Piano with Matthew Z.

I am a classically trained composer, guitarist, tenor, pianist and percussionist and I love sharing what I have learned with others and watching my students develop and grow. My goal is to teach my students until they are better than me, so I hold no secrets, tricks or techniques back and I devote my time and energy to help others become the best musicians, artists and people they can be. I have a BA in music composition and a BA in music history, both from California State University, San Bernardino. I play the guitar, bass, piano, drums, orchestral percussion, mandolin, ukulele, banjo, recorder, harmonica and didgeridoo and I am well versed in music theory, songwriting, recording, MIDI, arranging, singing (contemporary, broadway and opera), and acting/performing. I have performed in The United States, Austria, Spain, Australia and New Zealand and have 13 years of experience, development, mistakes and successes to offer my students. I love learning new things and have been teaching as a profession since 2007. I am also First Aid & CPR certified, Live Scan fingerprinted, FBI background checked, Safe Environment trained and a Child Abuse Mandated Reporter. *** Lesson Details *** I do not use a set curriculum. I prefer to discuss goals and music with my students and their parents to determine what genres, styles and techniques they are most interested in. I then use techniques I have gained through experience along with songs and classical exercises to develop strong technique, a developed ear and the ability to read music. I do expect students to be disciplined, practice regularly, and be prepared for lessons, enabling them to expect the same from me. Whether a student wants to be a classical virtuosi or learn how to play a song they heard on the radio, I will keep the lessons fun and interesting for anyone willing to practice and learn, and I will always to my best to cater to the student's individual needs and goals. *** Studio Equipment *** I provide all copies of music, handouts, exercises, etc. Students are expected (when applicable) to have an instrument in good, working condition. *** Specialties *** I form all of my lessons around being able to learn, memorize and play songs, read written musical notation (along with sight-reading & technical exercises), and improvisation (based on scales and exercises). For guitar and it's relatives (bass, mandolin, ukulele, banjo) I can teach any style or genre of music, including modern tapping techniques, and I also teach TAB notation. I teach both classical and popular piano, usually combining sight reading exercises while learning classical and/or popular repertoire. I have experience acting and singing on stage in both non-musical and musical productions, as well as five years of classical vocal experience singing in collegiate ensembles. Being in these environments has equipped me with the tools and exercises to be able to teach everything from basic singing to fundamentals in Broadway and opera. I also have a small studio in my home where I write and record, providing me with the opportunity to also teach recording, songwriting and music theory.