Mother Lode Friends of Music

Music Instructors

So you would like to learn to play a musical instrument. . . Learning to play a musical instrument can bring much joy and satisfaction to the life of anyone. Unlike most sports activities, you can play a musical instrument until old age. You can amuse yourself as well as open opportunities for enjoyable companionship by making music with others. Anyone, with motivation and consistent application, can learn to play the instrument of his or her choice. But many people are drawn to a particular sound or technique, and you may not discover the most appropriate instrument for you until after some trial and error. The basic categories of musical instruments are strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, harp), woodwinds (flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone), brass (trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, etc.) and percussion (drums, xylophone, piano).

While some musical instruction is available in public schools, it is limited to the major wind and brass instruments. To learn to play other instruments, including strings, and more importantly, to make rapid progress, you need to work with a private instructor. Having your own teacher who is specialized in your instrument is an invaluable learning experience: it may be the only time in your life when you will work, just you and your teacher, in a structured learning environment. Fortunately, there are now in our area very well-qualified teachers for many of the principal musical instruments. Private lessons cost about $10-$15 and one lesson a week is usually necessary. The teachers below are available and recommended. They can help you find the instrument of your choice for purchase and rental in order to start lessons.

Name Instruments Location Telephone
Ron Brickman
Piano
Amador, Calaveras
(209) 293-4227
Liz Marr
Piano & Voice
Jackson
(209) 223-4013
Lucy Shoenfield
Piano
Pioneer
(209) 295-4215
Lisa Lawson
Violin, Viola
Sutter Creek
(209) 245-3899
Billie Gonzalez
Violin, Viola
Sutter Creek
(209) 274-4070
Georgia Harris
Violin, Viola
Valley Springs
(209) 772-9158
Karen Dahlstrom
Violin, Fiddle
Valley Springs
(209) 772-3026
Helene Benedikte
Cello
Fiddletown
(209) 296-8025
Michael Lawson
Cello
Sutter Creek
(209) 245-3899
Henry Gonzalez
Double Bass
Sutter Creek
(209) 274-4070
Hank King
Clarinet, Recorder, Saxophone
Pioneer, Sutter Creek
(209) 296-8482
Mark Lasavio
Trumpet
Camanche
(209) 274-4515
Ted Marr
Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone
Jackson
(209) 223-4013
Michael Charren
Guitar
Jackson
(209) 223-5609
Shari Anderson
Flute, Voice
Sutter Creek
(209) 296-1342
Lynne Crestin
Flute, Voice
Pine Grove
(209) 296-8955
Jill Dowlat
Bassoon
Sutter Creek
(209) 267-0437
Brenda Grimaldi
Voice
Sutter Creek
(209) 267-0938
Greg Miner
Saxophone,Flute
Sonora
(209) 532-3581

There is an abundance of information on music education on the web. Here are some examples:



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Updated 15 August 2001