Somerville, MA Banjo Lessons

af" can learn to sing perfectly in tune, the most nasal or unappealing sound can be transformed into the most beautiful resonant tone, and someone with "no talent" can become better than anyone out there. With this superb method when you finish singing your voice will feel better than when you started! All it takes is desire, patience, perseverance, and above all, practice. I also have a unique and very patient teaching style that can make learning any instrument seem easy. Anyone can learn with my method of teaching.

It all started out in a small town called Chatham, NJ where I spent the first thirteen years of my life. I remember loving music as early as I could walk and talk. I started taking guitar lessons when I was seven years old. Along with the guitar, came a love for singing and writing my own songs. When we moved to Pennsylvania the guitar came with me. Throughout my high school years, I spent hours playing with teachers, fellow students and at parties.

When I was sixteen every week for three years I would drive an hour into Philadelphia, by myself, to study with world famous Artie Singer. His students include such names as Chubby Checker, Frankie Avalon, Al Martino, and Bobby Rydel. Artie co-wrote and produced two massive hit records “At the Hop” and “Rock ‘n Roll is Here to Stay,” both recorded by Danny and the Juniors. Artie was personal friends with Dick Clark and would bring him acts for his show.

While going to a Community College in Philadelphia the music teacher there took notice of me, pulled me aside, and told me about a great music school I should attend. He then sent away for the application and helped me fill it out. The next thing I knew I was in Boston attending Berklee School of Music! I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Jazz and Rock Composition, Arranging, and Guitar.

I had originally gone to Berklee intending to major in voice, however I had no luck with the vocal department there and ended up with nodules on my vocal cords. The damage was so significant that I had to stop singing during my four years at Berklee and turned to studying Guitar and Composition.

I tried every vocal teacher in town wanting more than anything to be a singer. What I found was no teacher could help me and it seemed obvious that even though they had the “big name” they didn't know what they wt. I was losing hope. The combination of this roadblock and my persistence led me to the greatest thing that ever happened in my life....... I met Dante Pavone!

I kept hearing about a singing teacher named Dante Pavone. Since I had already tried everyone else, I decided to give him a shot. On my first lesson with Dante I noticed a big difference. My throat didn't hurt at all and a real voice was coming out of me. I was cured!

Dante’s studies were extensive and he had doctorates in voice, music history, psychology and many other subjects. He was the most intelligent; insightful person I have ever met in my life and not only taught me about voice but taught me many things about life. He one time told me that he had a more profound knowledge of all the fine singing muscles than anyone else.

Dante was the first; a “pioneer” in popular singing, breaking from the traditional operatic style. He taught, or was contacted by, such singers as John Lennon and Paul McCartney (Beatles), Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones), Aretha Franklin, Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane), Steve Tyler (Aerosmith), Peter Wolf (JGiles Band), James and Livingston Taylor, Faye Dunaway, Tom Jones, Donna Summers, Jonathan Richman, Julianna Hatfield, Andy Pratt, at their prime and the list goes on and on. Once John Lennon and Paul McCartney showed up unannounced at his door handing him a blank check! Singers from New York City Opera Company used to sneak away from their teachers and come to Boston to study with Dante who would cure their wrecked voices from their famous opera teachers they had in NY. Best Singing Teacher in the World!

I studied with Dante every day for the first couple of years and then two or three times a week after that for fifteen years until his demise in 1998. I never missed a lesson! He gave me over a four-octave range where I started with only a five-note one. Not only did he improve my pitch and tone, but I can now sing and scream all night, if I want to, and never have a single vocal problem. In fact the more I sing the better my voice feels!

One day at my lesson Dante asked if he could pass his method down to me. This has been a great honor to me and although many teachers try to emulate his method I am the only one with a certificate as seen above. Not only was Dante my mentor, but still to this day he is the most important person I ever encountered in my life and was my best friend. We were very close and he would spend hours talking to me at lessons not only about music but about many fascinating subjects and opened my eyes to many incredible things.

Thirteen of my songs were chosen to be in one movie called Getting Personal and other songs in the movies Fillbilly and Dykeotomies. My band has won world contests.

I have also studied piano, guitar, and drums extensively and teach all instruments. I studied for years with late great world renowned Charlie Banacos and John Horrigan. Besides teaching I am a songwriter, dancer, actress, film maker, audio engineer and producer as well. I can help you record your songs!

Since 1982 I have written hundreds of songs and have been performing and recording my own music in major New England and New York venues. I've also won awards for my band "Girl on Top."

Breathing
If a teacher tells you breathing is not important you should be concerned. Let me help you to develop solid breathing and correct singing posture. An instrument only sounds as good as it's built. As we build your instrument your range, strength, resonance and stamina all improve. There is no end to how good you can get.

All Styles
The greatest thing about this method is it does not give you a style. You develop your own style! The student brings in songs they want to work on. Pop, rock, hip-hop, alternative, country, progressive, blues, jazz, swing, broadway, folk, rap, r+b, gospel, hardcore, screaming at the top of your lungs (if you want to).

All Levels
I teach all ages and presently have students from three years old to students in their seventies.  Beginners to advanced, adults to elderly, children, kids, and pre-school.  Dante taught me that I can improve a person’s life by teaching them music. He’s certainly improved mine. I hope you will let me help to improve yours.

Vocal Therapist
My method is guaranteed to cure any and all vocal problems or damage you may have from singing or talking: nodules, pitch, range, tone, endurance, etc.

Sing with no break
Have a smooth, multi-octave range. Sing any note the way you like: high or low, hard or soft.

No end to how you can improve
As long as you practice using this method, there is no limit as to how you can improve your range, tone, strength, flexibility, vibrato, phrasing, etc. Let me help you transcend fear, anxiety, and stage fright and replace it with technical ability and self-confidence.

Coaching and Stage Presence
We work on songs that the student brings with them to lessons. Using acting techniques, I help them understand the true meaning of the song and how to convey it to an audience.

Guitar Lesson
Learn easily the basics of rhythm, notes and chords.  Start with the basics and move into learning to play songs that you love. Incorporate learning to sing and play guitar on your favorite tunes.  As the student becomes more confident the lessons move into learning advanced voicing, improvisational techniques and chord solos.  All styles, all levels, all ages.

Piano Lessons
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced professional, any age is welcomed. Learning to play the piano can be lots of fun and very rewarding with practice, persistence and the proper instruction. Learn easily the basics of rhythm, notes and chords.  In the first lesson you will be able to play with both hands.  As you continue lessons it will be fun and exciting to learn to play popular piano pieces.  The more advanced student will have fun learning to improvise and play chord solos.

Drum Lessons
Learning to play the drums is really easy and fun with my method!  Start by learning how to hold the sticks and position yourself at a full drum set.  At the end of the first lesson you will be able to play beats.  With each lesson new beats, styles and exercises will be added.  As you get more advanced the student can bring in songs they want to learn.  This method is perfect and easy for any beginner or more advanced student.

Bass Lessons
The bass is what holds the rhythm of the band together and provides the foundation and bottom for the chord structure.  The student is taken in a step by step method that is easy to understand starting with learning basic notes, rhythms and finger exercises.  As the student becomes more advanced they can bring in songs that they would like to learn.  All styles, ages and levels.

Ear Training
Developing your ear is essential for any serious musician.  We start by learning to sing simple melodies and rhythms and as the student progresses move to more challenging ones.  Also incorporated will be learning notation and chord and pitch recognition.
Song Writing
Learn to write songs like the pros.  Karen D. has written over two hundred and fifty song.  Let her expertise help you learn the secrets fast.  We will work on song structure, theory and lyric writing.

Theory and Arranging
Karen D. is an honorary graduate of Berklee School of Music in Boston.  There she acquired a degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging.  She will teach you about notes, intervals, scales, chord structures and how chords work together.  Also, you will learn how to arrange a song by adding drums, bass, guitar, horns, strings and whatever your heart desires.

Instruments-All Styles

Voice
Vocal Therapy
Nodules
Polyps
Breathing
Strength
Range
Coaching
Stage Presence

Extras
Theory/Arranging
Song Writing
Ear Training
Apple Computer Skills
Final Cut
Logic

Stringed Instruments
Acoustic Guitar
Autoharp
Banjo
Bass Guitar
Dobro
Dulcimer
Electric Guitar
Gottuvadhyam
Guitar
Harp
Lap Steel Guitar
Lute
Mandolin
Pedal Steel Guitar
Sitar
Ukulele
Veena
Zither

Keyboard Instruments
Acoustic Piano
Clarinet
Electric Keyboards
Harpsichord
Keyboards
Organ
Piano
Synthesizer

Percussion Instruments
Bongos
cajon
Castanets
Celesta
Chimes
Congas
Cymbals
Double Bass / Kick
Drums
Drum Set
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Timpani
Tom Toms
Triangle
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Bowed Stringed
Cello
Double Bass (Acoustic, Upright, Stand-up)
Fiddle
Viola
Violin

Woodwinds
Accordion
Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Clarinet
Contrabassoon
Double Reed
English Flute
English Horn
Flute
Flutes
Harmonica
Melodica
Oboe
Piccolo
Pitch Pipes
Recorder
Saxophone
Single Reed

Brasswinds
French Horn
Pan Flute
Piccolo
Recorder
Saxophone
Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba

Testimonials

Karen D is the numero uno female singer in Boston.

Karen made the lesson fun and highly personalized. Karen wanted to know about my current skills and what I wanted to achieve. She then based our lesson play on this information. Excellent!

I don't know how much you remember of me, but you were my favorite voice teacher! I adore/d you and hope all the best for you! I used to walk across Copley Square to your studio for my classes. I remember vividly and I also remember my homework. I will always recommend you highly. Next to my band director you were always my best teacher. Know what? Love you Karen! You are the best! I wish every great thing for you.

Karen is an amazing teacher. She's patient, hard-working and dedicated. She has a lot of musical background experience and knowledge. She's also a cool person!

In American Idol, Haley did great on her solo, clearly the best. I was really impressed I hope you are doing well…we will see you at the next lesson.

Karen is a great teacher. She is extremely patient and encouraging. She also has a great method in building up strong muscles for singing. When I first met her, I could barely match the notes. She encourages me all the time and guides me through the tough period. Now I can match up to High C. She is also very great at Guitar, and has a very good way teaching. I really love her.

Thank you so much for the encouragement. I didn't get much of it when I was growing up that's probably why I never put any effort in pursuing my dream of becoming a musician. I am going to use your time for deeper understanding. I wasted a lot of time in the past I could of been much more educated by now if only i would of had focused and pushed myself. Our time together made me realize many things about myself what i should have done in the past and that I'm very impatient that's probably the main cause of why i never bothered learning anything worth learning... I admire people like yourself who encourage artists to do what they love. Thanks again.

Karen is an awesome teacher with patience and excellent methods to help people sing. She taught me the singing techniques and mostly importantly gave me confidence to face my weakness and sing once more. Patient, nice, and remarkable capability.

Thank you for being such a great teacher and friend!

Thanks for all your help. It has been a revelation.

I finally took your advice and have been doing my practicing every day. As a result, my choir director, Wendy, came up to me after the service and said, "you might become the lead soprano singer if you keep working with that singing teacher of yours, Karen.

Back from a week in New England...great trip...both reunion shows went very well...the audiences loved them. Thanks for your help in getting my voice  ready.  We had five hour rehearsals last Monday and Tuesday, and then shows on Wednesday and Thursday.  My voice was stronger Thursday night than any of the three previous nights.  That's a tribute to you and Dante, and I am grateful. Take care, and let's stay in touch...

Thank you for all you’ve taught me. I know your way is the real way. I hope to have the opportunity to learn more from you in the future. You’re the best!

Hey Karen! How are you?  I'm over that horrible sickness.  I went to rehearsal tonight and what's coming out of me keeps getting better.  Just the look on everyone's face was awesome.  More importantly I can finally express everything inside me.  Thank you so much!  The only problem I have is when my back get's tired.  After an hour it get's tough.  There's so much I want to go over with you.  I'm your biggest fan!  Thanks is not enough.

I know with the voice and lessons it can be like anything else one needs to improve, two steps forward one step back.  However, I have to tell you, I have really made a breakthrough in the last week, starting last Thursday.  For some reason "all of a sudden" my voice is stronger, clearer, I don't get hoarse as quickly, I can sing longer and "harder"/higher, my voice isn't so raspy the next morning, on and on.  Yeah -- the lessons are really working, as I believed they would.  Bless you and the spirit of Dante.

I threw Dante's name into the search engine and found you. My sister, Tina Sanderson, quit high school in 1967 and moved from long island to Boston and found Dante.  I was at Berklee at the time for flute. I was amazed what he did to her already fabulous voice! When Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane/Starship) went to prison, they asked Tina to fill in, but decided not to do anything until Grace was out.  Unfortunately, two days before recording for Irwin Levine (tie a yellow ribbon....) she died in a car accident.
Anyway, I am very happy to see that Dante's message is not lost with the Master.  i will keep you in mind for anyone wanting the best techniques.

Hello Karen, I found your site through a google search of Dante. I was thinking about him and thought I’d see what I could find. Yours was the first site that turned up and I was very happy to have found it. Even back in 1981 and 1982, when I was with him, Dante was looking for a successor. I’m very glad to have found you. I am also a bit envious that you were wise enough to stay with him until the end. It was my every intention to do that, however, as a teen at the time on my own living in Boston, I let certain emotional issues cloud my judgment and left Dante in 1982 and came back to New Jersey. I must say that I was filled with sadness to find that Dante passed in 1997 and that I made no effort to contact him or study further before that time. What an opportunity it was ever to have met the man! I was with him for a year and applied his method for many years after. I’ve recently gotten back more into singing, I am a guitarist as well, and probably would want to start lessons with you. I was a voice major at Rowan University for a year and half, but actually would rather study by Dante method. Dante was very dear to me. I loved him very much. The year with him was one of the best times of my life with some of the fondest memories.

Hi Karen glad you had a great gig. Nothing was touching the pain, but when I sing it is so intense it doesn't matter. I didn't sleep at all last night, and I felt like crying! I went to my second project today and I think there is an ungodly potential there. I did a little recording last night (just me) so you could hear what you never hear in lessons. I am the singer I always wanted to be thanks to you and I know it's only going to get better! Oh well for now it's ice hot bath and rest.

Karen, even though it was sort lived, coming to you for lessons was one of the best things I've done. It's really gotten me back on track. Dante's scales are so balanced. I was getting into really bad habits especially with the e vowel. With those exercises I'm now placing the e vowel where it should be. I can sing all night again and feel nothing in my throat. When I went to university, the vocal scales weren't balanced. Dante's balances the e's with the ah's and when you got that, you've got it all. This is how I remember it as it used to be. As I said before, I'll be back.

Thank you so much for your wonderful lesson with great encouragement. You are the best music teacher I could ever imagine. How I wish I had met you earlier. 

Karen is a wonderful, sensitive, teacher, who will work with you no matter what style of singing you prefer. For over 6 years I have taken voice from her and my range and confidence increased by leaps and bounds!

Karen is a committed, dedicated and extremely talented teacher.  The unique techniques I  learned in studying with her have greatly improved my singing,  the quality of my voice, and my range is far greater.  I am able to sing notes I would not have thought possible.  Karen loves what she does and every lesson has been an extremely enjoyable learning experience.

Dear Karen, I wanted to thank you for teaching me.  I'm very happy that I decided to take lessons with you and I was able to achieve my goal.  Before I came to you I was not happy with my singing when I hit Bb above middle C and up, but I feel more comfortable with those notes after the lessons with you, and of course, doing the exercises and scales does wonders.  You even got me to vocalize an octave above that Bb and beyond in less than six weeks. What I learned was so precious because it's not something you can learn by reading, but it's something I could only learn by actually having someone coach me in physical coordination.  It was a very interesting experience and a hard work.  I sing almost everyday, so I do notice the difference in my voice from day to day.  Thank you so much.

Karen has been an amazing teacher. I have taken piano, guitar and voice lessons from her for over the past year. I had no prior musical knowledge (or native ability) but yet within 4 months she coached me through preparation for a show singing and accompanying on guitar. While I have much to learn I feel that Karen, with her dedication to her students and wonderful teaching ability, has truly helped me to succeed beyond my wildest expectations.

Dear Karen, So happy to see you're still doing great..I could never in words express my gratitude towards you for teaching me about music, life, and piano..(as well as the wonderful course for drums and everything else) Thank you.

HI Karen, Thank you so much for being such a great mentor and friend of mine:) Thanks for inspiring and encouraging me all the time. Love you.

Thank you so much for your wonderful lessons with great encouragement. You are the best music teacher I could ever imagine. How I wish I had met you earlier. 

Hey, "Coach" -- hope this finds you well.  We played two shows in Vermont two weekends ago, and my voice was excellent.  I've been diligently doing my scales, my stretching exercises, and singing rock songs about 45 minutes a day since the book launch party last August, and it really paid off.  I sang lead on two songs I couldn't even reach last summer.  And I sang our "signature" song, "All Along The Watchtower" probably better than I ever sang it back in the 60s and 70s.  My voice held up through two rehearsals, two sound checks, and two shows, and was stronger at the end than at the start.  In fact, we had a jam session after the second gig and I sang "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder and I have never been able to do that one. So, thanks to you and our dear, departed Dante.

Just wanted you to know that I have continued to work on what you taught me with excellent results.  This past August, at the book launch party, I sang lead on a song which I could not do in 2010 (and I could hardly have done any of my leads in 2010 without your help).  In the six months since the book launch party I have done all my breathing exercises every day, except one single day, without fail.  The result has been that as I sing along with records (which I do about 4-5 days a week) I can now do about a dozen leads on songs I sing with regularly, which I couldn't do six months ago in August.  All this stuff re the voice is only to say a HUGE THANK YOU for your help and your teaching.  Clearly, the Dante method works for geezers, also.  I am amazed at what I can sing that I couldn't get to a year ago, or even 6 months ago.  Plus, a couple of weeks ago I sang 11 days in a row (45 to 60 minutes each day) with no problems at all.  It's so much fun to be able to really sing again...:-)

I'm not sure if you remember me but I took web lessons with you about a year an half ago. Life, however got in the way, and I had to stop. My schedule is now much freer, and I happen to once again be on the same time zone that you are on. I was hoping to begin taking vocal lessons with you again. You are by far the best vocal teacher I have ever had, and my voice really misses your training.

i am happy to tell you about my experience and opinion of Karen. i have been taking voice with her since 1996. I starting to sing in a choir as a soprano at my old church. i struggled to hit the notes and in doing so was straining my vocal chords. i went online to read about strained vocal chords and got scared when i read that they sometimes get nodules a need surgery. i decided i wanted to learn proper technique and searched for a vocal teacher. i read Karen’s bio and discovered that she too had suffered strained vocal chords and got relief through Dante Pavone’s method of teaching, and now she is certified to teach the same method. Since i started with her i have no problem in my throat and i sing way better. Even my body looks better because the exercises that the student does strengthen the lower back so that it can support the ribs properly and has given me a better figure.  i still sing in a choir at my new church and i have gotten many compliments on my voice from many people. At this point i will tell you that i do not practice all of the breathing and scales as often as i am supposed to due to my being a wife and mother of two teenagers, which keeps me very busy and running. That said, i still have made great progress with Karen.
Another more personal note is that a person would be hard-pressed to find another human being as loving as Karen. She’s very caring beyond just voice lessons. My husband has been taking drum lessons from her for three years now and he feels the same way about her, and he doesn’t usually trust people easily. Karen is very well educated and very intelligent. She is a tough but kind teacher. She watches her student like a hawk and doesn’t miss a trick. She corrects gently and never makes you feel badly about yourself. She’s very encouraging. i try never to miss a lesson, because i always leave there in a better mood than when i arrive.
i hope this helps you to decide. You may think...whats with all of this breathing and posture? Trust the technique. it really works without pain or strain of the vocal chords, which means you can sing for the rest of her life and not just a couple years and have to quit due to nodules.

 
Forty years ago I was a lead singer in a New England rock band and I was tearing my throat up.  I was hoarse after every gig and regularly lost my voice entirely after two or three nights.  Then I became a pupil of Dante Pavone in Boston and a remarkable transformation occurred.  Dante’s method was hard work, and it depended on following his advice precisely.  But working with Dante I was able to correct my bad habits, improve the clarity, quality and range of my voice. I could go seven nights in a row and not lose my voice.   Forty years later my band is getting back together for several reunion shows, but I have not sung professionally since 1971.  Fortunately, I found Karen, a protégé of Dante’s, and took webcam internet lessons (she is in Boston, I in Virginia).  All the benefits of the Pavone method re-appeared.  I gained back three octaves on my range and my clarity, strength and pitch all greatly improved.  The Dante Pavone method is still as great as ever and Karen is the ideal voice coach to teach it – a perfect blend of encouragement and pushing. 

Saturday, for the first time after studying with you for over three years and not practicing, i forced myself to do what you have been telling me all along: to practice. The next day my husband came to the early church service with me and told me that when the choir sang the "anthem", which  is our main piece in the service, that he could really hear me and that i sounded really good. Then i had another small rehearsal afterwards with the choir for a new piece for future. After that i was walking down the hall to leave and my choir director caught up to me and said, "You are sounding really good!" i said, “Really?” She affirmed, so i told her it was because my singing teacher is telling me i had better start doing my breathing exercise so i finally listened. She said it was paying off. Today i plan to do all 30 of each again. As much as i don’t understand why it makes so much of a difference, i now know it works and i know also that you are a very smart and driven person and that you would never steer me wrong. so thanks.

I called my brother (he used to back up Taj Mahal) to ask about when Grace Slick studied with Dante.  When my sister was studying his method I met Dante once or twice.  At the time I was making costumes for the New York City Opera Company and was one of Beverly Sill's dressers. Dante kept saying that Beverly was going to blow out her voice.  I remember that several opera singers used to sneak away from their appointed vocal coaches in NYC to catch some time with Dante.  Dante would have to cure all the vocal problems that their so called “famous” NY coaches were giving them.

I was thinking about Dante recently. I just got a gig in Switzerland coming up in April and even though I'm a sax player (Berklee alumnus) I will be singing a concert there. I pulled out all of my old hand written Dante notes and oddly I realized the system and its ease after twenty years. What I'm saying is "voila" now it all came back to me and I’m singing with a fair amount of ease up into my head, stretching my range and feeling really great. Anyway, I googled his name and your name came up associated with Dante's, and rightfully so. I was always amazed by him, but now I'm amazed at what he was always trying to tell me even though he saw me as a great student.  I know that one website that came up under someone's name (associated with him) mentioned that he had passed away. I think he was 76 when he taught me. I remember he mentioned your name to me many times in the 80's. I moved to LA after Berklee and I talked about him with the highest respect and felt very lucky to have studied for a long time with a genius and true master of the human anatomy. Keep up the good work! I just wanted to say hello and let you know that I'm glad you're carrying on his legend.

Thanks for your help in getting my voice ready.  We had five hour rehearsals last Monday and Tuesday, and then shows on Wednesday and Thursday.  My voice was stronger Thursday night than any of the three previous nights.  That's a tribute to you and Dante. I am grateful.

Karen I have to tell you I have really made a breakthrough since I started studying with you. My voice is stronger, clearer, I don't get hoarse as quickly, I can sing longer and "harder"/higher, my voice isn't so raspy the next morning, on and on.  Yeah -- the lessons are really working, as I believed they would.  Bless you and the spirit of Dante.

Every day, since studying with you, after I sing my voice is clearer and stronger when I am finished. You’re a great teacher!

Thank you for all you’ve taught me. I know your way is the real way. I hope to have the opportunity to learn more from you in the future. You’re the best!

I studied with one of the supposed most famous vocal teachers in America. After a year of studying this particular method I couldn’t even get through one rehearsal or four songs at a gig with out vocal blow out. When I came to Karen I had severe vocal damage from studying with this supposed other “famous” teacher”. On the first lesson with Karen my voice was cured and after four lessons I played a gig and my voice felt better than before I started singing and the next day I was not hoarse at all. This is the best vocal method I have ever studied in my life as I have studied with many other teachers before Karen that also damaged my voice. If it weren’t for Karen and the Dante Pavone method I surely would not ever be able to sing.

My daughter did great on her solo, clearly the best.! I was really impressed. I hope you are doing well…we will see you at the next lesson.

Had a great lesson with Karen today. I expected the usual tongue and lip rolls and of course the long lectures on what to avoid to keep a good voice, but i got something much better. :)

I went to rehearsal tonight and what's coming out of me keeps getting better and better.  Just the look on everyone's face when I sang was awesome.  More importantly I can finally express everything inside me.  Thank you so much!  I'm your biggest fan!  Thanks is not enough.   

I just wanted to let you know that my gig on Saturday went GREAT!!! My voice felt really good and I didn't feel strained at all. I'm so glad I took the breathing exercises that you showed very seriously. I don't know where I'd be without you.

Once again you have my deepest thanks for what you've opened to me vocally. I still can't believe it. Every time I open my mouth to sing I get better and better! Also, thank you very much for the great encouragement.

I just wanted to say again how happy I am that I met you. My progress is more than I dreamed of and I know I'm not all the way yet. I also have come to regard you as a friend. I truly wish you all the success you dream of.

Before studying with you I always felt like crying because I could never get my voice to work properly. You have showed me the potential there. I did a little recording last night so I could really hear the huge difference and in just a few lessons. I am becoming the singer I always wanted to be thanks to you. I know it's only going to get better!

My voice keeps getting better and better every day.  I would say that you have 100% given me all the ability and more than I could have dreamed of.  You definitely delivered the goods.  I've grown from skeptic to true believer. The last two weeks, but especially the last couple of days, I have transformed into an altogether more dynamic singer with a pitch increase of at least an octave.  Every note becoming as soft or as loud as I want it to without strain or effort!  God bless you. I know that it's going to only get better from here!  Did you ever see the matrix we're the guy says why oh why didn't I swallow the blue pill.  That's how i feel about my choice some twenty years ago or more, when I saw your add.  Also the changes in my physique are truly unbelievable too.  Anyway thanks so much and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Hello Karen, Life is stranger than fiction!! I played an outdoor gig today! I sang for hours and had no problems. Afterward everybody was all over me. Makes all the sacrifice worth it. I learned a lot today. I sure hope it will continue. I live for this. Don't mean to sound like a broken record, but thanks so much for all you've given me the ability to do. I'm everything and more that I always wanted to be.

I so much value everything I've learned from you and I always looked forward to my lesson.  You are a very gifted teacher and your technique has really made a difference in my voice.  I never thought I could hit high C so effortlessly. Thank you, Karen.

It was great getting the first lesson from you. Saw how you rock from Dante's point of view.

Karen, You are wonderful. I love your personality and your lessons. I talked about you and your method to all my friends and co-workers and will always recommend you to anyone who’s interested in lessons.

Hi Karen, we're moving to New Hampshire tomorrow :-)  We're going to miss you a lot! You have played a very positive role in Brendan's life and for that I will always be grateful. I wish you nothing but happiness. Warm Regards, Rob

You have been such a blessing. I believe people don't just come into your life by accident.

Karen, coming to you for lessons was one of the best things I've ever done. It's really gotten me back on track. Dante's scales are so balanced. I was getting into really bad habits. With those exercises I can sing all night again and feel nothing in my throat. When I went to university, the vocal scales weren't balanced and I had vocal issues. Dante's balances the e's with the ah's and when you got that, you've got it all. This is how I remember it as it used to be when I studied with Dante.

I enjoy the music instruction and guidance which shows progress in a short amount of time. I have explored rhythm, melody, and harmony with various instruments for resemblance. Her personal studio at home is great for this.

Awesome!

ory 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.

I have been teaching music for over 7 years and have had the privilege of teaching children as young as 4 to adults in their late 80's. I am a very attentive teacher who can not only help get you moving in the right direction but keep you on that path until your are a self-sufficient musician. A level of musicianship that simply means you can learn whatever you want on your instrument on your own, whether it be for business, pleasure or for mere self-improvement.

Through my own student career in private lessons I had the chance to study with graduates of the Musician's Institute (MI), the California Institute of the Arts (CAL Arts) and Berklee College of Music. This has provided me with an inside look into how and what each institute teaches, as well as a first hand look at the techniques and ideas that the great players from these remarkable schools have come to produce.

My formal music education consists of 2 years at Pasadena City College where I obtained my general Associates Degree (much of the studies included music) and a semester at California State University Long Beach as a Jazz Guitar Performance Major. Additionally, I completed a great deal of California State University Long Beach's teaching credential program (focusing on the teaching of history/social studies), where I learned strategies and theories of how and what to teach my students - making me that much more knowledgable of my craft. At Pasadena City College I studied with jazz/classical guitarist, Ron Berman, who has played with such jazz greats as Herb Ellis and Jimmy Wyble. At Cal State Long Beach I studied with jazz guitarist Ron Eschete, a former teacher at MI who has toured with the likes of Ray Brown, John Dizzy Gillespie and Jim Hall.

Most importantly I hope to show you or your child a new way to love and appreciate music. And to provide you with the ability and know-how to have the most fun on your instrument as possible.

*** Lesson Details ***
Throughout my lessons, I always encourage basic skills including scales, sight-reading and technical exercises. But what I hope to give all my students is a basic understanding of music and their instrument, providing them with a practical ability to navigate the vast world of music for a lifetime.

Beyond these skills, I always have songs, styles and theory for you to work on but I am often more interested in what you as an individual want to learn on your instrument. Getting to learn concepts that you have chosen yourself will help encourage practice and will make the finished product all the more the rewarding.

I can custom tailor a teaching curriculum and/or style for any of my students: we can focus on learning songs, learning to read, how to write music, how music works, and even how to play specific styles of music (including funk, rock, jazz, Latin, flamenco, classical, country and blues). I also self tailor my own worksheets and set weekly goals with my students to help encourage practice, understanding and progress. For students interested in more advanced concepts, I can also teach ear training, music theory, advanced jazz improvisation as well as advanced playing techniques.

All this in a friendly and easy-going teaching environment.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Located in my home garage, it is equipped with a small stage, an upright piano, an electric keyboard, a PA system, amplifiers, a drum set, a lap steel guitar, a pedal steel guitar, 2 cellos, multiple guitars, 3 mandolins, a dobro, a 5-string banjo, a 4-string tenor banjo, 2 ukuleles, 2 accordions and 2 electric basses.

*** Specialties ***
Styles: Jazz, Rock, Reggae, Metal, Funk, Progressive Rock, Classical, Folk, Bluegrass, Country, Various forms of Latin Music, Blues, and a few others.

Instruments: Beginning to Intermediate - Drums, Accordion and Piano.

Beginning to Advanced - Guitar, Mandolin, Cello, Banjo (5 String), Irish Tenor Banjo (4 String GDAE), Tenor Banjo (4 String CGDA), Electric Bass, Ukulele, Dobro, Lap Steel Guitar (6 String C6 Tuning), Slide Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar (10 String E9 Tuning).

I also teach the beginning and advanced concepts of:
Music Theory, Ear Training, Sight Reading, and Song Writing.

theory, charts, examples, and exercises, as well as anything you hear on
the radio.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I have a lot of guitars, amps, pedals, woodwind instruments, keyboards, and recording equipment. Instruments everywhere!

*** Travel Equipment ***
The students should have their own instrument and method book. Other that that, I provide all other handouts and supplemental material and handouts.

*** Specialties ***
I work the most in rock, bluegrass, country, contemporary, and jazz styles.

different people while teaching the banjo and am always eager to meet more people who are interested in learning and sharing this great instrument. Please say hi if this sounds like you!

N.B If you can't see an available lesson time that suits your schedule please send me a message. My availability changes weekly depending on my touring schedule so I may have just the spot for you.

~ About the lessons
I structure my lessons so students learn what they want to learn, while also building strong technique and a knowledge of the bluegrass banjo repertoire. Topics we will cover include Scruggs style, melodic style, single string technique, transcribing, arranging tunes, music theory and jamming or playing well with others.

We will start with talking about how to hold the banjo, tuning the banjo, playing with fingerpicks and how to read tablature. Then we will work through your first tunes in the bluegrass style gradually learning more tunes with harder techniques such as slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs etc. I take into account each students interests and goals so we will work on specific songs you request or licks you'd like to learn. You will have slow, medium and fast recordings of each tune we work on in the lessons as well at the tablature for that tune.

al needs and goals. Always an emphasis on FUN! My philosophy as a teacher is to give you the tools and help you develop skills with them so that you can learn and grow musically on your own! I look forward to helping you reach and achieve all your goals!