SamL.

All teachers teach songs, technique, reading, etc, and while those are all core aspects of my curriculum as well, my approach has also always emphasized accessing your own creativity and individual voice on the instrument. Whether it’s learning to play your own solos, write your own songs, or learning the songs/pieces that are exciting and meaningful to you, discovering your own unique musical expression is fundamental to my lessons.

All teachers teach songs, technique, reading, etc, and while those are all core aspects of my curriculum as well, my approach has also always emphasized accessing your own creativity and individual voice on the instrument. Whether it’s learning to play your own solos, write your own songs, or learning the songs/pieces that are exciting and meaningful to you, discovering your own unique musical expression is fundamental to my lessons.

My dad started teaching me drum basics when I was around seven, and I went on to eventually play percussion in my junior high concert band and have formal lessons on drum set. I learned guitar, bass and piano through a lot of self-teaching, studying and playing the greats, and with the help of some amazing classical and jazz piano teachers in my college years.

I play Fender Stratocasters, an Alvarez acoustic, and a Young Chang upright piano as well as Logic Pro X and various controllers with an extensive sample library

First and foremost the aim of my sessions is to create a fun, safe and nonjudgmental container for creative expression and to nurture a lifelong love of music, while maintaining appropriate boundaries and gentle discipline when necessary. Every young student in front of me is a unique and budding individual, and it is my job to be attuned to their particular learning style and temperament/personality, and to work with them accordingly to tap into their passion, and draw out their natural abilities and talents.

Probably a tie between writing music for the Cartoon Network shows ‘OK KO: Let’s Be Heroes’ and “Mao Mao Heroes of Pure Heart’ and getting to professionally produce and release four albums of original music.

From 2009 to 2011, I got to perform at the Hollywood Bowl for six weeks each summer as part of their Summer Sounds: Music and Art for Kids concert series.