Private Music Lessons in La Palma, CA

Hi, I'm an experienced concert violinist and teacher. I've taught privately for 30 years, and also served on university faculties as a violin instructor. I work with students of all ages and levels, and I have lots of experience preparing students for school auditions and concerts, youth orchestra auditions and All-State tryouts. I'm currently offering lessons both live and online.

ONLINE/REMOTE LESSONS —————————————————————— HI! I'm Matt. I'm an award-winning, conservatory-trained pianist, composer, producer, and educator out of Los Angeles 🎶 Though I am a music professor at Occidental College 🤓, I enjoy teaching all ages and levels -- from aspiring beginners and music undergrads to consummate professionals and performing artists alike. I develop custom-tailored lesson plans based on the students' unique goals & prior experience -- this includes popular genres such as classical, jazz, pop, and R&B. I can help you learn improvisation, sight-reading, music production, ear training, and audio engineering. Lessons are always simple, rewarding, and most importantly, fun! This is especially important if you're looking to play music instead of trudge through method-books! 🤗 For online Zoom lessons, multiple camera angles accurately resemble the hands-on experience of an in-person lesson (see pics below). *I offer a free 20 min consultation to ensure your satisfaction with the applicable technology 👨‍💻 As a performer, I've worked and toured with some of the best -- the stars of "American Idol", "Glee", and "The Voice,” REO Speedwagon, and Engelbert Humperdinck. A myriad of notable jazz all-stars including Kamasi Washington, Clare Fischer, Bill Watrous, Eric Marienthal, and Zane Musa 🎹 My compositions can be heard in a multitude of media platforms, from various tv commercials, feature films like Big Momma's House III, various movies on The Lifetime Network, and television shows such as “Bones", “Millionaire Matchmaker" and MTV's "10 on top" 🎧 Music has been the passion of my life since I was 4 years old. It is my honor and privilege to share it with you! Please message me with any questions and I look forward to meeting you!

I am a graduate of Berklee College of Music, and have years of experience as a professional singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Whether you are a beginner, or more advanced, I would love to work with you to help you accomplish your musical goals.

If you want your piano studies to be a fun and enjoyable experience, I think you have come to the right place. After over 35 years of teaching piano and two music degrees, I have found that along with innovative teaching techniques, humor helps my students achieve the greatest success. After all, studies have shown that we learn best when we're smiling 😀. A FREE INTRO LESSON is the best way to find out if I'm the right teacher for you or your child. Prior to that, we could discuss by phone what your goals and aspirations are for you or your child and to answer any questions you might have about my approach. Many teachers and students shy away from taking lessons online. But after over 5 years of teaching online, I have devised many techniques to make the process go very smoothly and effectively. For instance, students frequently receive customized audios and videos to help them practice throughout the week. Each student's lesson plan is based on their own musical interests, goals, and learning style. Along with fundamental skill building, I introduce students to improvisation and composition. Students are encouraged to use the skills they develop to express themselves, enlarge their musical horizons, and develop a vision for themselves as a musician, in whatever capacity. I teach beginners to advanced from six years old and above. I have 2 degrees in music from the University of Washington. I majored in piano performance and music history with special emphasis on pedagogy and advanced theory. I continued my post-university education through private piano lessons, workshops, and colloquia on teaching theory. One of my hobbies is studying ongoing research in current brain science with regard to learning and teaching. I endeavor to continue growing as a teacher and musician. For example, I began studying vocal jazz in my 50's and have performed in a non-professional capacity in several venues, including Tula's in Seattle. Taking lessons and performing on a second instrument has not only improved my overall musicianship, it has also reminded me of the challenges of being a beginner. My grandparents were professional musicians, and their joy with music and teaching influenced me to want to follow in their footsteps. I hope to pass their love of music on to my students. Guiding others as they develop their own relationship with music is a great privilege and deeply rewarding endeavor. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to do what I love. I look forward to having the opportunity to work with you!