from there! I'm excited to meet you and chat about what you want to achieve.

stars, calling it "an exquisite singer-songwriter album”, while PopMatters called it “a truly beautiful listen from start to finish”.
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In addition to her work as a performer, she has worked on multiple film soundtracks—her song “Satellite” is featured in the movie Pressure, starring Danny Huston, while other credits include All the Beautiful Things (Sundance), Desert Dancer, Dear Wendy and Summer in February. She is also the featured voice of the national ad campaign for Hillshire Farms
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Alongside her original material, Joanna commissioned to arrange a full length concert and lecture "Beyond Joni", focussing on the works of female songwriters of the 1960’s, including Joni Mitchell, Judy Sill and Joan Baez, to name a few. This is an ongoing project to be performed around the world.

Joanna has had the opportunity to work with such music luminaries as Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Kenny Werner, Lee Konitz Quartet. She has toured her own projects internationally, including Europe, Australia, Japan and throughout the US. She is also a regular collaborator within the dance, circus and theatre worlds.

Joanna is a passionate educator, especially in the field of early music education. She teaches with Grammy Nominated clarinetist Oran Etkin, teaching for his children's music education program Timablooloo. In February of 2016 she ventured to Mumbai to direct a choir of 200 children with the UK charity Songbound, bringing music to impoverished children in India.

s Angeles and Ventura county.

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Currently a member of the Music Teachers Association of California she serves as the Winds Chair for the San Fernando East Valley Branch and actively participates in the Certificate of Merit program with her private students.

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Aside from performing and teaching she holds a high interest and involvement with providing music for special needs teens and adults and works as an instructor at Kindling Studios, which is part of the non-profit called Reid's Gift, Inc. She continues to study and work with David Shostac