 | I offer lessons in:- Accompanying
- Ear Training
- Basic Music Theory
- Intermediate Music Theory
- Advanced Music Theory
- Jazz Piano
- Classical Piano
- Popular Piano
- All Other Piano
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Interested in taking lessons with Rhonda Lucile?
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Rhonda Lucile Hicks | Offering private lessons in
Benicia, California |
Introduction
Private lessons
Beginners to Advanced
All Ages Welcome
My Teaching Background
Rhonda taught herself to play the piano when she was in the fifth grade. She always wanted to play the piano and was quite dismayed to be handed her Aunt Judy’s old saxophone and find herself in Mr. Short’s elementary school band class. She cried. She didn’t want to play that “dumb old saxophone.” She wanted to play the piano.
So, she would get on her banana seat bike and ride seven miles out to her Grandmother’s lima bean farm where there was an old upright piano that her mother had played when she was a girl. In the piano bench was her Mom’s old beginning piano book. She’d bike out there any chance she got and her patient Grandmother would holler out when she missed a note. Over time she worked her way through the book until, finally, in the seventh grade her parents bought her a piano and she got to take lessons for the first time. Rhonda took piano lessons all through high school and accompanied the school and church choirs and was a founding member of HiTones, an award-winning girl’s vocal ensemble.
Once Rhonda graduated from high school, she had to leave her piano at home and went on to San Francisco State University where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations. During college she sang in the university's Choral Union, took classes in the history of music and found 1/2 price student tickets! Here is where Rhonda’s love affair with live music began. She had season tickets to the San Francisco Symphony and soon was also attendng the opera and sneaking into nightclubs to see jazz.
While Rhonda took a long break from playing the piano while going to college, career and raising a son; she was blessed to find a wonderful teacher and began lessons with Ali Adelman. She also took classes at The Jazz School in Berkeley. At The Jazz School, she had piano with Jeff Pittson and jazz theory with Mark Levine, author of The Jazz Piano Book and The Jazz Theory Book. She currently studies with WA Mathieu (www.coldmountainmusic.com).
Rhonda is currently the owner/producer of Red Dragonfly Productions and produced the Hurricane Katrina Blues Benefit with the Steve Freund Band and special guests Alvon, Pork Pie Phillips, Cathy Lemons, Johnny Ace, Don Bassey, Stef Burns, Tommy Castro and Maria Muldaur; the Rock ‘n’ Roll Carnivale with the Alameda All Stars, the Detroit Disciples and the Volker Strifler Band; Bill Haley’s Original Comets with opener the Fabulous Bud E. Luv Trio, Voena, Craig Horton, Ken Saydak, Mz. Dee, Dave Spector, House of Floyd~A Tribute to Pink Floyd, Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours, The David Thom Band and Wavelength at The Majestic Theatre in Benicia. Red Dragonfly Productions has also provided tickets sales and promotion for George Winston and Paula Poundstone at Rizza Auditorium in Vallejo and has donated production services to the Benicia/Vallejo Humane Society’s “Fido’s and Fighters” with Chris Mata, Joe Klocek and D.C. Ervin, the Mexico Mission concert featuring Peppino D’Agostino, the Vallejo Middle School Thunderbird Band fundraiser with Johnny Steele, a director’s film screening of Adrian Belic’s “Beyond the Call” for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and a benefit for the California Police Activities League with comics Rocky La Porte, Dave Burleigh and D.C. Ervin. Rhonda has also volunteered at her church and was instrumental in bringing in the Jeff Pittson Trio, FogTrio and Peppino D’Agostino to their series. Red Dragonfly Productions donates promotion services to the music series at the Camel Barn for the Benicia Historical Society and other community non-profit music events in the area. Recent events include “Bluegrass for Kids” and “Jazz for Kids” at the Camel Barns. Red Dragonfly Productions collaborated with Imagine Talent Development Studio in Benicia on “Celebrity Sitdown with Richard Freedman” which featured such guests as inspirational speaker Michael Pritchard, screenwriter Gregory Allen Howard, author of “The Way of the Peaceful Warrior” Dan Millman, Grammy winning producer and blues great Roy Rogers , satirist Will Durst and blues guitarist Tommy Castro. Red Dragonfly Productions has a commitment to music in Benicia and Vallejo and promotes music Upstairs at First Street Cafe and the summer jazz at The Shoreline in Benicia.
My Teaching Philosophy
I nurture creativity through piano, while grounding the student in theory, technique and music fundamentals. The goal is not only to play, but to develop a lifelong love, appreciation and enjoyment of music. Lessons are fun. I believe music is joyful. If it's not fun, you're not doing it right! All ages and levels are welcome at 851 Music Studio. I love beginners. Recitals are held twice a year so students can share their music with family and friends.
Rhonda brings her joy and love of music to her teaching. She believes that music theory, technique and understanding of chords can be taught within a context of fun and enjoyment. Rhonda works with all ages and especially enjoys teaching beginners. Her philosophy is that while all might not go on to a lifetime of playing piano or careers in the music industry, all students will go on with the a love of music and an experience that will allow them to appreciate music more fully and completely all their lives.
Rates And Availability
851 Music Studio
851 First Street
Benicia, CA 94510
707.747.0851
Go to http://www851MusicStudio.com
My piano studio is located at 851 Music Studio in Benicia and is open Monday through Friday 9am to 9 pm. Classes and workshops are held on Saturday mornings.
$96 per month for four 1/2 hour private lessons. Initial lesson is free. You can also purchase 3 months of lessons for $260 or six months of lessons for $490. Gift certificates available. Makeup lessons are available with 24 hours notice of a cancellation.
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