Key Biscayne, FL Songwriting Lessons

for 4 years.

He currently is attending Florida International University working on his Master's Degree in Music Education after Graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance. He has also been featured as a Saxophonist on Carnival Cruise Lines Cruises. Chris continues to be involved heavily in the Education of music to all age groups and levels in the South Florida community specializing in woodwind instruments in both Jazz ad Classical.

Chris is available for special one on one or group instruction and any upcoming special event that you may have in the future. Where this is for group or private instruction, for solo's and ensembles, reaching that 1st chair position, becoming a better performer/ musician or expanding your education outside of the classroom I will make sure we complete the task/goal at hand...

Individual Awards include:
• 4 FBA STATE SUPERIORS FOR PERFORMANCE
• 12 FBA COUNTY SUPERIORS FOR PERFORMANCE
• 3 LOUIS ARMSTRONG JAZZ AWARDS
• 8 ALL COUNTY HONOR BAND APPEARANCES
• 1 ALL STATE HONOR BAND APPEARANCES
• 2 SOUTH FLORIDA HONOR BAND APPEARANCES
• 4 STRAIGHT SUPERIOR AWARDS (COUNTY)
• 4 STRAIGHT SUPERIOR AWARDS (STATE)
• SCHOOL PRIDE AWARD
• AWARD FOR RECOGNITION (BAND SECRETARY, BAND MANAGER)
• NAFME TRIM HONOR MUSIC SOCIETY

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES INCLUDE:
PERFORMED ALONGSIDE GREATS SUCH AS ARTURO SANDOVAL, ED CALLE, GARY KELLER, CARLOS AVERHOFF, GARY CAMPBELL, DAVE FERNANDEZ, MIKE ORTA, ED MAINA, JON FADDIS, PAQUITO D’ RIVERA, DAVE SAMUELS, GIOVANNI HIDALGO. TOURED WITH THE U.S. ARMY BANDS ACROSS THE NATION AND GLOBE AS THE LEAD SAXOPHONIST.

*** Lesson Details ***
A lead instrumentalist my entire career in music was no easy feat but I was fortunate enough to receive a world class education through much experience and world class instructors like Gary Keller, Gary Campbell, Dave Fernandez, Carlos Averhoff, Ed Maina, Richard Procopio, Ed Calle, I am able to pass this world class education to my students. No matter your level of musical knowledge and ability, beginner to advance I can take you to the next level using the same literature and curriculum/ policy design that was incorporated to me when I was educated by the some of the world's greatest.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Studio Microphones, Headphones, Pro-Tools, Professional Video/Audio equipment and programs...

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide music, stands, students provide equipment needed to perform (reeds, mouthpieces, paper, and pencil).

*** Specialties ***
All Styles and Genres

there after that. I also started teaching at another well respected music school and remained there until the end of 2010. During this time I was very fortunate to have a large database of students who were with me from the beginning of my teaching career up until I left both schools. The only reason I left was as I am also a performer; I was offered an opportunity to perform overseas and i took it. It was a very exciting part of my life as a performer and has helped me grow as an artist and teacher immensely.

In 2012, I relocated to Miami and have been teaching from my private home studio while I continue working on my music career. As a musician and educator, I am very passionate about my teaching and like to bring the best out in my students. Every lesson is tailored specifically to your individual learning needs. I will teach you a vocal technique based on the Seth Riggs Teaching method with my own methods implemented, performance skills, repertoire selection, and audition preparation amongst other skills. It doesn't matter what your desired goal is, I can help you achieve it. The most important part of it all is that you have fun!!

And for piano I like to teach through a series of books depending on your learning levels. We can start at book one, with scales from the book A Dozen a Day, or we can take the the more traditional route of scales, or learn popular songs. This decision can be made by you and I when we meet at our first lesson and discuss what your goals are as a musician.

*** Lesson Details ***
Every lesson is tailored to your individual learning levels. I normally asses this in the first lesson. Lets start with the Singers.

Most singers are looking for help with contemporary popular music so using specific texts are void here. I will teach you a method of singing technique based on the Seth Riggs singing method, implemented with a technique called "Emotion Centered Singing" which will help you understand music beyond melody and composition but also through text and individual interpretation through story telling customed to your needs. I also teach Musical Theatre Singing, pop, rock, jazz, so if these are routes you would like to take, I can help you on your way there. I will help you choose repertoire for auditions, performances, we will work on performance and audition technique and many more fun things!!!

For the Pianists. This also depends on what you want to get out of your lessons. Do you want to learn pop songs? arrangements? Or do you want to learn classical pieces? I ask you all these questions and more at our first lesson to make sure you and I are both happy with the direction we will take. I use either Scale Books or The Dozen a Day Series or the ABRSM Piano series, Alfred's Adult Piano book and many more. Once again the important factor here is Fun based learning!

*** Studio Equipment ***
I provide a full size digital weighted piano for all Lessons, it has various different sounds and a great grand piano sound for piano students. Printer for any homework given, and stationery

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can provide some books for learning and make copies accordingly. The student should have a working piano/keyboard in the home. If i request they purchase a book for their learning development, they are required to purchase it.

*** Specialties ***
For Singing- I teach a method called Speech Level Singing. Similar to the Seth Riggs Speech level singing as well as a technique called Emotion centered singing which deals with connecting with the song and feeling the connection through the core. This is useful for performance and interpretation. I specialize in teaching, Pop, RnB, Musical Theatre, Rock and Folk

For Piano, I use a variety a books. I particularly like the Alfred's series as well as the Bastien Series. I also like to encourage other learning materials for holidays which is lots of fun!! This depends on the students learning level. I asses learning levels in the first lesson and plan lessons accordingly after that in order to have the student progress each week. I teach classical piano and contemporary, pop

albums with various ensembles and bands. In college I already knew from my previous experience that I wanted to teach and pass on the joy that music brought to my life. I studied Music Theory and Jazz and finished my degree in Music Education. I have been teaching all in all for about 14 yrs. And I have enjoyed every minute I have spent with my students learning as much from them, as them from me. I am looking forward to meeting new and eager students who really want to bring their inner music out to share with the rest of us music aficionados! and develop their skills to the peak of their abilities.

*** Lesson Details ***
My teaching method ranges depending on the student. I believe in my experience that everyone learns differently, therefore everyone develops at their own pace. I try to find key strengths in each student and expose this to their advantage, using their abilities to further develop their skills, this method has shown the most promising results and students usually find themselves playing and performing just a couple of months after their first lessons. Part of my method involves a lot of performance and recital opportunities to help break any fears and inhibitions a student may bring with them. Music is about sharing, so an early exposure to this method helps to strengthen and stabilize a core acceptance of a students style and path, giving them and those close to them a very clear picture of their development and achievements.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Has all instruments at both his home and college studio

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide lesson material, song charts and a progression scale. I require student to have an Instrument and recommended technique literature.

*** Specialties ***
My classical training began in High School with Influences in Segovia, and Romero I studied classical for 4 yrs. and trained in Jazz and Improvisation with performances In Big Band and group ensemble. Also sang and played in the school gospel choir.

****Personal Statement*****

If you needed a reason

There is no question that music touches us instantly and activates images, emotions and memories that linger with us throughout our lives. As a casual listener or an obsessive music elitist, there are times in our lives when we get blown away by a sound so unique our entire body vibrates and resonates with the touch of something out of this world. I can honestly say when this happens to me I feel as close to a spiritual connection than anything I have experienced otherwise. I believe it is these exact events that have triggered my need to be completely involved in the making, performing and consuming of music. The creative process, to me, is the single obvious reason we exist in this world. We create and share, learn and interpret, build on previous ideas and inspire others to perfect upon this process. It is no doubt a very humbling experience to realize you are part of it all. During this process you come to realize how important you are as an Individual, how there is no other vessel like you in this world, nor has there ever been or ever will. You are here now and your voice, your talent, your gift is an instrument to the great choir of the human spirit. No one but you can relate this, a reason to be, to create, to give.

rn how to read basic music, but I can teach you how to play by ear too. Before we have completed our series you or your children will have basic knowledge of all these things and a desire to explore at least some of these aspects further.

For me, the most interesting music reveals the unique perspective and feelings of the person who makes it. Having conquered the essentials I will encourage you to be creative with your developing talents. I can teach you about song structure and I can teach you how to jam with your friends. If you are interested in writing and composing, I can help you with that too. We can take a look at your favorite artists and try to discover how they accomplished and perfected their sound. If you want to learn how to record I have a computer equipped with Pro Tools and would be glad to show you how to use it.

You'll spend time listening to me of course, but I hope to spend much of my time listening to you as well. If reading music doesn't inspire you we can focus more on learning by ear. It's up to you. You'll need your own instrument obviously, though you can leave it at home if you don't want to carry it back and forth. I have guitars here. I request that you purchase a book with text and exercises so that you can practice and study what you learn in the class. Even if you do not want to read music, you will need to know the neck and conquer scale formations and chords. We can choose the text based on your needs.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Six guitars, a keyboard, a computer equipped with Ableton and Reason, interface and MIDI controller.

Equiptment

GUITARS
Fender American Deluxe Telecaster
Fender 65 Mustang
Martin Koa Acoustic
Breedlove Acoustic/Electric cutaway
Gibson 12-string acoustic
Danelectro 12-string semi-hollow electric

AMPS
Fender Cyber Twin Deluxe
Line 6 Spyder III

DIGITAL PIANO
Yamaha YDP-141

RECORDING EQUIPTMENT
Saffire 6 USB Interface
Novation Zero SLMkII USB mixer
Akai LPK25 MIDI keyboard

SOFTWARE
Ableton Live 9
Reason 6

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can travel with any of my guitars and my Lunchbox amp is also easily portable.

actice. They are then empowered by experiencing the connections between inspiration, work, and pleasure.
He performs, as a solo entertainer, an unusually wide ranging repertoire because of his versatility on guitar, piano, and vocals. Being an accomplished arranger with a vast library of charts also allows him to lead a ten piece orchestra as competently as a trio or quartet. He has performed extensively in New York, Chicago, Cape Cod, and Florida.

*** Lesson Details ***
I always try to make lessons as comfortable and enjoyable as possible yet challenging enough to maintain interest. I build lessons around the student's individual interests (specific songs or styles) so that he or she can learn the technical fundamentals in a relevant context.
My own curriculum is supplemented by the following:
Guitar: Hal Leonard Guitar Method, Aaron Shearer Classical Guitar Method
Piano: Alfred's Basic Piano Course , John W. Schaum Piano Course
Voice: Jeffrey Allen's Secrets of Singing, Nicola Vaccai Practical Method

*** Studio Equipment ***
Hardman baby grand acoustic piano
OptimusMD1600 electronic keyboard
Crate TX50D guitar amplifer

*** Specialties ***
- Singing lesson time is generally divided 50/50 between voice building and repertoire. I accompany vocalists on both piano and guitar, teaching the melody notes as they are sung along with the piano. Then, once the melody is learned, I often switch to the guitar with just chordal backing. The acoustic guitar is also softer than the piano and lets the singer hear their own voice better. For voice building, I use my own concepts plus approaches of famous voice teachers like Jeffrey Allen, Seth Riggs, and Anthony Frissel.
- I am very experienced performing all styles of guitar and can cater to the student's specific area of interest, whether it be rock, folk, classical, or jazz.
- With piano, I work on fundamentals of reading and technique. Learning basic harmony and chord construction starting with triads (3 note chords), the student can soon read single stave lead sheets (a form of music notation widely utilized by professional musicians) as well as the grand staff. This approach trains the ear and makes learning how to play popular songs much easier.

rning something new and exciting every time We meet for the lesson.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I have a Mac and a PC Computer with recording software... All types of effects processors, Guitar Amps and Microphones.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I have all the equipment needed for Electric or Acoustic Guitar, and Bass. I also have some books as well.
I want the student to have a Guitar or Bass depending on the instrument they want to learn.

*** Specialties ***
Along with being able to read Music. I also encourage the student to learn a song by hearing it. First by listening to each instrument separately, then playing what they hear.
Also, when I think a student is ready I will help them compose a song from the beginning. They will write each part separately, Vocals, or Lyrics, Guitar, Drums and so on, record each part on the computer. Then put them all together to complete the Song.