La Vista, NE Music Performance Lessons

of different mediums, and this is exactly what I bring to the table as a teacher. My exploration of music through so many vehicles has brought about a way of thinking; that music at its core is all the same, whether you sing it, play it, pluck it,or hit it! Therefore, lessons with me are about finding your core musician, then ascribing the technical necessities needed to perfect your desired instrument. I can't wait to get started and help you unlock yourself inner musician!

*** Lesson Details ***
As my tag line suggests, lessons with me are about finding the musician inside of yourself. We often forget that music at its' core is about expression. I want to give you the tools, techniques and structure to engage fully, freely and passionately with the rewarding art form of music. For singers, this means tapping into our breath, our bodies and our support to create those sounds that excite, captivate and move not only our audiences,but ourselves. For guitarists, we are going to exercise scales, fingerings and chords so that we develop a tool box for our inner rock star to play with! For pianists, whether you consider yourself a classical, jazz or rock pianist, we are going to build a foundation that allows you to play in whichever style you wish, and a technique that will always be there to support you.

I specialize in online lessons so that I can share this lesson program with student's all over the world! If this is your first time with online lessons, rest assure I will walk you through the set-up and technicalities to ensure the utmost productivity from our sessions!

Whichever instrument you take on, we will be building general music concepts throughout every lesson; playing with theory, chord/scale structure, etc. In this way, we develop that all powerful musician in ourselves who can work in multiple artistic mediums, and find fulfillment in the many facets of this amazing art form.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Lessons are give online, therefore all you need is a computer with a web camera and microphone, and a set up that allows you to play your instrument while on camera!

*** Travel Equipment ***
I will provide the necessary URLs and PDFs needed for lessons!

*** Specialties ***
Broadway singing, classical voice, folk guitar, rock guitar, jazz guitar, classical piano, rock piano, jazz piano

of my students, I am now at a point where I excel at honing in on the individual interests and learning styles of whoever comes to me for help. There are many ways to learn guitar. The best one is the one that engages and inspires you the most. That said, there are also music fundamentals that we all need to know. My joy as a teacher lies in finding a way for you to master the fundamentals while at the same time following your personal bliss and intuition. We plot the course together, combining your curiosity and enthusiasm with my years of experience.

I also love working with kids. While they are having fun jamming, I discretely provide them with the technique and musicianship they'll need to excel in any musical environment, whether it's conservatory study or playing in a great band.

*** Lesson Details ***
Your enthusiasm is the key to your success, so my lessons are tailored to the interests and abilities of each student. That said, my classical background and dedication to effective teaching inform everything I do.

All of my students learn Music Fundamentals:
-Technique (habits of movement)
-Theory (how music works)
-Aural skills (hearing pitches, chords and rhythms clearly)

Many of my students use books. There are hundreds of great books these days, and I will work with students from any book they choose. Listed here are the books I regularly use. They all deliver great results:

-Aaron Shearer "Leaning The Classic Guitar"
-Will Schmidt and Greg Koch "The Hal Leonard Method"
-Joe Pecoraro "Read This First"
-David Oaks "Music Reading For Guitar"
-William Leavitt "A Modern Method For Guitar"
-Mateo Carcassi "Melodic and Progressive Studies, Opus 60"
-Leo Brouwer "Simple Studies"

Many of my students prefer to work without a book, and that is a great option too. These students learn scales, chords and theory and develop a repertoire of songs. I will show you how to play any song you'd like to learn. You can also work on writing your own songs or compositions, or improvising in any context, be it jazz, blues, Indian raga or flamenco.

Singing is also encouraged!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Home studio: music stands, extensive library of all kinds of music, great sound system and ability to stream any song, several guitars, recording equipment, footstools, keyboard and percussion instruments.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I'll bring my guitar and books, accessories as needed.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in versatility. I regularly play gigs doing classical, jazz, blues, rock, pop, and world music. All of these genres have a place in my heart, and I've devoted years to learning to play and teach them well.

I am equally polyamorous when it comes to the various things musicians do. I love to sing pop songs, dissect jazz lines, delve into expressive groupings with classical pieces, drill scales and arpeggios, you name it. Reading, improvising, composing and notating, transcribing and playing by ear, memorization, classical technique, blues technique, bluegrass technique, theoretical analysis... hit me up for any of that, or whatever else interests you.

ember of NYC group Noise Collective, and am currently running songwriting and performance workshops through them. I work with industry executives from Island Records, Razor and Tie Publishing, the Agency Group Booking, and more. This gives me fresh perspectives on current music, and how to approach a successful career!

(If this is your aim… I’m also just as happy helping people whose sole goal is to learn to sing better in the shower!)

I have been a teacher for 6 years, specializing in one-on-one lessons, loving the thrill of helping students grow to their fullest potential.

I realize that there are a lot of options out there, and am honored to be considered for your needs!

*** Studio Equipment ***
- Extra guitar available.
- For voice, I record our lessons, and send you Mp3's after each lesson as a practice tool.

*** Travel Equipment ***
- I bring my guitar, and expect students to have their own.
- For singing, it would be best if students had a program like Garage Band to record, and practice to the lessons.

with One World Symphony, Zerlina (Don Giovanni) and Clorinda (La Cenerentola) with Capitol Heights Opera, Alice (Le comte Ory) with West Side Opera Society, Adele (Die Fledermaus), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Myrrhine (Lysistrata) with Opera Avanti, Gilda (Rigoletto) with Academie Internationale d'Ete de Nice, and The First Spirit (Die Zauberflote) with the Opera Company of Brooklyn.

My international credits include studies at the Academy Internationale d'Ete de Nice, France; the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program in Chianti, Italy; the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel; and an appearance at the Young Artist's Concert in Tokyo, Japan.

As a versatile singer, I was presented as an aspiring opera singer on the website of Maybelline New York. My voice was featured in short films for NEC, the Japanese technology company.

I was also selected as a finalist at the Opera Idol Competition at Lincoln Center, the Hariclea Darclee Voice Competition in Romania, and the Mario Lanza and Elaine Malbin Vocal Competition. In the summer 2014, I received a scholarship to perform at The Savannah Voice Festival that is founded by Metropolitan Opera/Grammy Award Winner Opera Star Mr. Sherrill Miles. My upcoming engagement includes singing the title role of Madame Butterfly with Snob Opera in Montreal and Quebec that is supported by Quebec City.

Besides being an opera singer, I have been teaching piano and voice for 11 years. I have been fortunate to study with the world renowned teachers. I continue my vocal studies with Mr.Gerald Martin Moore who teaches Tony award winner Kelly O'Hara, Met star Renee Flemimg and Mr. William Hicks who was a coach for Luciano Pavarotti at The Metroplitan Opera. I would like to share my skills and experience with you. Since I perform often, I can coach you how to perform on stage in addition to building solid technique and languages. Also, I have taught various kinds of music, such as Rock, Broadway musicals, Pop music, so we can work on all kind of music.

I look forward to teaching you soon!

*** Lesson Details ***
My students can expect to improve their skills and start to enjoy music more as we work together.
I believe that learning music is fun and enjoyable. However you also need to be serious and focused.
I can demonstrate various and specific techniques, phrasing, and interpretation and will always coach on how to develop your skills. However, I feel it is important for students to think critically on their own and take the first try at solving a problem themselves. I cannot emphasize enough that primarily it is you who find the ways to improve. Leaning music is a collaboration between teachers and students. I hope that through my lessons, students will become more self-sufficient and confident as musicians.
Let me help you become a better musician.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Piano (Clavinova), music stand, and desk.

*** Travel Equipment ***
By Subway, the closest station is 23rd street. You can take C, E train(within one block). 1 train(one block), M, F train (2 blocks).

tarting from the beginning of what a student knows and moving forward step by step will only lead to perfection in their lessons. Having fun doing this, is the only way to keep a student focused and progressing. Enjoyment is the number one focus of Damien's lessons. If a student isn't enjoying and having fun with their lessons then they will not progress.
Damien teaches ages of 5-99. You are never too young or old to learn. Damien's main focus is guitar and music theory

*** Travel Equipment ***
I would expect the student to provide their own guitar (if necessary) and a notebook
I have private parking for my students, so they don't have to worry about parking, ever !
*** Specialties ***
I have been taught, on a college level, of classical, jazz, ethnic musics. I specialize in guitar, theory, composition.

fidence to achieve their goals. I empathize deeply with the challenges students may face when pursuing a life in the creative and performing arts, having worked professionally in those arena's for most of my adult life. I believe, it is the teachers job to respect each students individual process of learning.
My students have gone on to become recording artists, Broadway performers, movie actors, blues and cabaret artists and published writers.

*** Lesson Details ***
Voice
I am an empathetic teacher, sensitive to the students individual process of learning. My singing lessons usually start with breathing and relaxation exercises. Vocal exercise come next, then when the student is fully warmed up, we will begin to work on songs. It is important that the student be part of the process of picking material since the more they personally respond to the material the more apt they are to be engaged in their lessons and the more quickly they will learn. After three to six months they will understand the fundamentals of breathing and relaxation and its importance to proper vocal training. They will have begun the process of extending their range and will understand the principles of performance in song.
Acting
As an acting teacher and coach, I tailor my classes to the needs of each student. I utilize improvisatory and sensory techniques to help unleash spontaneity. I also encourage the students to use their personal experiences as a way to access a full range of emotions. I enjoy working with the student on script analysis, so as to discover the underlying motivations of the character the student is working on.
Creative and Lyric Writing
I use prompts as a way to get the student writing. Often, I will ask the student to write for stretches of time without editing themselves. It is important to unleash imagination before beginning the process of editing. Many times it is the unexpected that is the must compelling.

*** Studio Equipment ***
home- 10 minutes away from Manhattan with piano, seating for parents
-practice studio seating for parents

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide a piano, cd/mp3 player and an large library of songbooks to work from. The student should bring sheet music of songs they want to work on and a recording device.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in teaching how to sing rock, pop, musical theater, jazz, and blues without hurting the voice as well as method acting instruction.

to EVERY endeavor whether it's music or math or soccer. I require practice on the student's part. You will be able to play recognizable songs within your first month. You tell me what you or your child wants out of music lessons, and I will tell you exactly how to get it.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Lesson will happen in a space next to the family room which is upstairs. Teacher has a collection of instruments, music stands, couches for seating. Park on the street or driveway.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Instrument

*** Specialties ***
I'm flexible. I have taught everything from country western guitar to classical guitar, from Jazz trumpet to orchestral audition music, from barbershop singing to Broadway musical singing. I have even taught ballet. I cater my methods to the student's best learning style.

When drumming playing with music, learning improvisation, and playing by ear is important. I also focus on this, having students learn their favorite songs, and learn to play with new music as well. This keeps students interested, and adds a fun personal element to their lessons. I also have implemented use of a teaching app, so while practicing if students have a question they can ask me right then so to not forget, and I can give feedback. It also has a practice tracker tool. If you have any questions feel free to email me.

I look forward to meeting you, and helping you reach your music goals!

~ Zaky N.