I have been passionate about teaching ever since I started working with my first student in 1999. My teaching style is tailored to each student's needs and interests, and I am always happy to work with dedicated students, regardless of age or experience - including adults and adult beginners.
Norman Ortiz is an accomplished musician who has worked as a freelance pianist and teacher in the Bay Area since 1984. Mr. Ortiz received his Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of California at Santa Barbara, a Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and a Certificate of Advanced Study from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London, specializing in vocal accompaniment. As an accompanist, Mr. Ortiz has appeared with numerous singers on stages in London, Moscow (Tchaikowsky Competition), Zürich and San Francisco.
While I come from a mainly classical background, if a student wants to play or sing a rock, jazz, pop, Broadway (or any other genre you can think of!) tune, I am more than happy to oblige. This not only allows students to grow as diverse musicians, but also allows the students to decide which styles they find most rewarding and enjoyable. For this reason, I strive to be flexible in my teaching, striking a precise balance of structure and freedom that each individual student responds to best.
Berkeley Playhouse believes that kids and teens have the ability to command their own audiences. The Youth Company allows students from the Conservatory program the opportunity to participate in full-scale productions of the highest-quality with some of the best directors, choreographers, and designers in the region. Cast members of Youth Company productions receive ongoing training in Conservatory classes during the rehearsal period. Currently, the Youth Company is divided into two levels – Teen and Junior.
I am a professional recorder player, teaching both private and group classes. I travel around the US and Europe to teach recorder workshops. I perform with the Farallon Recorder Quartet, the Tibia Recorder Duo, and Bertamo, a baroque chamber ensemble. I teach recorder at all levels and piano for beginners.
For intermediate and advanced students with at least four years ensemble experience, or the equivalent. Students will learn conducting technique, develop their musianship skills and begin to learn the process of score analysis.
For intermediate to advanced students, this course is an opportunity for musicians to experience a practical approach to the fundamentals of orchestration, notation and musical analysis. Students interact in an open atmosphere of exploration to create new musical works. Acceptance into the course is based on the submission of one original composition by the student.
A Joyful Sound! is our summer mixed chorus, open to all who love to sing. Families are encouraged to participate with their children. Singers receive training in voice, musicianship, and performance from master conductor, Jan Pedersen Schiff. There are no audition requirements. This is a 10 week session. We understand you may miss a few rehearsals due to summer travel plans. A rehearsal CD of your voice part is provided to assist you with learning the music outside of the rehearsal time. There is a supervised play area for the children to retire to at 8:00 p.m.
I grew up in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied cello with the great Orlando Cole. His appreciation and love for music, not just cello music was so inspiring, and I often hear his words in my head when I'm teaching. After I graduated from the Curtis Institute which was the best place to learn chamber music, I went to Italy to play for 5 years. During that time, I started to study baroque cello, and played many many operas, ballets and symphony concerts with excellent conductors and soloists.
Andres Felipe Gomez-Montoya has privately studied classical guitar with Scott Kritzer, jazz guitar with Portland guitarist Dan Balmer and Scott Pemberton, contrabass with Larry Zgons, and Indian tabla with Nisha Joshi and Douglas Scheuerell. Mr. Gomez has a Masters in Music Composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. As a composer Mr. Gomez has collaborated with choreographers, visual artists, and theater directors. He was commissioned by Lewis & Clark College Theater Department to write the music for "Yerma" in 2004. Mr.