I have been in many performing groups, from rock to metal to folk to jazz. I have background in original composition; I sing backup vocals and have experience with production. I have recorded with a number of groups in different genres. I am currently recording an album with Radio Mystery (indie/rock); I also perform with a European Cafe band, Due Zighi Baci, and with a folk trio, the Kyle Martin Band.

My background: I began studying orchestral percussion at age 7 and received my first drum set at age 8. I then studied drums with Mike Brennan, learning the fundamentals of reading, coordination and independence, rhythmic ear training, etc, and continued to work with him until age 16, when he told me it was time to take the next step as he had taught me everything he knew. I went on to study with Tom Hayashi, focusing on funk and jazz. In 2004, I was accepted to the University of California at Santa Cruz and began taking private lessons with George Marsh (who played with John...

I have been playing guitar, bass and keyboards for 15 years. I have played in numerous bands including the Pyronauts, a Sacramento area based instrumental surf band. From 2001-2004, I attended Chico State University where I received my B.A. in Music/Recording Arts and have also worked as an engineer on a variety of recording projects, including albums, demo projects and jingles. I want to pass on to my students the love of music and recording that I have.

San Francisco Bay area competition winner 1966, 1st place for strings
Concertmaster of the Sonoma County Youth Symphony, 1968
Member of the Santa Rosa Symphony 1966 - 1970

Founder and Director of the Allegro String Trio - with over 45 performances a year, we are the premiere string ensemble in the beautiful California wine country.

Sonoma State University
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Adult Extension Division
Childhood teacher, Bernice Goldman, studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music along with Isaac Stern from their teacher, Naom Blinder.
Adult teacher, William Barbini, studied with Galamian at Eastman and several other teachers at Juilliard, including the co-concertmaster of the legendary NBC Orchestra under the direction of Arturo Toscanini. Mr. Barbini performed with the New York Philharmonic for 28 years under the direction of Pierre Boulez and Zubin Mehta.

I will teach you the joy of performing along with the technique you need to...

I have been involved in music all of my life. As a child I played trumpet in band and sang in school and church choirs. My favorite movies were musicals and they still are my favorite. Music was my major in college, which included singing, dancing, acting and playing musical instruments. I like all types of music. As a school teacher, I taught 3rd. grade through high school, everything from band and choir to musical theater. I also taught private students, of all ages, piano, guitar, voice and most of the wind instruments.

Gailene E. has worked with some of the top musicians in New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Bay Area. Gailene's last demo, (featuring many of her close musician friends) "Suspended Animation" features:
Kevin Hayes--drums (Robert Cray Band, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison)
Rock Deadrick--percussion (Ben Harper,Tracy Chapman, Ziggy Marley)
Richard "Ozelle" Washington--bass (Robert Cray, Etta James, Keith Richards Band,)
Steve Kimock--guitar (Steve Kimock Band, Zero, Grateful Dead, Bob Weir, etc)
Vernon Black--bass (guitarist for Whitney Houston, Mariah Carrey, Herbie Hancock, Aretha, Babyface, Lionel Richie, Narada Michael Walden, etc, etc)
Jimmy Pugh--keyboard (Robert Cray Band, Rubicon, Todd Rundgren, Etta James, etc)
Eric Schramm--guitar (Neal Shon, Clarence Clemmons, Neil Diamond, Narada Michael Walden, Vernon Black, etc)
Keith Crossin-sax (Tommy Castro Band, Mary Wells, BAMMY house band, Lenny Williams, Albert Collins, etc ).
While living...

San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Vocal Performance Major
Napa School of Music, Private Vocal and Piano Instructor,
Napa School of Music, Director of Christmas Choir and Teen A Cappella Ensemble
Il Coro Bambine, Choral Director and Founder, Florence Italy
Berkeley Opera, Soprano
San Francisco Lyric Opera, Soprano
Tyrolean Opera Program, Young Artist
Sound of America National Honor Choir, (Voice of California,Soprano)
San Francisco Grammy Jazz Choir, Soprano
'Til Dawn A Cappella Group, member
Marin Children's Chorus Accompanist

I’ve played keyboards and sang professionally for the last 25 years. During that time my home has been in the San Francisco Bay Area but I have performed all over the country and have toured several times in Germany, Switzerland, and Japan. I’m a two time winner of the West Coast Songwriters “Song Of The Year Award” and I write music and lyrics as well as record and produce songs for myself and others.

Over those years I’ve developed a wealth of knowledge and experience that I’m very excited to share with my students. I want you to tell me what your musical dreams are and we will develop a plan to reach them and I will be honored to guide you there.

After graduating California Institute of the Arts with a multi-focus on several aspects of music including African dance, Indonesian gamelan, songwriting, recording, classical voice and piano, folk guitar, and more, Liz had the excellent opportunity to teach theater to a local musical theater summer youth program. All summer, she taught class sizes ranging from 10 to 26 students of the ages 5-10. Her initiative later led to being hired at this local community theater. Along with this theater teaching experience, she has been teaching piano and voice lessons for over six years. Her students have gone from knowing nothing about music to learning and performing entire pieces on their own. Liz knows that it is her place in the world to teach music and would love nothing more than make learning music a positive and fun experience for everyone.

My first musical memories are jamming with his father Robert (who plays guitar) in a make-shift garage music room in his hometown of San Diego. I soon discovered a love of and fascination with drumming that led me to pursue music as a lifelong passion.

In 2001 I received a B.A. in music from San Diego State University, where I studied classical theory, sang in choirs, took every jazz course available, and played in West African/South Indian drumming ensembles.

I have been playing popular guitar for well over 30 years and I remember just like it was yesterday how difficult it was to get started on my own and how frustrating it was trying to reach that next level of playing progress without a guide.

Back then I made a vow that if I ever learned how to play the guitar well, I would spend the rest of my life teaching whatever I could to anyone who felt the same way.

I am a performing guitarist who's constantly involved in amazing projects, which I think makes a huge difference compared to a "traditional" teacher grounded in a room. I spend practically every weekend on stage somewhere playing and singing with my pro band to great crowds all over Northern California and Nevada.
Whether you're a complete novice or intermediate guitar player, if you want to be able to play your guitar at jam sessions and parties with skill and confidence then I'm the coach you're looking for.

Together we'll discover what kind of music turns you on,...

I have been singing my entire life. I have taught all ages and levels and I love it. I can teach to you to sing. And if you already sing I can teach you to sing better than you ever thought possible because I will teach you to hook up your emotional life to your voice and we all know what feeling a song does for singing!
I believe every person has a place in my studio if they want to be there.
Just one thing about me. I'm really nice. I teach from a place of thinking anything is possible. I don't crush dreams. Why? Because I have been in show business so long that I know any thing IS possible! I can teach you to sing because if you have something to say there is a voice in you to say it!
I will coach your singing performance if you have a college or school or theatrical auditions. I've done them. I am generous with what I know. I have a lot of experience in performance, recording, songwriting, and film work and will help you in any way.
I studied with Jerry Hoover, a...

Rob (aka R.J.): Born in Detroit, Michigan, RJ studied r&b and jazz from Motown drummers and Funk Brothers Benny Benjamin and Uriel Jones. From the age of fifteen he played in rhythm & blues and jazz combos around Detroit. He then studied privately with Berklee School of Music drum maestro, Gene Stuart,studied with mallet studies with Mark Johnson and earned a Bachelors Degree from Michigan State University, moved to San Francisco and studied North Indian percussion and tabla with Zakir Hussain, trap set with jazz recording artists George Marsh. He is a consummate producer, performer, recording artist and teacher. He plays and teaches all styles of rhythm including jazz, funk, blues, rock, latin, and world fusion. He teaches drumset, congas, djembe, tabla, cajon and hand percussion. In addition to teaching privately, RJ has directed special week-long drum and percussion focused ensemble productions at Drake High School and Marin Academy and was Music Director at Cascade Canyon...