I believe most people can and would rather learn to play by ear, and welcome students who are interested in approaching music from this perspective. Music - particularly in its most familiar styles - is like a language with specific words and often-used phrases. When a language is learned, words no longer need to be sounded out. They are simply seen, and understood. Similarly, music is a language that can be heard and understood immediately without hesitation or analysis once the ear is developed and knows what to listen for.
If you are in the Los Angeles area and you are interested in learning with this approach, please contact me.
Through an initial grant from Meet The Composer and the Friends of the Watts Towers Arts Center, I began a program to teach teenagers the fundamentals of music technology, and mentor them in creating their own music.
There are no prerequisites or prior study of music to attend this seminar, only a strong desire to make and record original music. I have fundamental lessons that I teach on each of the primary pieces of equipment, but the students are also strongly encouraged to learn from each other.
I teach piano to motivated teens and adults. These are not traditional piano lessons. These are information-packed, student-specific sessions which are designed to get you playing the kinds of music that interest you quickly.
Beyond the basics of learning to operate the equipment, the projects in the class are not assigned. Instead, each student is encouraged to use their limited time on the equipment to create their own original music. Some projects are mixed onto cassette or CD for the student that same day, others are begun and completed another day, and others are become backing tracks for raps which are mixed to CD.
Music Production & Technology is open to anyone 13 - 17 who is motivated to learn to record his/her own music in this way regardless of previous experience. The class meets Saturdays from 1:00 - 5:00 at the Watts Towers Arts Center, 1727 E 107th St in Los Angeles (at the historic Watts Towers). There are four 7-week sessions yearly. To register please contact the Watts Towers Arts Center Education Coordinator at (213) 485-1795.
