Long Beach School of Music

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LONG BEACH SCHOOL OF MUSIC

3840 Woodruff Avenue, Suite 109, Long Beach, California 90808 | (562) 627-0464

Serving the communities of El Dorado Park Estates, Bixby Knolls, Belmont Shore, The Plaza, Park Estates, Los Alamitos, Lakewood, Cerritos, Garden Grove, Cypress, Bellflower, Compton, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Sunset Beach

Long Beach School of Music is located next to Heartwell Park and Golf Course, off of Carson Street, off of the 605 San Gabriel Freeway.
Long Beach School of Music is located at 3840 Woodruff Avenue, Suite 109, Long Beach, CA 90808 | (562) 627-0464

After-school and after-work lesson times are available. Call

Ask yourself this question:
“How would it feel to be able to play an instrument right now?”
Awesome! That’s the usual answer. Imagine the amazed look on your friends and family’s faces if you picked up your instrument right this instant and started playing yours and everyone’s favorite songs with no effort whatsoever.
Even for someone with no prior musical experience our easy to follow instruction makes learning uncomplicated and fun – pretty much effortless.
Every instructor at Long Beach School of Music is committed to finding the approach that works best for each person, and is patient and encouraging. Students can work at their own pace so they never have to feel stressed out.
Pick the style of music and songs you want to play. Whether it’s songs from the Rock Band and Guitar Hero video games, classical, jazz, blues – you name it, we’ll teach it.
Rates, Schedule & Fees
1/2 hour = $26 = $112 per month (four weeks)
1 hour = $56 = $ 224 per month (four weeks)
Some rates may vary depending on invdividual instructor's speciaties.
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday, 2 - 9 PM Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM - 6 PM
Alternate lesson times are sometimes available depending on individual instructor schedules. Call us with your specific time requests.
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"I really enjoy my lessons each week and my instructor always knows how to adapt to my interests...keeps me motivated to keep playing!"
"The lessons have helped me get into playing after so many years. It has also me to understand further in detail how things are put together."
"We have had a wonderful experience with your method of instruction."
"Everyone is very friendly, patient and interested in MUSIC! Jenny doesn't feel pressured. She wants to enjoy taking lessons and she does. It's relaxed and fun. Thank you for your great school!"
—satisfied students & parents
Location & Facility
Long Beach School of Music is minutes away from the 405 and 605 freeways, right next to Heartwell Park, less than half a mile from the Long Beach Town Centre. Centrally located in the middle of Long Beach's Bixby Knolls, El Dorado Park Estates, and College Park Estates neighborhoods; convenient for residents of Lakewood, Cerritos, Cypress, Los Alamitos and Rossmoor.

1928 Julius Bauer Grand Piano in Studio B

Facts about Long Beach School of Music students:
One out of four students is an adult studying music for personal enrichment. We have a higher percentage of adult students than any other music school or independent teaching studio.
Our students come from the following cities: Long Beach, Bellflower, Cerritos, Lakewood, Compton, Carson, South Gate, Whittier, Cypress, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Seal Beach, and Huntington Beach.
www.GetLessons.net
Why Choose Long Beach School of Music's Guitar School? www.TheGuitarSchool.com
Clinics & Workshops
Guitar effects; what they are and how to use them
Playing in a jam band
Soloing technique on guitar bass and piano

Adult Performance Seminar
Southern California Junior Bach Festival
Sonata / Sonatina Festival
Music Teachers' Association of California State Convention

There will be instructors available (in person or by phone) if students need extra help on their assignments.
Recitals and Workshops
Recitals with a live band for guitar, drum, keyboard and bass students. We've put together professional bands,and presented programs of student performances on a Sunday afternoon.

For information about the school's classical piano and jazz piano program click on piano lessons.
All Styles — All Levels — All Ages

Master Classes & Guest Artists
Long Beach School of Music instructors perform small informal concerts for current students. Various Guest Artists teach master classes in classical piano, jazz piano, and jazz ensemble performance.

Jam sessions are opportunities to get together with other student musicians and teachers and play. All students are welcome to come and listen.

Guitar Instructional Material
The school has been supplying guitar and bass students with the necessary material for a low fee so there is usually no need to buy extra books. We help choose the right lesson material that is appropriate for each individual.
More Reasons to Choose Long Beach School of Music & the Long Beach Guitar School:
Greater Variety of Programs Than Most Music Schools
Great Location & Atmosphere

Specialties That Include:
Reading Music (standard notation and tablature)

THE GUITAR SCHOOL
Autism Spectrum Disorder & Special Needs
For the last several years our instructors have had many opportunities to work with special needs children, especially those with autism spectrum disorder.
Our music schools are run with the philosophy that all students are not alike and should be educated in the way that is most helpful to the student; that group or classroom instruction is not as individualized as most students need in order for them to achieve the greatest success; and finally, that all instruction should be on a one-on-one basis so as to fully focus on a students specific needs and interests.
This customized approach to teaching fits the special needs students since no one program or approach will benefit all students, special needs or not. One-on-one music lessons in a regular music school environment are an opportunity for these students to participate in a mainstream activity without the distraction of other students in the room.

Instructor: Tim Wingate
“Let It Be” by The Beatles
Kasey Mandelbaum – Guitar
Instructor: Mark Fitchett
“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd
Alex Wright - Guitar

“Bony-uar Stomp” by Led Zepplin
Kaelee Epstein– Guitar

All American Rejects song
Theresa Kammermeier – Bass, Jake Larsen – Guitar & Ralph Le Clerque – Guitar
Instructor: Mark Fitchett & Tim Wingate
“Blues Jam”

“Tangerine” by Led Zepplin
Cody Dill – Piano
Instructor: Lisa Kato
“Smoke On The Water” by Deep Purple
Ryan Silva – Guitar & Jim Cody - Bass

“Iron Man” by Black Sabbath
Reikin Lin - Guitar
Instructor: Dan Krier
“Let It Be” solo by the Beatles
Adam & Kyle Greenway – Guitars
Instructor: Ryan Faye

Instructor: David Green
“Cradle Song” by Brahms

“Horse With No Name” by America
Cory – Guitar

“Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne
Zach Di Lello – Guitar

“Daytripper” by The Beatles
Brian Campbell – Bass
Instructor: Tony Alvarez
“Black Magic Woman” by Peter Green (as performed by Santana)
Ivan Knowles – Guitar

“Pipeline”
Kylie Butler – Guitar & Vocals

Michael Katzer – Guitar & Shant Ohanessian - Bass
“D Jam” Original Improvisation
Instructor: Mark Fitchett & Tony Alvarez
Miles & Austin Lillard – Dobro & Banjo
Instructors: Mark Shark & Mark Fitchett
“Wildwood Flower”

“Pinball Wizard” by The Who

“How would it feel to be able to
play an instrument right now?”
Awesome! That’s the usual answer, or fantastic!. Imagine the amazed look on your friends and family’s faces if you went to your instrument right this instant and started playing yours and everyone’s favorite songs with no effort whatsoever. That would definitely feel awesome!

Every instructor is committed to finding the approach that works best for each person, and is patient and encouraging. Students can work at their own pace so they never have to feel stressed out.

South Bay, Peninsula and Long Beach music students in an exultant mood following our Rock, Jazz & Blues Recital at the Golden Lotus Restaurant in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

For parents that want their children to do more than sit around watching TV or playing video games, music lessons may be the answer.
It's not just about music lessons. It's about developing life skills.
Parents who enroll their kids in music lessons are encouraging their children to get involved in a productive, educational activity which is culturally enriching, and which develops the brain, intellect, motor skills, self-esteem and discipline.

Education, development of work habits and discipline. Getting the child away from the TV, video games, and hanging out at the mall.

Advanced Music Students
Beyond the basics, many musicians feel that they aren't progressing fast enough in their knowledge and playing abilities; or that what they've learned seems scattered and unrelated.
For All Instrumentalists
Blues, rock and jazz improvisation; performance skills, and practical music theory are all taught.
Topics include improvisational techniques, scales beyond the basic major and minor, phrasing, chord progressions, progressive scale techniques, arpeggios, intervals, advanced chord construction, rhythm, scale and chord theory, definitions, transposition and musical styles.
We believe that the majority of students get more out of their music lessons and progress at a much faster rate if they can learn the styles of music that they love. Every student is taught the same fundamentals in regards to music theory and technique. The only difference is, is that one person may be taught their "do re mi's" with their favorite rock band while another may learn the same basic theory, but with traditional classical repertoire..

Music Instruction

All Ages, Styles & Skill Levels

Here is a list of our music teachers and instruments taught. The location for each teacher is subject to change, per the teacher's schedule. Click on the instrument you are interested in to see the instructors. All lessons are one-on-one.

Redondo Beach, Long Beach & Rancho Palos Verdes - Electric Bass Guitar, Acoustic Bass Lessons, Improvisation and Music Theory

Long Beach - Electric Bass Guitar, Acoustic Bass Lessons, Improvisation and Music Theory

Rancho Palos Verdes location only - Drum Lessons, Drum Set, Percussion, Technique

Long Beach - Drum & vibraphone lessons, drum set, percussion, technique

Long Beach - Drum Lessons, Drum Set, Percussion, Technique

Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes & Long Beach - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Banjo, Songwriting, Composition and Improvisation Lessons. Rock School Summer Camp
Blues, Jazz, Rock, Country.
Band leader, The Mark Fitchett Band (contemporary / fusion jazz / rock / blues) & The Stephanie James Project (contemporary jazz). www.markfitchett.net

Long Beach location only - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Songwriting, Composition and Improvisation Lessons. Jazz, Rock, Blues guitar.

Band leader, James Christopher Band (contemporary jazz). See recent performance at Long Beach Jazz Festival...

Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes & Long Beach - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Songwriting, Composition and Improvisation Lessons, Ukulele
Blues, Jazz, Rock, Country. Band Leader, Black Plate Kings (blues band).

Long Beach & Rancho Palos Verdes - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Songwriting, Composition and Improvisation Lessons.

Long Beach - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Songwriting, Composition and Improvisation Lessons.

Long Beach - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar. Jazz, Rock,

Terje Lije (pronounced "Terry Lee")
Rancho Palos Verdes location only - All levels, classical through jazz. Soprano, Tenor and Alto Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Improvisation. Jazz, Blues, Rock, Funk. Certificate of Merit exams.

Long Beach - All levels, classical through jazz. Soprano, Tenor and Alto Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Improvisation. Jazz, Blues, Rock, Funk

Lisa Michiko Kato
Redondo Beach, Long Beach & Rancho Palos Verdes- Classical and Jazz Piano Lessons, Rock and Pop Piano Lessons, Music Teachers' Association of California, Certificate of Merit, National Piano Teachers' Guild-American College of Musicians, Southern California Junior Bach Festival (SCJBF), Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF), Sonata / Sonatina Festival, Long Beach Mozart Festival, Adult Performance Program. Classical, Blues, Jazz and Rock piano

Long Beach - Beginning Piano Lessons, Music Teachers' Association of California-Long Beach Branch, Certificate of Merit exams

Long Beach - Intermediate through advanced classical piano lessons, Music Teachers' Association of California-Long Beach Branch, Certificate of Merit, Southern California Junior Bach Festival (SCJBF), Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF), Sonata / Sonatina Festival, Long Beach Mozart Festival. Also teaches Piano Performance Boot Camp, monthly piano performance classes, workshops and master classes.

Redondo Beach & Long Beach - Beginning Piano Lessons, Music Teachers' Association of California-Long Beach Branch, Certificate of Merit, National Piano Teachers' Guild-American College of Musicians. Jazz, pop style piano, chord chart reading and improvisation.

Long Beach and Rancho Palos Verdes - Beginning through upper intermediate classical and jazz piano, incorporating voice and piano, solfeggio, music theory, technique. Blues pianist, Piano Accompanist for Annette Warren Smith's monthly voice workshops.

Redondo Beach & Long Beach - Beginning piano lessons, solfeggio, sight reading, music theory, technique

Long Beach and Rancho Palos Verdes - Incorporating voice and piano, solfeggio, music theory, technique. Blues pianist, Piano Accompanist for Annette Warren Smith's monthly voice workshops.

Long Beach - Vocal technique, broadway, classical, pop, jazz voice lessons

Long Beach - Violin & Viola Lessons, Classical Repertoire, Technique, Music Theory, Beginning through Advanced Levels, Certificate of Merit, Royal College of Music exams

At our music schools, we are dedicated to providing our students with the best possible learning environment.
Our highly knowledgeable teachers are committed to finding the approach that works best for each individual.
Whether a student just wants to learn enough to have fun playing a few favorite songs, or is an aspiring professional, our instructors will develop a customized music lesson plan especially tailored to fit their specific musical needs and interests. All lessons are one-on-one
Our instructors include university graduates, as well as working professionals with many years of performing, recording and teaching experience.

The basic rates as of January 2010 are as follows:
1/2 hour lessons on all instruments,
$28 per class, $112 per month or $140 if there are 5 weeks
1 hour lessons on all instruments,
$56 per class, $224 per month or $280 if there are 5 weeks
Tuition for the month is paid in full at the beginning of each month.
All legitimate cancellations will taken as make-ups only and not credited to the following month's tuition.
Note: Some instructor's rates may be higher depending on their specialties.
TEN QUESTIONS REGARDING GUITAR INSTRUCTION
1) "How much do I have to practice?"
Many are under the impression that hours upon hours per week are needed to get good at playing the guitar.
Unless you are planning on being a guitar superstar in the first few weeks, this is simply not true. If you can find
20 minutes to an hour a day, four or five days out of the week, you will noticeably progress. Generally, students
find the more they accomplish, the more they are encouraged to practice.
2) "What if I have no musical talent?"
Some worry about being "tone deaf" or that they have "no rhythm." Something we truly believe is that everyone
has some sort of innate musical talent. Initially, some may appear to have it more obviously than others, but
there are many instances when a student who seemed to be not getting it at first became the one that surpassed the rest.
3) "What if I don't have a guitar?"
Guitars can be purchased relatively inexpensively. For under $300 one can get a decent acoustic guitar, or an
electric guitar and a small amplifier. Used instruments can even be less.
4) "What if I don't know how to read music?"
We can teach you, and our instructors will make it an enjoyable learning process. However, since most of what guitar
does in popular styles is rhythm accompaniment, beginning guitar is usually is taught through a variety of other methods
that make more sense to that style. As a student progresses beyond the beginning stages they will find that reading music
is useful for more advanced musical understanding. Students are encouraged to make reading a part of their learning experience.
5) "What if I've never played a musical instrument before?"
Learning a musical instrument does not require any background. Ultimately every musician has started from zero.
All that is necessary is the desire, and a willingness to practice.
6) "What if my hands or fingers are too big or too small?"
It is extremely rare that this ever true. Once a student realizes what needs to be stretched and how to work on this
then they find that it's not as difficult as they imagined. Having a qualified instructor look at the individual is recommended.
7) "Why can't I teach myself?"
We are of the opinion that instructional materials such as videos, DVDs, internet downloads, books and CDs, regardless
of how good they are produced, are best studied with a competent teacher. It's not the student's fault! As good as these
learning aids may be, the problem is, is that you can't ask them questions. Since everyone learns differently, there may be
an issue if the method utilized by the various instructional materials is not one that works for you. This is where the experienced
private instructor who can customize their approach to the individual enters into the picture. Once the basics have been mastered,
then the various instructional materials available are much easier to deal with.
8) "How long will I have to take lessons before I can play anything?"
Although this is a tricky question to answer because every student is different, the average is between two to four weeks
before a student can start playing some simpler songs.
9) "How long to I have to keep taking lessons?"
Our goal is to make the student self-sufficient so that after they learn the basics they can teach themselves. This could happen
after just a few lessons. One doesn't necessarily need to keep taking lessons to learn enough to become a competent player.
However, once a student gets involved in the guitar they often find that they enjoy the learning process so much that they want
to keep it up and study techniques beyond the basic chordal accompaniment styles.
10) "Can you learn anything in a group class?"
Yes, group classes can be useful as an introduction to playing an instrument. The problem is that everyone learns differently.
This makes it difficult for an instructor to address each student's individual concerns as most group classes tend to be short
and have a large number of students.
The Guitar School

Six of our piano students received honors at the 2008 Music Teachers' Association of California State Convention. More...
Certificate of Merit Results

"We are so amazed at how wonderfully our girls are playing and how quickly they've progressed..." Testimonials

"I appreciate that my piano teacher doesn’t force me to play repertoire that I hate. I love that I can bring in my favorite songs to the lessons and learn how to play them on the piano. I’ve learned how to play songs by Guns’n’Roses, Metallica, Ozzy Osborne, Van Halen, Boston, Journey, The Eagles, and Led Zeppelin.” Testimonials

"Excellent teaching skill. You have helped me enjoy my guitar playing more with customized lessons...from theory to helping me figure out my favorite songs. Thank you!" Testimonials
What is Certificate of Merit?

Winners of the National Piano Guild Five Year Composer Award

The Guitar School at Long Beach School of Music
Long Beach Guitar School is located in Suite 111 of the Long Beach School of Music. Find out more about Long Beach Guitar School's exceptional program of guitar, bass and drum lessons.
What Kind of Music Motivates You?
These are some of the musical styles taught at our music schools:

Long Beach School of Music students, teachers and staff care about the communities in which we live.
...Performing at the Lakewood Mall to raise money for the Music Teachers' Association of California Long Beach Branch Piano Fund.
...Gift Certificates donated to raise money for the Newcomb Academy PTA

SOUTH BAY SCHOOL OF MUSIC & The Redondo Beach Guitar School
1712 S. Pacific Coast Highway

(corner of Palos Verdes Drive and PCH)
Guitar School and South Bay School of Music serve the South Bay area including Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Lomita, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale, San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City, Gardena, Hawthorne and Carson.
PENINSULA SCHOOL OF MUSIC & Guitar School of Rancho Palos Verdes
31244 Palos Verdes Drive West, #205
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

We teach the songs and the styles of music that you want to learn.
Long Beach School of Music offers a greater variety of styles than taught in most music schools and studios.
You can see from this partial list of songs
from our various recitals, that there is a wide
range of styles & artists covered.

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day
Austin Smith: Guitar

“When September Ends” by Green Day
Ronny Hafeza: Guitar

“You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC
Genal Ramacieri: Bass

“Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd
Nick Varga: Guitar
Instructor: Dan Kier
“Little Sister” by Elvis
Garrett Pankratz: Guitar
Instructor: Mark Shark
“Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Chris Coshow: Bass

Donna Butler: Vocals
“What is and Never Should Be” by Led Zepplin
John Tailor & Ralph LeClerque: Guitar
Theresa Kammermeier: Bass, Donna Butler: Vocals

“Blues Jam” by Students
Kylee Butler: Guitar & Vocals

“Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf
Eric Ross: Guitar

“Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straights
2006 Spring Jam Recital

Roy Hetherington – Guitar
Instructor – James Christopher
“Roy’s Boogie”

“E-Jam Blues”
Roya & Dean Backlund – Guitar
Instructor – Mark Shark

“Mary Had A Little Lamb”
By Stevie Ray Vaughn

Guitar School Spring Jam Set List 3/20/04
Suzy’s Bar & Grill

“All You Do Is Bring Me Down” by the The Mavericks

“Don’t Tell Me” by Taj Mahal
Kylee Butler – Vocals

“Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf
Donna Butler – Guitar & Vocals

“Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones
Molly Miller – Guitar

“Highway to Hell” by AC/DC
Scott Rasak – Guitar

“Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix
Kenny Ledford – Guitar

“Summer Song” by Joe Satriani
Marcello Guarro – Guitar

“Pepper Jam” by Marcello Guarro

“Pickin’ On Country Blues” by Chuck & Mark
Luke Lawson – Guitar

“Wildwood Flower” Traditional
Daniel Theyer – Guitar
“Goat Head” by Daniel Theyer

“Pipeline” by The Ventures
Michael Katzer – Guitar, Scott Wilson – Guitar & Shant Ohanessian - Bass
Instructors: Mark Fitchett & Tony Alvarez

“Red Clay” by Freddie Hubbard
Theresa Kammermeier – Bass, Joquim Santana – Guitar

“Blues Jam” by the band
Emily Bergen – Guitar

“Black Bird” by The Beatles
Tony Collette – Guitar

“Your Mother Ripped (me off)” by Tony Collette

LONG BEACH SCHOOL OF MUSIC | (562) 627-0464
3840 Woodruff Ave, #109, Long Beach, CA 90808

OTHER L&M MUSIC LOCATIONS: PENINSULA SCHOOL OF MUSIC | SOUTH BAY SCHOOL OF MUSIC | GUITAR SCHOOL OF ROLLING HILLS