Rancho Canyon Music's Teachers |
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Craig Ferguson - Owner of Rancho Canyon Music, Guitar Instructor 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. They sold Pianos, rented Band Instruments, and had 5 teachers. We now have a staff of 14 incredible and dedicated music instructors and more than 300 students. The history of our store pre-dates even the city of R.S.M. itself, and through the years we have grown up right along with our community. Great teachers, motivated and enthusiastic students, and supportive music families have been the key! 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've played in lots of bands, recorded on more CDs and Records than I can name, and have had the good fortune of touring all over the place! Although I can still be found performing live in Southen California and beyond (or just jamming on Friday nights at the Trabuco Canyon General Store), my passion nowadays is geared towards helping aspiring musicians acheive their personal goals, and giving players certain opportunities or insights that young players in my day didn't have. Our "Rockcital" program - where students are brought together in bands and then perform in an amazing rock show - is an example of getting students actively involved in playing with other musicians! I'm a native Californian, with past home-bases in Los Gatos,CA; Seattle, WA; and Austin,TX. My wife and I, and our two dogs (see below on this page) have lived in the Robinson Ranch neighborhood for nearly 10 years, so I see lots of our students and their families out and about around town. Thanks for taking a look at Rancho Canyon Music. We Thank You for supporting locally owned small businesses! If you have a question, if there's something we're doing right or something we could do better, or something we can help you with, please contact me via phone or email (just click right under my picture over there...). I hope to hear from you soon! Craig's standard tuition rate is $30 per
lesson - 1 lesson each week for 30 minutes. |
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Mike Esfahani - Piano Mike Esfahani began his music studies at an early age immersing himself in piano, theory, composition, and orchestration. He has held positions as President and later Vice President of the Music Club at Irvine Valley College organizing concerts and community events. At Irvine Valley, he was one of only two students awarded the Tonya Reed Gardner Memorial Endowed Scholarship. A graduate of California State University, Fullerton, Mike holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Magna Cum Laude, as well as a Master of Arts in Music History and Literature. At Fullerton, Mike was honored with several awards including second prize finisher in the 2007 Music Associates competition, the Musicology Award for Excellence in Research 2010, and has been inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Musical Honor Society—a distinction reserved by invitation only to graduates at the top of their class. Active as a soloist and teacher, Mike has given seminars on piano and music history at community centers throughout Orange County and has been a member of "Pianists in Performance," a group of pianists that tour the greater-Los Angeles area giving concerts for fundraisers and charity events. Mike currently dedicates the majority of his musical life to education. Along with teaching piano privately at Rancho Canyon Music, he is also on the adjunct music faculty of California State University, Fullerton. Mike has been teaching at Rancho Canyon Music since 2004 Mike's standard tuition rate is $30 per
lesson - 1 lesson each week for 30 minutes. |
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Rachel Panchal - Voice Instructor Rachel has had an incredible passion for singing from a very early age. She began studying voice privately at age seven, and is trained in many different styles of singing including classical, pop, and musical theatre. She spent three years studying with a very prestigious private opera teacher, and now studies with incredible classical vocalists and musicians at Chapman University, as a Bachelor of Arts in music with a vocal emphasis. She has also taken years of pop and musical theatre vocal training. In addition to voice, Rachel has studied piano, guitar, and music theory at Chapman University. She has also had the privilege of studying under many music industry professionals in workshop settings such as Adam Watts, songwriter for Disney’s, High School Musical, pop icon Jesse McCartney and The Jonas Brothers and Tim Davis, vocal director for the hit TV series GLEE. Rachel is a contemporary songwriter and has performed and recorded original music. She is currently launching a new band. Rachel also has a lot of performing experience. Since an early age, Rachel has performed at Saddleback Church under the direction of Vangie Gunn, Tim Davis (vocal producer for GLEE), and Rick Muchow, singing at various concerts, conferences, and weekend services. She’s also done community theatre and has recorded professionally on many children’s CDs and has performed in many classical singing competitions. Rachel really enjoys spurring on the creativity and skill of others, and absolutely adores watching people grow in their knowledge and skill in music. Her goal is to help her students find their voice using a variety of musical genres. Rachel joined Rancho Canyon Music' s family in August 2010. Rachel's standard tuition rate is $30 per
lesson - 1 lesson each week for 30 minutes. |
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Richard Bond - Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Saxophone, Guitar (...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. Richard has been with the store practically from it's incepetion in 1995! Richard's standard tuition rate is $30
per lesson - 1 lesson each week for 30 minutes. |
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Downs Thompson - Violin (Fiddle), Guitar, Mandolin and Viola Downs is truly a world-class musician and instructor. In addition to a busy private teaching schedule at R.C.M. and his voluteer work in our local school music programs, Downs 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! Downs joined the Rancho Canyon Music staff in 2005. Downs' standard tuition rate is $30 per
lesson - 1 lesson each week for 30 minutes. |
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Corey Townley - Drums and Percussion Corey has offered private drum and percussion instruction for nearly 10 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 a certified CUSD volunteer and coaches the percussionists at Bernice Ayer middle school in San Clemente. He also is employed by the Saddleback Valley School District and coaches the percussionists at La Paz Middle School in Mission Viejo. Corey has been teaching at Rancho Canyon Music since 2003. Corey's standard tuition rate is $30 per
lesson - 1 lesson each week for 30 minutes. |
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Danny Nasol - Piano Danny Nasol has been a piano teacher for 15 years. Music has been a major part of his life growing up, with the influence of his mother, who was a composer and had a major in piano. Danny started playing piano when he was 5. He eventually studied at San Francisco Conservatory of Music and acquired more of his artistry and techniques with Erna Gulabyan. Playing the piano was not his only passion in music but he also enjoys composing. He has composed music from popular music to classical piano genres. Danny has entered his classical pieces in MTAC’s Composer’s Today in the last 10 years and has won every year. He does not just teach theory to his students but encourages them to compose their own piano music. Danny specializes in assisting his students to develop song writing and strong piano technique. He teaches beginners to advance with all styles, from classical to jazz and popular music. He also enjoys oil painting, being a nurse and playing music with his family. Danny joined Rancho Canyon Music's staff in 2004. Danny's standard tuition rate is $30 per
lesson - 1 lesson each week for 30 minutes. |
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Sean Billings - Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Bugle, etc... Sean Billings has a vast amount of professional experience, both as an instructor and as a performing musician. Sean currently plays with the Grammy Award Winnng Brian Setzer Orchestra. He is a Yamaha Performing Artist and an AllCity Recordings Artist. Sean's students will see great improvement in their Tone, Range, Flexibility, Music Theory & Harmony, all necessary elements to be a successful Performer. Sean also focuses special attention on Audition Preperation so you can get the "gig" that you really want! Sean joined Rancho Canyon Music's staff in 2007. Sean's standard tuition rate is $30 per
lesson - 1 lesson each week for 30 minutes. |
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Lou Savage - Bass, Acoustic & Electric Guitar 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 Lou has been with Rancho Canyon Music since 2005. Lou's standard tuition rate is $30 per
lesson - 1 lesson each week for 30 minutes. |
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Tyler Page - Guitar Tyler has quickly become one of the most popular guitar teachers in the area! Tyler started his Guitar career as a student at Rancho Canyon Music, at the age of 12. By 15, he was teaching other kids in his neighborhood who wanted to learn how to play, while increasing his own skills. In 2008 we offered Tyler the opportunity to co-teach our Summer Guitar Camp, and he was an incredible success, as most of the students wanted to continue taking private lessons with him. He continues to teach the Summer program and now has a busy private schedule as well, focusing on the basics of playing as well as teaching young shredders the secrets to advanced lead guitar playing. Tyler (and his sister) have been hanging around the shop in one way or another for more than 10 years. Tyler's standard tuition rate is $30 per
lesson - 1 lesson each week for 30 minutes. |
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David Wright - Guitar, Bass Guitar 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". David joined the Rancho Canyon Music staff in 2003. David's standard tuition rate is $30 per
lesson - 1 lesson each week for 30 minutes. |
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Also Teaching at Rancho Canyon Music: Katherine
Buck - Piano - since 2003 - (e-mail Katherine) |
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Desi & Luci - "The Shop Dogs" Okay,we'll be honest... Luci & Desi "started" at the shop as puppies in 2002. |
All tuition rates are subject to change without notice.
