Hello everyone! I have been playing drums since 2nd grade. It was when I attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA that I discovered my passion for music production and composition. While studying both subjects, I continued to drum and started trading lessons with other music students. I would give them drum lessons and they would teach me an instrument that was new to me! I found it a great way to learn, and also a great way for me to learn teaching. I discovered how much I love to see my students grow and really be happy with their music. Every time someone would come into the studio, we would end up talking about production techniques and I would find myself getting the same great feeling when I explained something new to that person. Learning music has taught me a lot about myself and made me appreciate my instrument so much, and now I want to let others in on the same great experience!

Hi there, and thanks for viewing my Take Lessons profile! I am excited to be a part of the team in Berkeley, CA.

I started teaching lessons while in music school for Classical Guitar in 1996. From 1998 onwards, I played with a variety of musicians from Africa and Latin America, as well the as great American traditions of gospel, funk, jazz, and bluegrass. All the while, I continued to study music theory and composition, on my own and in private lessons with both well-known players and local professionals. Flamenco and Indian Classical music have also been great interests which I am still involved with.

Though guitar is generally my "go-to" instrument, I often use a MIDI keyboard for composition, and studied/performed on bass for 10 years. The last few years, I have begun to develop my voice as well.

Since 2006, I have been teaching music theory and composition at Ex’pression College in Emeryville. This is a digital production environment for the arts, and my students...

Josh M. has been playing drums and percussion for over 12 years. He is skilled in many musical forms including, Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Blues and various other World Musics. He attended the California Institute of the arts from 2006-2010 and earned a bachelors degree in Percussion Performance. He currently lives in the Bay area and works with multiple musical groups, and also attends classes at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael.

I am a classically trained soprano with a special passion for folk songs. I also love to work with my vocal students on musical theater and pop styles.

My name is Kristen K. and I am an accomplished violinist and teacher from Lexington, Kentucky. I began my musical studies at age 7 and quickly discovered my passion and love for music. As a young musician, I attended numerous summer music festivals, participated in the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra. I was a winner of two concerto competitions, which gave me the opportunity to perform solos with the youth orchestra. I continued my studies at the University of Kentucky as a Violin Performance major and it was there that I discovered my love for teaching music! After completing my performance degree, I decided to also pursue a Bachelor’s in Music Education. During my college career, I served as a teaching assistant in the University of Kentucky String Project, I taught group and private lessons at several local middle and high schools, and also maintained my own private violin and viola studio. I was also awarded the McCracken Scholarship Award for Excellence in Music Education....

Hi, my name is Devon and I'm here to teach you how to play cello! Though I am classically trained, my niche is creative, collaborative cello playing. I like to break through the mold of classical rules and use the cello as a paintbrush for self expression!
I’ve studied under some amazing teachers on the east and west coasts. I’ve played in orchestras in college and chamber groups as an adult. After moving to the Bay Area, I found a love for playing in bands which involves collaborating and improvising with others. For the last 10 years, I’ve been enjoying fusing these two styles of playing. Through experiences of playing with many different people and styles of music, I have developed my own style, which involves playing chords on the cello and using effect pedals to manipulate the sound. I have toured the country with my own music and as a cellist in other bands. I have released three albums, have had my music on national TV and local radio stations and I have been...

Pete E. started to learn piano at the age of 8 and kept right on learning right on through college. He developed his jazz technique while still in high school in Conklin NY and refined his theory and chops by studying with sax legend Bruce Johnstone at SUNY Fredonia. Professional gigs/bands/musical projects quickly followed. He's also been featured in some of Carnival's notorious show-bands. Pete graduated in 2008 from SUNY Fredonia with a Bachelors degree in music and a concentration in jazz studies. He organized and performed in a variety of school ensembles, became a sought-after accompanist for singers and instrumentalists, and after moving out to the East Bay became the in-house pianist/instructor at The East Bay Jazz Workshop.

As a life long musician, I have spent many years going through trails and errors to learn the instruments I play. This has given me a birds-eye view of the learning process, and helped to give me a strong set of tools that I can use to help others along their path of learning. My life in music has given me so much joy and wonderful experiences, it is really an honor for me to share the knowledge with those wanting to learn.

Although I have a lot of experience in professional settings (I've toured throughout the US and in Mexico, been hired for studio recordings, and produced songs for other artists), I like to keep the learning process fun and interesting. Not everyone has the same goals, so lessons for each student are customized depending on what you want to get out of it- Whether you are looking to learn how to play some of your favorite songs for fun, or if you want to take your musicianship to the next level, I'm here to help :)

In addition to music, I also enjoy...

Anna is a San Francisco Bay Area native. A professional drummer for over ten years, Anna has performed, recorded and toured with countless groups of various music styles. Her education includes a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley (where she was a member of the Cal Band for four years), and Certificates in Commercial Music and Recording Arts from Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA.

Anna is not only known throughout the United States as a drummer, but also as a concert producer, live sound engineer, record producer, booking agent, tour manager, web designer, graphic designer and instructor. Her teaching experience ranges from preschool education to private instruction to high school drum line. Anna is the director of Music Time Academy, a music lessons/recording studio and retail store in Livermore, CA. Anna is also the owner of Smiling Politely Presents (a production company that has produced hundreds of local shows in the Bay Area) and HellaButtons.com (a...

With over 9 years of private teaching experience, Nicolas is known for his ability to teach a range of styles to a variety of instruments, focusing on the interests of the students. Nicolas holds a BM in String Bass performance as well as Music Ed. certification. Nicolas also plays and teaches guitar and electric bass. Performances include regional symphonies, jazz combos, dance bands and rock groups.

I have nearly 40 years experience as a professional pianist, piano teacher, and music director for theatres choral groups, and churches. I love to play ragtime, boogie-woogie, early jazz, 50's rock, and Broadway. I have been passionate about the piano since I was a toddler. My car is decorated with a keyboard design!

CÉSAR C.

PERFORMANCES - Carnegie Hall ∙ Atlanta Symphony Summer Pops ∙ Montreux Jazz Festival ∙ Int’l Music Festival of Mexico City ∙ Newport Folk Festival ∙ New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival ∙ Old First Concerts

Artists performed with include:
Joan Baez ∙ Rita Moreno ∙ Thelma Houston ∙ Liliane Montevecchi ∙ Mercedes Sosa ∙ cellist: Ron Leonard ∙ mezzo-soprano: Janice Felty

MUSICAL DIRECTOR/CONDUCTOR

• BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE, “Life Without Makeup”, starring Rita Moreno, Berkeley, CA (2011)
Musical Director/Pianist/Arranger

• PALAZZO - Germany, Holland, and Austria (2006 – Present)
Musical Director/Arranger/Composer

•DIABLO THEATRE COMPANY, “My Way”, Dean Lesher Center, Walnut Creek, CA (2012)
Musical Director/Pianist

•TEATRO ZINZANNI - San Francisco, CA (2001 – 2006)
Musical Director/Pianist/Arranger
•JOAN BAEZ
Performances throughout USA, Europe,...