El Segundo, CA Singing Lessons

icks that allowed me to impress the Hollywood composer that first invited me to Los Angeles to work on my first blockbuster. That opportunity led to many years of success in the industry and some notoriety.
I have always had a passion for teaching, sharing my knowledge with others and watching other people take immense pleasure in their own achievements. I have been told time and time again that I have a very special gift for teaching and I would very much like to share it with you, whether you want to learn an instrument, musicianship, ear training, composition, hone your vocal or mic skills or learn how to arrange an orchestral piece in just a few hours!
I look forward to talking to you about your specific needs and goals and having the opportunity to help you realize them in a fun friendly and authentic atmosphere.
Andrew

d interests. Everyone learns differently and I like to make the lessons enjoyable while developing a solid foundation. I teach note-reading and incorporate music that the student wants to play or sing. I am very patient and teach all levels and ages.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Keyboard, Computer, Guitar, Uke, Amplifier, Microphone, Guitar and more. Everything you need to get started.

*** Specialties ***
Singing Lessons: Everyone can sing!!! I will help you develop your technique and expand your range, pitch and confidence! You will have a fun time learning about your instrument. I teach Blues, Jazz, Rock, Country, Musical Theater, and Pop styles, even though I am Classically trained. The technique will crossover into all styles.

Song-writing: I will be happy to help you structure and develop your art. It's story telling at it's finest.

Guitar: Have fun learning songs you like and get a great foundation too. I teach finger picking, tab, theory, scales, note-reading along with music you like.

*** In Studio or Online ***
Of course it is more enjoyable if you can have lessons in person. But with modern technology, live online lessons come in a close second. I've been teaching for 40 years and I've been doing online lessons for about 7 years. I'm located in West Hills, which is a suburb of Los Angeles. If you are not local, using skype with a webcam works out surprisingly well. I have students in Sydney, London, Hong Kong and many cities throughout the US.

*** Use a Piano or a Keyboard for Practicing ***
I am not fussy if you use a keyboard but it needs to be a "weighted action" keyboard, so that it feels similar to a real piano. Ideally, you should also have a pedal and a stand if you are using an electronic keyboard.

*** Unconventional Approach ***
Each student is taught with a customized approach. You get to tell me what areas you want to focus on. Sometimes there may be a block or something that is a weakness that you need to bolster. Sometimes it is a narrow niche within music that you want to give your attention to. One way that I'm unconventional is that I actually have found that it is NOT better if you practice every day. I recommend that you build in about three days of rest per week. Just like people who work out at the gym learn that the off days are when the muscles regenerate, the same is true for your brain. This allows your subconscious mind to do its job and your progress will actually be faster, not slower. Another example of my unique approach is how I treat beginners. Even though you may not yet read music very well or at all, it doesn't mean that you can't start working concurrently on a more advanced piece. This is because READING notation is a comparatively slow process, but why should we restrict your ability to play something that you love to your rate of reading music? Usually, our FINGER TECHNIQUE develops much faster than our READING so I'm happy to guide you on one or two more difficult pieces and help spoon-feed it to you, bit by bit, "by rote."

*** Areas of Focus ***
-Finger Technique. How to play fast with ultimate control.
-Sight-Reading How to Read Music at Sight
-Rhythm Training
-Music Theory
-Interpretation
-Injury-Retraining
-Relaxation, Removing Unnecessary Tension
-Pain-Reduction
-Practice-Optimization - How to learn more in less time. -How to memorize music.
-Biomechanical Efficiency - Maximum power with minimum effort.
-Time-Management
-Improvisation and creativity development techniques
-Composition & Songwriting.
-How to create melodies for your poems and lyrics.
-How to put chords on your melodies.
-How to create “song sheets,” lead sheets and how to write music down on paper.
-How to notate your song so others can play it, without knowing how to read music!
-Chord-Reading and How to Play Lead Sheets & Fake Book
-Musical Styles and Piano Arrangements (Pop, Country, Gospel, Blues, R&B, Rock, Reggae, Hip Hop, Worship, Church, Hymns, Techno, 50s, Jazz, New Age, Folk, Broadway, Pop Ballade, etc.)
-Ear-Training (How to Play by Ear, Playing by Ear)
-Singers’ Tools
-Pitch Control Training
-Self-Accompanying
-How to Sing Harmony
-Sight-Singing (How to Hear the Notes in Your Mind)
-Self-Accompanying techniques in every style - Learn how to accompany yourself or learn how to accompany singers. (see “Musical Styles” above.)
-Audition Preparation - I will record the melody of the song for you so you can learn it.
-How to put melody to lyrics
-College Preparation
-Performance Anxiety, Stage Fright, Fear
-Releasing Emotional Obstacles to Playing Emotional Blocks, Healing Piano Trauma and Previous Performance Disasters, Piano Therapy
-Learning Disabilities including ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Dyscalculea, Sensory Integration Disorder
-Motiviation Issues - Solving your procrastination and avoidance of your musical growth issues.
-How to Look Like You’ve Played Piano for Years (for Actors, Singers and Celebrities Who Have A Role Deadline and Need a Crash Course.)

*** Celebrity Piano Teacher ***
Over the years, I've taught many pro musicians and celebrities. These include: Vonda Shepard, David E. Kelley, Dick Gautier, Michelle Pfeiffer, Pray Harper, Peter Horton, Michael Goodrich, Brianna Haynes, Starr Parodi, Briana Evigan, Stuart Ross, Roger Burnley, Chris Hardin, Stu Simone and Ben Bram.

*** Howard's Teachers Go Back To Beethoven ***
I feel grateful that my own training included top teachers of both the “German School” and “Russian School” of piano technique. Generally, the German School teaches how to play with close-to-the-key hand placement preparation and fingering efficiency, and is known for great speed and accuracy. The Russian School teaches how to play with gravity and relaxation and is known for beautiful tone production. Each approach has its strengths and weaknesses. In my own playing and teaching, I have incorporated the good aspects of each and have discarded the bad. The result is a blueprint for biomechanical efficiency and beautiful sound, making it the best of both worlds. Please see the photo of the "piano lineage chart."

as well as French from Beginner's through Advanced levels.

He is a graduate with a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in EDUCATION in the fields of Music, Spanish and German Literature, with a minor in Linguistics, French, and Italian Studies from UNSW (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia).

He is fluent (native speaker fluency) to teach Music in language immersion programs in these languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Tagalog, Cebuano (Visaya).

He also has advanced students with an Associate Degree (A Mus TCL) and B Mus candidates teaching at much lesser rates.

ire with the Great Waters Music Festival and New Hampshire Dance Institute.

Fueling my wanderlust, I traveled the world in the International Tour of CATS. I have also performed in many regional theatres throughout the country. Some of my favorite credits include: The Marvelous Wonderettes, Light in the Piazza, Guys and Dolls, The Golden Apple, and The Full Monty.

I've been teaching private lessons since 2006 and have loved helping my students expand their vocal range, increase their repertoire, gain solid technique, and just enjoy singing. Each lesson will begin with a vocal warm-up focusing on breath, posture, and technique. We will then work on your music together. I want to know what type and styles of music you like and am happy to help provide you with new material ideas. My background is primarily in musical theatre/Broadway which embraces all styles of music including classical, jazz, pop, rock, and country.

I can't wait to meet you!

ic stand, recording devices that can have recordings sent to students after or during lessons!

*** Specialties ***
I trained classically but personally enjoy singing Pop and Musical Theatre. Because of my background, I like to make sure that my students have good technique that carries through to singing any style they like so that they can accomplish all of their goals without damaging their voices and affecting their health. I have extensive experience with singing in languages including Spanish, French, German, and Italian and like my students to experience different languages as well.

well as venturing into the realm of Film Production. She recently produced and starred in a new full length feature film titled Her Voices, a psychological thriller due out this year.

Victoria is excited to pass on her vast knowledge of performance and audition technique though teaching.

"As I continue expanding my theatre career and my film career here in Los Angeles, I’m increasingly interested in passing on some of the knowledge given to me over the years. My coaches and teachers have been INVALUABLE to me, and I would NEVER have had the success I’ve had without them. So in this new chapter of my life and business, I hope to give something back. After all, we are all in this together, and if some little nugget of knowledge I’ve picked up over my career can help someone with theirs, whether they’re in the very early stages or have already began working professionally, I feel like it’s my my joy to help others be the best they can be & achieve their dreams, just like I did!

I enjoy focusing on finding the joy of music and giving students the tools to execute their musical dreams. I think the best description of my teaching and coaching style is as a cheerleader. I want my students to feel confident and passionate about their progress, and I’m a firm believer in positivity and support providing a fun and safe learning environment. I love tailoring my teaching to the individual needs of the student, from breathing techniques to vocal scales to confidence building performance techniques.

I can't wait to start working with you!"