Ukulele Lessons in Hazelwood, MO

der, I understand the demands and challenges of a busy performance calendar, singing sets for back-to-back audiences day after day and week after week, and the need for a vocalist to find the vocal freedom that will produce confidence in their voice no matter what the venue.

The first steps to mastering vocal freedom are the building blocks for vocal success. Whether the student is a child or an adult, with little or no training, it is my goal to make singing an enjoyable and freeing experience.

Singing with complete vocal freedom and confidence can seem very elusive. Surprisingly, it's not as elusive as one might think! Vocal freedom is within reach and most students experience a measure of it within the few first lessons, some even gaining a full octave in their range in their first lessons. Using a systematic method incorporating the study of good vocal technique and working on songs the student loves to sing makes learning more fun and gives the student a greater appreciation of music as a whole while encouraging a passion for music that lasts a lifetime. I encourage and teach sight reading, and theory basics especially for those students who are considering music as a profession.

*** Lesson Details ***
Each student learns with material that will be divided into step-by-step doable lessons so they can be sure to learn the best techniques and material along the way. Sheet music and lesson books are provided at a minimal additional cost.

*** Studio Equipment ***
My home-studio is bright and open and set up with an upright piano, full length mirror, music stand, iPad with appropriate applications, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, and computer for recording and playback. Parents are welcome to sit in on lessons or wait for their children in the adjacent room. I also may provide a follow-up email which includes any recordings and lesson notes from the current lesson.

As the student progresses I also provide a PA system to teach mic technique and build performance confidence.

I ask that students come prepared with the following items to their lessons.
~ Bottled water
~ A ring binder with paper for notes and a zippered pouch to keep tools and handouts.
~ A flash drive for recording transfers or they can use their phone or other recording device to record their lessons.
~

*** Specialties ***
I honestly love my students and love teaching! It's such a privilege to be a part of their musical journey. I specialize in church worship vocals, choir, a capella, show tunes and musical theater. I teach free, healthy vocal technique which enables each student to explore and focus on different styles of singing. I also love teaching young voices especially teens who want to have a good time learning to sing.

NOTE ~ My teaching style is more structured therefore some young children may not be ready to take lessons with me.

anslated from Papiamentu into English.
Although my music background is classical, I play and teach popular music, which I appreciate.
Just to mention a few famous guitarists who's styles appeal to me: Carlos Santana, George Benson, Paco de Lucia, Julian Bream.
I also teach electrical and acoustic guitar, bass-guitar, piano/keyboard, ukulele, Venezuelan & PR cuatro, songwriting and music theory.
Music is an International language; a way to express inner feelings!
And Teaching it, is my passion!

*** Lesson Details ***
Studying with me will be more than moments of instruction and learning.
In addition to acquiring musical knowledge and technical skills, each class is really a musical experience.
The dynamic during class is focused on making music and in having fun, developing new technical skills and reaching your goals!
The Students will be constantly experimenting with various aspects of music: the Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm. I will be at all moments musically accompanying the student, developing his or her musical hearing pitch, musical aesthetic values, creativity, and artistic expression.
I offer quality Music Lessons!

*** Studio Equipment ***
A Studio equipped with comfortable chairs, desk, keyboards, guitars, white board, music stands, amplifier,
Parents can sit in on lessons

*** Specialties ***
Classial, Popular and Latin Music

**Cancellations**
All lessons must be cancelled with at least 24 hours notice, without exception

. Jeff prides himself on customizing every student's lessons based on their particular preferences, goals and skill level. "It's a very personalized kind of instruction, as I never take a cookie-cutter
approach to teaching…".
Jeff's 3 promises to all students is to give them personalized lessons, be attentive to their needs and goals. and to make them feel like every lesson is worth their investment of time and money. As long as students practice regularly, they can expect to dramatically increase their clarity of playing, their chord "inventory", their musical ear and awareness and play the songs they've always wanted to learn.

After honing his craft as a songwriter and performer, Jeff created and taught music classes at colleges, universities, and music schools throughout the country for many years, including UCLA Extension, Santa Monica College, Pasadena City College and The Harrison School Of Music. Jeff is currently teaching ukulele classes and songwriting classes at Tacoma Community College and Pierce College, both in Washington state.

When asked to summarize his views on teaching and music: "Teaching and playing music always puts a smile on my face; especially when I see that the student is having fun, learning what they want to learn and feeling the passion about music that motivated me to pursue my own musical career".

As a working singer/songwriter/guitarist, Jeff is known for his memorable melodies, intelligently crafted lyrics and heartfelt vocals. His compositions have earned him over 50 awards from various national and international songwriting contests and he's a former staff songwriter for the long-standing New York City-based publisher, Bourne Music. He has also won best music video awards at 3 international film festivals.

Some of the artists that Jeff has been compared to as a guitarist and vocalist include Keb' Mo', James Taylor, Kenny Loggins, Ry Cooder, John Mayer, Bill Withers, Jim Croce, and Don Henley.

Jeff is a NJ native, but lived and performed in Los Angeles for many years, where he worked in the studio or shared the stage with well-known artists such as Dave Koz, Norman Brown, John Daversa, Hiroshima, Little Richard and N'Dea Davenport.

Jeff catalog of over 450 songs and compositions spans virtually every genre, but many of his tunes are amalgams of pop, blues, jazz, R&B, country and rock. Quite a number of Jeff's songs
have appeared in film and TV. One that Jeff is particularly proud of, is the dynamic pop ballad, "Journey Of The Heart" (co-written by Jeanne Smith), which was licensed by the N.C.A.A. (National
Collegiate Athletic Association), who deemed it "the official anthem" of their NCAA Hall Of Champions facility in Indianapolis.

Jeff has commercially released 4 CD's of his original material: The most recent of these is his 2013 release, "Blujanova" (a merging of blues, jazz and bossa nova), which was praised by platinum selling and Grammy-nominated jazz star, Dave Koz: "Jeff's voice is so clean and pure...the production is lovely...warm and inviting...I love the interesting and surprising takes on some classics too, especially 'I Feel Good'…that brought a smile to my face!".
The other CD's stretch into other genres. "Truthteller" (bluesy pop/rock and singer/songwriter material) "Me, Myself, and I" (acoustic) and "The Spin" (pop, rock, and country-tinged singer/songwriter material). All of Jeff's albums are on his label, Relevant Records. The late great John Braheny, author of the best-selling "The Craft And Business Of Songwriting (Writer's Digest Books), gave high praise to Jeff's CD, "The Spin", calling it "honest, crafty, melodic and the songs are all exceptional". Patch called Jeff "a consummate songwriter".

*** Lesson Details ***
At the first lesson, I will ask you to tell me what songs you want to play and artists you want to play like and I will set the table for that by providing the chords you'll need, chord and scales and exercises to enable you to play them and guidelines and tricks on how to make it happen as quickly as possible. I know a wide variety of songs in all styles and styles, including current hit songs as well as pop, rock, blues, jazz, country songs. if you have a song or artist that I don't know already, I will learn it (often on the spot) and if not right then, at the next lesson. I have taught my students to play songs by artists as varied as Taylor Swift, U2, Jason Mraz, Adele, Eric Clapton, Django Reinhardt, Doc Watson. And that's just naming a few.

I always make it clear to my students at the first lesson: "There is no such thing as a stupid question". I want you to feel comfortable to stop me at any time to clarify what I am teaching you, ESPECIALLY if it is too difficult or vague. I pride myself on always being organized for your lesson and making sure that you grasp whatever it is I am teaching you. The goal is to get you to be able to play what you want as quickly as possible. This will take practice and dedication on your part, but I will do everything in my power to help you get there.

I never force anything on any of my students. but I feel it would be beneficial for you to learn to read music OR read tablature and chord diagrams. You tell me which one and we'll go in that direction. If you'd like to read music, then we can decide on a book for you. I have used Hal Leonard instructional books (with CD's! this way you can play with a backing track and get a sense of rhythm, which is very important), but I'm open to other method books you might have or like.

After 3 to 6 months, you will feel you are significantly more skilled on the guitar than you were before we started lessons. You will know more chords (and move from chord to chord), be able to do at least some basic fingerpicking and be able to read some music or tablature.

*** Specialties ***
Acoustic fingerstyle guitar (a la James Taylor, John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Keb' Mo', Jason Mraz, John Martyn, Jim Croce, etc.

Blues guitar a la Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Keb' Mo', Jorma Kaukonen, Ry Cooder, etc.

Bossa nova guitar

Songwriting (any aspect and any level; musically, lyrically, structurally, etc.)

the songs of Taylor Swift---quite a few of my younger students want to play her material, so I have about 15 songs ready to teach you and always learning more (by popular demand)

Adapting songs that are keyboard-based and creating arrangements of them for acoustic guitar. Examples include songs by Adele, songs by Elton John, Irina Menzel's huge hit song from "Frozen", John Legend's "All Of Me", Coldplay's "Viva La Vida", etc.

Recording on Garageband.
I became so skilled with Garageband that I was asked to give seminars at Apple Store locations, showcasing my recordings and how to use the program.

Voice-overs; performance, recording, etc.

as Narzerath House, Bay View, Bella Vista, Monte Vista Village, and La Mesa Health Care Center, as well as making In-Home visits. I also have experience playing therapeutic music at over 20 facilities in Oahu, Hawaii, where I currently reside. These include independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care facilities! I also have experience playing for the actively dying for hospice and consider it an honor to be of musical assistance for people in transition.

I love to teach and can make my harp and voice lessons unique to each individual based on their current skill level. I love watching people expand and grow through music. Your lessons will be engaging, compassionate, fun, and organized! Each lesson will encourage you to become excited about your musical growth and inspire you to continue. I offer something unusual for a harp teacher in that I can teach both improvisation and music theory for the harp. This means that you will get the best of both worlds!

I also have obtained education from the Self-Heal School of Herbal Studies here in San Diego, where I have learned about herbal medicine. I am well versed in many alternative therapies (such as E.F.T., mindfulness meditation, therapeutic music, Ayurvedic medicine, amino acid therapy, etc.) and can provide compassion, understanding, and strategies for alleviating suffering as a Life Coach. My education towards my Master's degree in Psychology also helps me increase my understanding of the human condition and offer additional support for anxiety, depression, addiction, and other stresses. I believe that everyone deserves to live a life of freedom, safety, comfort, and relaxation. I hope to provide loving assistance for anyone seeking someone who cares and will put in the time to truly listen and provide helpful feedback.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and please let me know how I can be of service to you!

he internet! As your instructor, I can help you to learn any and all of the things that you want to accomplish on the guitar even if you are a complete beginner. Don't wait to create - we can progress together!

myself. Through high school I was in a few bands, and I have always had such a huge passion for music and seeing that passion grow in others.

My clients learn how to play in my comfortable and creative home. I have beautiful acoustics in my living room, with inspiring artwork on the walls and a ton of natural light. I work with singers and uke players of various age and talent range!