Music Lessons in Burbank CA | Los Angeles Music Teachers

Best way to Understand Guitar Tabs from Sheet Notation

10/21/2022

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The best way to read guitar tabs is to understand what they are & how to understand them.

As you can see from the two pictures to the right, the first one is far easier to understand than the second one. Start simple then move to more complicated.

Guitar tabs are a simplified form of sheet music. It’s a type of sheet music for guitar. As where standard notation (regular type of sheet music) is more general and can be for any instrument. Tutorial Guitar Tab Lesson

With tabs you use numbers to represent the frets you play. Unlike standard notation where you use symbols to recognize notes.

A lot of people frown on guitar tabs because they don’t show you as much as standard notation. They’re a lot more simplified for easier learning & might require you to listen to a piece of music to understand what you’re reading. But is still a great training tools.

Once you understand how they work when you reading them (say in a song) you’ll begin to gain insight on how things in music are put together. And that’s when the fun starts.

Once you do a whole new world will open up to you and you’ll be able to understand things most guitar players won’t.

But you must start slow and take your time. It won’t come over night, but if you work at it daily, you will see some nice positive results.

If you feel that guitar tabs are too complicated. There is a free website to teach you how to read music. It is a hands on website that teaches you Music theory. Click here to check out the Music Theory Teaching site.

Los Angeles Music Teachers
Call:818-902-1233 Or Email: rick@losangelesmusicteachers.com

Why Singers Should Take Piano Or Guitar Lessons In Person And Online

10/19/2022

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Why Singers Should Take Piano Or Guitar Lessons In Person And Online

Singers, you are musicians. Often times we are lost in the solo world of performance and emotive expression through sound, which is awesome. But we are complete musicians and expected to be, and definitely respected much more so, when we act as such.

Solo performers are at somewhat a disadvantage when they show up at rehearsals with other kinds of musicians, a band, an orchestra, back up singers, or a pianist. We need to keep time so that people can play with us. We need to be able to follow a conductor during a staged performance. We need to be able to count.

And that is where piano or guitar lessons will do you some good. Learning to really read music, for real; rests, quarter notes, time signatures, key signatures, key changes, dynamics, tempo markings, minor, major, harmony, theory and songwriting etc...

And number one, being able to learn your part spot on, by yourself correctly, even when it is hard.

May we suggest you sign up for some piano or guitar lessons? We have been teaching and working in the profession for over 20 years.

We love to teach the piano and guitar at Los Angeles Music Teachers with a passion because it works a different part of your brain than a voice lesson. It always feels like completing a complicated math test after a good lesson and that is great for us. I am sure our piano/guitar students feel that way as well.

Also, what is fantastic about piano and guitar is that you can really track your improvement by completing levels of music so you know you are getting better.

Singing is more complicated. You have to be born with a certain amount of talent beyond your control. Lessons are important and help so much in singing, but it is different than piano playing. (You do need a certain amount of natural talent to be a concert pianist/guitarist of course- I am not referring to that).

So consider putting learning the piano/guitar on your list of things to do to further your singing level. We can not tell you as a singer how many times it came in handy for me to be able to pluck out my parts, or play the harmonies with my part so we could practice singing against them. Piano/guitar especially helped me out of college because we are able to teach voice lessons.

If you're interested in taking piano, guitar or singing lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best piano, guitar and singing lessons in Los Angeles. Our instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of drum instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/contact-us-for-info.html

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Beginner Drum Beat Breakdown

10/17/2022

This is the basic form of showing a student how to count a basic beat and separating it by steps. In this guide you will see the breakdown of the beat and then when it is all together, you will be playing your very first beat.

First we will start off counting 1-2-3-4 and Repeat 1-2-3-4 because he will be playing to these numbers. Each Number represents a beat. And I will show you during the lesson and put it on the sheet for your son. So you can practice his homework with him.

Hi Hat: (If he is a righty, use right hand on Hi-Hat) (If Lefty he plays Hi Hat with his left Hand)

Snare: (If he is a Righty, He will use his Left hand on the Snare) (If he is a lefty, he will use his right hand on the snare)

Bass Drum: (if he is a righty, his right foot will be on the bass Pedal) ( if he is a lefty, His left food will be on the bass.. pedal)

Would look like this below: R-Right Hand, L - Left Hand

Snare: R,L 1,2
Tom 2: R,L 3,4
Tom 3: R,L 5,6
Floor Tom: R,L. 7,8
Crash Cymbal R. Crash

Lesson Number 1 (first Beat)

Step 1

Tap Hi Hat on Every Number.
Tap on 1, on 2, on 3, on 4 (Count out loud when doing this)
Repeat (Twice) It will look like this when I write it out.

Hi Hat: 1-2-3-4

Step 2

Next we will add the Snare
Tap Hi Hat and Snare on 2 and 4 at the same time. (So we will Count 1 then have him hit the hi-hat and snare at the same time. So we will count 1, Tap on 2, count 3, then tap on 4) it will look like this.

Tap Hi Hat and Snare on 2 and 4 with sticks
Count: 1-2-3-4
Hi Hat: 2 4
Snare: 2 4

When he’s comfortable doing this, we will tap the hi hat on every number

Tap Hi Hat on all numbers and Snare on 2 and 4 with sticks
Count: 1-2-3-4
Hi Hat: 1-2-3-4
Snare: 2 4

Step 3

Next we will add the Bass Drum/Pedal
We will be taping the Hi-hat and bass pedal with his foot and we will be doing this at the same time but on number 1 and 3 (So we will tap and step on 1, count 2, then tap and stomp on 3, and then count 4) it will look like this below

Tap Hi Hat and step with foot on 1 and 3
Count: 1-2-3-4
Hi Hat: 1 3
Bass: 1 3

When he’s comfortable doing this, we will tap the hi hat on every number

Tap Hi Hat on all numbers and Foot on 1 and 3
Count: 1-2-3-4
Hi Hat: 1-2-3-4
Bass: 1 3

Final Step

Next we will put step 2 and 3 together
Now we will slowly put step 2 and 3 together. (On 1 it will be Hi Hat and Bass Drum, on 2 hi hat and snare, on 3 hi hat and bass drum and on 4 its hi hat and snare. Then we will end with a crash cymbal.

Tap Hi Hat and Bass on 1 and 3 and Snare on 2 and 4 I’ve color coded for you. (The Hi Hat will be going all the way through

Count: 1-2-3-4
Hi Hat: 1-2-3-4
Bass/Foot: 1 3
Snare: 2 4

If you're interested in taking Drum lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best drum lessons in Los Angeles. Our drum instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of drum instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-drum-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html

Top 10 Guitar Styles To Learn Online

10/11/2022

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Top 10 guitar styles to learn online with Los Angeles music teachers

Several cultures have managed to influence the way the guitar is played in times gone by. Today, there are various ways of playing the guitar. Learners need to understand the various playing styles available so as to be able to choose a suitable guitar style. It is highly recommended to avoid monotonous tendencies by learning various styles of play. Undoubtedly, you stand to gain more impressive recognitions among friends and colleagues when you learn to play in varying guitar styles.

Interestingly, the guitar space is so diversified to the extent that players can colorfully create their own styles by simply learning more musical scales and techniques. Here are some of the top styles to learn on guitar to help you improve your own playing skill.

Rock
The electric guitar is mainly used to create the rock music style it features a typical 4/4 beat that is influenced by country, rhythm, and blues, and blues music.

Rhythm
Learners will need to understand how to support a vocalist with the right beat when playing the rhythm guitar.

Percussive
Of all top styles to learn on guitar, the percussive could be the most challenging as it requires lots of practice to master. Aside from playing on the strings, players will need to learn how to produce percussive sounds by hitting the body of the guitar with their nails, finger edge or palm.

Lead
Virtually any type of guitar can be used to play a solo and practice several other techniques for lead improvisations.

Jazz
Typically characterized by improvisations and polyrhythms, swing and blue notes, this is an independent art form of music that can be purely instrumental. When playing on a jazz guitar, it important for learners to understand its complicated chord structures.

Folk
Anyone can pick up a folk guitar to play in a piece of folk music as it doesn’t require any form of professionalism. All you need to do is to flow along with the story that is sung about common people.

Flamenco
Flamenco features a vigorous Spanish style of play that involves fast and dynamic movements. Playing the flamenco guitar can provide the groove to the dancer by establishing percussive hits through a distinct picking pattern.

Slide
Learning to play the slide guitar will also require you to learn how to change pitch with the slide instrument.

Bluegrass
Originating from the southern United States, this unique style of country music features a happy spirited, fast tempo that is supported with a resonating guitar on the bass line.

Blues
Often performed over a repetitive harmonic pattern, blues is a melancholic style of music that features a simple chord progression presented in a slow sad manner. During musical performances, the guitarist often serves as the main point of focus.

If you're interested in taking Guitar lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best guitar lessons in Los Angeles. Our guitar instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of guitar instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-guitar-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html

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How To Choose A Guitar In 2 Simple Steps

9/14/2022

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If you're interested in taking Guitar lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best guitar teachers in Los Angeles. Our guitar instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of teachers and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that "if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it."
Visit our website for more info at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-guitar-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html

How To Choose A Guitar In 2 Simple Steps Classical Guitar

The classical guitar is a type of acoustic guitar that is typically built with a relatively wider neck and smaller body size. Generally, this guitar tends to give a more distinctive sound than the standard guitar due to its nylon strings. Unlike steel string guitars, nylon string guitars are most recommended for practice because of their easier feel. Aside from being easy to play, classical guitars are also less expensive. Nevertheless, they are less boisterous than steel guitar when it comes to sound production. But the still remain the best guitar for my first lesson at Los Angeles music teachers.

Acoustic Guitar

Also known as steel string guitars, acoustic guitars are typically designed for use with sound. Unlike classical guitars, these guitars are built with steel strings for the purpose of creating a much louder sound. When compared to classical guitars, acoustic guitars are preferred for strumming chords because they sound much better. It is not advisable for learners to practice with steel stringed guitars seeing that they could be deterred by their sharp strings. At Burbank music school, younger players will have to keep practicing with classical guitars until they have developed the necessary qualities required to handle a stronger guitar.

Electric Guitar

Electric guitars come in varying sizes, shapes, and electronics which can affect the sound they produced. These guitars are different from acoustic and classical guitars. Without external amplification, electric guitars can hardly make any sound. Sounds can only be produced when the use of vibrating strings which are responsible for transferring magnetic energy into electrical energy. Most electric guitars are made of solid wood except for some jazz electric guitars that do have a cavity. The guitars can be used to produce a wide variety of sounds by simply tweaking, shaping, and transforming the signal. These rocking instruments are recommended for learners of all ages at Burbank music school, due to their smaller than usual sizes.

Knowing what to play

It is very important for anyone learning to play the guitar to know what they want to play. Basically, you should be able to choose the right instrument to play. First of all, you will need to know the kind of music you enjoy listening to, as well as the type of music you like to play. Various music styles are played with different types of guitar. You can find the best guitar for my first lesson at Los Angeles music teachers.

Choose a suitable instrument

Your desire to become a professional guitar player depends largely on your ability to choose a suitable instrument. It is best to choose something you are very much comfortable with. Common factors to consider when choosing a guitar to practice with include, weight, size, feel, and comfort. The best way to accurately determine the right size of the instrument to practice is to use the player’s age and height. At Burbank music school, kids are not allowed to try an electric guitar until they are 13 years old or have shown strong abilities to handle such an instrument.

If you're interested in taking lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-guitar-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html

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The Advantage and Disadvantages between Electric and Acoustic Guitar

9/13/2022

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The Advantage and Disadvantages between Learning on an Electric and Acoustic Guitar

When it was first launched, all acoustic guitars could project sound acoustically. No amplification was necessary from outside. In fact, they were not designed to take outside amplifications. However, modern acoustic guitars are designed otherwise. They can take amplifications from outside.

Advantages of learning with an acoustic guitar
•   Acoustic guitars generally have calm, nice and pleasant tones so no matter how bad you are, the tone projected from your guitar will not be so bad.

•   It is more difficult to play an acoustic guitar than an electric guitar so if you learn with the former, playing the latter will be a breeze. This can be likened to learning how to drive. Acoustic guitars are like cars with manual transmission while electric guitars can be likened to cars with automatic transmission. Since manual cars are harder to drive, if you learn with them, driving an automatic car will just be as easy as ABC.

•   Acoustic guitars do not require amplifiers and additional cables so it saves you some cost.

Disadvantages of learning with an acoustic guitar
•   One of the things that make acoustic guitars more difficult to play is its higher gauge strings which makes it harder for users to hold barre chords. Electric guitars offer better gauge strings.

•   The higher gauge strings on acoustic guitars are more likely to produce buzzing sound so they require better skills.

•   Acoustic guitars usually have wider fretboards and these are more difficult for beginners to handle. Besides, they are more fragile than electric guitars.

•   Beginners usually find it difficult to play the heavy strings of acoustic guitars.

Electric Guitar
Unlike acoustic guitars, electric guitars make use of electric amplification to produce sounds. They pick up string vibrations and convert them to electric signals which are sent to the amplifier.

Advantages of learning on an electric guitar
•   They have headphone input for you to practice without disturbing people around with noise.

•   It is easier to hold barre chords on electric guitars because they have softer strings.

•   Since the pickups and amplifier project all the sound, the strings are easier to learn.

•   Electric guitars have lighter gauges, thinner necks, and smaller bodies, so they are not only easier to carry around but they are also easier to play than their acoustic counterparts.

Disadvantages of learning on an electric guitar
•   Being able to play an electric guitar does not mean you can automatically play an acoustic guitar.

•   Being able to find a good tone is more difficult on an electric guitar.

•   An electric guitar requires an amplifier and that is an additional cost.

Conclusively, whether you learn with an acoustic guitar or an electric one, you will need several years of practice and dedication to be a master of the game. Even the best guitarists around the world still continue to learn. Lastly, it is also necessary to bear in mind that newer guitars will still be produced and they will have better features than older and existing ones so you need to be abreast of the new guitars that are coming into the market.

If you're interested in taking Guitar lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best guitar lessons in Los Angeles. Our guitar instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of guitar instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-guitar-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html

What to do when starting beginner cello lessons in Los Angeles

8/25/2022

Cello Lessons at Los Angeles music teachers

Guidelines for not making rookie mistakes when you start cello instruction near Burbank in Los Angeles

First of all let me congratulate you on deciding to learn the cello! It’s a beautifully versatile instrument and you will not regret choosing it. Similar to the vocal range, it has been a favorite for centuries. In order to be successful, you need to know the pitfalls to avoid. If you follow these guidelines, you will be motivated to keep pushing through.

It’s easy to be disappointed when you're taking beginner cello classes near Burbank. This is why it’s crucial for you to use this blog as a model. This way, you won’t waste precious time and energy into the wrong resources. Following is a list of things you should definitely do in order to be the best novice cello student close to Burbank:

*Choose an instrument that is the right size. Cellos come in various sizes, and it is imperative that they are proportionate to the pupil. It’s much more crucial for the cello to be the right size than to get an expensive one. For optimal guidance, ask your instructor or your local instrument shop.

*Learn how to properly tune the cello. Don’t underestimate how important it is to learn this right away! You will probably need to tune it every day because of changes in temperature and humidity, and beginner instruments need more frequent tuning anyway. There are a number of free tuning apps you can install on your phone that make pitch checking a quick and easy start to your practice. If you don’t tune the cello every day when you are starting out, you won’t get used to the correct pitches and your intonation will greatly suffer. Remember, it is much harder to break bad habits than it is to form good ones. Make sure your tuner is set to 440 frequency and always go from the A to the C strings.

*Learn the correct way to rosin your bow. If it is not applied evenly, you will have gaps in your sound. The right amount is also very important because the bow will slide off the string if there is too little rosin and will have way too much grip if you put too much on. You will soon learn the right amount that helps your bowing be effortless.

*Have your cello set up by a professional luthier for optimal sound.

*Be patient during practice. You definitely don’t want to get an injury or learn bad habits. Have your teacher help you develop practice methods that focus both your physical and mental energies. This way, you will progress in a consistent way and will stay motivated.

If you're interested in taking Cello lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best Cello lessons in Los Angeles. Our Cello instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of Cello instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-cello-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html

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Why Take Trumpet Lessons?

8/12/2022

trumpet lessons at los angeles music teachers in burbank ca

I began playing trumpet in the fifth grade. I remember enjoying the challenge of using my breath to create lots of loud sounds with just three valves! My first goal was to play in marching band and later, when I heard Maynard Ferguson’s high-note trumpet music, I wanted to play as loud and as high as I could possibly manage.

That’s the thing about trumpet. It’s cool! It’s loud! And it’s the lead instrument in many types of bands. You can play trumpet in Pop music, marching band and orchestra, in Jazz bands, Latin bands, Ska, Funk, or R&B bands, and horn-driven rock bands. You can even play EDM or House music, if that’s what you’re into.

My first year of middle school, I won an award for most practice hours. “Practice, practice, practice” was my trumpet teacher’s mantra—not that I always practiced exactly what he wanted me to, lol! Playing scales over and over might have been boring, but I knew I had to stick with it to get to the sounds I wanted to play. It’s true, the more you practice playing trumpet, the more you learn how to control your breath and play what you want without thinking about the mechanics. That’s when you really start to enjoy making music.

If you want an instrument that lets you stand out in a group, trumpet’s a great choice! Trumpet players set the style and tone for the rest of the band, along with piano, guitar, and drums. As a trumpet player, you learn the teamwork skills needed to play well with other people. Playing trumpet has taught me leadership skills, given me confidence in myself, and allowed me to thrive in social situations where I might otherwise have been uncomfortable.

As an instrument you play with your breath, trumpet has lots of health and fitness benefits. It improves cardiovascular fitness, strengthens your core, requires good posture, and develops your motor skills, strength, coordination, and dexterity. Playing trumpet teaches the discipline to practice, show up on time, and keep your instrument clean. These are benefits that sneak up on you.

I’m a life-long student of trumpet and find there’s always more to learn. I teach from my own experience and believe that playing music should be fun! As someone who grew up with a learning disability, I have a unique perspective on how to teach. My youngest student so far started at nine years old in beginner band, and at the end of her first couple of months studying with me, she was moved up to regular band class (which is normally for second- and third-year students).

Does trumpet sound like an instrument you’d like to try? Or if you already play, improve? With the intent to work at it and a seasoned trumpet teacher who’s well connected in the LA music scene, you’ll be able to advance quickly, step by step, and soon have fun while enjoying trumpet’s many benefits!

If you're interested in taking trumpet or general music lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best trumpet lessons in Los Angeles. Our trumpet teachers are picked by interviewing hundreds of music instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson, we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818) 902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-drum-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html.

Piano Lesson - What Are Octaves?

8/9/2022

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In this piano lesson, we are going to discuss one of the most basic concepts in music. What is an octave and what does it mean, and what does it look like on a piano?

Over the several hundreds of years the piano has taken to develop, the number of keys has changed dramatically, from as little as 32 keys when the piano was first developed, to up to 96 keys on a modern Bosendorfer Imperial. But why is this important to you when buying a piano today? Is it important to know how many octaves your piano has? Acoustic pianos usually all have the same amount, but when you're buying your first beginner piano for your kid you may only want a 61 key Keyboard instead of the full 88 key electric piano. There is no need for 88 keys until you or your child is more advanced. Those last 12 or so upper keys and 12 lower keys are rarely used except in classical music.

Generally, a piano has 7 and 1/4 octaves.

A standard modern upright, grand or digital piano has seven and a quarter octaves; seven full octaves, and three extra treble notes; B-flat, B and C. That's a total of 88 keys. There are variations, mainly in digital instruments, which we'll discuss in this article.

What is an octave?

An octave is defined as a series of eight; the term is derived from the Latin word "octo," meaning "eight." The same reason an octopus is called as such; because it has eight legs. See the image above to see how it looks on the piano keyboard.

You can easily identify the 7 octaves on any piano by looking for the pattern of 2 black keys followed by 3 black keys. That is where every octave starts and ends. The note C is to the left of the first group of 2 black keys and then it ends on the next C. That is a full octave. Every beginning piano lesson starts with that discovery.

The word "octave" can refer to two different things in music; an interval and a scale. An octave scale is a series of notes, iterating through the seven notes of any particular scale until you arrive on the note you started on, but one octave higher.

G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G.

You'll notice that we start on G, we iterate through all the notes of the G Major scale, and we finish on G. However, it's not the same G that we started on; it's the next G up on the piano.

We refer to this as being an octave higher; essentially it's the next occurrence of the note you start on. This also ties into the octave as an interval; in the same way that a fifth is five notes apart, and a fourth is four notes apart, an octave is eight notes apart.

On a modern piano, the very bottom note is A. There are seven more As on the piano, making for a total of 7 A octaves. Older pianos finished here and just had seven octaves; modern pianos have an extra three notes; a B-flat, a B and a C, to make seven octaves plus three notes.

If you're interested in taking Piano lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best piano lessons in Los Angeles. Our piano instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of drum instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-piano-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html