Nicholas
PianoGuitarVoiceAudio ProductionUkulele
About Nicholas
Nicholas Velez is a multi-instrumentalist and music producer living in Los Angeles, CA.
With over 8+ years of experience as a music teacher, he has taught a wide variety of ages (5-adult). He began teaching at the age of 22 at Fusion Academy Pasadena, where he was responsible for creating a structured curriculum that outlined the California Standards of Education. He has seen his students go on to attend universities such as USC, New School, NYU, etc. He then moved to New York, where he continued his love for music teaching and taught at multiple locations in New York and Brooklyn. Nicholas is driven to see you improve and develop your love for music!
He began taking classical piano lessons at the age of 5 and began drum lessons at the age of 8. He received is Bachelor's’ degree in Ethnomusicology with an emphasis in Jazz at UCLA. From there he has gone on to produce and record major label records for RCA. In addition, Nicholas is an established music producer in the Los Angeles music scene and can help you learn how to navigate programs such as Pro Tools, Ableton, Logic, and Garageband. Soon enough you’ll be able to record your own ideas!
Q&A with Nicholas
Which musician would you like to play with?
Lou Reed, Prince, D'angelo
Which musician has influenced you the most?
Prince
What can you teach me better on your instrument than any other teacher?
With 8+ years of experience as a Music Teacher, I have learned how to structure lessons to help get you to your desired goal in an efficient manner. I'm also very flexible and know how to adapt to different styles of playing. I'm easy to work with but also will push you to achieve your goals.
How did you learn to play your instrument?
I started out on piano at the age of 5. I kept taking piano lessons throughout my childhood and continued on into my college studies at UCLA. Meanwhile I was learning to play drums around the age of 8 and played in countless rock and jazz groups.
What equipment do you play on today?
Piano and Music Production.
Which personal trait helped you the most while practicing?
My consistency, work ethic, and commitment to getting better. Events like music recitals or gigs helped push me to be prepared. I find that it is beneficial to work towards playing live so that you can share your work and progress with the world!
What does your instrument have that others don't?
I've always found piano to be a great fundamental instrument because the keyboard is laid out in a way that you can visualize your learning. As you progress, it is also a great instrument for learning music theory, which helps us understand how songwriters and composers put together harmony and melody in ways that feel good to us. The piano is also a large range of notes so you are able to create a large sound with just one instrument.\ Drums are great for solidifying your rhythmic sense and limb independence, which translates over to every instrument. Don't underestimate the power of rhythm!
How do you handle children?
I love working with children and seeing them develop their love for music! Getting started with lessons early allows them to have a deeper and more intuitive understanding of music.
What has been your greatest experience as a musician so far?
This last year I have had the honor of playing a large music festival (Head in the Clouds) with original music. Seeing the music come to life on stage was a beautiful experience.
What was the biggest stage you played on?
Head in the Clouds.
Which record would you take with you to the desert island?
D'Angelo - Voodoo
Besides music, what else is important in your life?
Family, other mediums of art (Sculpture, Fine Art), Food
Music style(s)
JazzRnBSoulHip-Hop
Level(s) Comfortable Teaching
Advanced Piano and Drums, Intermediate Guitar and Bass
What languages can you teach in?
English
What's your age?
29
Bands, Projects, Notable Performances, Collaborations
Brockhampton, Boylife
Other Music-related work / goals
Music Production, Playing Coachella
Accolades
2012 John Lennon Song of the Year award
Personal Interests
Music, Film, Food, Sports