(818) 343-7744
knauerpianos@gmail.com
(818) 343-7744
knauerpianos@gmail.com
The quality of our teaching staff is second to none, from classically trained teachers with doctorate degrees to accomplished jazz and hip hop teachers, each one is warm, patient, and cares deeply about helping each student learn to play the music they desire. All of our teachers have college training and many have professional performance experience both nationally and internationally as well as being recording artists. Our teachers support the goals of each student with encouragement and appropriate pacing of instruction, while providing a broad and deep foundation in all styles of music, as well as sight reading, technique, music theory, improvisation, and composition. They know the perfect balance of having their students progress well while making each lesson interesting and exciting. Our teachers love what they do and dedicate themselves to guiding you to reach your musical goals.
Some of the prestigious institutions our teachers are graduates of are, Berklee College of Music, California State University at Northridge, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University, Charles University in Prague, and Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
Brett White is a freelance producer/songwriter, pianist and saxophonist based in Valley Village.
Since graduating from Berklee College of Music, his performance credits include Halsey, Miley Cyrus, Ava Max, V from BTS, Khamari and others. He has production placements with RCA and Warner artists, and has also became a key member in the Take Van project, producing the majority of her songs for the last two years.
Brett loves to teach students of all ages and skill levels, and is also able to teach music production and artist development.
Simiao was born in China, Tianjin. She currently lives in LA. She started playing the violin with Chengfen Wang when she was 4 years old. Later on, until the age of 14, she started her journey at viola, and studied with Yin Pan. Soon after, she studied with Yanming Xu at Tianjin Conservatory. Later on, she decided to explore more on music in the U.S. Simiao came to the U.S when she was 22, and studied viola with Rodney Wirtz and Elizabeth Wilson.
Christopher "Chris" Kneisel "Mr. K" began cello studies in a public school instrumental music program at age 9. He studied for ten years with June Smith Parra (formerly the cellist in the Immaculate Heart College String Quartet). During this time, Chris played in the San Fernando Valley Youth Symphony, under the direction of the late, great Dr. Thomas Osborne. Mr. K. earned his AA degree in music from Los Angeles Valley College in 1976. Chris/Mr. K. then continued his cello studies for another six years with Nino Rosso (at that time, the Associate Principal cellist of the LA Philharmonic). Concurrently, Mr. K. earned his BA in Instrumental Music Education--along with a Ryan Single Subject Life Teaching Credential in Instrumental Music from the State of California. Mr. K. taught public school instrumental music, grades 3 through 9 for five years. From age 18 to the current time, Mr. K. has participated in the old Burbank Symphony and in the Burbank Philharmonic (which supplanted the older orchestra), both as a cellist and board member. Other orchestras have, at various times, include the Pasadena Community Orchestra and the Santa Maria Philharmonic. Currently, Mr. K. is involved with the Moorpark Symphony Orchestra, the Westlake Village Symphony, and the Burbank Philharmonic. He performs almost weekly in his local church.
Mark Trejo found his musical footing In Los Angeles California, where he was born and
raised. Mark is a jazz Trumpeter that has experience playing in a wide variety of music genres.
From pop and salsa to Cumbias and funk, Mark has performed with many local groups around
town like The Wildwood Green Band, The Flamenco Souls, The Big Band Swing Express, and
Full Clip.
Having a foundation in Jazz and improvised music, Mark has also been a part of various
recording projects both student based and independent. Not only has Mark performed in more
public intimate settings, but has had the opportunity to play at larger private events like the
Tequila and Taco Festival in Oxnard, the Play Boy Jazz Festival, and the Reno Jazz Festival.
These wonderful opportunities have come to Mark through the hard work he has put in to
being a part of many larger ensembles like The Claremont Young Musician’s Orchestra where he
performed with guest conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the LAUSD All-City Jazz Band where he
played at the Hollywood Bowl for the Playboy Jazz Festival and would later be called back to
assist again, as well as playing with the CSUN Jazz A Band where he would play with artists like
Wayne Bergeron, Orin Evans, Gordon Goodwin, and John Daversa.
Mark will be graduating from CSUN Spring 2023 with a Bachelors of Music in Trumpet
performance in Jazz Studies. Mark will then continue his music career as a freelance musician
teaching, performing, and leading a salsa and jazz band of his own.
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His
Taylor Bailey is a jazz saxophonist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Los Angeles, California. Bailey is currently attending California State University of Northridge, under the study of the prolific performing and studio musician, Shai Golan. Bailey is member of the California State University of Northridge Jazz A Big Band under the instruction of Tina Raymond, giving him the opportunity to have played with renowned performers such as Gordon Goodwin, Jon Hatamiya, Orinn Evans, Wayne Bergeron, Bill Holman, John Clayton, John Daversa and many more.
Rose Kreider is a Los Angeles based mezzo-soprano pursuing a career in operatic performance. Miss Kreider has performed roles including the Turnspit (Rusalka), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), and Jennie Hildebrand (Street Scene), as well as singing as a soloist in oratorio repertoire such as Mozart’s Requiem in D minor. She sings in the choir at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, CA, where she is the alto section leader. She is currently a student of Diane Ketchie at CalState Northridge, where she is a Bachelor of Music degree candidate in Vocal Performance. She previously earned an Associate of Arts degree in Music from El Camino College, where she studied with soprano Erin Wood.
Megan Shoaf is a lyric coloratura soprano based in the San Fernando Valley. She recently completed her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Arts Performance at California State University, Northridge. In addition to operatic performance, Megan also has a wide variety of experience in musical theatre, having performed roles such as Rapunzel in Into the Woods, Vivienne in Legally Blonde, and Roxie Hart in Chicago. She has recently been involved with Guild Opera Company’s production of Alice in Wonderland, in which she regularly performs the roles of the White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, and Mock Turtle in outreach showings at local elementary schools. At CSUN, Megan took part in numerous ensembles, including the elite Northridge Singers choral ensemble, Studio Ensemble, and Guitar Chamber Ensemble. Professionally, Megan is actively pursuing a career in both operatic and theatrical performance, while also exploring a wide variety of other opportunities as they arise. She specializes in coaching musical theatre and audition preparation, and is especially interested in the intersection between musical and dramatic expression. Through her teaching, she hopes to expand her students’ artistic capabilities through text sensitivity and by increasing mental and physical awareness.
I began playing drums at age five and immediately fell in love with the music making process. I studied mainly classical percussion up until college, where I began studying jazz drumset with Tina Raymond and afro cuban drumset with Thomas Kelley. When teaching, my biggest focus will always be having fun, since that's most likely why we all started in the first place!
Starting violin at the age of 5, Finn Moore has had a performing career spanning over
20 orchestras, multiple solo performances, and 5 countries. He toured with top youth
orchestras in high school and has led many different performing ensembles such as the
Berklee Contemporary Symphony and Berklee World Strings as concertmaster. He has
studied with violin pedagogues Stephan Tieszen, Anton Miller and Asya Meshberg, the
pupils of Mischa Mischakoff, Guila Bustabo and Dorothy Delay. He has performed with
artists such Usher, Alan Silvestri, Joe Lovano, Kenny Barron, Andrés Cepeda, Daymé
Arocena, and the 8-Bit Big Band. He graduated with a B.M., Summa Cum Laude from a
full-tuition scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in 2023, where his own
composition was the processional. His music has already gained attention from Hans
Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Music and Disney Television Music.
Sade Frame is a singer/songwriter, classically trained pianist who also writes and plays pop music... as well as being a trained vocalist & guitarist. Even though she is new to Los Angeles, she is not new to the music business as she has been awarded many songwriter's awards including the John Lenon Songwriting Contest.
She loves working with all ages and stages from beginner to advanced, and helping students grow and build their musical skills while keeping it interesting.
https://americansongwriter.com/a-qa-with-the-heart-toppers-song-contest-promotion-winner-sade-frame/
Liz has been playing piano for over 20 years, and teaching for 12. She has experience with all genres, with a particular love for classical. She is passionate about meeting each student's specific needs, and helping them on their own personal musical journey. She believes anyone can play music, that it is about having fun and finding your own way in! Liz works with all ages, but has a particular love for her senior citizen students and believes in the importance and benefits of learning music at any age.
She has performance experience, most recently at the Viper Room and the Mint. She also enjoys songwriting, and is currently learning guitar.
Music is, and will forever be at the center of my life. Music is what drives me forward. Music has given me an identity which has shown me how to express emotions and communicate to the world in ways I never could.
I have been playing music for the last 14 years. Having learned to play everything from the violin to the guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, drums as well as vocals, shows my love and dedication to many different styles of music. I have many years experience playing live shows as well as becoming an Audio engineer.
More importantly, what I get the most out of music is being able to share the joy and fulfillment music brings me to others and give them the tools to start their musical journey and give them the most of what music can bring to us all.
Musician, performer, composer, musical arranger, Producer Pop-Rock-Electronica Music, computer musician, Song Writer. Has performed and taught in both the New York and Los Angeles areas.
As a performer she has played keyboards and guitar in rock, jazz, and broadway pit bands. She is also a recoding studio musician. As a composer she has written full scale musical shows with both the script and the music. As an arranger and a Producer directed school, community, and regional theatre for over 30 years. She has directed musicals at the Emelin Theatre and stages reading at the West Side Arts Theatre in NYC. She has also directed and musically directed well over 65 musicals.
Some of Marie’s Students have gone on into the field of entertainment. Natalie Toro, the original Eponine on Broadway as well as National tours and the original Madame DeFarge in Tale of Two Cities and presently Lauryn Chiardullo, role of Jasmine in Broadway’s Production of Aladdin. She musically directed the Off Broadway production of "The Wonderful Story Of the Babes In The Wood", and 3 songs she composed were featured in it. Marie has also composed the music for "My Poppa", "Rosalita", "Revelations", "Dick Whittington", "Princess", "Velveteen Rabbit" all original shows
Marie has directed Summer Theatre Intensive Camps in NY and in Sedona Arizona. She continues to teaches piano, guitar, voice and computer music and Song Writing. At present she is arranging Pop and Pop Rock songs
Along with composing Pop Music, and movie themed music. Marie is Thrilled to be part of the staff at The Knauer School of Music in Tarzana and Agoura Hills CA.
Cameron started playing piano at 5 years old, he was classically trained and learned how to sight read at a young age. At 10 years of age, he picked up the drums and self taught himself by listening to certain tracks and songs.
Cameron now attends Cal State Northridge, currently studying jazz piano under Gary Fukshima. Before this, he was going to Fullerton College, also studying jazz piano under Jeremy Siskind. Both mentors taught him the roots of jazz piano as well as solo jazz piano. He has played multiple gigs in the Orange County area as well as Los Angeles, to coffee shops, festivals, weddings and more.
With drums, Cameron hs been one of the main drummers of Union Creative, a worship band that plays for the Whittier Area Community Church. Union Creative released an album on Spotify, Apple Music and all streaming platforms. With over four million streams, Cameron plays drums on a good amount of the songs.
His goal as a teacher is to transfer his knowledge of music to the younger generation so they can continue the growth of music and maybe teach later on to a new generation of students.
Michaela Eremiášová, has been named recipient of the 33rd annual ASCAP Foundation Rudolf Nissim Prize. The Prize was awarded for Emblems, an 11-minute work for solo violin and chamber orchestra.
Michaela Eremiášová was born in Prague, Czech Republic and now resides in North Hollywood, California. Her music has been performed by the ITB (Institut Teknologi Bandung) Choir from Indonesia, Chamber Choir Hymni of Denmark, Madrigalia, Musica Nova, Duo vio-Link-oto, Arabesque Winds, Eastman Chorale, Eastman Trombone Choir, and Novus Quartet, among others. Eremiášo's collaborations include work with performers, contemporary painters, poets, and modern dance choreographers as well as with experimental and mainstream filmmakers. One of her closest collaborators is her husband, Colombian composer Jairo Duarte-López. Together, they co-composed the chamber work Car Crash Opera for an animated film by Skip Battaglia. Eremiášo's collaborative works have been recognized with awards such as the ASIFA Award for "Excellence in Experimental Techniques" for All That Remains. Her music has been featured at New York City Opera's VOX Festival, New Music Festival at Bowling Green State University, Kurt Weill Festival at Berlin's Sony Center in Germany, Women in Music Festival at the Eastman School of Music, and in over one hundred national and international film festivals. Most recently, Eremiášová and Duarte-López co-composed several es for their opera-in progress Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding), based on the play by Federico García-Lorca, as a commission by the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University in New Jersey.
Eremiášová holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition from the Conservatory of Jaroslav Ježek, a Masters in Musicology from Charles University in Prague, and a PhD in Composition from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Her principal teacher and mentor is Prof. David Liptak.
Chris started playing piano at 9 years old. He took lessons from his Grandmother, Rosemary Carswell, who is herself a staple in the community of Music Teachers in Southern California. He believes whole heartedly that her guidance and the foundation he learned from her serves him to this day and is the same foundation he strives to pass along to his students. “I’ve done my best to be a sponge in every musical endeavor since then and I get a lot of joy and excitement in passing on what I know.”
Chris’ musical background has been a long, eclectic mix of performance and composition experiences; from participating in Music-Teacher’s-Association-
Chris also studied and played Euphonium while in middle and high school. With that he was accepted into various honor groups, received scholarship for further study, he made principle player from sophomore through senior year at Hamilton High School Academy of Music in Los Angeles and marched in the Rose Parade in 2002 with the LAUSD All-City-High-School-Marching-
Outside of school he’s done various things as well, from being a piano teacher for the last 10 years, to working with various churches as a pianist/guitar player/assistant music director and arranger to also having had the amazing opportunities to play at UCLA with the Jaman Laws group and working in Japan as an accompanist and lyricist with Teichiku Records as their first non-Japanese hire. “All in all, my musical knowledge has gifted me many open doors and experiences. I feel blessed to have it as well as a whole-hearted happiness and privilege in sharing what I’ve managed to soak up in my short time as a musician and I hold a hope that I can help others get out there and play.”
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her Ms. Diane
Diane’s joy of playing piano and singing are contagious. She has pursued her passions since the age of six. Diane was a Music Education major in college. She teaches beginning to advanced levels of piano and beginning voice lessons- all ages and styles-Bach to Rock. Ms. Louis’ teaching style is fun, positive, and patient. She customizes her lessons to the way each student learns and their individual goals. Knowledge of the music basics- note-reading, rhythm, theory, understanding and communicating a piece of music, and creativity are the foundation of her approach. Diane incorporates the pieces that students really want to play as soon as possible so they enjoy practicing and playing.
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
Jeremy Matticks is an avid performer and professional vocalist, with a passion for teaching. Originally from Springfield, Illinois, Jeremy started learning piano at the age of six, encouraged by his very musical family! He quickly showed an interest in performing, singing, and composing, and began writing his own music at a very young age!
He attended Berklee College of Music in 2010 as a Voice Principal, and earned a degree in Contemporary Writing and Music Production with an emphasis in Video Game Scoring. While there, he performed with several incredible vocal groups, including world-renowned a cappella group, Pitch Slapped, with whom he won Grand Prize in the 2010 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.
After graduating from Berklee in 2014, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue music full-time, and has been enjoying his musical life ever since! He started working in a couple music studios as a production assistant and then went to work on a few video games and films as a composer and sound designer.
As a professional vocalist, Jeremy currently performs with several incredible vocal ensembles, including Top Shelf Vocal, Jingle 5, Vox Harmonix, The Other Reindeer Carolers, and his own group Intermission, which he also directs. Jeremy also loves songwriting, arranging, and producing; working with several musicians and performers to record, mix, and collaborate.
As a teacher, Jeremy focuses on using a personalized lesson approach for each student. For vocal students, he pulls in elements of Complete Vocal Technique, Speech Level Singing, Alexander, Bel Canto, and Berklee Vocal Methods, and even teaches more advanced techniques such as sight-singing. For piano students, his favorite book series include Alfred and John Thompson’s, having grown up learning the Alfred Method. He also loves to incorporate music theory, chord theory, production, and songwriting for students with those interests.
Jeremy believes that at the heart of a musician is the soul of a story-teller, and making great music should be the foundation of any great music class. To all the new musicians out there, your voice is unique, your creations are valid, and your music is beautiful!
Larissa grew up in Russia and graduated from Ulyanovsk Music College with a degree in Piano Education and Accompaniment. She has worked as a piano instructor for almost thirty year and throughout those years, she has also worked and volunteered as an accompanist for instrumentalists, vocalists, choirs, church functions and ballet classes.
Larissa enjoys teaching a variety of styles and can work wonderfully with beginners and students who want to enjoy playing a range of genres, yet can also teach up to the highest levels of classical piano performance.
For almost two decades her family resided in Alaska, enjoying its beauty, fresh air, wildreness and yes, salmon. After getting their Master's degrees, her daughters decided to pursue their careers in Log Angeles; therefore, encouraging Larissa to relocate to Los Angeles herself. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, watching films and attending cultural events.
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Anna Pflieger, dramatic mezzo-soprano, is an award-winning vocal artist recognized for her arresting vocal timbre and bold stage presence. Her exceptional technical ability is hard-won and infused with the resolve, joy, and authenticity of her own heroic healing journey. In addition to her life-long dedication to classical and operatic performance, Ms. Pflieger’s work as a commercial voice over artist is nationally recognized. Ms. Pflieger is an alumnus of Pepperdine University and NYU Tisch. She currently prepares roles under the guidance of Claudine Carlson and Maestro William Vendice. Pflieger has also coached with world-class opera educators including Mirella Freni, Carol Neblett, Karen Cargill, Christine Goerke, Robert Tweten, Olga Toporkova, Marilyn Zschau, Kristof Van Grysperre, Kosta Popovic, Timothy León, Richard Zeller, Vladimir Chernov, Shigemi Matsumoto, Elizabeth Howard, and Kathleen Roland. Ms. Pflieger’s most recent engagements include: 2023 Wagner Society of Southern California Soloist, 2022 Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with LAKMA Symphony (Alto Soloist) Walt Disney Concert Hall, 2022 Title role debut as Carmen with Pacific Lyric Opera Association, 2022 Mozart Requiem with LAKMA Symphony (Alto Soloist), 2022 Pergolesi Stabat Mater (Alto Soloist), 2021 Opera West! debut as The Mother in Puccini's Madama Butterfly (Suzuki Cover), 2020 VOPA debut as Marthe in Gounoud’s Faust, 2020 Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 with California State University Northridge (Alto Soloist), 2019 Landmark Opera Company debut as Flora in Verdi’s La Traviata. She is also a member of The Los Angeles Master Chorale professional chorus. Ms. Pflieger’s recent honors include: Semi-finalist for the 2021 Palm Springs Opera Guild Vocal Competition, finalist and encouragement award recipient for the 2020 Mentoris Voice Vocal Competition, Western Region semi-finalist and encouragement award recipient for the 2019 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, finalist in 2019 Burbank Philharmonic Hennings-Fischer Young Artist Competition, 2019, a six-time recipient of The Opera Buffs Inc., Grant Award, and recipient of the 2019 Bell T. Ritchie Award. Pflieger’s past roles include Cornelia in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Giannetta in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, and Third Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Ms. Pflieger’s roles in preparation are Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana), Azucena (Il Trovatore), Amneris (Aida), and Princess Eboli (Don Carlo). Verdi’s Requiem and Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde. She particularly enjoys singing the works of Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, and Wagner and looks forward to embracing this repertoire for years to come. Ms. Pflieger is committed to sharing her love of vocal technique and classical music with her community. Ms. Pflieger is a consultant for Leyerle Publications and the Nico Castel Libretti. She is thrilled to announce her 2023 Codirection of Artists Coalition of Los Angeles, empowering classical artists through musical and humanitarian collaborations via community engagement, educational outreach and accessible historic programming that preserves the integrity of professional artistic traditions. Anna Pflieger is based in Los Angeles and is available for engagements worldwide.
Jared Price is an award winning Vocal Coach and Actor, and has travelled all over the world as a performer. His career in the arts began when he was just six year old, and after watching Broadway's The Lion King, he was hooked! It really kicked off in high school when he joined choir, drama, speech and debate, and an all male a cappella group, where he won various award in all departments. There he learned what it means to be a performer and an artist and how important the Arts can relate to a human being. He wanted to perform and create to give people a new perspective on how one relates to another, and to give a new perspective and escape from the real world, even if it was for a moment in time. Since then, he has had the privilege of working with top industry coaches and professionals, and that's when he became a Coach and Music Director himself. Jared has thoroughly enjoyed Musically Directing numerous Musical Theatre productions including Breakthrough Studio's Seussical the Musical Jr, Born To Perform Studio's productions of Legally Blonde The Musical Jr, Willy Wonka Jr, and Alice In Wonderland Jr, and Conejo Players Theatre productions of My Son Pinocchio Jr, and Into the Woods Jr. Receiving his BM in Vocal Performance at Cal. State Northridge, he has studied Music Education and Vocal Performance in the styles of Musical Theatre, Pop, Jazz, Opera, Barbershop, and Chorale under the directions of Lori Marie Rios, Rob Istad, Christopher Peterson, Don Brinegar, Craig Gruenberg, Paul Smith, and David Sannerud...just to name a few. He has coached award winning a cappella groups and has sung and performed in places such as Disneyland Resort, The Queen Mary, Lila Cockrell Theater (San Antonio, Texas), and has premiered choral music in The Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Los Angeles Valley Performing Arts Center. He has sung with the 9-time award winning International Barbershop Chorus, Masters of Harmony, and the 3-time award winning International Barbershop Collegiate Chorus, Boom Town Chorus. Some of his most recent favorite Theatre credits includes the Regional Premiere of Big Fish (Will Bloom), Heathers (JD) for which he won the Broadway World Award for Best Lead Actor in a Musical locally, The Fantasticks (Matt), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Leaf Coneybear). He can't wait to share his love of performing and singing with you!
An interview with Jared: http://voyagela.com/interview/
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
The son and grandson of professional musicians and music teachers, Brian Rupp has been teaching guitar for over 20 years and playing for over 30 years. Initial music studies commenced with piano lessons at age 8, but Brian was subsequently "bitten by the rock bug" and began teaching himself guitar at age 11. After performing in the high school jazz band and with the heavy metal band Abraxas, Brian studied music at California State University, Northridge and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Classical Guitar Performance. Honors included winning the Randy Rhoads Memorial Scholarship Competition.
After graduation, Brian went on to perform solo classical guitar and classical guitar with ensemble in a wide variety of settings such as weddings, receptions, civic events and private engagements. Additional musical activities included gigging on electric and bass guitar in various original, cover and tribute bands in clubs, fairs, festivals and concert halls. He has appeared on Chinese television with Regina Cheng and The Diamond Band and Brazilian television as a performer at the memorial concert for the legendary Brazilian guitarist and composer Laurindo Almeida.
Currently, Brian has been performing solo classical guitar twice a month at The Californian, a convalescent home and rehab facility in Pasadena since 2011 under the auspices of Respect & Understanding, a non profit organization whose mission is healing through music.
In the realm of music education, Brian has taught thousands of private lessons on guitar, bass guitar and drums to a wide range of ages and levels and in a wide range of styles. He has also taught in the public domain as a volunteer assistant music teacher for the LAUSD and guest instructor at the elementary and middle school levels. Brian's objectives in lessons are for beginners to have a solid foundation in basic technique, rhythm, chords and melody playing, for intermediate level students to progress in the direction of music they want play and to supplement the advanced student's knowledge of technique, theory and expression. Brian's mission for his students and in his own musical endeavors is to play music one loves the best he/she can.
Mariana Sargsyan has devoted her life to the piano and music since the age of 6 years old. She attended a music school in Armenia and at the age of 14 was accepted into Kara-Murza, a music college in Armenia. After graduating with high honors, she was accepted into Yerevan State Conservatory of Komitas. In the meantime, not only was she a private piano teacher, but she performed in many concerts and participated in several prestigious competitions. After she graduated, she moved to the US, where she continued as a piano teacher and received her Master of Music Degree at CSUN. At CSUN, she studied under the guidance of her professor, Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov.
Mariana has been teaching piano since she was 14 years old and because of that and her musical experience, she has all the proper skills to make her students be the best they could be. Mariana is an active member of NGPT, and she annually prepares her students to participate in the ABRSM Royal Exams and Guild Exams.
She loves and cares for all her students and tailors the lessons to fit the needs of every student.
Background
My family has always been musically inclined. Back in Iran, my parents played in an orchestra recreationally, and when I was six years old, they invited me to learn music with them: my dad signed me up for piano lessons. I’ve performed at several recitals and competitions over my early musical education. When I was 9, I performed at my first recital, playing Golden Dreams by Javad Maroufi and Ode of Joy by Beethoven. At 15, I was the youngest performer at the National Federation Music Festival Competition at LAVC, playing Haydn’s Pastoral. I continued taking lessons and performing until I was 18, when I began studying CSUN, where I graduated from in 2016 with a double bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences and Music Education/Liberal Arts.
Since I graduated, I have taught piano for five years as a private music teacher. However, my musical education did not end at graduation. I continue to further my own skills through study, practice, and training. After all, a good teacher is also a good student. Currently, I'm a Doctoral student at Grand Canyon University in Arizona. I also keep my teaching skills up to date as well, by researching the best and latest teaching methods, and follow several resources to create well-structured and up-to-date lesson plans. My personal tastes in music include contemporary classical French pianist Richard Clayderman, Australian/British classical string quartet Bond, and Maksim Mrvica. I enjoy improvising songs, and entertaining friends and guests with my music.
Teaching Method
I specialize in teaching piano fundamentals, giving students the foundation they need to grow into advanced levels. I first emphasize development of my students’ technical skills through finger exercises. By developing physical mastery of playing the piano, they become second nature, and students can begin focusing on the more difficult theoretical aspects such as sight reading and ear training. As with all subjects, students respond best to differently to different methods of teaching, so I continually ask for feedback during the lesson, then adjusting the way I teach accordingly. I cater to specific student needs interests and keep lessons enjoyable by creating personalized lesson plans for my students and developing an appropriate curriculum, each utilizing a variety of books and teaching methods I find they respond best to.
JonNichimyoun Taylor, AKA Jonnichi Sun Tiger 13, is a composer, pianist, teacher, music producer and creator of Sun Tiger West Coast Productions of Los Angeles, California. Throughout his professional life, he has been touched and inspired by legends from Duke Ellington and Quincy Jones to Nadia Boulanger and Leonard Bernstein, who were his teachers and mentors.
He rebirth into physical life on July, 1950. It was at the young age of 10 that he became interested in music, especially the piano where he, like so many young adults in his neighborhood, decided to take up private lessons in piano and organ.
He has always shown an admiration for the music and arts, composing in particular. After going through four years of college at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee to receive his degree(s) in music education and ethnic-musicology, Jon Nichimyoun decided to embark upon a career in composing.
His main interest here was to focus on Broadway musicals, film scoring and orchestrations. For more than two decades, (1976-1999), he lived in Europe, where he met his beloved teacher/professor Madamoiselle Nadia Boulanger in Paris, France. He re-located a few years later to the Austrian capital ,Vienna, where he made several performances for cultural affairs, ambassadors residences, private salon concerts and musical theater.
He returned to the United States in 1999 and now presently resides in Los Angeles, California with his family. Apart from his occupied time at his "SunTiger Studio", Mr.JonNichimyoun Taylor loves spending time with his family and friends as occasionally he tours around the world performing the piano on tremendous European Cruises and ships that sail the ocean seas - world renowned.
A veteran singer, TV and film actor, Kim Yarbrough captivated TV audiences the world over during her splash as a finalist on Season 2 of NBC's "THE VOICE". Adam Levine & Christina Aguilera consistently pronounced her as a “Powerhouse” and "Force to be Reckoned With."
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Kim has enjoyed a dream career performing alongside legends and icons in music, film TV and stage in Los Angeles since the year 2000.
Kim is a classically trained vocalist and has over 20 years' professional experience singing in all styles from R&B to Pop, and from Broadway to Blues. Her post-secondary study and specialties are in the areas of voice, theater and violin performance & education. Kim has vocal coached several Disney and Nickelodeon child stars, and her students have also gone on to book leading roles in "Annie Get Your Gun", "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Cats" and "Les Mis". She she has also successfully coached students as budding song writers and recording artists.
A working professional singer for more than 2 decades, Kim has performed and toured throughout the United States and France. She continues to perform and sing for all types and sizes of audiences, whether on stage or in film.
She has been vocal coaching for over 25 years and believes in a 360 degree music education with her students. She not only teaches them to have a command of their vocal instrument and be excellent singers, but her instruction also covers music theory, phrasing, ear training, reading music, and performance practice. No matter the age range, handling themselves confidently and professionally in performances and auditions is what sets Kim's students apart.
Los Angeles Pianos For Sale
19301 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, Ca. 91356
(818) 343-7744
Conejo Valley Pianos For Sale
28501 Canwood St. Ste 3E
Agoura Hills, Ca. 91301
(818) 597-9970
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