Convenient after school and after work lesson times are available.

"Caleb has been taking guitar at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in downtown LA, so my expectations of a music school are high. Those expectations have been met at Peninsula School of Music. The instructors are serious about music and Caleb loved to participate in the semi-annual jam/recital session."
- Sharon C., Palos Verdes Estates, California

Learn to Play Music Now

Ask yourself this question:
“How would it feel to be able to play an instrument right now?”
Awesome! That’s the usual answer. Imagine the amazed look on your friends and family’s faces if you picked up your instrument right this instant and started playing yours and everyone’s favorite songs with no effort whatsoever.
Even for someone with no prior musical experience our easy to follow instruction makes learning uncomplicated and fun – pretty much effortless.
Every instructor at Peninsula School of Music is committed to finding the approach that works best for each person, and is patient and encouraging. Students can work at their own pace so they never have to feel stressed out.
Pick the style of music and songs you want to play. Whether it’s songs from the Rock Band and Guitar Hero video games, classical, jazz, blues – you name it, we’ll teach it.

Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday, 2 - 9 PM Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM - 6 PM

Alternate lesson times are sometimes available depending on individual instructor schedules. Call us with your specific time requests.

Rates, Schedule & Fees

1/2 hour = $30 = $120 per month (four weeks)
1 hour = $60 = $ 240 per month (four weeks)
Some rates may vary depending on invdividual instructor's speciaties.

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Recognition and Awards

Peninsula School of Music was voted "Best New Business" by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce in 2006. Find out more about us. Call (310) 377-2600 to schedule an appointment today.

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Partial List of Music Teachers

Group Lessons Versus Private Lessons

Group classes include pre-school music, and accomodating two family members simultaneously (father & son, two siblings, mother & daughter, etc.) with one instructor. There are workshops and jam sessions open to all students currently enrolled. The All Ages Jazz Jam - offered in the Fall and Summer - gives music students the opportunity to play together as a group and learn jazz improvisation in an ensemble setting.

We still don't charge a registration fee but require new students to come in and register before starting lessons. We supply the majority of guitar and bass instructional material at a very low cost to the student, so you don't have to worry about finding and buying books and materials. Click Here for information on Getting the Most Out of Music Lessons.

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Preschool Music Classes

Palos Verdes Peninsula School of Music offers preschool music classes designed to encourage the musical development and appreciation in children ages two through four. In this group setting, children take critical first steps towards socialization, cooperation and group interaction skills. At the same time they are involved in a discipline that develops the brain, intellect and motor skills; improves listening and concentration skills; and enhances math and literacy skills.

Our pre-school music students enjoy the hands-on experience of music.  The children participate in fun musical activities, games and exercises that encourage sensory awareness and support the unique learning styles of their age group.

Through Sound - Hearing, vocalizing, speaking and singing; Improving language, vocal & speech development, memorization skills; Through Sight - Visual games, drawing and coloring, identifying music symbols; Learning spatial relationships & memorization skills;  Through Movement - Dancing, timing and rhythm games; Improving motor skills, timing, balance, spatial concepts & coordination

Children will learn music symbol identification, rhythm, counting, and improvisation while developing basic music skills through encouraged exploration of their individual creative sides. They will learn various musical concepts on keyboards, guitars, stringed instruments and percussion as well as be exposed to other types of instruments and musical styles.

Through singing, moving, listening, and playing musical instruments, our goal is to inspire a love of music that will stay with a child for life.

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Why Take Lessons at Peninsula School of Music?

Here are some of the reasons more parents and students choose our music schools:

1. Music & The Brain
2. All Styles Taught - Students get to choose the kind of music they want to learn.
3. Jazz, Rock & Blues Recitals - We have our very own "School of Rock." For our student recitals we put together a professional band, borrow a venue, and put together a program of student performances on a Sunday afternoon. This an ongoing event up to four times a year. We also do smaller informal in-studio recitals for the less experienced students. These recitals are open to all instrumentalists as well as vocalists. Typically, our shows have a wide variety of musical styles. It is not unusual to hear for example, a heavy metal song followed by something jazzy then followed by a blues number. The students get to choose the music they want to perform. (See a typical set list)
4. Classical Recitals - Students present various levels of piano recitals throughout the year.
5. Pre-School Music Classes - Read what parents are saying about our Pre-School Music Program...
6. Guitar School Instructional Material - The school supplies the guitar and bass students with the necessary material for a low fee, so there is usually no need to buy any extra books.
7. Fall, Spring & Summer Jazz Series - The All Ages Jazz Jam is a structured music class which instructs students on the art of ensemble improvisation, vis a vis jazz, bossa nova and funk styles.

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Why Sign Up for Music Lessons Today?
Ask yourself these 3 questions:
"How would it feel seeing your child (or yourself) learn to play a musical instrument?"
"How much enjoyment will playing music will bring to your child throughout their life?"
"Is it better to start now or keep putting it off?"
Playing music is a productive, educational activity that contributes to the development of intellect, motor skills, self-esteem and discipline.

Not to mention that it is a creative activity, making better use of time than the internet and most importantly FUN!

There is limited availability as our amazingly popular instructors fill their schedules fast. Call (310) 377-2600 now and reserve your slot for piano, guitar, drums, voice, bass, or woodwinds lessons today.

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Guitar Lessons http://theguitarschool.com
These are some of the guitar styles our instructors teach at Peninsula School of Music's Guitar School:
Modern Rock — R & B — Campfire Guitar — Country — Pop — Folk — Blues — Gospel — Swing — Rockabilly — Funk — Punk — Classic Rock — Metal — Reggae — Ska— Classical — Jazz — Fingerstyle Guitar
We believe that the majority of students get more out of their lessons, and progress at a much faster rate if they can learn the styles of music that they love. Every student is taught the same fundamentals in regards to music theory. The only difference is, is that one person may be taught their "do re mi's" with their favorite rock band while another may learn the same basic theory, but with Mozart.

Intermediate & Advanced Guitar Students

Beyond the basics, many guitarists feel that they aren't progressing fast enough in their knowledge and playing abilities; or that what they've learned seems scattered and unrelated.

With special emphasis toward the self-taught guitarist, our more advanced instruction is designed to "fill in the gaps." Blues, rock and jazz improvisation; performance skills, and practical music theory are the order of the day. Topics include improvisational techniques, scales beyond the pentatonic/blues scales, phrasing, chord progressions, progressive scale techniques, left and right hand technique, triads, arpeggios, intervals, advanced chord forms, rhythm, scale and chord theory, definitions, transposition and musical styles.

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Bass Lessons

All of the guitar styles are also taught on the bass. Everything in the "For The More Experienced" applies equally to the more advanced bass student. Slap bass, Funk, Jazz/Blues walking bass are popular styles among bass students. Our bass students are taught to interact with drummers and guitarists. Emphasis is placed on the ability to create bass lines and grooves.

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Ask yourself this question:
“How would it feel to be able to play an instrument right now?”
Awesome! That’s the usual answer. Imagine the amazed look on your friends and family’s faces if you picked up your instrument right this instant and started playing yours and everyone’s favorite songs with no effort whatsoever.
Even for someone with no prior musical experience our easy to follow instruction makes learning uncomplicated and fun – pretty much effortless.
Every instructor is committed to finding the approach that works best for each person, and is patient and encouraging. Students can work at their own pace so they never have to feel stressed out.
Pick the style of music and songs you want to play. Whether it’s songs from the Rock Band and Guitar Hero video games, classical, jazz, blues – you name it, we’ll teach it.

All Ages
Peninsula School of Music offers programs for everyone, from very young children through working adults and retired senior citizens

All Skill Levels
Instructors are qualified to teach beginner to advanced students.

All Styles
We teach all styles of music so you get to choose what most interests you as a student.

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What Can We Do For You?
At Peninsula School of Music, we are dedicated to providing our students with the best possible learning environment. Our highly knowledgeable teachers are committed to finding the approach that works best for each individual.
Instruction is on a one-on-one basis.

Whether a student just wants to learn enough to have fun playing a few favorite songs, or is an aspiring professional, our instructors will develop a customized music lesson plan especially tailored to fit their specific musical needs and interests. Our instructors include university graduates, as well as working professionals with many years of performing, recording and teaching experience.

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Piano Lessons

The Palos Verdes Peninsula School of Music Piano Program

All piano students at Peninsula School of Music are assisted in developing and working towards musical goals. Following are programs which are available for students in the piano program at the school:

Piano Recitals
Quarterly recitals in front of a warm and receptive audience of other students and their families provide a non-threatening opportunity for piano students of all ages and ability levels to perform. Regular recitals (held in both Redondo Beach and Long Beach locations) are wonderful opportunities which keep even the most timid students on track towards their musical goals. All students are given thorough instruction on memorization of piano pieces, practice routines at home, recital dress, behavior and performance practices before giving their first "public" performance.

Music Teachers Association of California - Long Beach and South Bay Branches
Eligible classical and jazz piano students may compete for scholarships and other honors offered by the Music Teachers Association of California's South Bay / Redondo Beach and Long Beach branches. Music Teachers Association -South Bay and Long Beach branches offer a range of competitive and non-competitive opportunities for student growth. Following are just some of the programs which are available:

Certificate of Merit
Southern California Junior Bach Festival
Music Teachers Association Long Beach & South Bay Branch Recitals
Composers Today
Adult Performance Seminar

Piano Concerto Competition - Music Teachers' Association of California
Solo Piano Competition - Music Teachers' Association of California

Piano Sonata / Sonatina Festival

High-achieving piano students may also be invited to perform at the annual Music Teachers Association State Convention. Extremely exceptional piano students may audition for Young Artist Guild (YAG) and Young Composers Guild (YCG) through the Music Teachers Association (see www.MTACLB.org to find out more about YAG and YCG).

Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF)
Piano students with strong performance skills (age 7 - 25) compete in the annual Southwestern Youth Music Festival. This extremely popular event draws over 3,400 students each year from all over Southern California to compete for prizes in piano, strings, woodwinds and vocal divisions.

National Piano Guild Auditions
All eligible piano students participate in annual National Piano Guild Auditions. This venerable program began in the 1930's and is popularly known as "National Piano Guild". Guild "Auditions" are sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers division of the American College of Musicians, and are held by appointment only in selected locations in the Redondo Beach / Long Beach areas May through June of each year.

Piano Teachers at The Piano Program
Our piano teachers are members of the Music Teachers Association of California, the National Guild of Piano Teachers (American College of Musicians), and Southwestern Youth Music Festival, and are well-versed in the curriculum and performance requirements for National Piano Guild, Southwestern Youth Music Festival, Certificate of Merit, and other above-mentioned programs.

Music Theory Tutoring For All Instruments
Tutoring for AP music theory high school students is offered at Peninsula School of Music.  Partial Listing of Music Theory Topics:four-part writing, modal counterpoint, tonal counterpoint, key signatures, scales, chord progressions, chords triads-13ths, arpeggios, intervals, advanced chord voicings, rhythm, scale and chord theory, definitions, eartraining, sight-singing, use of modes in composition, song writing and arranging.

We also offer tutoring for beginning music theory students.

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Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Special Needs Students

In the last 10 years at South Bay School of Music (five years at Long Beach and four years at Peninsula School of Music), our instructors have had many opportunities to work with special needs children, especially those with autism spectrum disorder.

Our music schools are run with the philosophy that all students are not alike and should be educated in the way that is most helpful to the student; that group or classroom instruction is not as individualized as most students need in order for them to achieve the greatest success; and finally, that all instruction should be on a one-on-one basis so as to fully focus on a students specific needs and interests.

This customized approach to teaching fits the special needs students since no one program or approach will benefit all students, special needs or not. One-on-one music lessons in a regular music school environment are an opportunity for these students to participate in a mainstream activity without the distraction of other students in the room. Some of our instructors have taught for Pedriatic Therapy Network's "Camp Escapades" held at Seaside Elementary School in Torrance.

Pictured here: Peninsula School of Music owner Mark Fitchett giving a lecture at the Autistic Society of Long Beach
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School Band Instruction

Jazz Band | Orchestra | Marching Band
Peninsula School of Music offers instruction on the following band instruments:

Woodwinds Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet; Brass Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone Horn, Tuba

Percussion; Strings Double Bass, Cello, Viola, Violin

Director of Band Music Programs: Terje Lie  | www.terjelie.com
Private music lessons are essential to a young musician’s growth. Often the only musical
instruction students receive is from a public school’s band director, faced with too many kids in the music class and a limited amount of time to devote to each individual student. To really progress, a student needs private, one-on-one instruction in conjunction with what instruction is offered in primary school programs.

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Summer Guitar Workshop

Guitar effects; what they are and how to use them
Playing in a jam band (click here to see video)
Soloing technique
Improvisation
Styles
Piano Technique for Guitarists
Jamming The Blues

Summer Camps
Instructor and Guest Performances
The instructors perform small informal shows to expose the students to different styles of music. Other musical guests (subject to availability) will also perform.

Jam Sessions
For the intermediate to advanced students; this will be an opportunity to get together with other student musicians and play. All students are welcome to come and listen.

Consultations
There are instructors available (in person or by phone) if students need extra help on their assignments.

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