Vallejo Music Lessons

we can proceed to plan our path to the stated goals. This plan will of necessity be unique to each student.

Obviously, expectations for the lessons would depend on the student’s starting point but I would say that for a child piano student who is just beginning, it would be reasonable to expect that within 3-6 months they would be able to play songs by reading the music. These would include some songs of their own choosing as well as some that I might recommend. For adult piano students, although reading is highly encouraged, our goals might take us in a different direction.

For songwriting students, we might choose to forego working at the piano entirely and instead take our lessons into my recording studio. It all depends on our goals and the path that we choose to get there. We might spend an entire lesson on lyrics. But I really like to see a student leave each lesson with some concrete progress on their song, and preferably with it documented on a recording. Depending on the level of the student, after 3-6 months I anticipate that we would have at least a few songs written and demoed.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Music Room: 2 vertical pianos

*** Travel Equipment ***
I expect the student to provide a piano or appropriate keyboard in a well lit room. I would also expect a bench and music stand.
I could provide a digital recorder and a metronome.

*** Specialties ***
blues, jazz, pop and rock

n explain musical theory and concepts many different ways, to make sure you understand them. I am very friendly and patient.

Sometimes I might inject humor into the learning process to make it an enjoyable learning experience, and to help you remember the important things.
I love the satisfaction of seeing my students grow musically proficient and and seeing the JOY that it brings them. Many of my students have gone on to become professional. I am well-versed and well-equipped to teach many styles: Rock (including all sub-genres...Tribal Ambient neo Punk, etc), Pop, Blues, Jazz, Alternative, Country, R&B, New Age, Ambient, Electronic, Metal (and a few plastics and wood as well).

*** Lesson Details ***
I will develop a personal lesson plan for each individual student. During your lessons, I might cover topics ranging from learning how to play, starting from the basics (if you are a beginner), to choosing music that will inspire you on your level, to improving your technique, ear-training, music reading (if that's what you'd like), reading and understanding tabs (if that's what you'd like), knowing what it is that makes certain chords and notes sound good together for writing your own music, as well as guitar maintenance and adjustments, getting a good tone, amplifier settings, effect pedals (settings & placing them in the most effective order), recording tips, and where to get a decent pizza. Haha.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Living Room or Studio, both very comfortable. Amplifiers, guitars, effects pedals, bass, ukulele, balalaika, drum set, PA system and recording equipment. This is a very serene and peaceful environment with no distractions!

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide guitar, bass, or ukulele and amplifier when necessary, teaching tools. The student provides their guitar and paperwork I give them.

*** Specialties ***
Teach note reading using Alfred's New Guitar course. Ear Training, Genres: Rock, Pop, Blues, Jazz, Alternative, Punk, Metal, Folk, Country, Hip Hop, Funk, R& B, New Age, Ambient.
What ever your musical preferences are, I will enjoy teaching the kind of music you are interested in. This helps in keeping you motivated to learn more and practice often.

I currently have 5 albums out under my name. A song of mine is on a major new age compilation, and several of my songs have been played on the radio in several countries, and several internet radio programs throughout the world. I have played on other people's albums...some of which have received major radio airplay in Europe, and gone to #1!

ch lesson. The latest educational DVD's and play-along/minus-drums CD's are also incorporated in the lessons.

Parents are encouraged to sit in on the lessons or they can relax or do some work in the internet ready waiting room. An annual recital is conducted for family and friends.

Prepare for school auditions, refine hand and foot technique, learn double bass grooves and fills improve reading and transcribing , sharpen your timing, incorporate linear playing, apply rudiments to the drum set.

Styles: Rock / Funk / Country / Blues / Jazz / Latin

*** Lesson Details ***
Sometimes the availability calendar is not updated in a timely manner.

Every student is different. Depending on their age and/or goals, this is the typical curriculum for a beginning (no experience) student.

Beginners (build the foundation)
Technique
- Hands: how to hold the sticks correctly
- Feet: heel up or heel down technique

Reading
- Explain note values
- Explain drum set notation

Coordination and Timing
- Learn basic beats to play music
- Understand how to practice with a metronome
- How to play along to music

*** Studio Equipment ***
Home room converted with sound absorbing materials with 2 drum sets, acoustic and electronic. Air conditioned living room seating for parents. Audio recordings are provided for every lesson and portions of each lesson are also video recorded.

icipate in All-City Orchestra, and gain entry to the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts.

I offer private violin lessons through my studio in Oakland, California, but I am also available to travel to your home if it is in the Oakland/Berkeley area. If you are in San Francisco and would like private lessons, please contact me as I accept students in the city on a case-by-case basis.

Playing the violin is a challenging and rewarding endeavor, so I ask that my students commit to a weekly time slot and expect to practice every day; practicing and regular lessons are the best way to master the instrument and be satisfied with your own progress!

I do not provide a violin or the necessary accessories to my students, but I am happy to provide recommendations for where to acquire or rent them; please come to your first violin lesson with an instrument and bow, as well as tools like a shoulder rest, metronome, rosin, etc. I will provide sheet music for the first lesson or so, but expect to order the books that we will use after that point.

I have been on the faculty of Little Mission Studios, the Chamber Music Institute of the University of Maine, and a chamber music coach at the Kipp-Bay Academy. I currently maintain a studio at Inspire Music in SF with over 25 private students in addition to my home studio in Oakland, so it's easy to say that teaching the violin is a passion of mine!

About me as a performer:

Violinist Mia N-H is quickly gaining recognition as a versatile and dynamic performer in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her passion lies in pushing the boundaries of classical music through self-expression and collaboration with other musicians, composers, performance artists, and dancers. She has performed in major venues including Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, The National Arts Club, The Legion of Honor, and The Masonic, as well as on the world stage in Italy and Switzerland.

Mia has performed with leading artists and groups such as Opera Parallele, Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman, Elevate Ensemble, David Kim, Gamelan X, David Tanenbaum, Bettina Mussumeli and Jean-Michel Fonteneau. She is also the resident violinist for the contemporary chamber music ensemble Wild Rumpus, a collective dedicated to the performance and commission of innovative new works.

In the realm of pop and indie music, Mia has recently collaborated with The Singer and The Songwriter on their track "Apparent Brightness", recorded for Marcus McCauley and Portrait Maker, and performed with Evanescence on their "Synthesis" tour at The Masonic.

Passionate about the creation and performance of new music, Mia has recently premiered works for Jake Heggie, JooWan Kim, Brian Fitzsousa, Nick Vasallo, and Dan Van Hassel. Her performances are often in conjunction with movement or performance art, most notably AXIS Dance company's piece "Radical Impact", performances at the SF Movement Arts Festival, and collaboration with the Juxtapositions Chamber Ensemble and Cellista.

Mia studied the violin with Shirley Givens and Akiko Silver, as well as at the Mannes Pre-College Program in New York City before moving to California in 2010. She earned her BM in 2014 and her MM in 2016, both from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music studying under the tutelage of violinist Bettina Mussumeli. While at SFCM, she was concertmaster of the Conservatory Orchestra and the recipient of the Sergei Barsukov Violin Scholarship. She has also studied chamber music with Mark Sokol, Mack McCray, and Paul Hersh, and has performed in masterclasses for eminent musicians such as David Kim, Sidney Harth, Claude Frank, Stefan Milenkovich and Daniel Philips.

ectronic music. No matter the genre, it seems like I always find a way to connect with the music because of my passion for the drums, something I hope to pass onto my fellow students.

What are we waiting for? Let's jam!

strumental studies I teach classical, contemporary, or musical theatre pit orchestra, and musical theatre training for voice and/or acting.