Private Music Lessons in Huntington Park, CA

Hi! I’m Wes Nelson, and I am a professional bass and guitar teacher. I can teach whatever style of music you're interested in (indie, rock, pop, funk, jazz, etc.) as well as songwriting, sightreading, production, and music theory. All skill levels are welcome, and no experience is required. My teaching combines hands-on playing with theory so that you not only learn your favorite music, but how it works. My purpose as your teacher is to help you realize and achieve your goals as an aspiring musician. I have 18 years of music experience as both a bass player and guitarist and have an MFA in music from CalArts. I have extensive international touring, studio, and performance experience and have played alongside artists such as Mike Stern, zzzahara, Ny Oh, LP Giobbi, DJ Tennis, Bonzie, Shearling, and Randy Brecker and have recorded at studios such as East West, Sunset Sound, and Capitol Records. I have 10+ years of experience teaching privately and in public high schools. All of this has given me a deep perspective on what it means to be a musician. Music has deeply enriched my life and my job is to help it enrich yours regardless of your skill level or goals. Lessons are available both in-person and online.

•Steinway Teaching & Education Partner •Assistant Professor of Music at Occidental College (Recently redesigned and updated the entire piano curriculum at Oxy to better fit the modern music industry, including classical, pop, composition and improvisation) •Instructor at USC •Instructor at Colburn •Award winning performer - national and international piano competitions •Christmas Concerts! -Live background Christmas music for your party. -Formal, in-home concerts featuring virtuoso classical music and Christmas songs mixed together. -Virtual, live-stream interactive concerts live from a beautiful concert hall in LA. Perfect for office parties or spaces that don’t have a piano. •Teaching: -Private lessons: Classical, Pop, Composition, Song-Writing, Music Theory, and Improvisation. Hello! My name is Anthony Cardella, and I am a concert pianist and piano pedagogue. I have won many competitions on, the regional, national and international levels and have performed all over the country as well as in Italy, Spain, France, Hungary, Turkey, and Serbia just this year alone! I have a Bachelors Degree in piano performance and pedagogy from one of the top undergraduate conservatories in the country (Lawrence Conservatory of Music), a masters degree in performance at the USC Thornton School of Music, and a Doctorate from USC in piano performance, piano pedagogy, and musicology. The thing that is special about my training is that I was not only trained to play on an extremely high level and win competitions, but I was also taught how to teach in pedagogy programs, which is something many teachers with performance degrees from top schools are missing! I have done pedagogy programs that have taught pedagogy theory, shaped my teaching skills, developed my understanding of students, and have given me the opportunity to put that into practice through practicum, internships, and paid positions at universities! I have done a lot of research on piano technique including injury prevention, Taubman Technique and ergonomic piano playing, and I have been brought up studying the Russian and French schools of technique. I have also done cognitive psychology research and have presented on its implications in piano teaching and playing at national piano conferences. As a performer, I play Classically, as well as in the music and film industry in LA, and I also teach in both areas as well. I have students who are pop music producers, commercial music producers, pop artists, singer songwriters, and advanced classical pianists. Whatever style of music you’d like to play, it is important to get set up properly at the piano with good technique from the start. Many piano teachers without formal teaching training don’t know how to teach technique, and I often eventually receive transfer students who have plateaued because of this. It is harder to unlearn bad habits or relearn piano technique down the road! Below is my teaching philosophy: “I believe that being a good teacher is similar to being a good psychologist. One must have the ability to read a student - to understand them in the moment and to effectively gauge many aspects of their personality, as well as their strengths, weaknesses, and disposition. One glove does not fit all when it comes to teaching. There are many methods and approaches, and the best one is the one that will be most effective for each specific student. This method can change and grow, but can only do so with a teacher who is aware and flexible enough to understand the student and allow the student to guide and influence their teaching accordingly. In understanding that each student is different, I can begin to understand the goals, personality, background, likes/dislikes, and ideas of each student, and use these to shape my pedagogy, and the student’s artistry. Through effective communication, I can use my expertise to make music relevant and enjoyable to each student, and open up a door for the student to express themselves artistically while learning and improving. I believe that music is a birthright - we are all musical beings and have the capability to enjoy music and express ourselves through it. To effectively provide a student with the tools to do so, my music instruction includes the following components: Whether you are just starting out as a beginner and want a strong foundation, or have been playing for years and want to take your playing to the next level, improve your technique, play with less pain/tension, win competitions, or prepare for college auditions, I am confident that I can help you make wonderful progress while inspiring a life-long love for music! **I offer zoom lessons as well lessons in my studio, and in-home lessons**

My approach to teaching piano, drums, and voice is simple! Show students how to play/sing songs they already love, regardless of genre, and provide them with the necessary tools for teaching themselves new songs. Building a musical foundation on this premise allows for students to maintain their interest in music, while simultaneously becoming more proficient, making learning music enjoyable and worthwhile without losing steam. My individualized lessons ensure that students learn how to sight read and play by ear regardless of age or skill level. Whether the desire is to play for fun or to become a professional musician, my approach delivers an effective way to learn music and keep it fun while doing so.

Traveling Music Lessons will help you find the right teacher for your family - with lessons that occur in the comfort of your home! Our talented teachers all have music degrees, or equivalent work experience, and they have all passed a background check.