Description

I am a composer and performer with many years of teaching experience. I travel extensively for gigs and private lessons, throughout Southern and Central California. I hold a B.Mus. from the Cleveland Institute of Music, an M.Mus. from Yale School of Music and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa School of Music.

I teach piano, guitar, voice, winds, brass, and nearly any other instrument you can come up with; as a composer I am interested in all areas of music. I teach all ages -- the same skills that help pre-schoolers prepare for public school also help seniors to stay mentally sharp and avoid arthritis. Music has a place in everyones life!

I charge $50/hour -- $25/half-hour, $37.50/45 minutes, etc. -- for lessons in your home.

My teaching philosophy is that each student is unique and requires a flexible approach; I teach the student, not the instrument. I use a wide variety of teaching material, much of which I have composed myself.
My goal is to provide my students with a solid musical foundation that will transcend all genres and allow them to play any style of music well. I stress good reading and counting skills, thorough musical understanding, and a systematic approach to playing technique so that students can progress in a logical manner towards total mastery of an instrument. I also believe that such total mastery is actually impossible -- which is why music is a life-long passion! Music is like a series of mountains -- you see the highest peak, climb to its top, and from there you can see five taller mountains you could not see before.

Here is a video of a TV Show I did in Santa Barbara:

http://vimeo.com/13231760

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omDklVSPXSk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zp4CjU2ey8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyd0Xx_8-3A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dextt0XlhBQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2SLo01Fmwo

Dr. Marc