📍 4027 Lyman Rd, Oakland, CA, 94602
📞 510-697-3657
Amy’s Teaching Philosophy for Website 2015 My goals for students who take cello, piano or viola da gamba lessons at my Oakland, California studio include becoming independent musical thinkers and creative problem solvers who develop profound, meaningful, connected, expressive, committed execution of music, either written by a composer, or created by the performer. I grew up in Pennsylvania, in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia at a time when all classrooms in public elementary schools had pianos, and teachers of all grades used them. My father, who was an amateur violinist/violist in the best sense of the word, was my first piano teacher. The legend has it that I played whatever he would play at the age of two. I do remember my first concert at the age of four for the Pittsburgh Piano Teachers Convention, where I played two of the Anna Magdalena Bach pieces. My grandfather was a member of the Philadelphia Orchestra violin section and was a founding member of the American Society of Ancient Instruments, and my great uncle who I never met as he died when I was three years old, was on the first faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music, premiered works with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra as a violin soloist by Ernst Bloch, and was one of the first Music Directors of the Carmel Bach Festival, with which I played in 1997. I began to play cello in the third grade in public school because they had too many violin students. I was enthralled to play cello, however, when I started private lessons in the fifth grade, I had many habits that needed to be changed because, however well meaning, I had learned cello from a violinist, and both my hands had acquired violin habits which are not suited to secure and efficient cello playing. Later on when I was studying thumb position, I encountered the frustration of trying to develop strength in my double-jointed thumb. Eventually I succeeded and it still serves me well. In Philadelphia, I studied cello with Orlando Cole and his assistant Metta Watts from the age of 10 until graduation from the Curtis Institute of Music in 1980. I transitioned to lessons exclusively with Mr. Cole by the time I was a sophomore in high school. Mr. Cole was so celebrated that when he died in 2010 at the age of 101, although he had lived his entire life in Philadelphia, there was a memorial concert for him in Oakland, for which I was invited along with 15 other cellists to perform. He taught me respect and reverence for music, not only cello music, but chamber, orchestral, and vocal music. He encouraged me to listen to Lieder or Art Songs. With my junior and high school friends, we also delved into Elizabethan Madrigal music and the great vocal works of Johann Sebastian Bach. I will never forget the day when Mrs. Watts took me to the Bethlehem Bach Festival where she and Mr. Cole were playing in the orchestra and reminded me to bring a score of the B minor Mass. She sat me down under the choir risers, hidden from the audience, and told me I could sing along if I chose to do so. What a day!
📍 2460 Cherry Hills Dr, Lafayette, CA, 94549
📞 925-348-3752
🌐 www.learntoplaytheguitarlessons.com
Personalized guitar lessons, guitar maintenance and repair, and setup for either acoustic or electric guitars. http:www.learntoplaytheguitarlessons.com
📍 1476 Franquette Ave, Concord, CA, 94520
📞 925-586-6255
🌐 colorblindstudios.com
Colorblind Studios offers music lessons, rehearsal studios, monthly 24/7 lockout rooms, performance venue for video & recording production & showcases
📍 1476 Franquette Ave, Concord, CA, 94520
📞 925-825-1339
🌐 www.colorblindstudios.com
We offer: music lessons (drum, guitar, bass, keys), rehearsal space, recording, live events, all at an affordable price with no membership fee!
📍 1856 Colfax St #8, Concord, CA, 94520
📞 925-451-2622
🌐 www.theguitarsage.com
Over 30 years experience. College course author. MI/GIT grad. Successful students!
📍 670 Gregory Ln, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523
📞 925-472-0715
📍 1218 Craig Dr, California, CA, 94518
📞 925-818-1245
🌐 www.brianautumn.com
High Quality Low cost recording and more! Check the website and myspace out for more details
📍 1720 Linda Dr, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523
📞 925-676-8400