Sylmar, CA Acoustic Guitar Lessons

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Teaching Philosophy -

My teaching philosophy is built on well rounded communication, explanation and examples. So, that a student can truly understand and learn a topic, surrounded in a very humorous, light and supportive environment.
Along with being provided good information, a student learns better and feels more motivated to learn when there is a balance of positive support and confidence building accompanied by constructive criticism and examples/information that can help a student assess what ever walls they may be meeting in their musical growth.

I understand that all students/artists have different goals they wish to achieve. So it is very important to me to accommodate each individuals needs and wants to help them grow in the fields they wish too; However, In that I have played music for a long time, I understand there are certain things that a student may not have been exposed to yet; It is important that while focusing on a students artistic goals they respect and are open to the suggestion and guidance of their teacher.

I truly believe music has an amazing influence on the world and has the ability to change peoples way of thinking. Therefore, I try and keep an open awareness to all music, so that I can understand all different musical languages utilized to communicate to people, and I don't believe I will ever know them all. I hold it to attention to influence my students somewhat similarly so that they can shape the landscape of how we communicate musically in the future.

I also try and be very patient with my students. Knowing that when I feel rushed, it makes information more difficult to comprehend, remember and allocate. I love watching the gears run in my students head, so I try and provide information that pushes a student but is within their abilities.

HUMOR is very important. I like to break people out of their shell by telling a joke and hopefully getting one back, so they feel more comfortable and free. One of a Artists worst enemies are nerves. Keeping things light-hearted and maybe even a little small talk can be very helpful to a students development and growth on a topic. After all, Art is meant to be fun and we should enjoy every moment of it, in fact we should enjoy every moment in life period.

I understand music requires focus and discipline and I have certain expectation of a student to understand that and practice. You can't buy chops, you can't buy music theory etc. you can get help but eventually your the one who must understand it and play it.

I am here to help you. Based on what I know and what I have extensively studied, I will do all that I can to help you achieve your musical goals. I am here to answer your questions and help you grow. I love teaching because I love sharing knowledge; As long as your seek it, it is here for you. Otherwise, I'd still love to hear some jokes.

Education -

MUSIC
_Bachelors in Music - 2016 - Guitar Performance (Musicians Institute, CA)
_Associates in Music - 2011 - Guitar Performance (Musicians Institute, CA)
_Major in Music - (Academy for Visual and Performing Arts) - 2008
_Garden of Angels - 2003 - Performance Academy

DANCE
_Krump, Pop-n-Lock - 2012 - (Xtreme)
_Break Dancing - 2011 - (Fun.Krew)
_Traditional Brazilian Dance & Samba - 2014

MARTIAL ARTS
_Capoeira - Current - (Capoeira Batuque with Mestre Amen)
_Wing Tsun - 2013 - (Johnny from the Emin Boztepe School)

ART
_Graffiti - 2011 - (Fun.Krew)
_General Art - 2008 - (AVPA)
_Painting - 2003 - (Garden of Angels)

Much Love,
Azuri Zen M.

*** Lesson Details ***
I'm very disciplined but am also very light hearted. It's important for me to assess things seriously, so that one can understand a topic or piece of information.

I generate my lessons based on the individuals needs and therefore draw from various curriculums, sources and examples, such as : MI curriculum for ear training, Theory, Single string Technique, Reading, Rhythm guitar, Ted Greenes Chord Chemistry, Berklee Guitar Method, as well as The Real Book, other artist books(Eric Clapton, etc.) The Guitar Players Hand Book, Bach pieces and self developed curriculums, relative to the topic at hand and students personal goals, amongst many others.

-Beginning students within three months of consistent lessons should have the ability to solo and playing chords to songs that they are interested in and songs provided in the lesson along with a basic understanding of the major scale and its relationship to all of the diatonic music.

-intermediate students should have an elevated understanding of scale and chord patters along with the theory that explains modal relationships and use of these concepts.

-Advanced students should learn all of diatonic scale shapes and modes assuming they don't already know them in which case their specifically situation will be assessed

-Professional students I expect to have specific questions therefore where they grow should be largely subjective.

Overall, in a short amount of time on a scale of 1 - 10 I expect to in three months at-least elevate a students musical abilities one full point if not more.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Studio in home in private room with guitars, amps, piano, and seating.
Em's studio is family owned cafe with studio in finished basement with an office, recording equipment, and teaching space for acting and guitar.

*** Specialties ***
As a Musician I try and play as many styles and be proficient in as many as possible and therefore can play most. However, in the fields of blues, jazz, funk, flamenco and Latin I excel.

ter the second CD, I was biographied for AMG (All Music Guide) the internet's first source for music information. Here are excerpts from the AMG bio:

... there are also elements of Jimi Hendrix (arguably the first true heavy metal/hard rock artist), Jeff Beck and Stevie Ray Vaughan in her playing, and she clearly has a strong appreciation of jazz--not only jazz-rock fusion improvisers like John Scofield, Larry Coryell and Mahavishnu Orchestra founder John McLaughlin, but also, straight-ahead bop favorites such as Kenny Burrell, Grant Green, Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass.......eclectic outlook is one of her strong points; her ability to move from a tough, aggressive blues-rock groove to a more cerebral, fusion-minded approach to the occasional soul-jazz/hard bop number has made for some very unpredictable albums.

I have been teaching full-time for the past 15years. I have taught all ages and popular styles. In 2008, my blues guitar method was published and distributed through Amazon.

*** Lesson Details ***
I incorporate a tailored curriculum to help people achieve their personal goals. Learning music is not a "one-size fits all" proposition. I can show you the songs that you want to play. I can also teach you music theory, technique, improvisation, reading and more. I adjust your course of study according to your areas of interest. If you are dying to learn a Led Zeppelin tune, or are planning on auditioning for a college level jazz guitar program, I can help you achieve these goals. I have taught hundreds of beginners along side more advanced students. My students have gone one to study music at GIT, Fullerton College, Pasadena City College, Berklee, Cal State LA, and USC.

Most of all, I am extremely patient. The ability to playing a musical instrument is measure on a calendar, not on a watch. I often work at a slow, systematic pace. I am generally very laid-back. On the other hand, if you learn very quickly, I can readily show you the skills you need to meet your goal. I have fast-tracked many individuals that were seeking admittance to an academic program.

My teaching studio is computer equipped. This allows me to incorporate computer software that enhances learning. One such program, Band in a Box, generates accompaniment for students so that they can work on their soloing skills. Another program can slow recorded music down so that the student can practice slowly with it. Also, I often give out play-along practice CDs for improved learning.

The aspect of performance is often not addressed by many. I am able to work with my guitar students while accompanying by performing live bass or drum parts, or work with bass students while playing the guitar or drum parts. This allows the student to understand his or her roll in an live band.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Dedicated music room room w/ guitars, bass, drum set, pa system, and seating for parents

*** Specialties ***
I teach all popular guitar and bass styles.
I am a expert in Jazz, Blues, and R&B. (degree in Studio/Jazz guitar)
Great with theory, technique and reading.
Have given recording lessons with CUBASE.
Now teaching drum kit to beginners

training. I specilized in vocal training with Robert Austin and in San Francisco with Richard Nichol of the Garcia-Marchesi Institute. I sang with the Palm Beach Florida Opera Company. I am a tenor with a 3.5 octave range. I also sang and performed in Musicals and Operas and Sacred Oratorios from Maui to Florida. I am the proud "dad" of two high school aged children who are excellent students!
I teach voice (beginner to professional levels), guitar (acoustic and electric: beginners to Intermediate) and basic piano. I have been teaching private lessons for 7 years. I also offer voice or guitar classes at St. Cecelia's School of Music in Canoga Park, and privately in my home Reseda. I focus my instruction on "correct" breathing and proper singing. My time-tested techniques will improve and protect your voice from injury.and produce a beautiful tone and wonderful performance. I teach guitar chords, reading standard musical notation as well as tablature. For beginning piano students of all ages I teach you how to read music, play scales, strenghten your finger strength and play cords and song.

s the touring pianist for classical crossover group Vivace, as a solo singer-guitarist-pianist, and as the lead singer-guitarist-pianist-composer for my own symphonic-rock-fusion group, The Living. I've also toured extensively in Europe as keyboardist and backing vocalist for singer-songwriter Melanie Dekker.

My compositions have been performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, The Plastic Acid Orchestra, Turning Point Ensemble, Ad Mare Wind Quintet, Vivace, The Living, The Whiskeydicks and cellist-singer-songwriter Cris Derksen.

I have a B.Mus in Piano and Music Composition from The University of British Columbia. I'm an IVA Certified Level I Voice Instructor and have studied Vocals with John Henny, Jeffrey Skouson, Guy Babusek, and Spencer Welch; piano with Terence Dawson, David Vandereyk, and Ross Taggart; composition with Dorothy Chang, Keith Hamel, and Armanini; drums with Jay Deachman and Morgan Childs; bass with David Spidel; and accordion with Jelena Milojevic.

I've just moved to LA from Vancouver where I had about 40 students, so this is the time to sign up as I have room for new students for the first time in years!

hat will help them learn the best, then that is how I will teach.
Lets make some sweet music together!!
~Eric

some cool artisans artists from Guatemala, my hometown. I also had the honor of featuring on 8+ million of sodas/cola cans from SUPER COLA, Guatemala's own answer to Pepsi and Coke.

I've been featured on the cover of great guitar magazines from Italy like AXE, Music Live from Indonesia and ZERO Guitar Mag from Argentina. I have also had countless articles in other mags.

I've won top prizes at important guitar competitions in London, UK, (Guitar Idol) and Bucharest, Romania (Guitar Ziua Chitarelor 3) when I was 17 and 18 respectively.

In 2016 my father and I founded my own guitar academy named GIG (Guitar Institute of Guatemala) which was a massive hit with more than 300 students enrolled in a period of 2 years, while I also continued teaching private lessons one to one in my spare time between shows and touring the world playing shows and guitar clinics in countries like Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, China, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Poland, Croatia, The Netherlands, etc. sponsored by giant guitar maker Cort Guitars, who made my own signature guitar.

Regarding the teaching experience with me, you can expect a fun and customized lesson, we can go as low and as fast you wish. I have plenty of materials that can help you achieve your goals.

I can teach you anything from Shredding Rock to Jazz.

As a tone freak, I can show you how to get a fat, warm, great and pleasant tone for your guitar/amp and teach you things related to the production of albums and composing if this is something you would like to pursue, just feel free to ask me.