Carlos S

In our first violin/viola lesson together, I’ll meet you exactly where you are in your musical journey. Whether you’re just starting out or working on more advanced technique, I’ll take time to understand your goals and assess the best place to begin. I provide Essential Elements books free of charge, and I also use custom scale studies and technique exercises to strengthen your skills and build confidence. My teaching style is whole-body focused, helping you play with ease and freedom while avoiding tension. We’ll explore all the essential **musical elements—tone, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, articulation, phrasing, and expression—**and work on developing solid music reading and performance skills. My goal is to make every lesson enjoyable, motivating, and designed just for you, so you can grow as a musician while having fun making music. I believe "smart practice" is better than "more practice". Therefore, my practice techniques are simple: to have students practice as little as possible while achieving the maximum amount of growth. It is not about how much you practice, it is about how efficiently you practice. So many students get frustrated with practice and quit music because they waste time practicing ineffectively. I have dedicated years of research to counteract that.

In our first piano lesson, I’ll meet you exactly where you are—whether you’re completely new to the instrument or ready to refine your technique and musical expression. I provide Alfred's All-In-One Adult Piano Course free of charge, which, even though it is called an "Adult" course, works very well for students of all ages. I also include custom exercises, scales, and studies that strengthen finger coordination, reading skills, and musical understanding. My approach focuses on the whole body, helping you develop comfortable posture, relaxed technique, and expressive control at the keyboard. Together, we’ll work on all the core musical elements—tone, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, articulation, phrasing, and expression—while also improving your music literacy so you can read, interpret, and perform with confidence. Each lesson is encouraging, engaging, and tailored to your individual pace and goals, helping you grow as both a pianist and a musician. I believe "smart practice" is better than "more practice". Therefore, my practice techniques are simple: to have students practice as little as possible while achieving the maximum amount of growth. It is not about how much you practice, it is about how efficiently you practice. So many students get frustrated with practice and quit music because they waste time practicing ineffectively. I have dedicated years of research to counteract that.