Granada Middle School Band and Orchestra - Whittier, California
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Private Teachers

ORCHESTRA
Stephen Hill (Violin, California HS orchestra director) Email: stephenhillcomposer@icloud.com Website: www.stephenhillcomposer.com
Rocio Marron (626) 319-0401 Email: roxymae@verizon.net
Elizabeth Lauritsen (Violin) Email: elizabethlauritsen@hotmail.com
Jasmin Kim (Violin) Email: jasmine.eun.kim@gmail.com
Cindy Luu (Viola) Cell Phone: (714) 362-1192‬
Wendy Velasco (Cello, Whittier) Phone: ‭(562) 760-2609‬ Email: CelloVelasco@gmail.com Website: http://www.icedpitamusiclessons.com/violin-lessons/bios/cello-teacher-bio-wendy-velasco.html
Debbie Lee (Cello) Email: Lee.debbie95@gmail.com Phone: 310-701-6794
Alexis Luter (Bass) Email: alexisdluter@gmail.com
Dennis Frayne (Piano) Email: dfrayne@dennisfrayne.com Cell: 949-468-8040
BAND
Alyssa Miller (Flute) Email: alyssa@millers4c.net
Mahfrin Santoke (Flute) Phone: (714) 655-3831 (texting preferred) Email: msantoke@gmail.com  
Elizabeth LaCoste (Flute) Phone: 805-660-0324 Email: elizabeth.n.lacoste@gmail.com
Victoria Lee (Oboe) Cell Phone: 714-454-5125 Email: vleehautbois@gmail.com Website: www.victorialeeoboe.com
Laura Stone (Oboe)​ 562-587-2711
Oscar Esteves (Clarinet-primary, and Saxophone) Email: music.ojesteves@gmail.com Phone: 714-905-9897
Hiroshi Ikeda (Clarinet) Email: clarinethiro@gmail.com
Cody Lewis (Clarinet) Email: crlewis86@gmail.com
Glen Kamida (Clarinet) Email: glen.kamida@gmail.com
Patrick Olmos (Alto Saxophone) Phone: (562) 447-0144‬
Peter Martin (Saxophone-primary, Clarinet, Piano) Email: petermmartinjr@aol.com Phone: 951-323-3829 Website: https://www.stratusduo.com/peter-martin
Colin Ward (Alto, Tenor, and Bari Saxophone) Email: crwmusic753@gmail.com
Benjamin Gorbea (Saxophone) Phone: 562-351-6634‬
Josue Valle (Saxophone/Clarinet) Email: josuevalle8@gmail.com
Esbeyde Sanchez (Trumpet, and she has mariachi background) Phone: 714-737-9262
Bryce Hansen (Trumpet) Email: Bryce.hansen17@gmail.com Phone: (530) 908-2267
Mark Holtom (French Horn, Trombone, Baritone) Phone: (562) 696-4089
Allison DeMeulle (French Horn) Email: allison.demeulle@gmail.com Phone: 714-580-3059
Eric Villalobos (Low brass- Trombone/Baritone/Tuba, and Trumpet) Phone: 562-686-5017
Paul De La Rosa (Trombone-primary, Saxophone, Trumpet, Euphonium, Tuba) Phone: 562-213-6162
Wendy Castillo (Snare Drum, Mallet Percussion, Beginning Piano) Email: w_castillo@sbcglobal.net

Need help with your child's individual practice? Visit this website.

Practice Tips

1)  Practice a little EVERY day; this is far more beneficial than one or two long practice sessions a week.
2)  Have a certain time each day that is set aside specifically for your practice. It will then become part of your daily routine.
3)  Split your daily practice into even smaller time chunks i.e. Long tones and scales first and songs later.
4)  Learn each piece a phrase (section of a song) at a time. Practice each phrase SLOWLY until you have it and then go to the next phrase.
5)  Starting at the beginning of the piece and playing through to the end each time you practice is not an effective use of your time! You are merely practicing mistakes!
6)  Don’t practice mistakes or you will become very good at playing them!
7)  Sometimes start in the middle of your piece and work to the end.
8)  Regularly record yourself and listen carefully to it. Use your cell phone recording app or use a voice recorder/professional recorder.
9)  Practice the hard parts – not just the parts you like.
10)  Listen to your pieces being played by the great players.
Picture

Worksheets

Notes and their Names.pdf
File Size: 307 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Order of Flats and Sharps.pdf
File Size: 1153 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Interesting Music Articles

5 Ways to Support Your Music Program
Children’s brains develop faster with music training
Listening to Mozart Lowers Blood Pressure
Study: Music Education Aids Cognitive Development

Useful Tools and Information

How to Practice.pdf
File Size: 163 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Note Name Flashcards.pdf
File Size: 804 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Flashcards.pdf
File Size: 25 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

How to Read Music.pdf
File Size: 62 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Alto Clef Flashcards.pdf
File Size: 12 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Practice Tips.pdf
File Size: 500 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

String Fingerings.pdf
File Size: 208 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Useful Music Websites

SCSBOA - Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association 
Music Theory
Dango Brothers (Intonation Practice)

Local Music Stores

Here is a list of music stores that are located near our school. These music stores offer instruments for rental. Call for rental rates and availability!
Anaheim Band
504 S. College Blvd., Anaheim
(714) 999-5015

Downey Music
11033 Downey Ave., Downey
(562) 869-4485

Hut Music
3960 Prospect #E, Yorba Linda
(714) 854-0664

Imperial Band Instruments
15847 E. Imperial Hwy, La Mirada
(562) 245-6043

La Habra Music
1885 W. La Habra Blvd., Whittier
(562) 694-4891
​

Morey's Music
4834 Woodruff Avenue,  Lakewood
(562) 420-9532


Old Towne Music
42 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena 
(818) 793-4730 

Sam Ash Music
18031 Gale Ave., City of Industry
(626) 839-8177

Sawday & Holmes Music
3242 E Willow St, Signal Hill
(562) 426-0774

Sawday & Holmes 
8323 Firestone Blvd., Downey 
(562) 861-8159

Singer Music
1217 N. Hacienda Blvd., La Puente 
(626) 917-9300

Zep's Music Center
3318 Magnolia, Sherman Oaks   
(818) 845-5181
Recommended brand for band instruments: Yamaha

Recommended brand for strings: H.K. Schmidt

* Parents, please avoid purchasing instruments online! 

On buying your child an instrument...

As the director of this music program, my best advice to purchasing a new instrument for your child is to take a trip down to one of our local music shops to search for an instrument. Our local vendors would be able to help with choosing the correct brand and size of instrument that will best suit your child.

If you’re looking to purchase, you will want to invest your money on a quality instrument that will last for several years to come. Please, whatever you do, I highly caution against purchasing an instrument online (especially on eBay or Craigslist). If you do choose to purchase an instrument online, you do risk purchasing a faulty instrument right out of the box. I’ve had a few students in the past buy the really cool-looking colored instruments (pink violin, blue saxophone, etc.) and their instrument started malfunctioning within the first week of buying it! I’m not joking. The craftsmanship of these instruments is cheap and terrible and their design causes problems with the tone quality and its ability to play in tune. 

Visiting a local music store would be your best bet. In case the instrument needs repair, you could always go back to that store and they would be able to help you out.  The issue with buying online is you won’t be able to inspect the instrument before you pay for it.

If you buy a stringed instrument in person, you would and should be able to inspect the following before you buy: the neck (is it in firmly attached and in one piece?), the fine tuners (do they turn freely, or are they stuck?), the tuning pegs (are they in good working condition), the strings (are they fraying or are they in good condition?), the sound post (inside the body of the instrument, is it in place?), the body of the instrument (are there any chips or cracks?), the bow (is it clean and in good condition? Is there only a few bow hairs or with full bow hair?). 

If you are buying a woodwind or brass instrument, you should inspect: the pads (the felt that closes over the tone holes, are they intact and in good condition?), the keys (make sure they're not bent), the valves (do they move freely?), the body of the instrument (any dings or cracks?).


If you’re not sure about purchasing, I’d look into renting first. This would be a less expensive option up front, especially if you're not sure if your child will be committing fully to this instrument. In short, my strongest suggestion is to not spend your money on something that will malfunction on you right out of the box. That’s only a waste of money, and a headache for both your child and myself. It will be totally worth the investment to purchase a quality instrument than to purchase something “cheap” and of poor quality. Please let me know if any of this is confusing or if I can help out in any other way.
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  • Home
  • Parents
  • For Students
  • Class Syllabus
  • Student Requirements
  • Ensembles
  • Meet the Director
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Why join?
  • Program Needs