More Practice Playing Chord Melodies

I am a professional teacher/studio musician/performer/producer with over 17 years of private teaching experience and a graduate of the University of Miami Studio Music and Jazz program in 2002. During 1996-98 I studied jazz guitar at the New World School of the Arts music program under the direction of J.B. Dyas and Dr. Roby George. Upon graduation, I was immediately accepted to the University of Miami jazz guitar program under the direction of Randall Dollahan. It was during this time that I also refined my skills as a classical guitarist and as a composer/arranger. In addition, I began passing my knowledge onto friends and eventually began working as a teacher.

My ability to play almost any genre of music is the fruit of past experience playing with an impressive variety of music groups, including jazz combos, symphony orchestras, Andean world music ensembles, and several rock and pop groups as well. As a studio guitarist I have recorded for various artists including Jaci Velasquez, Carlos Ponce, Alexandre Pires, and Noelia.

I am overjoyed and grateful to say I have been playing music for more than half of my life. It has never stopped being the light in my day and now it is my hope to shed some of that light onto you or your child. I am a very friendly and fun teacher with a great deal of professionalism and patience, even more importantly I love teaching and music with a passion.

I have been playing an instrument since the 4th grade (cello) and, as I learned more about how music works, was slowly able to pick-up a greater variety instruments with an increasing degree of ease. In high school, I decided to pick-up the guitar just to "have fun and rock out". I joined a band, played in the high school orchestra, joined the high school jazz band and began to practice songwriting and cover songs. Still, it was not until after I took my first class on music theory that I knew how much I not only loved the thrill of playing music but the discovery of how it worked. With this experience I can show you or your child why learning an instrument can be not only an exciting experience but an interesting and enthralling one as well.

My name is Reina and I was born and raised in San Diego. I have been recording, performing, studying music since the age of nine.

I first studied and performed jazz. I am very comfortable with standards. I studied classical in college. I believe that classical training is necessary to have a full understanding of your instrument, the same way you would train with sprints if you wish to become a cross country runner. From there personality and tons of practice are key to success in singing.

My name is Grant and I’ve been helping students grow for almost 10 years now! How time flies! I started playing music at the age of 9 and have been in love with it ever since, staying active in my local music scene as an instructor, performer, manager and booking agent. I have also earned a degree in Creative Writing from Louisiana State University for all of the students wishing improve their writing skills.

I pride myself in taking a students learning needs and using that as my basis for their specific lesson plan, always on a case-by-case basis, tailored to each individual student. Everyone is at a different waypoint on their path so why would I use a predetermined formula to try and help them, am I right? I am excited to meet and grow with every single one of you, let's learn to love the life we have and let our studies become radiant!