Maripen Yamachika & Kipp Kahlia
Maripen Yamachika:
"Christmas day 2013, my husband built a bass for me. One that was my size with a smaller diameter neck. I looked at him and asked, “what do you want me to do with that?”. He said “ you are going to learn how to play the bass so you can play worship with the family.” It was a very daunting challenge, but I liked the idea of playing music with the family. My husband Craig is a worship leader at church, he plays the guitar and the bass. My son Matthew plays the bass and the guitar. My daughter Megan sings, plays the keyboards and can play some guitar. I would be the newbie joining the group.
My husband taught me how to play the bass. He showed me the proper way of playing the bass strings but I had other ideas. I was comfortable with just playing with 1 finger. We got into disagreements over that but he let me go because he did not want to argue with his wife. Craig was a trooper and was able to teach me enough basics that within 6 months we were playing for the elderly in the Senior Homes once a month. By the spring the following year 2014, he asked the pastor if he could add me to the worship team. I was able to provide simple bass line to the music and I had to admit it was fun. I wanted to progress more but I did not want to strain my relationship with Craig. I always pushed back and I wanted to do things my way and often we did not have a good experience. Craig was always proud of me and was always tickled pink whenever we played together. So that fall 2014, I asked to have a bass teacher, he was relieved and went into the business of finding me a bass teacher, a female bass teacher that I can relate to.
That was when I met Kipp Kahlia. She is a bonafide professional musician, studied and majored in music. I just wanted to get that out of the way, because on top of that, she is a very nice person. My first lesson was at her house. It was 7:30 pm and I was super nervous. I told her that I needed a teacher because I wanted to get better than just doing “thump, thump, thump, thump” when we play worship on Sunday. I wanted to grow without harming my relationship with Craig. We got along famously from the beginning. I liked how she was so easygoing and was understanding of my bad habits. She was understanding but that didn’t mean she would tolerate it. She started me from the beginning. Basics like, hooking up to the amp, tuning the bass, and strumming. She assured me that over time the hand just adapts to the new programming that I send to the nervous system and the strumming will eventually remodel. Yes, remodel, even with a stubborn person like me.
That was November of 2014 and I am writing this April 2015 and I have improved my strumming a lot. Inadvertently, when she is introducing me to something new, the claw or the hook (as I call it) comes out but she is quick to point out the hook and I am back to strumming the right way again. She teaches me how to be creative with the rhythms, she’s teaching me the roots and 5th’s of chords, where they are on the neck, and how you can use the different notes of the scale to enhance the song. She addresses that because she knows my goal is to do more than thump, thump, thump, and just hold down whole notes. She is very encouraging and she has a sense of humor. We laugh a lot when I am there for my class, the studio people come in sometimes and tell us there is too much laughing coming from our room.
Sometimes I bring up questions I may encounter in the week and she will take the time to answer it. One time I asked her “What do you think of the lawsuit against Pharrell Williams for copyright infringement on the Marvin Gaye song ‘Got to Give it Up’?’ We would stop and talk about that.
Sometimes, I feel not as prepared coming to class because I might not have the homework as complete as I would like it to be and Kipp tells me that she understands that I am a working woman, with a family and that I have stuff to do. I feel that takes the pressure off. But on the days when I AM confident about my homework, then the fun begins, she start throwing in stuff to keep me on my toes and push me out of my comfort zone. I have to have my deodorant on because something unexpected is always thrown in.
I always have a good time. My husband always asks me how was class, I always say “great!”. I never miss my class and I always leave feeling I have made strides in my goal to learn more about playing the bass. If Kipp were to move studios or if she needed to change my lesson time, I would make whatever changes were necessary to keep my lessons going. Craig even said, “Where do I have to drive you, hon? Anywhere you need to go, ” LOL! It does make a difference the relationship and rapport you have with your teacher. You can be in a perfect studio, you can have a top of the line bass and equipment, but it’s the teacher, the teacher can either make you feel so nervous that you don’t learn anything, or s/he can make it so unpleasant that you don’t want to come back. It’s a make or break kind of thing for any student."
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Vangie Ogg:
"Kipp is amazing! She taught my son, Thomas, the basics of guitar from age 7, as soon as he had the "reach" on the fretboard. Lessons with Kipp were engaging and fun. Thomas not only learned how to play different styles of music on the guitar, but developed an affinity for the instrument. The real testimony to Kipp's excellent teaching skills? Thomas, now 18, graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where he received a scholarship to study Classical Guitar. Thanks, Kipp!"
(you can listen to Thomas' playing here: https://soundcloud.com/thomasoggmusic)
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Chris and Theresa Phillips:
“Our daughter, Emily, took guitar lessons from Kipp Kahlia for over a year and a half.
We find it a bit difficult to put into words what Kipp did for Emily.
At 16, Emily first enrolled in the Long Beach Parks and Recreation group class taught by Kipp. Kipp had such a comforting, encouraging, and yet “cool” way with the students that Emily asked to take private lessons.
Kipp brings to the lessons her knowledge and skill with the guitar, as well as the extensive life skills she has learned. Emily felt comfortable talking with Kipp, and her confidence grew. Kipp helped her in many ways – with her friendships, her relationships in the family, and she also helped Emily in school. As a result of Kipp’s guidance and suggestions, Emily’s study habits improved. She has since passed on those study techniques to her two younger sisters.
This was a rough time in Emily’s life, and Kipp was a vital part in helping her grow. We are forever grateful to her."
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Constance Kenfield:
"My son Daryl started guitar lessons with Kipp when he was 8 years old. Playing the guitar became a great release for Daryl and the interest in guitar and music has never left him. He is 19 years old now and in college. I attribute his skill and ability as a musician and bandleader to Kipp’s way of teaching. She really gets to know her students and tailors her lessons accordingly. Daryl is able to pick up any piece of music, and through the music theory that Kipp taught him, he can play anything! She is a wonderful teacher!"
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Mike Kahn:
Kipp was an outstanding guitar teacher for the Los Alamitos Education Foundation. She related well with the students in our district and always was very easy for us to work with! Kipp was always honest and forthright with her students and with her employer. When she no longer could work for us, she gave us a tremendous referral for a teacher who is teaching for LAEF today. I recommend Kipp 100% of the time.
Please feel free to contact me at anytime to speak to about Kipp's credentials and or LAEF's recommendation of Kipp. My contact info is programdirector@LAEF4Kids.org and our phone number is 562.799.4700, ext. 80424. My name is Mike Kahn and I am LAEF's Program Manager.
**************************************************************************************************************************************
Adriana Catanzarite:
"My dad and my sister took guitar from Kipp years before I did. I studied drums and vocals, and in high school I was the lead singer for a few bands. After I went away to college, I realized that I wanted to play an instrument that would allow me to accompany myself as a singer. And I wanted to have more influence over how the music is arranged when I work with a band.
I started lessons with Kipp this past summer, and then went back to college. Now we’re doing lessons via Skype. Kipp is teaching me to play and sing at the same time with confidence, and schooling me on the things I need to know as a musician to lead a band intelligently. She says that it’s important that a singer has the respect of the musicians who are working with her, and the way to get that is to know what’s going on musically.
Kipp’s making the whole thing fun, and teaching me a lot at the same time. She says that now – to be a strong performer -- I need to learn to sing and play and DANCE at the same time instead of just tapping my foot. Lol."
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Chanel:
“Kipp is a great and knowledgeable guitar teacher. My grandson Jayson loves her class and is always excited about the lessons. Kipp is very patient with the lessons. I am glad I chose Kipp and grateful for the lessons he has been taught. We will be attending her classes for a long time to come.”
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Joy Ambeau
My now-husband and I wanted to sing together at our wedding. We started working with Kipp a couple of months before the wedding. I had sung in choirs already, but I didn't feel like I always sang in key. My husband had never sung at all, but it was actually HIS idea, so we were going for it.
Kipp made us feel safe and comfortable. She will tell you what's wrong, why, and then give you strategies to FIX it. She supported and encouraged us through our nervousness, getting us to work on pitch, rhythm, the mechanics of how to sing in a way that's healthy for your vocal chords, and enunciation. We spent a lot of time on breathing. Kipp said that she wanted us to practice the correct way of singing to the point where our "muscle memory" would be in control, making it so that we would sing correctly without even thinking about it.
We're still taking lessons although the wedding was several months ago. I want to sing in a choir again, and feel confident about my voice. My husband is a church deacon, and preaches mini-sermons; he wanted those sermons to include a song, and now we sing them together each time he preaches. We've both improved (the husband sounds good!), and we're much more confident about singing. We'll do this for the rest of our lives.
Thanks again Kipp!!!!
**********************************************************************************************************************************
Elisa
“Kipp was a wonderful guitar teacher and mentor. I came to her wanting to learn a second instrument, and came out with a greater understanding about music. Her lessons not only taught me guitar, but music theory as well which I was then able to use to help me improve my trumpet skills and land a first chair seat in my high school's jazz band. Each lesson was comprised of a little bit of theory, some technical work, and something fun to learn so that practicing in between lessons was never monotonous. I enjoyed learning from Kipp so much that my dad and sister ended up taking lessons from her too. I highly recommend Kipp for anyone of any musical background. She is awesome!”
************************************************************************************************************************************
Gail
"I took a beginning classical guitar class with Kipp at the Long Beach Parks and Recreation Department. She taught us to read music – notes on the staff and, more difficult, rhythm notations. She used a unique combination of tapping, clapping, singing and laughing. I’ll never forget the thrill I felt as I was playing my first duet with her. Hearing myself playing music in harmony with someone else was a peak experience.
Kipp is a great teacher, patient and inventive, alert to the specific needs and interests of the individual student, always with an emphasis on musicality and always with humor.
After the beginning class was over, some of the other students and I begged and pleaded until Kipp relented and agreed to teach us again. Her many other obligations prevented her from teaching another class for us after that class had ended. I still want to play classical guitar and I’ve decided to take lessons from her privately.
*************************************************************************************************************************************
via Facebook, December 21, 2013:
Hi Kipp.
My name is Chelsea Sanchez.
I took guitar lessons from you in Long Beach when I was like 10-12 years old. I don't remember my age exactly, but it's been some time. I am 19 now.
I am a huge fan of Elvis Presley and the first song you taught me on guitar was, "Love me Tender." You taught me a great lesson by turning off the lights in the room while I played and sang you the song. You told me that when I perform, I shouldn't be looking down at my fingers so I must understand the neck of the guitar.
I don't know if you remember me, but I am currently a student at Berklee College of Music.
I think about that lesson from time to time and I hope you are doing well!
Happy Holidays!
Chelsea Sanchez
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Andrés Melgar
When I was 14, I took a guitar class from Kipp through the Parks and Recreation Department of Long Beach with my two sisters. One of my sisters ended up taking private lessons from kipp for about a year, and then I started too.
After a couple of years of lessons, she played a classical piece for me and I really wanted to learn it. I learned to play the piece from the written music on my own, and then Kipp worked backwards with me to clean up my playing technique for classical guitar. I still love that piece. Spanish Ballad by "Anonymous."
************************************************************************************************************************************
Jack Dickinson
My daughter is a professional singer with her own band, and also works as part of a duo. She started asking me at some point to come and play with her band sometimes, and I decided I'd better take some lessons because I felt utterly unprepared. And I WANT to play some gigs with her.
Years before, I had taken a guitar class with the Parks and Recreation Department of Long Beach, and Kipp was the instructor. I liked how she used humor to keep us entertained while she crammed a ton of information into our heads and drilled us on playing technique. I learned so much from her in the five short weeks of that session that when I thought about taking private lessons, she immediately came to mind. I was able to track her down, and she's been putting me through my paces.
At first, she had me focusing on playing chords and learning standard chord progressions in different keys. She's often asked me to write out chord charts for different pieces of music so I'm comfortable with reading charts. She wants me to be so familiar with those kinds of common progressions that when I play with my daughter's band, I' be able to handle anything they throw at me. We've also worked on rhythm and groove so I can easily complement whatever the other musicians are playing, and actually ADD something musical to the songs.
Now she's started to drill me on scales and melodies. She made me play a solo last week, saying: "This is where it begins -- might as well get started!"
I've gone way farther with Kipp's guidance than I would have ever gone on my own.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
