Allendale, NJ Music Performance Lessons

ver 25 years. In addition to guitar, I'm a vocalist, composer and arranger as well as a music publisher. I actively perform as both a classical guitarist and singer-songwriter.

PLEASE SPEAK TO ME before purchasing your child's instrument. A standard size steel string guitar can be difficult to handle and may discourage your child.

***NOTES ABOUT SPECIAL NEEDS***

Usually, learning disabilities, ADD & ADHD go together just fine with guitar lessons and frequently give these precious young people a creative outlet. Speak to me about your child's needs so I can prepare the best lessons possible!

Be aware that there are stairs to my home studio. Please take this into consideration if you have an ambulatory disability.

*** STUDIO EQUIPMENT ***

Home Studio, dedicated space, guitars and recording equipment, keyboard and amps, music stands, chairs, comfortable waiting area for parents.

e" Heath, Billy Hart, Greg Osby, Jason Moran, Dave Liebman, Steve Wilson, Ambrose Akinmusire and Aaron Parks and have studied with teachers including Jay Anderson, David Grossman, Larry Grenadier and Ben Street.

I look forward to helping you grow as a musician and learning from you as well!

All the best,
Martin

*** Lesson Details ***
My primary mission is to help you accomplish the goals you have set for yourself. Within the first lesson I want to learn what you hope to achieve. I always ask my students what music they love and want to learn more about.

I want to use the music that you connect with to help you grow on your instrument. I will also teach you the techniques needed to play the instrument and expose you to the different styles possible on the instrument.

I tailor my teaching to each student's needs, concerns, strengths and weaknesses. I use a variety of teaching tools, including books and recordings, based on what I think will help you.

I am very patient, fun, and engaging. I guarantee that within 1 lesson you will feel inspired and ready to embark on an exciting musical journey.

*** Studio Equipment ***
The studio lessons take place in the living room with a piano, upright bass, and guitar. Seating is available.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I use public transportation. I expect the student to provide an instrument and if possible, the book we are working through. Otherwise I will provide the book.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in jazz, but can teach classical, rock, pop, funk, r and b,

ic obviously requires preparation outside of lessons, I consciously avoid asking students to practice. Instead, I incorporate the music and styles that appeal most to the student and use them as vehicles for teaching concepts.

I strive to make learning music fun, regardless of age, style, and ability. I organize an annual recital to showcase my students' talents and hard work.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I will provide all music and instructional materials, and ask that students provide a clean, quiet area to hold our lesson, ideally with a music stand. I also ask that a student provide their own instrument. If providing an instrument is not possible, I ask that the student notify me so I can provide an instrument for them in the interim.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in a wide range of styles on the acoustic and electric guitar, piano, ukulele, and bass.

I explain music theory in a fun, clear, and articulate manner and show its benefits and application in song writing, learning music, and playing by ear. My extensive background in rock, classical, pop, folk, and jazz allows for a truly cater my instruction to my student's tastes.

I make it my mission to structure my lessons on my student's goals and interests and avoid imposing concepts that don't interest my students.

t Award." Outside of the school curriculum, he joined several bands and performed at several venues such as the Willow Jazz Club, Middle East Cafe, and Copley Square Hotel. With one of these bands, he appeared at a jazz festival called "Jazz Improv." in Kingston, NY in 1993.

In the spring of 1995 he earned a Professional Diploma in Performance and Jazz Composition from Berklee College.
His ambition to learn and play music made him move to New York City. He continued his studies at The City College of New York, CUNY, NY, and earned a Masters degree in jazz performance in the spring of 2000. There, he studied jazz and contemporary drums with Charli Persip, Kim Plainfield, and Mark Walker. Also, he studied jazz ensemble, and arranging with Grammy award winning bassist Ron Carter.
Currently, as a full-time freelance drummer, he appears at various live music venues in New York City, and around the tri-state area as well. His own jazz band has performed at Arthur's Tavern in Greenwich Village every Tuesday since September 2001, and he has also appeared at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York in 2003, 2004 and 2005. He has also been touring in Tokyo and Kyushu, Japan.

As a sideman, he has performed at the Birdland Jazz Club in New York with the Morris Brothers Band in 2000, and also at the April Jazz Festival in Finland with the Jay Sweeney R&B Experience in 1999. With his wide-ranged interest in music, he plays not only jazz, but also rock, R&B, funk, blues, country, Brazilian and afro-Cuban.
John Scofield, Larry Carlton, John Abercrombie, Robben Ford, John Petrucci (Dream Theatre), Percy Heath (MJQ), Ron Carter, Donald Byrd, and Barry Harris are among some of the more notable musicians that Yuichi has performed with.

Yuichi is an excellent and experienced educator. He taught drums at the National Guitar Workshop since 1997 and also at the Roosevelt Island School in 2004. His students range from 9 years old to experienced adults. He has clear objectives and a passion for all lessons, units, projects, and is able to share these objectives with his students very clearly. Also, with his skill to plan instruction programs for music that meets individual needs, interests, and abilities of students, he worked for the Jazz Workshop in Yamaguchi, Japan in 2002, 2003, and 2006. There he played a very important role as a program coordinator as well as a translator. At this workshop, he worked with jazz legends, Barry Harris, Richard Davis, and Lewis Nash.

*** Lesson Details ***
After so many years since I grabbed a pair of drum sticks for the first time, I still get the same joy and excitement when I play music with drums nowadays. The better I have an idea about music, the more fun I get. It seems that my drumming gets better as long as I have specific goals every time I practice playing drums, and that keeps me wanting to play more.

By teaching how to play drums, I like to share this fun with you. In order to do that, I will make an ideal practice plan specifically designed for you.
If you know what songs you like to play, then I will show you what to practice on drums and how you are doing. It might be helpful if you understand the song in terms of what it consists in term of verses and choruses, chord changes, instrumentation, etc. Whenever you like, I can talk about these things as well. You could take it as a kind of music theory, but I keep in my mind that your primary interest is getting better on drums.

If you do not have particular songs in your mind right now but you want to play drums, No problem. I will be happy to introduce you many different kinds of songs/tunes until you find one to play.
Or if you just want to play some hot drum solos, I sure got some great stuff to work on to it.
Either playing a song or playing just solo drums, I will show you many different techniques to work on, and I will keep watching how you are doing on drumming.
I look forward to meeting you and starting work on building your fun with music!
Thank you for visiting my profile site!
Yuichi (pronounce 'you-each-ee')

*** Studio Equipment ***
Drum set, PA, guitar/bass amp., keyboard

*** Travel Equipment ***
Snare drum, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass guitar

*** Specialties ***
Drums, Percussion, Electric Bass (beginning to intermediate level), Music Theory, Guitar and Keyboard (beginning level)
Rock, Pop, Jazz, Blues, R&B, Funk, Latin includes Afro-Cuban, Brazilian

ou're interested in playing piano, you will learn how to read music and/or play by ear. You'll learn scales, chords, arpeggios, sight-reading, and basic music theory. For singers who are interested in piano, I've developed a great technique to teach you how to accompany yourself.

For songwriters, I can help you write stronger lyrics and set them to music appropriately.

In general, I'm pretty upbeat and fun. However, I expect you to practice. When you practice, you hear and feel the difference and everyone's happy! If you don't practice, you'll remain in the same place, and it's frustrating for everyone. :( Please, please, please practice! :)

My degree in music education and wide range of experience allows me to accommodate different learning styles. I have a knack for breaking down seemingly difficult or mysterious concepts in a way that's easy to understand. I also understand the demands of being a full time musician, and can offer advice to students who are interested in going that route.

I would love to help you enhance your enjoyment of music by making it fun and easy for you to learn!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Upright piano
Yamaha keyboard
Music Stand
Full length mirror
Library of great music
Music theory workbooks
Manuscript paper

*** Specialties ***
Classical, Jazz, R&B, Musical Theater, Gospel, Pop

which encompasses the vocal onset and the closure of the vocal folds. Students realize that proper breath management and producing tone go hand in hand. The ideal that the student and I work towards is a balance between superfluous air flow and and pressed pressure. This concept leads to a clean onset in which the edges of the vocal folds cleanly come together and stay closed during singing.

Students also learn how to negotiate and coordinate the vocal registers. This means that every student who walks into my studio learns where and what the larynx is. It is my job to be a second set of ears to help the student optimize his or her tone quality by maximizing vocal resonance. This concept may be different across genres, however every student learns how to begin coordinating the vocal process.

HOW I TEACH
My aim as a teacher of voice is to be flexible and innovative, and provide students with a clear and honest assessment. I strive to explain to each singer exactly how to complete a task, whether maintaining the position of inhalation or correcting posture. In lessons, I refrain from being demonstrative so that the student can find his or her own unique sound without attempting to copy my sound. I use this method so that the student learns how to be her own teacher. This way, the student will be able to identify and correct her own vocal problems. When I am not present, the student will have confidence in her skills and can make educated corrections in practice, rehearsals, and in performances.

TECHNIQUE
Throughout the course of lessons, it is my job to identify the most effective resonating space for the student and give her the skills to maintain that space. It is through the combination of effective breath management using appoggio and flow-phonation that the student becomes most efficient. Finding the most efficient technique for the student involves discovering the proper laryngeal position for the student’s voice type and by practicing continuity through all of the registers.

As all of the aspects of technique are being built in the studio, it is my job to ensure that I am building a musician. This means that I go over how the student needs to learn a piece and how to perform a piece. Often times with young students, they do not have the musical skills to teach themselves the pieces assigned. Sometimes the voice teacher’s job is to “plunk out the notes.” I highly encourage my students to take piano lessons and to use technology resources to aid them in building musicianship so they feel confident reading music. This process takes time, but it is the first step in building a competent performer.

MY GOALS
I always cater to the students tastes while still meeting requirements, if any. I believe that this fosters joy and excitement in music. My goal as a voice teacher not only involves building a good singer, but creating a performer. I make sure that I not only find performing opportunities for my students, but also I create them. Every semester I hold a studio recital for my students to perform their repertoire in front of an audience. In the Fall of 2015 I founded a local opera company in order to bring classical music to the community. My students made up the chorus of Handel’s Messiah that we performed that December. In addition, I have invited my students to participate in the church choir I direct every week. I believe that learning how to sing must take place in the studio, but the most important thing that I can do as a teacher is to make sure that the student knows how to transfer the skills learned in the classroom to real-world performing experiences.

APPROACH
I believe in a holistic approach to teaching, which involves connection to the text and acting. Though I cover many of these aspects in the studio, it is extremely beneficial for students to go outside of the studio and engage in physical courses such as yoga, Alexander technique, acting and dance. I personally engage in these activities to relate to my students and to be able to explain how we need to engage the body in singing. I also encourage my students to have coachings with other professionals to gain more insight into their repertoire.

Not every student who comes to my studio wants to sing opera. Many students want to sing in choir, in church, or just for fun. Overall, I always come from a place of acceptance and non judgement. Every voice is unique and I strive to help my students not only reach their goals, but surpass them.

San Francisco Bay Area native, Dr. Melissa McCann has been teaching voice and piano since 2010. Not only an avid teacher, Dr. McCann has performed in music festivals all over the world including The American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, Accademia Europa dell’Opera in Lucca, Italy, Angel Vocal Art in Los Angeles, CA, Russian Opera Workshop in Philadelphia, PA, and Highlands Opera Studio in Haliburton, Ontario. Melissa has also performed with companies including Opera San Jose, The Napa Valley Music Association, The San Francisco Youth Chamber Orchestra, Opera on the Spot, and The Solano Chamber Society.
Melissa earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance, Pedagogy, and Literature from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA with Kevin McMillan. During her time in Harrisonburg, Melissa founded Harrisonburg Opera Theatre and was the church choir director at Sunnyside Retirement Community Meredith Chapel.
Dr. McCann completed her Post-Graduate Artist Diploma in Voice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of acclaimed opera singer, Deborah Voigt. While in San Francisco, Melissa interned in the Education Department of San Francisco Opera and taught Kindergarten and First grade music with the San Francisco Conservatory in the Schools mentor-ship program. She also received a full scholarship to attend the Rubin Institute for Music Criticism.

Melissa earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of California, Irvine at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts where she sang the National Anthem for President Barack Obama at the school’s 50thAnniversary Celebration. At UC Irvine, Dr. McCann received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Euridice in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, and as the Soprano in Pergolesi's Stabat Mater.

Melissa specializes in the Alfred Series for piano and My First Piano Adventure for young students. This approach focuses on ear training and reading music. Custom exercises and choice of material is based on the student's level and field of study. Lessons are scheduled at the student's convenience as per availability. Frequency and length of lessons is based on the students needs.

Young voice students are taught general concepts, music theory, and ear training. After the voice is more mature, advanced and serious vocal study can be pursued. Melissa's students receive a well-rounded training in the style of their choice: Classical, Popular, Musical Theatre, and Jazz.

Melissa emphasizes on solid technique, posture, breathing, and control, in addition to music fundamentals.

n 2011 with a Master of Music Degree in Performance with a Concentration in Jazz as a Fulbright scholarship recipient.