Conducting/Directing

I believe students are unique individuals, each with their own learning style and inherent potentiality. I work with ages six and up, including seniors, and levels beginning through advanced. My approach provides structured lessons with fun, encouraging interaction, and fosters development of fundamental skills: reading, technique, rhythm, scales. I encourage students to find expression and meaning through interpretation, imagination, creativity, and history.

I believe students are unique individuals, each with their own learning style and inherent potentiality. I work with ages six and up, including seniors, and levels beginning through advanced. My approach provides structured lessons with fun, encouraging interaction, and fosters development of fundamental skills: reading, technique, rhythm, scales. I encourage students to find expression and meaning through interpretation, imagination, creativity, and history.

I believe students are unique individuals, each with their own learning style and inherent potentiality. I work with ages six and up, including seniors, and levels beginning through advanced. My approach provides structured lessons with fun, encouraging interaction, and fosters development of fundamental skills: reading, technique, rhythm, scales. I encourage students to find expression and meaning through interpretation, imagination, creativity, and history.

Winner of countless state and national awards - more specifically in music categories ranging from Early Baroque to Late Classical. Primary Instructors have included Dr. Mark Sullivan (student of Menahem Pressler), Mack McCray (silver medal Enesco), and Jon Nakamatsu (gold medal Van Cliburn). Have taught at all levels from complete beginner to a prodigy and have also maintained a 100% pass record on the ABRSM international exam at all levels. Have studied Harpsichord and Fortepiano with Dr. Corey Jamason for three+ years and orchestral/choir conducting with Dr. Desjardins.

I am now teaching part time at the San Francisco Conservatory and teaching some of the time at my home in North Oakland. You can read about me at http://www.aldenjenks.com/#!aboutaj/c2414 and at this same site you can hear many examples of the music I have composed.  I would recommend me if you are looking for a teacher of wide experience who is well schooled in the fundamentals of music. My approach to teaching is determined by the student; but the fundamentals of music are, well, the fundamentals. Accent on "fun".

Featured as Sarastro on the 1987 Great Performances: Live From Lincoln Center telecast of New York City Opera'™s "Die Zauberflöte," and heard in 15 NPR broadcasts of his 30 San Francisco Opera roles, bass Gregory Stapp has garnered acclaim across the United States, in Europe, China, Mexico and Japan.