Culver City, CA Music Theory Lessons

e days that may mean you only have ten minutes. I try to explain that a little bit every day will help you become a better player rather than working for two hours the day before a lesson. I have lots of good books that I assign that have fun materials with strong melodies. I design everyone's program according to their desires. After a half year, a beginning piano student might expect to be able to play the three essential chords ( the ones that harmonize so many songs) while playing the melody in the other hand. Cellists can expect to be able to play at least four scales, some in two octaves, and understand the notes in the first position within six months.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Room for parents to wait, dedicated music space, Yamaha piano, great acoustics for singing

*** Specialties ***
Classical, Popular, Contemporary, Christian

the lesson, we start with simple warm ups and vocalizes and then apply techniques to the songs you want to sing. I realize each student is different and I customize the lesson to the student's particular needs. I specialize in classical and music theater, however the basics of singing apply to all styles of music. In addition to working on breathing and technique for singing, we'll also focus on interpretation of the songs you are working on as well as how to overcome performance nervousness. Most students find that they are able to sing with more freedom, less tension and will have more confidence as they progress.

I also teach beginning piano, using the John W. Schaum series.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Lessons in the main room, upright piano

*** Travel Equipment ***
They need to provide a piano or keyboard if I am going to their home.
I have a piano in my home.

*** Specialties ***
I work on using the breath as a fundamental technique for singing. Singing should never hurt. I use a lot of imagery to achieve freedom in singing.

ent based on their specific goals and intentions regarding their voice so that each lesson focuses on them and their unique needs. It is extremely important to her that students of all ages have a positive experience of music in their lives and she provides fun and encouraging performance opportunities for those students who wish to participate. Michelle’s goal is to recognize and support each student's potential, helping to give them confidence, direction and motivation on their unique musical journey.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Piano, music stand, microphone, mic stand, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, guitar and mic amplifier, recording equipment.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Portable Keyboard

*** Specialties ***
Musical theater, Jazz, Classical, Contemporary, R & B, Folk, Alternative, Contemporary Christian and Popular Music.

occurs, I switch gears and move on to something else. In my opinion, if a student is getting very frustrated it is generally best to relax and try a different exercise or beat. If we can't enjoy ourselves then what is the point?!

*** Equipment ***
I expect a student to have at least a pair of sticks and a pad. Eventually they will need a metronome for practicing and if they are serious a drum-set at some point. If you'd like to learn hand percussion I recommend having a hand drum of some kind.

*** Specialties ***
The styles I teach are Rock, Jazz, Latin, R&B/Hip-Hop, Funk/Soul, Reggae, Folk/Indie, Metal/Hardcore and World Rhythms. I teach from the heart and develop a natural feel for my students. I also use multiple books mixed into my teaching.

ment, and progress will start to come much easier.

Together we will discuss your personalized course, based on your goals and situation, and along the way I will provide materials/tools and a summary or a recording of each lesson as needed, for you to take home to work on.
Different aspects we'll discuss are technique, chart/sight reading, music theory, ear training, soloing/improvisation, and developing a strong sense of rhythm, most of which will be done through simply learning to play the songs you like.
Besides the basics, it's very important to learn how to independently keep challenging yourself, learn from your mistakes and continue growing musically, simply using your ears and whatever information you can find online or anywhere else, even without my help.

Besides teaching you how to play I can also help with finding the right instrument and equipment, provide advice on guitar/amplifier maintenance and setups, as well as recording techniques, or any other practical matters related to playing music/guitar.

Lessons can be either at your residence or at my fully equipped home studio in the Hollywood Hills/Studio City area. In a beautiful and private environment, with plenty of (free/safe) street parking available.
Lessons via Skype are obviously available as well.
I look forward to hearing from you!

gside a song you love or reading through a classical concerto, I’ll help prepare you or your child to tackle a wide variety of styles, without missing out on any of the basics that turn good players into phenomenal musicians. We all know it’s not about being the best. It’s about having fun, and playing music well is definitely fun. Music lessons include:

1. Building a really strong foundation so it's easy to interpret or understand any part, and to play it with the right amount of practice.

2. Learning to sight-read music, so you can play it well as soon as possible.

3. Learning how to improvise (make-up) music, learn music by ear, and to understand and create chords, which lets you play music in different ways.

4. Play different styles from classical to jazz to popular music.

5. Learning how to practice efficiently so you can learn music as fast as possible.

6. Composing our own original music.

Practice makes perfect! Learning an instrument helps build self-confidence and discipline. If your child’s bored, distracted, or just needs a constructive hobby, music is a great place to get them interested in something that will help them feel better about themselves, and the effects will be felt across everything else they do, through better studying habits to a more patient, diligent work ethic.

It’s also relaxing! Stressed about work? Need an escape? Everybody has the power to learn an instrument. Seriously, there’s no such thing as “talent.” Just start lessons and get practicing! It really is that simple, and I’ll guide you through every step of the way.

I have a diverse background teaching students of all ages, from 3-year-olds to retirees alike, customizing what we learn to the individual student. We’ll learn how to read music just as easily as you read words; improvise and compose music of our own; and feel good playing any style: classical, jazz, rock, and all. My experience as a working musician in films, musical theater, and pop music, as well as classical concert music, allows me to appreciate and teach styles that many other instructors overlook, and I know full well that learning an instrument is not about becoming a professional; it’s about being able to connect to others or oneself through music… and also to just have fun! There’s no need to learn music we don’t like! It’s not about stuffing Beethoven into your kids’ ears… we just want to make music, be that Beethoven or Billy Joel.

Learning an instrument is one of those few skills that will genuinely last you your whole life. I don’t want to sugarcoat it: it takes time to learn an instrument. It takes practice, and sometimes it’s frustrating. But the results are well worth it.

Now get out there and make some music! But start by signing up for lessons. I can’t wait to get started!

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“What’s that chord?” “Why does all my music sound the same?” “How do I fix this voicing?” “I just can’t get it out of my head!” …sound familiar? You’ve probably hit a rut. Or maybe you’re just starting out. Either way, you want your music to sound new, exciting, and to come out exactly how you hear it in your head. Yes… you CAN learn to compose music, you CAN learn to be more creative, and you CAN learn to share your sound with the world.

Film music, classical, jazz… whatever your interest, all music comes from the same place, and by learning a handful of basic concepts, you can apply these to whatever style you’re trying to write. Learning to emulate another musician involves knowing what they’re doing. Learning to create a groundbreaking sound requires that you know what’s already been done, and how to achieve it. Step by step, we’ll work our way there.

We’ll learn how to write cool, interesting chord progressions, how to write beautiful melodies, and how to voice chords. We’ll learn how to control the mood of our music, from making it sound relaxed to adding tension wherever we want. Maybe you’re trying to write for an orchestra, or just a small band. By learning the basics, you can then easily break away from what’s been done and come up with something truly new… the goal of any aspiring composer!