William M. TakeLessons Instructor music, Piano, (classical, pop, jazz, gospel), Music Theory, Voice, Marble Valley Court, Sacramento, CA

I began taking piano lessons at the age of 10. I continued throughout college, making piano my "minor" course of study. I began voice lessons a year before entering college, and I've been practicing and performing ever since.

I have 10+ years of teaching experience, with a steady success rate. Most of my students (even if they move on) gain an appreciation for music they never had before. I am a very thorough teacher - always making sure to communicate any music concept or  music theory to the students understanding.

I am versatile, and well trained in many different styles of music. I can teach classical (note reading) piano music. I can teach how to read and play chord charts (Jazz, Pop, Band). I also teach gospel style, and playing by ear (how to listen to chords, or a combination of chords and be able to recreate them, using only the ear / without written music) I keep a running profile for each lesson, taking notes on what we need to work on for our next meeting.

I currently have students from ages 5 to 57, beginning to intermediate, (one of my students, age 17 is now teaching some younger students). I also direct a childrens choir, we rehearse once a week. I sing for three performing / dance bands. We perform at clubs, company parties, weddings and special concerts. You can check out the web site of one of these bands by going to "the chain of fools band. com" I lead worship music on Sunday's at the church I attend - that includes rehearsing the band, selecting  music, writing chord charts, teaching new songs and rearranging hymns.

I am and will always be a teacher and a student of music. Exploring new ideas and methods of creating music and passing on what ever experience I can to my students, to help you discover, focus and achieve more effectively the goals you have for yourself.

I enjoy teaching very much, and I have alot of education and experience too offer a student. As well as a passion for the study of music and new ideas.

Thank You,

William                                                                                              

I wouldn't consider myself a strict "by the book only!" kind of teacher. I want to help the student achieve what he / she wants to. With that being said, I do expect you to do your part, and that would be practice the assigned lesson, and communicating to me any difficulties you may be having in getting your lesson done (I don't mind phone calls between lessons - I've helped a few students out via phone).

I desire to set a pace (depending on the student), and continuing to move forward at each lesson. I don't like to get stuck on the same lesson too many weeks in a row. If we do get stuck, we will decide if we're going too fast over a certain concept, at which case we will slow the pace a little, or if it's a motivation issue, we will refocus on your goals and figure out if our current lesson will contribute to your goals, or if we can come back to it later, or not at all.

In te classical training I usually use the "Thompson Series". It is very thorough and offers a lesson for most every song. I use "Fake Books" (a term for books that have chords written over notes or lyrics) in order to teach jazz, pop, or chord reading.  take you through the scales, they help to give you a reference point as you learn new material in different keys.

After about 3 to 6 months, you will have learned all the major scales. How to count and recognize the value of different notes and rest. How to locate every written note on the piano. What all the common music symbols mean ie. rest's, clefs, notation, pp, ff, cres., etc And you should be able to pick a new song and competintly navigate through it on your own,  using counting, and note / chord reading techniques. 

Classical (trained in Opera - voice)
Degree is in Voice education / w piano minor
Piano: jazz, gospel, chord (chart) reading, pop music

Berkeley High School - -
SWCC - Pre-engineering - 1976 - 1978
Abilene Christian Univ. - Music Education - 1978 -1981

music, Piano, (classical, pop, jazz, gospel), Music Theory, Voice,