Passaic, NJ Music Performance Lessons

it greatly from them
in so many ways.

*** Lesson Details ***
I customize the lessons to fit the level of proficiency of my students,and to fit to their schedule of practicing.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Guitars,Bass,Amps,recording equipment

*** Specialties ***
Guitar,Bass,Ukulele,Bouzouki & Music Theory teacher.
Blues/Rock/Jazz & Greek Music

style while truly nurturing their unique talents.

eaching for 14+ years of teaching, I have developed a teaching style that is unique in that I approach each student’s progress on an individual basis. Musically speaking, I am able to identify what is holding the student back and take necessary steps to move forward in a constructive and supportive way that will inspire you to continually grow as a musician.
The first thing I want to accomplish in my lessons is to get the student excited about playing music in general. That means understanding what kind of music the student likes to listen to and incorporate it into the lessons. I find that relating ear training, theory, reading, technique, and rhythmic study to the music that they are interested in is a great way to do that.

CLASSICAL GUITAR INSTRUCTION:
We will focus on a variety of topics including right and left hand technique, proper body position, sound production and tone, reading, repertoire, and finding your own personal musical voice with regards to playing classical music.

JAZZ GUITAR INSTRUCTION:
We will cover jazz theory, chord shapes, scales, repertoire, and transcription. Jazz is an oral tradition and I am a firm believer that the best way to learn it is through listening/transcribing and applying those concepts on your instrument. We will draw inspiration and knowledge from great jazz musicians of the past in addition to finding your own personal voice as an improviser in jazz music.

TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN:
I have lot of experience teaching young children (as young as 5 years old). For these children, I like to focus on the basic foundations of music (e.g. rhythm, melody, etc.). We will use a variety of tools (rhythm sticks, guitar books for children, singing) to enrich these early foundations in music, in addition to learning to get over the physical demands of learning to play the guitar.

*** Frequency Requirement ***
Students are required to take lessons at least once per week in order to insure consistent progress and ongoing assessment. Lessons given every other week are not offered.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Living room set up. Chairs. Music stands. Guitars. Music. Seating for parents. *** Please note, there is no piano in studio. If you are interested in piano lessons, only in home lessons are available.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I usually provide guitar picks if needed, photocopies of materials (mel bay, chord charts, etc.). I require my students to have the instruments that they will be taking lessons on and a notebook to write in.

*** Specialties ***
Piano lessons are in students' homes only! I cover music theory, application of music theory, technique, ear training, sight reading, and repertoire building.
I teach a variety of styles including classical, jazz, rock, folk and blues.

elPriora, chair of the Guitar Department at the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned a master degree in composition. His mentors include composers Susan Botti, Reiko Fueting, and electronic music pioneer Joel Chadabe. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Florida, where he studied jazz guitar with Tom Lippincott, and composition with Susan Epstein-Garcia.

Juan is also an avid cartoonist, collector of rare books and little cars, food adventurer and runner.

*** Lesson Details ***
Guitar teaching encompasses many disciplines. One has to be a bit of a psychologist in order to gauge a potential student needs and musical sensibilities. The mathematical aspect of musical notation and rhythm makes us part mathematicians. In the end, there is also a self-actualizing aspect to guitar teaching in the sense that we are always witness to those moments that made us decide a career on music.
During my years of guitar teaching I have encountered many types of students, and I have learned from them as much as they have learned from me as they make me question aspects of music that I would have never thought about. I have learned to not take for granted the definition of concepts such as rhythm and harmony, and to look at guitar technique from different perspectives as I find ways to accommodate to a student’s capabilities. Ultimately, it is also a job that requires a lot of planning and structure. My first step, generally, is to assess the student’s ability and interest to find material suitable for them. Then, I proceed to familiarize with the student’s musical tastes and sensibilities to assign practice material accordingly. For example, if the student is interested in rock or pop music, we will work on a particular song that fits his level and also solves a particular technical problem. During that process I will answer any of the student’s questions, and provide insight into musical terminology. We will also work on basic concepts of rhythm, melody, and harmony. My training as a composer and jazz guitarists also enables me to tap into the student’s creative side. In that case, we would start with a basic blues progression and blues scales, and work on the basics of improvisation or songwriting.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Basement studio w/ small keyboard, amp, acoustic guitar, 3 electric guitars, music books w/ seating for parents and lots of magazines!

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide music sheets, students should have an instrument, tuner, paper, pencil, and a metronome.

*** Specialties ***
I teach fundamentals of music theory, principles of jazz improvisation, classical guitar technique and repertoire, song writing, pop songs, sight reading, and overall musicianship, as well as Jazz, Rock, Blues, Bossa Nova, and other Latin Styles.

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.

-awareness, relaxation, and nurturing of individuality are emphasized above all.

Though I have a long background in performing arts and performing arts education, my teaching philosophies and techniques draw primarily from my study of movement and mindfulness through disciplines such as yoga, and especially the Feldenkrais Method, "a remarkable approach to human movement, learning and change... based on sound principles of physics, neurology and physiology, and the conditions under which the nervous system learns best." (The Feldenkrais Institute, NY, NY, 2013).

Training/experience:

- Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement Teacher
- Feldenkrais Practitioner Training Program certification in process
- Bachelor of Music, Highest Honors, SUNY Binghamton
- Professional singing in the US and Europe
- Professional acting throughout the US, theater and film (member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA)
- 100+ hours of YA approved yoga teacher training
- Eclectic studies in voice and body work (Linklater, Sound Healing, various dance styles, Kinetic Awareness, Tai Chi, Beijing Opera techniques)
- Kids/family music teacher certified by Music Together (an amazing, international, research-based program)
- Teaching artist (opera, chorus, musical theater, acting/improv, mindfulness) at schools around NYC - Bronx High School for Law and Finanace, PS 129, Yorkville East MS, Baruch MS, Anderson MS, PS 3
- Former fitness instructor

Finding mastery in practices of music, acting, and mindfulness have core similarities - when you find your flow, it feels like flying. But we have to start from the ground up. The stronger the foundation, the higher you fly. Let's get started!

Notes on teaching locations:

- HOME STUDIO: For a number of reasons, I prefer to teach at my home studio whenever possible. I have two friendly cats - hope you aren't allergic!

- ONLINE: For some students, online lessons are very effective, but for others, it is imperative to meet in person. So if you would like to try online lessons, please message me first to discuss,

Peace,
Briana

s including the Hudson Arts Alliance in Hudson, MA, the Kittredge Elementary School in North Andover, MA, and the Performing Arts Center of Metro West in Framingham, MA. I have studied jazz performance with trumpet greats John McNeil and Walter White, improvisation with jazz gurus David Schumacher and Jerry Bergonzi, and George Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization with master composer and theorist Ben Schwendener.

As an educator, my aim is to inspire in my students an enthusiasm for the artistic performance of music of any style. I strive to convey my own excitement for the art to young trumpeters and improvisers, and I have worked to encourage self-motivation and a longstanding interest in musical self-expression in elementary through high school students and adults. I have experience performing many styles of music from jazz and experimental improvised music to funk, reggae, and afro-beat, and I use my knowledge of divergent genres to encourage creative experimentation and convey the expressive artistic elements shared by all music. As an improviser I am particularly interested in teaching the theory and philosophy of spontaneous composition and musical communication.

up and shine to be the musician you are!

Lastly, I am very flexible. I will try my best to make lessons that will not strain any schedule.