Berkeley Music Lessons

rs, bass, microphone, recording, and music notation software

*** Travel Equipment ***
I will provide music sheets, recordings if needed, I expect them to have their instrument, recorder to record the lesson if they want to, pencil and eraser. I will sometimes ask them to buy a book if necessary.

*** Specialties ***
My lessons focus first on understanding the instrument by playing simple melodies. Each lesson, the student learn a new musical concept by learning a new song. For more advanced players, I can teach to play solo guitar; how to harmonize the melody with chords. I can also coach students who are interested in singing and playing.

isco Bay Area in various rock, country, and blues bands as well as playing solo acoustic performances at local coffee houses.

I have been teaching private guitar lessons for 20 years and piano for 10.I like to keep learning fun! I am a very patient, compassionate teacher who will come up with creative ways to explain/demonstrate something new.

*** Lesson Details ***
Music is the most fun activity that people of all ages can enjoy. And learning how to play music should be fun too! When students inquire about taking lessons from me I always ask, "What do you want to learn?" I try to keep students interested by showing them things they want to learn. I also believe in teaching the basics. Whether you want to take piano or guitar lessons I believe you should learn basic musicianship which includes learning to read simple notes and where those notes are on your instrument, rhythm concepts, and tempo. It's easier than you think! The more you know the more you can teach yourself later on, and the more you can collaborate with other musicians.

After 3 or 6 months of taking lessons with me, students will be able to read basic music notation. They will be able to play songs either by their choosing or mine, they will have self-confidence to play songs in front of an audience/friends, and they will have the knowledge to figure out how to play songs on their own.

*** Specialties ***
I studied classical guitar at Cal State Hayward and have taught different finger picking styles as well as genres such as pop and country.

stinguished pianist Mack McCray, and finished her Master's degree in piano performance in 2011. Yang received scholarships from both famous institutions.

Yang actively performed in Bay Area and China. Since 11 years old, She has given performances many times at Changzhou Red Star Symphony hall, XingHai Recital Hall, XingHai Symphony hall, SFCM concert hall, Osher Salon, SFCM Recital Hall, and San Francisco Music Academy Recital Hall, San Francisco community of music. Yang also won the first prize in “SanDu” piano competition in ChangZhou, 2004, the young pianist competition in “Nanjinbei” 1999, Guangdong province “Shaude”pianist competition in 2009, and third place in the German young pianist competition in 2009. She also has attended several national piano music festivals and master classes in China and U.S.

practice is crucial if you are looking to advance in your craft.

I always hope to open the eyes of my students and teach that confidence, determination and hard work can not only progress them in learning an instrument, but with most skills in life. Most importantly I never want my students to feel that music is a burden! I want them to always enjoy themselves when they are practicing or performing.

I don't provide instruments or the accessories that go along with it, so please be prepared to have those things before our first lesson. I may also provide a list of sheet music to order after our first lesson if I feel we do not have the necessary materials.

I only travel to homes in the city of San Francisco. If you live outside of the city in the Bay Area, you are more then welcome to find a time to come to my studio for lessons.

I'm also unable to teach beginners online (via Skype), as I believe it is vital to have an instructor in the room in order to make physical adjustments to maintain proper bow hold, posture, and left hand positioning. I'm more than happy to teach intermediate-advanced students online.

My Performance Bio:

Sam N. is a native born South Dakotan who began his viola studies at the age of ten. He began taking private lessons at the age of fourteen with his teacher Carol Knowles. Eventually, he continued his studies in South Dakota with San Francisco Conservatory alumni Kate Weeks. Sam is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he studied with Jodi Levitz. He has participated in master classes with Helen Callus, Jay Liu, Jonathan Vinocour, Jerzy Kosmala, Hank Dutt, William Goodwin, Jackie Schwandt, and Kelly Hall-Tompkins. Mr. N. was the principle violist of the South Dakota All State Orchestra from 2007-2009, principle violist of the J. Laiten Weed Honors Orchestra from 2008-2010, and a member of the Black Hills Symphony from 2006-2010. In 2008, he was the 1st prize winner of the Lucy Palermo Weed String Competition, and won South Dakota's ASTA viola division. Two years later, he received the Henry Charles Smith Award in the SDSO's Young Musician's Competition, and also claimed 2nd prize in the BHSO's Young Artist Competition. In 2011-2012, he was also invited in to the Orlando Chamber Soloists Apprentice Program. Sam is also the former principle violist of the San Francisco Youth Orchestra which toured Germany in the summer of 2012. Featured performances took place in the concert halls at the Gastieg in Munich and Berlin Philharmonic and at the Rheingau Musik Festival. In 2013-2014 Sam was the principle violist of the San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra. He currently performs all around the Bay Area as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. His main mission is to revive interest in Western Art Music so that is once again accessible to the every day human.

rything from basic chording to advanced theory and technique, with a focus on the mechanics of the instrument. Topics covered include rhythm and technique studies, chord and scale theory, chord progressions, songwriting, musicality and performance, and improvisation. These topics are studied at a rate commensurate with the studentʼs ability.

in a live internet teaching business, something he has maintained consistently for the last 11 years going, since 2007.

Steve takes a direct approach to teaching one to one lessons, assessing a student’s goals and abilities, and designing a personalized program for them, as well as providing email correspondence between lessons and all material used during the lesson in pdf and audio/video format.

Former lead guitarist for Vicious Rumors (1995-1999), Testament (1999-2004), Dragonlord (2000-2005), Nevermore (2002-2007), and Forbidden (2009-2012), currently busy with his own band One Machine (2014-present), as well as progressive rock fusion duo The EssenEss Project (1993-present), and is STILL a member of the Bay Area’s longest running Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne tribute, Sweet Leaf (1994-present)!

A former columnist for Guitar World Magazine (co-writer of Merchants Of Menace column with Jeff Loomis across 2006), Steve has occasionally written for GuitarWorld, amongst other sites, and also released an instructional series of lessons on JamPlay back in 2011, Steve has returned to the Bay Area to teach once again, and continues to expand his resume in both the performance/recording and educational areas.

powerment workshops and church conferences throughout the Bay Area. Taking it from the church house to the opera house; from gospel to opera are just two genres she can't love more. Adia also enjoys teaching voice and song writing as well. She strives to uplift others through positive music that inspires and brings light in every situation.