Rio Rancho, NM Music Theory Lessons

I find it critical and enjoyable communicating with the parents of students who are children.

****One of my students was a 16 years old virtuoso in classical guitar. He came to me because he never learned how to sight read. Within 6 months he was writing his own music and decided to change his specialty from guitar to piano.
*****Another one of my students was told he would never be able to "sight read" which is to read music from paper but he was reading music and within a few months he was writing it himself.

I look forward to helping you reach your goals! I encourage anyone who is interested in learning to begin lessons with the knowledge that they can eventually create any kind of art they desire.
I continue to perform and create which enables me to sharpen and maintain my skills.

I hope to have an opportunity to meet you soon and I encourage you to ask any questions you have!!!

*****I highly encourage scheduling only 30 minutes for children younger than 12 and beginners of other ages. Students are more likely to focus and enjoy their lessons when they are shorter in the beginning. They can always be extended later.

*** Lesson Details ***
What a student may expect from this teacher:
Within 3-6 months students shall a have a good grasp on the foundation of their instrument/ craft; have a controlled sound; be playing/ singing what he/she hears; stronger, more defined tone; be able to play through/ sing through at least one song; have expanded range; confidence; and of course tackling personal goals set within the lessons.

My Goal is to facilitate bringing out what greatness already lies within and to assist in that growth, as well as teaching new information and the how to apply. I am not very strict on notation, as far as reading music (Piano and Voice). Lessons with me will more consist of the meatier portion of music how to use the instrument, developing the sound, understanding chord structures, playing/ singing what you hear, techniques and how to put it all together musically. However I will go through musical notation and reading chords, but it will not be a focus. (If you desire to play/ sing classically, I may not be the best teacher for you.)

For MUSIC PRODUCTION: Producing musical tracks and recording artist is the root and the focus. The curriculum is sculpted from LOGIC PRO X, REASON and PRO TOOLS software (subject to change). Students learn how to create what he/she hears and how to format it all together; Students learn how to track and record/ mix in the most professionally used software; Mixing and Mastering shall be touched upon as well.

When it comes to teaching and application of knowledge for each student I am serious about his or her growth; I don't want anyone wasting their money or time, so practice and dedication is necessary.

*** Studio Equipment ***
88 Length Keyboard with hundreds of sounds
Studio Mics
Teaching white board
Music Software

*** Specialties ***
Pop/Rock, R&B/ Soul, Christian, Hip-Hop, Country, Folk; By Ear& Reading
Pro-Tools, Garage Band, Reason, Logic Pro X

tarist & songwriter for a well-known touring rock band with a worldwide fan base and nearly 4 million You Tube views. I graduated from New York University with Bachelor's of Music in Jazz guitar and trained with the most highly respected rock/pop vocal coaches in the world. In 2015, I signed a major label publishing deal with Fieldhouse Music/BMG played throughout Europe (and taught online lessons while away). My songs have been licensed for national/international TV (E!, MTV, VH1, Oxygen, TBS and more), commercials for CBS, Nike, Coca-Cola, Samsung and in video games. I actively perform/record and tour with my (3) bands, and produce/cowrite with artists for their own projects.

I’m endorsed by PRS guitars, Elixir Strings, Godin Guitars/Bass Guitars, & Metaldozer Mic Stands.

Styles I regularly teach include: Rock (Classic Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Rock, Hard Rock), Metal, Punk, Pop, Jazz, R&B, Blues, Funk, Soul, Classical, Folk.
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Lesson Details

My students gain expertise in the following techniques and more...

Voice:

∙ intonation / resonance
∙ proper breathing & breath support
∙ diction
∙ vocal placement
∙ understanding chest / head voice
∙ bridging registers & 'the high note'
∙ vowels and modification techniques
∙ mixed voice
∙ edgy/bright
∙ clean/distorted
∙ vibrato
∙ screaming
∙ rhythmic singing
∙ vocal health/maintaining your voice
∙ touring, recording, performing
∙ writing songs/melodies/lyrics to suit your vocal strengths
and personality

Lead and Rhythm Guitar:

I've developed a step-by-step approach to learning to solo and improvise.
Using simple, "guitarist-friendly” techniques you will quickly learn and begin to apply major/minor scales/modes, blues/pentatonic scales and “licks.” You will learn triads, arpeggios, interval studies, and extensions and how to use them to create interesting and melodic solos. With my line development/phrasing techniques, you will have your own library of “licks” that will help you navigate both simple and sophisticated harmonic progressions. I will help you to become a become a well-rounded, three-dimensional guitarist with a unique voice!

A few of techniques I teach:

∙ triads / arpeggios
∙ strumming
∙ alternate/sweep picking
∙ tremolo picking
∙ hybrid picking
∙ scales/modes
∙ slide guitar
∙ hammer on/pull off
∙ (up to 8 finger) tapping
∙ bending / double stops / unison bends
∙ whammy bar techniques
∙ diagonal scales,
∙ arpeggios & note groupings
∙ 3 and 4 finger per string scales
∙ fingerstyle
∙ Jazz scales, chords including
4 note open/closed voicing
7th, 9th, 11th, 13th chords
∙ chord melodies
∙ rhythm and grooves of various styles

Bass Guitar:

Right hand:
∙ finger style, pick
∙ slapping/popping
∙ groove, rhythms and playing time
∙ time signatures, walking bass lines,
∙ arpeggios, double stops,
∙ chords & improvising
∙ writing bass lines.

All of my students learn:

Sight reading (standard notation/tablature)
∙ music theory & ear training
∙ rhythm / timing (including reading rhythms)
∙ composition/songwriting

We will focus 1/2 of the lesson on repertoire and 1/2 the lesson on technique. Many of my students text/email me a few days prior to our scheduled lesson with a song selection for the week. I focus our lesson's technical study with the song in mind. It has proven to be very effective and makes the technique and theory are less "boring."

Studio Equipment
I have (7) guitars: including (4) electric, (2) acoustic/electric, & (3) electric bass
(2) tube guitar amplifiers, and various guitar effects pedals.

(1) full-size 88-key MIDI keyboard, (1) 61-key USB keyboard controller, and (1) Arturia MINILAB MIDI controller.

Also, I have an assortment of industry standard dynamic & condenser microphones for live performance and recording applications.

DAW recording software (Pro Tools 12.x, Logic 10.x, Ableton Live)
software synthesizers by Arturia, Fabfilter, Native Instruments, Spectrasonics, Steven Slate, Toontrack and more. I use plugin effects by Izotope, Fabfilter, Plugin Alliance and Universal Audio and Waves for many of my lessons and recording projects.

Travel Equipment
I can provide a guitar, videos, music recording, music workbooks and everything else a student may need. Students are only expected to bring a desire to learn. :)

Specialties

I am a performer with a ton of touring/stage experience, a composer who understands the art of writing and a producer who is fluent in the latest recording technology. In addition to technical studies, my students receive performance coaching/career development. I will help you to find your unique voice, a polished and distinct sound, and your true personality as an artist. I am 100% committed to making you a success!

I will ignite a new, or recharge/rekindle your passion for music, and to sing/play the music you love a lot better!

s, with lesson plans geared to twenty minutes of daily practice. Set the bar as high as you want! My students all choose to have a lesson every week under the recurring lesson plan, to make quick progress.
My studio has a big grand, and a digital piano. The neighborhood is quiet. Come with confidence, to a studio licensed in Albuquerque for twenty years.
After three months, a busy eight-year old beginner could have an easy rendition of "Ode To Joy" or "When The Saints Come Marching In" to perform for loved ones.
My students study technique, rhythm, fingering, expression and general musicianship. All this, while enjoying great musical selections.

*** Studio Equipment ***
The studio lessons are taught in a living room studio exclusively used for piano lessons including a Steinway piano. No pets. Parking in the right side of the driveway.

*** Specialties ***
Mostly classical, with occasional jazz, contemporary Christian, and popular. I mostly teach from notes, though occasionally with lead sheets and improvisation. Faber and Faber, Keys for the Kingdom, and Burnam methods are preferred until the student can play the composer's original notes. Then, their recital works tend to come from such as Bach, Beethoven, Clementi, Debussy, and Chopin.

goal.

Every student has a different motivation for taking lessons. Whether you simply want to show off for that special someone or you're trying to get into an elite music school, it is my objective to get you there with a smile on your face.

Want to learn the top ten guitar solos of all time? And nothing else? Just say so!
Want to learn piano theory until you're dizzy? We can do that too!
Always wanted to play drums but think you're too uncoordinated? No such thing!

Or, maybe you're already a polished musician lacking the theory to get another degree - no matter what your motivation may be, together we can make it happen.

You don't have to listen to a specific type of music to be a real musician. Yes, believe it or not, Britney Spears is a musician too! We'll work on the types of music YOU enjoy, not the stuff your parents, friends, or coworkers consider 'good' music.

Whether you want to learn Justin Bieber or Rachmaninoff, it's cool with me - believe it or not, the two have something in common...don't believe me? I'll prove it!

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in online music lessons. I have an extensive background in computers and technology, and incorporate a lot of unique tools to my online lessons to greatly improve the user's experience, such as multiple camera angles; picture-in-picture views; displaying sheet music on your screen and being able to highlight, point, and change pages for you; as well as interactive games similar to Rock Band that I control on my end as the student participates on their end.

I teach all styles, though my interests are mainly in pop, electronic, rock/hard rock/classic rock, metal, and classical.

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PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING LESSONS:

- All students must meet at least once a week.
- Cancellations are allowed once every three months.
- Rescheduling is always allowed and requires at least 24 hours notice.
- Rescheduled lesson must occur within two weeks.

itar and start singing." -- Angelina, age 16

*** Lesson Details ***
Each lesson will begin with tuning the guitar and warm-ups. Then we'll move on to either our practice books or a song or piece you have chosen to learn and study not found in the books.

If you are beginner, we'll start with how you handle the guitar and any technique issues. Then we'll work on note and chord recognition, the ability to sight-read and play from memory.

*** Studio Equipment ***
2011 Apple iMac;
MXL 910 microphone;
Yamaha Nylon-String Electric-Acoustic Guitar;
Yamaha Steel String Guitar;
Gibson Les Paul Special Electric Guitar;
Esteve Spanish Classical Guitar;
Roland Cube 80 electric guitar amplifier;
Ibanez T80 acoustic guitar amplifier

*** Travel Equipment ***
Music Stands;
Foot Rests

*** Specialties ***
Song Transcriptions - Use your ear to learn and notate song melodies and the guitar parts

software (write out your parts, charts, lead sheets etc. so that others can play your original compositions)
- Classical percussion techniques

Students can expect to have a lot of fun learning with me! We can write soundtracks, band pieces, solo pieces - whatever the student finds most interesting. :)

BIO:
I’m a composer who currently lives in Bellvue, Washington. I started my music career when I was 9 years old playing the Zimbabwean marimba and mbira (a traditional Shona thumb piano). Not only are the instruments beautiful, but they express our connection to the world around us. I completely fell in love with the polyrhythms and melodies of Zimbabwean music!

I continued to pursue my passion for music by studying percussion and composition at The Boston Conservatory of Music… then completed my M.M. in Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games at The Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain.

Now I write music for video games and help our stories unfold.

***Checkout my music at:
soundcloud.com/taylorambrosiowood