The Instruments I Play & Teach

This section gives a list of the instruments I play and teach, the styles for each and links to sound files of me playing the different instruments

Violin	Suzuki, Classical, Jazz, Klezmer
Viola	Suzuki, Classical, Jazz, Celtic
Cello	Folk, Improv
Contrabass	Bluegrass, Blues, Honky-tonk, Swing
Fiddle	Celtic, Bluegrass, Swing, Jazz, Folk, Rock
Five String Violin/viola	Swing, Jazz, Rock
Electric Violin/Viola/Cello	Swing, Jazz, Rock
Mandolin	Celtic, Bluegrass, Swing, Jazz, Folk, Rock
Mandola	Celtic, Bluegrass, Swing, Jazz, Folk, Rock
Mando Cello	Celtic, Bluegrass, Swing, Jazz, Folk, Rock
Octave Mandolin	Celtic, Folk
Guitar	Bluegrass, Blues, Folk, Rock
Electric Guitar	Blues, Rock
Electric Bass	Blues, Rock
Sanshin	Japanese Classical, Folk, Jazz
Erhu	Chinese Classical, Folk, Jazz

 

Voice Lessons

A good vocal teacher's job is to determine what the vocalist is doing well, what they need to do to improve, how to help them achieve their goals. 

Voice lessons will assist you in understanding what you're doing right and in knowing why it's right so you don't mistakenly abandon valuable know-how. Lessons will also provide you with any tools and knowledge you may be lacking so that you can increase your possibilities and expand your “vocabulary” to express yourself vocally. We will focus on exercises that will increase your endurance and stamina and others that will warm-up your voice more efficiently. 

There are six basic talents of vocal music I work with students on: Pitch, dynamics, melody, timing, tonality, and authenticity.

• Pitch = hitting notes with accuracy
• Dynamics = adjusting the volume levels in the music for texture and expression
• Melody = flowing from one note to another skillfully and gracefully
• Timing = one must be in “in the pocket” grooving with the rhythm of the music
• Tonality = the quality and the timbre of the sound you’re creating
• Authenticity = the thoughts should be clear, your emotion real

To be a complete singer, one requires a complete program