PIANO LESSONS
Our piano curriculum includes:
marimba lessons
Our marimba curriculum includes:
ORCHESTRAL Percussion lessons
Our orchestral percussion curriculum includes:
DRUM kit lessons
SAXOPHONE LESSONS
Our saxophone curriculum includes:
COMPOSition lessons
Our composition curriculum includes:
Theory
Notation/Engraving
Electronic Production
Free composition
Instrumentation/Orchestration
lessons policy
Students decide on the length and number of lessons per month, paid by the last week of the previous month so that our teachers can be paid in a timely manner. All of this will be managed by online payment.
Students/teachers can reschedule lessons by emailing BOTH student/teacher and the academy at least 24 hours in advance. For easy communication, we will have an email thread set up for the 3 parties in advance for scheduling, student/teacher feedback, etc. They must be made up within the month, otherwise it’s considered a no show. Any lesson canceled within less than 24 hours notice for any reason is considered a no show.
A no show means that students are unable to make up the lesson (teacher gets paid) or teachers are unable to be paid for the missed lesson, effective the following month (student gets a refund).
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORs
Thomas Yamada
Composition
“I’ve been fortunate to have had my music performed by school and collegiate bands, orchestras, big bands, and chamber groups. I’ve also composed scores for several short films (Chapman, NYU, indies), TV pilots, and student video games. Outside of composing, I tutor music theory and instrumentation. I believe in the importance of learning a variety of skills, ranging from writing memorable melodies and clear notation to understanding advanced topics like orchestration and score analysis. Having collaborated with film directors and live ensembles, I can offer guidance for composing for the screen and the concert stage.”
Ian McFarland
Marimba, Orchestral Percussion
“I am currently a senior-year percussionist at Chapman University. I am actively pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Percussion Performance as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. I have been teaching private lessons and tutoring music students since 2022, and have been a leader in many student projects while studying at Chapman. I want to share my passion for percussion music with others and foster a sense of musical appreciation. I look forward to helping you learn and grow through music!”
Nathaniel Yang
Saxophone
“With nearly 12 years of experience playing the saxophone, I’ve had the privilege of studying under esteemed instructors such as Jay Mason during high school and Gary Matsuura for the past four years. My musical journey has been deeply influenced by classical composers like J.S. Bach, George Gershwin and , as well as jazz legends like Gerry Mulligan and Johnny Hodges.
As a dedicated music educator, my goal is to inspire the same passion for music that has driven my own journey. I am committed to helping my students overcome challenges and guiding them toward their own musical growth and success.”
Christina Cheon
Piano, Marimba, Orchestral Percussion
“I have taught private lessons, clinics, masterclasses, and music ensembles since 2011. My students have placed in competitions (Southern California International Artist Competition, Great Plains International Marimba Competition, San Diego Youth Symphony Concerto Competition), honor bands (SCSBOA, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra), summer seminars (The Juilliard School), and college music programs (Manhattan School of Music, Rochester University, Pacific Lutheran University, Belmont University, UCLA, and CSULB). I believe that music helps us grow in positive ways within all aspects of our lives.”