Music Lessons by Tutor from University of California, Davis

I'm Dennis, a versatile music tutor with over 13 years of professional experience, including 4 years teaching private lessons. I offer personalized lessons specializing in music theory, live performance, technique, songwriting, and music production. My professional experience includes such highlights as performing original music at venues such as The Novo Los Angeles, Music Box San Diego, The Troubadour, Pappy & Harriet's, Switchfoot Bro-Am and Bimbo's 365 Club. I have experience teaching guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocal lessons to students of all ages and abilities. I pride myself on being able to cover a variety of far-reaching genres including Rock, Pop, Blues, Jazz, Indie/Alternative, Metal, Funk, and R&B. I spent three years as the Music Director at School of Rock Fairfax District, helping young musicians from ages 3-5 in the Little Wing program all the way up to the Adult Band. As the instructor for SOR House Band, I helped a group of teen learners to participate in special event performances at venues including the world-famous Whisky a Go Go, The Grove Beverly Hills, and the Walk and Play LA benefit for Children's Hospital. I have also taught for Traveling Music Lessons for one year. For DAW and production lessons, I specialize in Logic Pro X.

I am a patient, passionate, and positive educator. I begin my teaching process by reverse engineering what my students wish to achieve in their playing. We start by discussing goals, favorite music genres, and specific artists that the student loves already. I aim for a song-first approach so that students feel self-motivated to practice the music that they love. We will learn the benchmark playing techniques, chords, scales, and arpeggios that a musician needs to keep up in any musical situation as we take a crash course in the students' favorite music. I am also happy to take my students through the essentials of reading the music staff for all instruments. My students will become technically competent and well-versed in music theory concepts that will serve them in their songwriting long term. We will learn the emotional context and purpose of each type of chord, and then look at how to put them together through the concept of chord scales. I aim to create tasteful players who put music first and who understand that music is a lifelong gift. I believe that we can all continually improve as we train to express ourselves with integrity and passion!