Todd B. TakeLessons Instructor mandocello, mandola, octave mandolin, mandolin, Liuto Cantabile, Liuto Moderno, cello, music... San Mateo, CA

Beginning his formal music training in cello at 6 years old, Todd brings a wealth of experience in cello, harpsichord, and viola da gamba early music performance practice to his interpretation of music for mandocello. Todd studied music at the National Cello Institute, University of the Pacific Conservatory Music, University of California, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Throughout his career, Todd has won numerous regional, national, and international competitions, music scholarships, and awards. Todd has studied solo and ensemble performance with instructors such as Elaine Thornburgh, Leta Miller, Nicole Paiment, Anatole Leikin, Carolyn McIntosh, Roy Milan, Jack Tuttle, and Nicola Swinburne, and attended master classes with world-class artists such as Yo-Yo Ma.While studying Chemistry at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Todd organized the UCSC Chamber Music Society which engaged faculty and small ensembles in coaching and live performance series. Todd also performed as principal cellist in the UCSC orchestra and cello soloist in the UCSC contemporary chamber players, bringing the works of noted 20th century composers on tour throughout the Bay Area. While studying Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, Todd performed in the unique all-scientist UCSF orchestra, a highly successful ensemble which has endured under the direction of Stephen Paulson as Symphony Parnassus and was hailed by Michael Tilson Thomas as "The best of the Bay Area's community musicians." Also at UCSF, Todd presented monthly chamber music concerts in Reading Room of the Main Campus library, concertizing there as a soloist and with his piano trio. Todd performs on mandocello as a member of the duo Her Majesty's Noyse as well as with the San Francisco Mandolin Orchestra, Aurora Mandolin Orchestra, and various chamber groups.

Detailed approach to proper technique, mastering scales, repertoire mastery, music reading mastery, music theory, chords, improvisation, composition

Classical, bluegrass, celtic, jazz, renaissance, medieval, folk, Italian traditional, jazz, Alexander method

mandocello, mandola, octave mandolin, mandolin, Liuto Cantabile, Liuto Moderno, cello, music theory, orchestration