Name: The Mistake I See Most Often When Learning a New Piece
Uploaded: 2024-03-08T00:48:52.333Z
Duration: 1 min 26 s
Description: When students first get a new piece, they're excited and tend to jump right in and start playing. Watch this quick video on an important missing piece. Sign up for private lessons to get individualized instruction and start seeing real progress!

When students first get a new piece, they're excited and tend to jump right in and start playing.  Watch this quick video on an important missing piece.

Sign up for private lessons to get individualized instruction and start seeing real progress!

Piano

My goal is for you to gain the knowledge and technical skills to be able to play the music you love or sing with beautiful tone with confidence and ease. 

I love teaching kids and watching them grow as musicians; and teaching adults and watching them fulfill a dream.  We’ll discuss your goals and how to accomplish those goals in a fun, no pressure environment.

You'll benefit from my teaching experience of over 25 years and my Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Massachusetts with a major in voice and piano. 

Whether you want to learn piano or sing, my expertise and patience teaching children as well as adults will guide you naturally.   

Included with your lessons: 
*Virtual recitals twice a year
*Email support
*Weekly lesson notes
*Progress reports
*Recordings
*Virtual performance classes
*Fun learning games
*Supplemental repertoire
*Newsletter
 
I'm a professional jazz/pop vocalist, and have participated in ensemble groups such as the Masterworks Chorale in NYC, and the Verdi Opera Chorus of Southern California; and currently I volunteer at the Senior Center leading/accompanying the Sing-Alongs. 

As a singer/songwriter, I produced my own album of 13 original songs available for download and streaming on many platforms.

The Mistake I See Most Often When Learning a New Piece

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Classical Voice

Singing

Vocal Training

Music Theory

Opera Voice

Broadway Singing

Classical Piano

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than 480,000 US composers, songwriters, lyricists and music publishers. The ASCAP is committed to nurturing music makers throughout their careers. 

Honorable Mention

Distinguished Service Award

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Music Education, I have been teaching private voice and piano lessons for over 25 years. Through their lessons, students have made great progress and feel a sense of accomplishment. They're able to find great enjoyment in creating music. Teaching is a way to share my love of music to my students.

voice and piano instructor

Steve heads a band varying in size depending on the client's need.  Our music genre is basically jazz/pop.  We perform throughout the  Orange County area.

Vocalist

Working as an instructor with Take Lessons, I'm teaching piano for beginners up to advanced, using various method books, supplemental music, music of students' choice. Students learn the fundamentals of music theory to better understand their music.

As a voice instructor, we work on pitch, breath support, tone, range, song expression as the main focus.  Through their lessons, students have noticeably improved their singing. 

As part of Take Lessons, I'm offering video lessons and shorter clips to supplement the learning process.  These videos are available on Take Lessons Live.

In addition to the lessons, students receive email support, recordings, weekly lesson notes, progress reports and supplemental learning activities; and the opportunity to perform in recitals twice a year.

Piano/Voice Instructor

Mandarin

English

Imagine being able to sit down and play any song you like on the piano! You'll love your lessons with me and benefit from my expertise with over 25 years of teaching, with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Massachusetts. My experience and patience teaching children as well as adults will guide you naturally.  Your lessons and repertoire will match your goals and you'll learn the fundamentals of reading music. There are so many benefits to learning music, physically and mentally. But most of all, it's a skill to enjoy for your whole life! 
Included with your lessons: 
   *opportunity to perform in virtual recitals twice a year
   *email support
   *weekly lesson notes 
   *progress reports
   *recordings
   *performance classes 
   *fun learning games 
   *supplemental music

Amber is awesome. She is very encouraging, Especially with me. I have a crazy schedule and dont always get to practice as much as I want to. She lets me go at my pace and if Im having trouble with things and dont feel like I can move on then we work on my trouble spots, but she never rushes me. She is very easy to talk to about all subjects and shes just all around great I definitely recommend her!!!

I'm an adult piano student of Amber's at the beginners level. I started taking lessons in September 2020 and am making steady progress under her instruction. She is very patient and encouraging and has helped me to build confidence as a piano student.   I'm enjoying my lessons with Amber and would definitely recommend her to others looking for a piano teacher.

Amber was patient and nice. Her class was very boring for my 6 year old. He lost interest almost immediately but seemed to be very enthusiastic with others when he works on piano.

Ms. Amber has a awesome for my 7 year old. I see developing her skills and confidence on a weekly basis which has been great.

very patient and thoughtful, it was easier to work through most issues

Our 7-year-old daughter had a wonderful first lesson with Amber. We are excited to keep working with her.

EXCELLENT  LOVELY SENSE OF HUMOR VERY PATIENT WITH ME

She’s amazing and stern some people need that and I’m one of them. I will be happy to be guided by her as long as I’m in California.

Amber was very knowledgeable.  I took some free Youtube tutorials lessons but was not able to tell if I did everything correctly.  Amber pointed out when I blew out too much air and showed me how to do it right.  I look forward to have more lessons with her.

Started with good review of lessons with previous teacher

Upon our first meeting, the instructor gave my 12 year old daughter several breathing and vocalizing exercises to do at home for additional practice. Amber also quickly identified my daughter's vocal range and guided her on how to utilize various techniques to bring out her singing voice properly, patiently explaining the why's and how's behind each technique. Amber is also able to provide criticism/correction in a warm and positive way that the student is not left feeling embarrassed nor discouraged. We are looking forward to more lessons with Ms. Amber!

Amber is a very good teacher, very patient!

Amber is great teacher and my daughter loves to have the lesson with Amber.

This trick is used away from the piano and also improves brain health and more.  Find out the simple trick - You don't want to miss this!

Sign up for private lessons and get individualized instruction!


A Simple Trick to Improve Hand Coordination

This is a common problem with piano beginners and even intermediate players of all ages.
Their fingers are holding a lot of tension causing the pain and limiting practice time.

Watch this video to find out how to play effectively without sacrificing your body!

Need more help?  I'll teach you!  Sign up for private lessons and make faster progress!


Do Your Fingers Ache after Playing the Piano for Only a Short Time?

A lot of piano students say they can play the right hand and left hand separately, but putting the two hands together is a disaster. 

Here are 5 easy tricks that have worked for my students.  Let me know how you do!

Sign up for private lessons and get personalized instruction!




5 Easy Tricks for Playing Two Hands Together

Learn an easy version of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen

No sheet music; you'll get the chord progression and play broken chords to the melody.  
This method will develop your ear training which is an important part of playing music.  

1 - Play blocked chords to learn the chord progression if you need to first.  
2 - Then, the next level will be to play broken chords.
Hint: the first two melody notes are E and G.

⭐ If you need more help, sign up for lessons!

How to Play Hallelujah 

Being able to recognize notes on the Grand staff quickly is a skill that needs to be developed along with recognizing intervals and direction.

In this short video, we can test our sight reading ability to recognize the notes with Easter eggs!
Pause the video and see how quickly you can name the notes.  Then, listen to see if you've named them correctly.  Have fun!

Sign up for private lessons to get individualized instruction!

Easter Egg Hunt on the Music Staff

There's a really cool sound I love, used in a lot of music.  You've probably heard it and liked it, but had no idea what it is.  It's used in all genres of music.

Take a listen and I'll explain.

Sign up for private lessons to get individualized instruction!

A Great Sounding Chord Technique

Do you have trouble playing musically?  In the beginning when learning piano music, students tend to be mechanical.  So, how do you connect with the music you're playing?

Watch for some tips I use with my students.

Sign up for Private Lessons to get individualized instruction!


How to Connect with the Music You're Playing

Playing scales is often tedious and boring, but playing them will help you in any style you're playing.

In Part Four, these are some different patterns you can have fun with!
Try them out and pick your favorite.

Please sign up for private lessons to get individualized instruction.


Scale Variations Part Four

Playing scales can be boring and tedious, it's of tremendous value when playing any type of music.
Part Three focuses on playing scales with different dynamics.

Please sign up for private lessons to get individualized instruction!


Scale Variations Part Three

Playing scales get be tedious, but will really help your playing.
Making playing scales more interesting by focusing on different variations.  
Part Two focuses on playing with different articulations.

Sign up for Private Lessons and get individualized instruction, feedback on your playing.

Scale Variations Part Two

Playing scales is boring!  Here are 8 rhythm variation exercises to make playing scales more interesting and also will increase finger dexterity and make playing your pieces much easier.

Please sign up for Private Lessons to get individualized instruction.

Amber C