Music Lessons

"The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you." B.B. King (1925–2015 blues singer, guitarist)

Music Lessons info
classical, blues, jazz, rock, popular

• Piano, Guitar
• Music Theory
• Composition, Songwriting, Improvisation
• Orchestration, Arranging
• Computer Music Production

Working as a composer, instrumentalist, music producer and educator, there's a lot of knowledge I've picked up over the years which I enjoy sharing with a limited number of regular students. So if you're at all serious about learning, regardless of age or level, please check out my website to get a good idea as to my eclectic skill set and feel free to be in touch. After discussing your musical goals, we'll have a good idea if we should arrange a trial lesson.

LOCATION, RATES & PAYMENT
 Lessons take place online via Zoom, etc. Rates are on a sliding scale. Payment via Apple Pay, etc.

MINI BLOG: The language of music Pt.1
Happy asked, “Do I really need to know music theory. After all, The Beatles only had a rudimentary music education and look what they accomplished.”
Watusi replied, “The Beatles were amazing; however, they also had an amazing producer, George Martin, who wrote and performed nearly all of the orchestral arrangements and instrumentation on their records. Who do you have for a producer, Happy?”
“I get it,” said Happy. “Working on my own, learning theory will give me an edge when writing and producing music in my home studio. Thanks, Watusi!”
Watusi held out her hand. “That’ll be 18 cents.”
Happy chuckled.

MINI BLOG:: The language of music Pt.2
Just to be clear, it’s totally up to each student to decide what they want to learn; however, I would encourage all music students, regardless of whether or not they study with me, to hook up with a teacher who is capable of explaining the inner workings of the songs they are learning, preferably pointing things out during the lesson. Learning this way, even the beginner starts to think like a professional musician, as though by osmosis. I should also clarify that in addition to songwriting and music production, as mentioned in Pt.1 of this blog, being able to analyze music facilitates the learning of new pieces (sheet music or by ear), memorization, improvisation and more. So if one is going to go through the trouble of learning to play a musical instrument, why not understand the music one is playing?
Hearing me, Watusi crossed over into reality-land.
"That'll be 18 cents, sir."
I played along. "Do you take Apple Pay?"
"Of course. Doesn't everyone?" Watusi then winked and cracked a smile.

a few more INSIGHTFUL QUOTES

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
Mark Twain (1835–1910 writer, humorist)

"Not only is Machine Gun my favorite guitar solo of all time, but it also includes what is, in my opinion, the greatest single note ever played on electric guitar: the high screaming note Jimi plays right at the beginning of his solo. That hanging note is the deepest, most intense note I've ever heard."
Miles Davis (1926–1991 composer, trumpeter) talking about Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970 composer, guitarist)

"In science, if you don't do it, somebody else will. Whereas in art, if Beethoven didn't compose the 'Ninth Symphony,' no one else before or after is going to compose the 'Ninth Symphony' that he composed; no one else is going to paint 'Starry Night' by van Gogh."
Neil deGrasse Tyson (b.1958 astrophysicist, author, science communicator)

“The Beatles were a ‘huge influence’ on Kurt Cobain.”
Dave Grohl (b.1969 Nirvana, Foo Fighters) talking about Kurt Cobain (1967–1994 Nirvana)

“All musicians are subconsciously mathematicians.”
Thelonious Monk (1917-1982 composer, pianist)