Vancouver Music Lessons

programs which introduce children to music and theater in schools.   I was adjunct faculty at the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University and local music studios as well as maintaining my private teaching practice.

*** Lesson Details ***
I am persistent and positive! Working and performing with singers and master teachers has helped me to be a resourceful teacher who understands the process of becoming a singer. I believe that a sense of fun and play helps you to accomplish your goals quickly.  For beginners you will learn how the voice works and how to care for and develop your instrument, I recommend adults take 45" - 1 hour lessons weekly for skill building. The price of lessons DECREASES by 10% after each 5 lesson purchased for the first 15 lessons. Studio policy is located at VaaraMusic.com. We will choose music that interests you and helps to build your voice starting with basics before moving to more complex and challenging music. Understanding music theory and sight-reading will help you get the most out of your singing. After 3 - 6 months you should have a good command of breathing and an understanding of how to sing with an expressive tone.For the advanced student, I can help you work on trouble spots and give you tools to help with the changes that voices naturally go through.  I look forward to giving you my full focus and celebrating your growth and accomplishments!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Condo w/ open area with piano. Visitor's parking lot w/ seating in studio for parents to listen. Parents with younger siblings can use play areas outside.
Basic library of vocal music, giving the student a way to sample different kinds of songs before purchasing books or downloading songs on their own. Music stand, iPhone plug-in/Amp for accompaniments and examples you want me to hear.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide a basic library of vocal music at my home studio and will bring targeted books with me. Students should print out their favorite popular songs from such services as Music Notes website.
I expect my students to provide a keyboard, music stand and notebook as well as a low distraction environment.

*** Specialties ***
As an opera and musical theater, Oratorio and church singer, I help singers of all levels improve within their genre from popular music to opera. A good singing technique will help performers in any style stay healthy and enjoy an expressive singing instrument.

violin, viola, composition, and music theory college prep classes. His students range from kindergarteners to adults.

Mark is the Artistic Director and conductor of BRAVO Youth Orchestras, a social justice after-school program for students in North Portland. He has arranged over 100 pieces of folk, popular, and classical music for youth orchestra.

Mark is also a faculty member at Multnomah Arts Center where we directs the Multnomah Chorus, a non-audition adult choir. Between the youth orchestra and his choir, he conducts over 35 concerts each year.

He has held conducting positions at Pacific Youth Choir and the Community Music Center.

— STUDIO EQUIPMENT —
Yamaha grand piano
music stand
Bluetooth enabled speakers

can help you love to learn!

*** Lesson Details ***
Lessons are usually 30 or 60 minutes, once a week.
I can be flexible, if your needs differ.
I can also arrange more evening times at 5:00 or later,
if the times on my availability list don't work for you.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Living room with
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-65
adjustable touch-sensitive electronic piano:
Advanced Wave Memory tone generator with 53 voices,
32-note polyphony, Dual and Split play modes,
24 styles of orchestrated rhythm, bass,
and chord accompaniments, 10-track performance memory, Disk Orchestra playback capability,
MIDI compatibility and functions,

Fender Squier Bullet electric guitar
customized by Smooth Creations,
with a Line 6 amp,
a Keith Urban acoustic guitar,
an Epiphone Les Paul Special bass guitar,
a tone drum, and assorted percussion instruments,

SoundTech 4150 four-channel mixer,
with recording capability for all instruments
using ACID Music Studio,
and comfortable seating for parents.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Piano students should have a touch-sensitive piano/keyboard in their home.
All other music students should either own or rent their instrument.
Everyone should bring their assignment notebook and their lesson books to lessons.

*** Specialties ***
I play Rock, Blues, Jazz and Classical styles.
The Faber method books are my favorite for piano,
Hal Leonard for guitar.
I have the most tutoring experience with Math and Statistics.

situation that can make learning at your lesson more fun.

Genres include Acoustic, Blues, Country, R&B, Funk, Latin, Jazz, Rock, Pop and more.

*** Studio Equipment ***
My Line 6 Spider Jam will take any wave file and speed up or slow down the tempo and lower or higher the key to your preference.
Great transposing tool

Tuner Korg

Electric Ibanez Guitar s470dxqm
Acoustic Taylor 110CE
Classical Cordoba model 20

Amp Mesa Boogie Nomad 100 watt combo all tube
Amp Line 6 Spider Jam

Effects Roland GR-55

Microphone Audio Technica AT 2035
Microphone Peavey I-101

Operating System WIndows 7 64 bit edition
Recording Software Presonus Audiobox USB with Studio1

Mixer Alto ZMX 862 Zephyr Series

Logitech C620 HD Webcam

Camcorder Sony HDCRX430V

*** Specialties ***
I have studied under virtuoso Rex Carroll from Atlantic Records signed band Fierce Heart & another famous band he was in was Whitecross, Shawn Gette who is in the band Forbidden Symphony, who in his words once took over a gig for Steve Vai and the American Guitar Academy.

chnique and properly set goals, you can grow your skills quickly and reduce the amount of time and energy spent on inefficient practicing.

What you'll learn is that most songs are based on a formula and you can crack this musical code with each song you learn, making it more exciting each time you play.

**The genres I specialize in are anything related to rock, pop, alt, metal, and reggae. **

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If you've already gotten this far, you probably have a pretty strong interest in playing - and thats all you need to be a great musician.

g on where my students are at this moment and where they want to go. I lay out a path for getting you there, that wastes no time, and is tailored to fit you.

Here are just a couple testimonials:

I could write a novel about how Robin has changed my life. I started working with him when I was 12 years, and he forever altered the way I view and approach music. He showed me how to not just be the best technical singer I could be, but how to feel the music with every part of my being. He showed me how to be an artist. There is no one I would recommend more for piano, voice, and any type of music lesson. His incredibly supportive and non-judgmental nature was the perfect environment for me to thrive. His discipline, and teaching technique made music approachable, and inspired me to dig deeper into my potential. He became not just one of my favorite teachers and mentors but one of my dearest friends! I promise working with Robin will be a truly transformative experience for you! Moorea M.

My daughter had stopped practicing piano until we met Pastor Gordon. With his positivism and enthusiasm, he helped my daughter get back into music as well as loving piano and singing. I couldn’t believe how fast my daughter learned how to listen to music and play it back just by ear…. this, thanks to the amazing talent that Pastor Gordon has. I love how he makes music and learning such and easy and fun process. Thank you, for being part of our lives and for being such an amazing teacher and mentor. We love you. Judith C.