Gregory ValensLuv
About
I've been making music since the age of 5 and have been teaching since I was 15. I'm deeply rooted in music and have a very strong & individualistic knowing and understanding on how to view every student as unique unto themselves, therefore I would teach you the foundations you need and will know, yet focus on the details of what you feel you truly want out of the instrument, and teach in a personal and pretty easy to learn way. I just have been doing it for so long, I know that students learn best when they have an outlet to really just be themselves while learning, and I am a easy-going type of person and I hope to empower you with the stills and the ability and the personal style that you envisage.
Credits toward Masters Degree (after BA-Music Composition) in Music Education-Duquesne University, Pittsburgh-then I decided I must move to LA.
The shortest and most direct methods to unveiling one's musical dreams.
30 + years experience eternally blessed to work with such artists & group members as of The Supremes, Prince, The Motown Family, Tom Petty, The Black Crowes, Alice in Chains, Beck, The Stylistics, Blue Magic, The Travel Channel, Sigma Sound Studios-Philadelphia, Rod Stewart, Casey Casey's grandchildren, Don Gehman, (John Cougar/Pat Benetar), Earth Wind & Fire, Aerosmith family, Earth Wind & Fire and various old/new gospel -style churches.
The shortest and most direct methods to unveiling one's musical dreams. "Music Theory" can be terrifying for some to even hear. Yet it must ne understood and you really should know how to use it in a practical, efficient and creative way. Modern pop songs, harmonically speaking tend to stay within the arena of western civilization's "music theory." This business has been going on since the beginnings of "Pop" music and well beyond...actually back to the 18th Century. I would like to give you instead, "Music Knowledge." Music Knowledge is deeply rooted in the Circle of Fifths, yet a 4th away from the key it resolves to, which is still the 5th within the new key. This is all a whole lot easier than it probably sounds because I'm speaking of th Circle of Fourths, which any music scholar would know, yet probably never utilize because 95% of music theory books use the circle backwards which leads to no harmonic "pull or drive" to the next key, because that "5th simply doesnt resolve, therefore no fun in doing scales etc, because most musicians would just play them chromatically, which we've all heard, yet which is a bit stale.
however, the circle I speak of is anything but stale as it automatically trains your ear and hands to create tension and resolution, and where to go to do it! This is nothing more than how music naturally flows, yet it's a true gift when gotten. Great music continually creates tension and resolution and more tension that wants to "resolve" itself. With the true circle of 5th's, one key naturally wants to "go" to the following key, which wants to resolve to the following key, which flows naturally unto the root of the new key and... have you gotten a glimpse of the reason I'm carefully trying to explain it? It's because that "understanding," learning and utilizing of these musical techniques instinctively "open" one's ears, empowering them to be "instinctive"...kind of like knowing where to go wtith the hands or the voice no matter what is being played. This is freedom- reacting in one's own way resulting in an overall unique style. My musical mentor introduced this to me when I was 14 and I've never had to practice because it was anything like a chore. I don't want to give you my "theory" on how music works, because that would be horrible. I certainly wish your experience to be anything but boring or "just too difficult." Allow me to give you Music Knowledge. No room for "speculation " here.
Knowledge/ Freedom/ Confidence.
B.A.Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA,
Music Teachers' Association of California-Jan 2007-MTAC aspires to be the recognized leader in (1) Student Programs, which make a positive impact in the quality of music education and in the lives of music students.
Member of Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) since Jan 2001-One of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed.
Worked along w/ UCLA Psychiatric Dept from 2001-2004 as a Psychiatriatist's understudy and an MD's assistant in the fields of dual-diagnosis and eating disorders. You would be surprised how many famous people are terribly unhappy.
Began teaching at age 15 primarily to be able to afford gas for my car when I finally got to get away from my parents and go on dates and see my friends ...
I think that's it.
The Circle of 4th's...or 5th's, depending upon how you look at it...and diametrically opposed to the traditional circle of fifths which is in 99% of western music education, yet doesn't "chime" any resolutions! However, that same circle backwards...that's for me to show you! You will use it instinctively for the rest of your musical life.