I work with students of all levels and specialize in fine-tuning playing posture and technical setup. Once they’ve established healthy playing habits, there’s no limit to what students can achieve. Additionally, I strive to instill in my students a strong work ethic. Each student leaves their lesson with a detailed summary of all the activities we completed, along with a structured practice plan for the following week. My students have participated in a variety of programs throughout the Bay Area, including SFCM Prep, Berkeley Youth Orchestra, and the Young People’s Symphony Orchestra.
I teach private cello lessons at my home in Mountain View. I'm a member of Friction Quartet and San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, and occasionally with groups such as Berkeley Symphony, Opera Parallele, and Merced Symphony. Learn more at dougmachiz.com.
37.3785351, -122.086585
Mountain View, CA (94040)
Full Name:
Douglas Machiz
Contact Phone:
Contact Email:
Music Styles:
classical, contemporary, improvisation
Teacher's Instrument/Voice:
cello
Instrument/Voice Types Taught:
cello
Education:
A native of Washington, D.C., Doug first came to the Bay Area to attend San Francisco Conservatory, where he earned his Professional Studies Diploma under Jennifer Culp. He holds a Bachelors Degree from Boston University where he studied with Mike Reynolds and a Masters Degree from UT Austin where he studied with Bion Tsang.
Years Teaching:
6
Lesson Rate:
100/hour
Offers Private Lessons:
Yes
Teaching Method:
I find great joy in helping students to command the instrument with confidence and ease. In learning the language of music and the art of cello playing, the student will develop personal accountability and problem solving skills. The student will learn how to be their own teacher.
My teaching focuses on physical guiding, imitation, singing, movement, understanding, and problem solving.
I guide the motion of the student so they feel what it’s like to play. It’s an effective method for teaching tension free motion which is vital for beautiful playing and avoiding injury. Imitation is a powerful practice in learning the language of music. The brain and body learn to recreate what they see and hear.
The ability to produce pitch in the mind and with the voice leads to excellent intonation and captures the full “picture” of the music. Singing the music is the ultimate guide to playing beautifully.
Movement teaches the student to feel rhythm in a visceral way. Counting is an important first step, but feeling the pulse is what creates a grounded and confident performer. The student will march, tap, clap and sway to cultivate inner-pulse.
The ability to read music and understand the structure is vital. The student will understand the notes they’re playing and their role in the music. They will learn how scales, arpeggios and chords are built and be able to play them with ease. A digital or real keyboard is a necessary supplementary tool.
The ultimate goal is to be able to perform in front of an audience. Each assignment culminates in performing with piano or cello accompaniment. This helps the student grow into a confident performer with the ability to collaborate with others.
My curriculum features a diverse repertoire and includes pieces from Suzuki School of Cello, ABCs of Cello Playing, Basic Fiddlers Philharmonic and the Feuillard method. The sequence of assignments gradually adds skills so a new piece is just challenging enough.
Makes House Calls:
Yes