offers a full range of musical instruction
for Rancho Santa Margarita, Trabuco Canyon, Dove Canyon
Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, Foothill Ranch
Mission Viejo and the surrounding communities!
Voice Drums & PercussionAcoustic, Electric & Bass Guitar
Flute & Piccolo
Saxophone Clarinet TrumpetViolin
Cello Mandolinand now offering Special Education through Music
Meet our NEW Cello, Piano & Special Needs Specialist
Melissa Piotrowski
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Thank you for considering Rancho Canyon Music to provide you with quality music instruction and service. Our facility features one of the finest staff of instructors to be found anywhere. The members of our teaching faculty have a wide range of musical education, professional experience, degrees and credentials. Information regarding each member of our staff can be found further down on this page!
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Whether you watch ABC News, read Newsweek, or browse most any newspaper in the country, you'll see the same reports - Music lessons, and piano in particular, have been shown to be a key ingredient in the development of the human brain, especially in young children. The findings of a recent U.C.Irvine study suggest that children who receive early music instruction could perform better as high school students in areas like geometry and chemistry. The study, which took place over two years, found that groups of 3 and 4 year olds who were given Piano lessons in three Orange County preschools scored significantly higher in several areas than those in three control groups. After receiving weekly Piano lessons, the children improved their puzzle-solving skills by 34% over groups that were given singing lessons, computer lessons, or no specific instruction at all. |
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Greetings! My name is Craig Ferguson, and I bought this store in June 2000 after having worked since April 1998 for its previous owners, known then as The Music Room at Strings Etc. In addition to having played Guitar since age 6, I also play Bass Guitar, Mandolin, Bajo Sexto and Guitarron. I have been a professional musician since age 14, I'm a native Californian, with past home-bases in Los Gatos, CA; Seattle, WA; and Austin,TX. I've recorded on more than 11 CDs and Records and have toured all over the place! When I'm not teaching or working at the school, I can be found performing live in Southen California and beyond...or just hanging out at a baseball game. Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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and Special Needs Musical Education Specialist Rancho Canyon Music is extremely pleased to introduce the newest member of our awesome teaching staff! Melissa Piotrowski has been a pianist since age 6 and began playing cello when she was 13. She studied music and psychology at Biola University. With over 7 years of teaching experience in both piano and cello she has taught beginning through advanced level students, ages 4 through 60+. Melissa also teaches students with special needs; she has worked with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, adhd and other learning difficulties. Her favorite composers include Beethoven, Ravel, Brahms and Gershwin. Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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Dr. Carol is undoubtedly one of the finest and most accomplished Piano instructors in our area, if not the world! Her Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Music (with a Minor in Music Education) come from Kansas State University, and she received her Masters degree in Music at the University of Kansas, where she quickly became a sought after accompanist. She came to the University of Southern California as a faculty member, where she was the only woman on the faculty, among 122 men, to receive an Earned Doctorate from the School of Performing Arts. While at USC, she was named Top professor and was named as one of the Top 10 Pianists in the United States! She has performed in USO tours of Indonesia, played at Carnegie Hall, has "jammed" with Yasha Heifetz, just to name a few of her other accomplishments, of which there are many more! Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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Alex has spent nearly 40 years as a professional performer and music instructor. After serving as an artist and teacher at the Music Conservatory in Vladivostok, Russia, he came to the United States and received his U.S. teaching credentials at the University of Miami. He has performed as the Violin Concert Master with the Saddleback Symphony. Alex's students range from beginners to advanced players, young children to adult, and each receive the perfect basic foundation techniques of violin, the method of world reknown artists such as David Oistrakh, Yasha Heifetz, and Leopold Auer. Alex can also instruct using the Suzuki method, if that is the student's preference. Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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(...and whatever else you talk him into...) Some people are just natural teachers... Richard Bond is one of those guys. In the many years that he has been an instructor, most of his students have found that his enthusiasm for the instruments that he teaches is infectious! Richard's students learn all of the technical, reading, theoretical and improvisational skills necessary not only to succeed, but to excel in Flute or Piccolo! Many of Richard's students quickly find themselves in the position to play "First Chair" in their school or community bands and orchestras. In addition to teaching Flute and Piccolo, Richard is adept on Guitar, Clarinet and Saxophone and has had several of his own compositions recorded by popular local groups. Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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Griff Hamlin has been a professional guitar instructor and musician for the past 16 years. He studied music extensively with some of the most accomplished musicians in the Los Angeles area, and most recently continued his education at the University of Southern California's acclaimed Thornton School of Music. Griff has taught hundreds of students all over Orange County and continues his traditions now at Rancho Canyon Music. Griff also fronts a very popular local Blues trio called The Griff Hamlin Band, who's first CD release has enjoyed great reviews in the local blues community. Griff enjoys teaching all styles of music, both on electric and acoustic guitars, and has worked with students from age 6 to 70. Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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Downs is truly a world-class musician and instructor. He currently performs live as the fiddle player for country music superstar Clay Walker. He graduated from Bucknell University with a B.A. in Music, and has studied privately with Violin masters in the U.S. as well as Europe. Downs has performed on more than 50 albums in six different countries; he has done Film work with pianist Claude Bolling, among others; he has contributed to 3 books focusing on Irish, Celtic and Bluegrass music. Additionally, he has played the Grand Ol' Opry many times, and has shared the stage with music stars such as Charlie Daniels, Shelby Lynne, Larry Coryell, Brett Mason, Rhett Akins, Charly McCoy, and lots more! Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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Corey has offered private drum and percussion instruction for over 7 years in South Orange County. Whether you are playing in school or in a band it is his goal to help you excel. Here are some examples of what you will learn: drumset (rock, jazz, blues, latin, double bass, etc...), how to jam with a bass player, correct technique, rudiments, songs, drumline, note reading/writing and stick tricks. Corey works with students age 6 and above and is one of the most popular drum instructors in the area...just ask his students and their parents! Corey is also a member of Percussive Arts Society, Vic Firth Educational Team and The Professional Drum Teachers Guild. Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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Katie has been singing all her life and performing since the age of five. She was classically trained by the late Maurice Allard. She then turned her attention to musical theater, and trained with Carlos Noble, and has studied with Seth Riggs for the last fourteen years. She spent four years at Carnegie Mellon University as a Musical Theater major, and studied acting with Mladen Kiselov and Elizabeth Orion and voice and speech with Natalie Baker and Donald Wadsworth. As a performer, her credits include Into the Woods, ...Forum, Peter Pan, Grimm Tales, The Merchant of Venice, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and workshops with the Pittsburgh CLO and Cabarets in New York. Her love of teaching brought her back to Orange County where she has been a vocal instructor and performance coach for 10 years. Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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Lou Savage, electric bass, string bass and guitar teacher, is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music. He also studied in Boston at the Berklee School of Music and at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Lou has decades of experience playing and singing in symphony orchestras, the theater, concerts, in clubs and in the studio. He's composed music for companies like JVC, Kawai and Disney and has performed with acts ranging from Cab Calloway, Eartha Kitt, The Righteous Brothers and Percy Sledge, to comedians like Bob Hope and Jay Leno. Lou is also a voiceover actor, writer and teacher who’s been heard on many commercials, industrials and educational recordings. Visit www.lousavage.com Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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Wayne has been a highly respected member of the Orange County music community for many years. He is an excellent instructor for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced level players. His ability to tailor his lesson plan to each students particular needs - be it rudimentary skills or improvisational playing - makes him the ideal teacher for any aspiring woodwind musician. Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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David has been teaching in Southern California for over 20 years. Since his studies at Fullerton College and U.C. Irvine, he has spent his time teaching Guitar, Bass Guitar, and Composition, as well as performing as a solo artist and in various rock and jazz ensembles. His acoustic guitar CD, "Americana", on Casierra Records has won critical acclaim. He now keeps a busy schedule teaching, performing, composing (with Kevin Tullius of the L.A. Jazz Quartet and Trio Lesento) and doing occasional film work (in the soon to be released "The Clean and the Narrow"). David has recently collaborated with Frank Sibley on the companion CD to the instruction book, "Jazz Guitar Solos". Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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Antoinette is a wonderful Piano instructor! Originally from Toronto, Canada, it was at the Toronto Conservatory of Music that she obtained her Certification in Music. Antoinette is also an active member of the Music Teachers' Association of California (MTAC). She has played as an accompanist at her church and has also played as a soloist there and at Saddleback College. Antoinette says, "My aim is to teach the love of music as well as the instrument. I try to motivate each student to play at their very best, be it to earn their Certificate of Merit, performing at a recital or a festival or just having fun!" Please call us at (949) 589-7688 for availability and more specific tuition questions! |
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Desi (the black one) and Luci (the blonde one) don't teach at Rancho Canyon Music, but they stop in for an occasional visit, they are very friendly, and they love to get pet! They are wonderful labradors, true brother and sister, and when they aren't visiting with our students they live with the school's owners, Craig & Trish. They'd love for you to stop by and say hi! |
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In order to provide you with the best possible learning environment, we ask that all students observe the following policies: Thank you for your cooperation. |
Now in our new location at
30085 Comercio - Rancho Santa Margarita, California - (949) 589-7688
To e-mail us: craig@ranchocanyonmusic.com
Rancho Canyon Music Home Page