Simha teaches voice (jazz & soul), songwriting, music theory, and Ableton Live production, adapting lessons to students' musical interests and backgrounds. With roots in Indian Classical music and a Berklee College of Music songwriting degree, he blends eastern and western influences to enhance musical storytelling. Simha emphasizes understanding each student's level and preferences, integrating practical exercises and performance analysis. He prioritizes vocal health and effective practice routines, drawing inspiration from concerts, nature, meditation, and community interactions to continually evolve his own music and teaching approach.
I teach voice (jazz & soul), songwriting, music theory, and music production (Ableton Live).
When I first started making music, I remember how excited I was and how much I would geek out about things like harmony and songwriting. I think being able to have fun while making music was an experience we underestimate. I would love to be able to share the excitement with someone who may be new to music and someone who wants to learn how to better tell their stories. Not only would I be able to share my knowledge, I know I would also learn a lot from that experience.
Everything I’ve learned are tools that have helped me further hone my art and approach storytelling in a meaningful yet interesting way. Whether that’s understanding how to use a certain part of my voice, finding the right metaphor in a lyric, programming the perfect beat, or constructing a unique chord progression, it all contributes to a purpose. But at the very end, we learn how to forget all of the tools and just allow ourselves to create in an uninhibited way.
My evolution in music has been vast. My foundation started in an Indian Classical setting and ventured into jazz and soul as I started to learn more about western music. My early “western” music influences included Sade, Stevie Wonder, and Ella Fitzgerald. Having a strong foundation in Indian Classical Music and a developed palette in Jazz helped me understand composition, arranging, harmony, and melody.
I went on to get a songwriting degree from Berklee College of Music and was able to delve deeper into my craft. I also took the opportunity to learn how to produce, first with ProTools and then on Ableton Live. Developing the skill of production tuned my ear to be able to hear harmony, melodies, and arrangements and helped me understand how to organize these parts.
Once I moved out to LA in 2018, I was hustling a part time job, frequenting jam sessions, and hosting songwriting events. By consistently writing with peers, performing, and releasing music, I was able to find a voice through which I could tell my stories.
With a debut EP out, I’m currently taking my time to explore new sounds, experiences, and concepts, while I write, sing, and produce for others. The final conclusion I always seem to come to is that we learn through cathartic experiences, relationships, and realizations. Music is an art form that helps us be able to carry and express these cathartic experiences.
My teaching style first starts with understanding how much knowledge a student may have. Have they had previous music teachers or is this the first time they’re learning anything about music? Music is kind of a language, so I need to first understand how much they can speak it.
Outside of understanding a student’s foundation, I would also take time to understand taste. I want to know what kind of music a student likes to listen to in their free time, or what they want to learn. I like pulling up youtube videos of performances and talking through what the student hears. Being able to show them the craft in action helps to teach them how to replicate it.
I also put importance in mental and physical health. I don’t subscribe to the idea that there’s a “right or wrong” way to sing, but there’s a healthy and unhealthy way to sing. Being able to manage self doubt, mental blocks, and even technical challenges are things that all artists have to deal with, so I want to make sure that it is addressed in the lessons and I can help my students learn how to navigate through these challenges.
Finally, I like to talk about practice! A smart and effective practice routine is a GAME CHANGER. I don’t believe that my students need to practice for hours and hours, but should ideally put in at least 30 minutes. I will talk about how to set up a warm up routine, scales practices, and repertoire practice. The importance of practice is to help my students develop a muscle memory of technique and to develop a voice.
Concerts, going on nature trips and hikes, making music with friends, and meditation. Also, community is everything. Being able to be a part of a space where creatives support and lift each other up is inspiring and fulfilling.
