San Francisco, CA Music Performance Lessons

I am also fortunate to work with screenwriters.
I strive to collaborate with my artists to make sure they are out working in the industry. And they are.
I work in the San Francisco Bay Area, LA and Online. I am available to travel. I offer artistic and industry assistance at no additional charge. When you study acting / singing performance w/ me you'll also learn about the BUSINESS OF SHOW BUSINESS.
We will work on technique, audition technique, monologues, scene work, as well study all aspects of acting and singing performance in order to prepare you for where you want to be as an artist.
Actors and Singers
Auditions!!
They are definitely the most difficult and nerve wracking part of being an actor or singer, right? Booking work means your audition has to be as good as opening night.
Auditioning is about preparation and preparation takes consistent support. Look, showbiz is not a business about being alone. Artists thrive when working together. We are a collaborative bunch and collaborating to make sure you're ready and organized for your auditions makes sense.
Stop trying to muscle through this necessary step alone. No one who works consistently does that! They ask for help. ASK FOR HELP!!
Solidify your acting choices so you don't have to worry about them the day before your audition. Know your prep so you can internally drop into it when the casting director says, "Whenever you're ready."
Have your music material and performance choices prepared ahead of time.
BE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
Work with me when your agent sends you your sides so you show up READY. Know your lines. It's OK if your struggling with memorization.
Let's figure out How YOU memorize.
Let me coach you for online audition submissions.
If we are working virtually I will coach while you are taping yourself to submit your online audition. It works!
Let me collaborate with on script analysis in order for you to you understand your material before you audition.
Take your work seriously so you bring your most intelligent and inspiring work to the audition rooms.
You'll be bringing the agents, casting directors, directors, producers and writers the inspiration they crave regarding their beloved projects. Do that and you're gonna book.
I know you can work and I can't wait to make it happen with you.  
About Kathryn
Kathryn is a member of the Sag-Aftra and Actors Equity and BMI and is a Critics Circle Award Winner.
Kathryn has worked with such legends as Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ben Vereen, Word Baker, who directed the first a one-act version of “The Fantastics” and then the historic two-act show, Sandy Duncan, Loretta Lynn, Flip Wilson. She studied at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and HB Studio in New York City.
For Parents of Minor:
I'm available to help you understand this somewhat confusing industry.
Vocal Coaching Available - Vocal Coaching
Music Performance - Technique and Performance- songwriting

About Kathryn and Music

KATHRYN K is a soulful singer and prolific songwriter.
You can find more about Kathryn's music and her life story, which has allowed her to be of service to many, in national and local media, including: The Oakland Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Jose Mercury News, Broadway World, Reader's Digest, NPR, The Gil Gross Show, The Montel Williams Show, and The Mancow Muller Show, NPR and Woman Magazine, UK.
Kathryn has released a video and CD with Multi - Grammy winning producer and drummer, Narada Michael Walden, Tarpan Records in Marin County, Ca. Walden says, "Kat is bringing the message of hope, light, love and faith to people's lives." Walden says. "I am proud of her and her divine mission."
Gil Gross, Host The Gil Gross Show –Radio, ABC "I have loved Kathryn's music from the day I first heard her sing, but even being a fan of her recordings did not prepare me for seeing her perform live. She is a great live performer holding her audience willing captives to each turn of a melody and the drama of every lyric. She more than sings. She inhabits a song and involves each member of the audience in its drama, joy or sorrow. There are performers for whom a performance is a night out. When Kathryn performs it’s a lifetime shared with us in a single evening. If you want to merely hear some tunes, there are many people who will do. If you want a real experience in music, there is Kathryn.
Kathryn's latest show is being created with director David Ford (Marsh Theatre) and Kevin Gerzevitz and her concerts features a who’s who list of world-renowned musicians: Gerzevitz and Grammy-Nominated Bassist, Michael Manring; Album of the Year Winner, Trumpeter, Jeff Oster; Master Percussionist, Joe Venegoni; Guitar Virtuoso, Tom Lattanand; Critically Acclaimed Pianist, Kelly Park; Celebrated Flutist, Barbara Else; and from the Steve Winwood Band, Brazilian-born Drummer, Celso Alberti.
Kathryn has played a variety of venues, including the renowned Yoshi's Oakland Jazz Club, the Bitter End and Symphony Space in New York City, the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, the Plush Room and the Fairmont in San Francisco, as well as Mill Valley's premier showcase, the Throckmorton Theatre, Theatre on the Square, the Beacon Theatre, Great American Music Hall,The Mint, The Fairmont, to name a few. She has Cd's at all outlets.

his passion with my students.

*** Lesson Details ***
I am familiar with the major piano methods, but rather than slavishly following one method, I prefer to adapt my teaching approach and pace to the needs and personality of each student, using whatever material is best suited for them. I ensure my students can read the notes they are playing, and thoroughly understand the rhythms, so they can become independent musicians. I also emphasize playing musically, even at beginning level, so they can enjoy and understand the music immediately. My students also have the opportunity to play in student recitals twice per year.

I can teach in English or French, using either letter name notes or the solfege method (do re mi).

*** Specialties ***
Classical piano (all periods) and chamber music
Broadway musicals and popular song music
I am specialized in preparing students for the internationally recognized ABRSM Grade exams.
I am familiar with most popular piano methods such as Faber and Faber, Alfred, Denes Agays, John Thompson and Bastien, and Dozen a Day for technique, and use them when I feel it is appropriate for the particular student.

as directed special week-long drum and percussion focused ensemble productions at Drake High School and Marin Academy and was Music Director at Cascade Canyon (K-8) School for two years where he directed variety shows and produced scores for the drama department. In his teaching practice all ages are welcome and all levels including: beginners, intermediate students, advanced players, and professionals.

*** Lesson Details ***
My approach to drum lessons is simple. I want my students to be excited about every stage of the process. I want to be as productive as possible with each student and want the lessons to be fun and focused.
I want beginning students to learn the essentials of good posture, correct hand positions or grips (how to hold the sticks in matched and military grip), how to best use their hands and feet to get around the drumset and to then develop a solid foundation of applicable rudiments, rhythms and patterns. In fact,
I have master drumset rudiments that help facilitate fluid movement around the drums in all directions. My studio is equipped with a top level TAMA drumset with Zildjian cymbals, congas, timbales, hand percussion, piano, vibes, excellent recording and listening equipment and speakers.
I provide the necessary foundations of rudiments, rhythms, patterns and grooves. Then I show how to combine these essentials to the drumset. I combine these developments with essential reading studies so the student learns to read drum music and charts from the very beginning.
I find out what kind of music the student listens to and likes and then I will use some of the more familiar tracks by those artists to help the student apply each pattern stylistically into actual arrangements…like a guitar teacher would teach some scales and chords, then apply them to actual songs. That way the student will remember the different patterns and remained engaged in the process. It’s a “see, say and do” approach.
I have a saying that I use: “FREEDOM follows FUNCTION and function follows FORM.” First you learn the forms (rudiments, rhythms and patterns). Then, with practice, you become functional with the forms, rhythm patterns and combinations. Then you are free to use everything you learn as it relates to the music. Your are “free” to create and improvise both alone and with others.

Within six month my students will have a firm grasp of essential rudiments, rhythms, patterns, sticking, single and double bass drumset techniques and be reading charts for the drumset.
Later on, as part of the student’s development, I will introduce them to different styles of music including jazz, African, Afro-Cuban, Latin and Brazilian rhythms and patterns so that the student becomes a well-rounded player.

*** Studio Equipment ***
My Private Studio is on the first floor of my house: there is a six-piece professional series TAMA drumset and an assortment of K. and A. Zildjian cymbals, a piano, set of vibes, timbales, congas, bongos, djembe and a variety of hand percussion. There are additional chairs to sit on, Parents are welcome to sit in on lessons.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Five and six piece drum sets, hard cases, three congas with cases, bongos in a hard case, timbales in a hard case, trap case for stands, cymbal case and stick bag.

*** Specialties ***
Trapset all styles, African djembe and shekere, Latin congas and timbales, Indian tablas.

ce in their own musicianship. They discover the music within themselves, while learning the technique necessary to be the best musicians they can be.

I enjoy teaching high school, middle school, and elementary students as well as adults. I Love teaching beginners. I am trained in vocal pedagogy, music theory, music history, repertoire, performance practice and methods.

My formal education:
B.A., UC, Berkeley (Phi Beta Kappa)
M.A., Occidental College
M.S. Pepperdine University
Lifetime General Secondary Teaching Credential

Teachers and mentors:
Howard Swan, Mary Jones, Edward Lawton, Robert Commanday, Roger Wagner, Linda Anderson, Boyd Jarrell, Paul Smith.

In the last twenty years, I have enjoyed being a participant in music at the College of Marin, through choral, vocal, opera and piano classes. I currently serve as volunteer assistant to the Director of Choral Activities.

I am particularly proud of my experience as instructional aide and coach for music students with disabilities at the College of Marin, including students with developmental disabilities and autism.

Past classroom experience:
Long Beach Unified School District, Choral Music Teacher
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Choral Music Teacher
Low Heywood School and King School (prep schools), Stamford, CT, Choral Music Teacher

*** Lesson Details ***
Voice students can expect to learn how to produce tone beautifully, using correct posture and breathing, and proper vowel production, rhythmic precision, pitch accuracy, carefully formed phrases, and musical and stylistic interpretation. But beyond technique is the amazing art of communicating with other people the wonders of the music. You should expect to make good progress in all of these areas in just a few weeks. I hope you will come with serious interest in developing your beautiful voice.

Repertoire might include folk songs, art songs and arias from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras, as well as compositions of the 20th and 21st centuries. Songs might be in English, or possibly in Italian, Latin, German or French, if you interested. We would sit down together and decide what dreams and goals you have, and then choose music to get you going down the path to those dreams and goals.

You can expect to have learned several new songs, and to have brought them to performance level in the first 3-6 months. If you have a goal to learn music for an audition, contest or festival, that can happen.

Piano students can expect to learn everything about the keyboard, posture, proper use right and left hands, scales, chords, arpeggios, and fun exercises leading to good technique, rhythmic accuracy, speed and fluency. Playing beautifully, with artfulness and expressiveness will be priorities.

Repertoire might include beginning to intermediate compositions from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras, as well as compositions of the 20th and 21st centuries. We would sit down together and decide what pieces to choose which would help you get on a path to your musical dreams and goals, and what would be appropriate for your age and development as a musician.

You can expect to be playing pieces with 2 hands within a few weeks, and perhaps a melody with chords, if you are a beginner. Degree of difficulty will depend upon your age, experience and development, but even very simple songs can be played musically, with grace.

Of utmost importance to me is that every student learn to read music, and develop an understanding of music fundamentals. The level of sophistication will depend upon age and experience, but learning good musicianship is essential. At the same time, opportunities for creativity to develop through improvisation could be on the horizon for you. It is important to me that you want to learn and and want to become the best you can be.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I have a piano and computer with Finale at my home. I provide music and practice sheets, etc.

*** Specialties ***
For voice, I teach classical style, including posture, breathing, tone production, vowel production, phrasing, diction, appropriate style and performance practice, and music reading. Materials I use include everything from folk songs to arias, and 16th century to contemporary compositions, in English, Italian, Latin, French and German. Voice is my primary interest. I am also competent to teach beginning theory, and beginning piano, both classical and standard popular, including improvisation from charts (melody, chords).

ce and compose music for myself and other artists as well.

I look forward to getting to know you!

ng music theory and composition at Ex’pression College in Emeryville. This is a digital production environment for the arts, and my students come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are musicians/aspiring musicians, and some are primarily interested in working with technology; but all are audio enthusiasts and love music!

*** Lesson Details ***
Whether you are a complete beginner or have been playing gigs for years, are very young or old, I have something to offer you!

How we structure lessons depends in part on you and your goals, as well as your learning style. Having taught music for over 15 years, I have a large amount of resources at my disposal, and can either teach from a method book, or a variety of materials, some of which are my own creations.

I also like to use technology as a teaching aid, and can show you how to use your own computer, keyboard, or music production application (garageband, etc) to practice and create music at home. Another thing that I offer is to make recordings of key parts of the lesson, either as an audio or video file, or both. These can be shared with you through email, dropbox, or a flash drive if you bring one along to your lesson.

Please contact TakeLessons if you have any further questions! I look forward to meeting and working with you or your child.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Home studio: Front room with computer station, guitars, music stand. Waiting area with couches and table, and parents can sit in on lessons. Street parking available, no pets.

College: practice rooms and classrooms available with computers and MIDI controllers.

*** Specialties ***
On guitar and bass, I have experience in world music including Africa, Latin America, and Flamenco. I also love American traditional music, including funk, jazz, rock, and gospel. I specialize in teaching music theory and composition, no matter what instrument. Rhythmic concepts applied to any instrument are a favorite topic.

eet music, and playing songs. I tailor my lessons to the student so it's fun for both of us.

The styles I teach are: rock (classic, indie, punk) folk, pop, reggae/ska funk, blues, r&b, country, some finger-picking, and a bit of classical. I can teach you any song you want to play whether it's rap, rock hip-hop or a piano piece. I will find a way to do it and make it fun. :-)

My style is easy going, but not lackadaisical. I take teaching seriously and do my best to make the student feel comfortable. I give my students weekly assignments that I ask them to complete. However, if a student doesn't work on their assignment, I don't criticize or condemn them. I go over the assignment with them and gently remind them to play and work on the materials I've given.

I love teaching, music, and sharing my gifts with others.

Thanks and I look forward to working with you!
Cheers,
Judy G. aka Groovy Judy

*** Lesson Details ***
Lessons are once a week. Payment is due at the time of the lesson. Package rates are available upon availability.

*** Studio Equipment ***
2 guitar amps, a guitar stand, a music stand, mp3 player, a lava lamp and some cool rock posters 

*** Travel Equipment ***
acoustic and electric guitars, music stand, small amp, mp3 player and lots of cool music ***Please note - I'm located on the Peninsula, so the areas I serve are: Millbrae, Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Atherton & Menlo Park.***

*** Specialties ***
I love rock, pop, folk, funk, fingerpicking and the blues. I teach all of those styles and songs by great artists such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Ed Sheeran, Jason Mraz, Taylor Swift, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Sly & The Family Stone, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton and many more.

cademic competitions, and was awarded the Triangle Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Musical and the North Carolina State University’s Theatre Endowment Award for Best Male Lead.

Dan is an alum of Broadway Theatre Project and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. He has directed, music directed, choreographed and starred in several theatrical productions and benefit concerts across the country for a variety of national nonprofits. He dreams of owning his own nonprofit healing and performing arts center in San Francisco.

Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Lived in: New York, NY
Current City: San Francisco, CA

Quote: “Everything starts with the decision and passion to succeed. Let’s unleash your potential and share your gift with the world!”

Top 10 artists: Luciano Pavarotti, Eva Cassidy, Samuel Barber, Jennifer Hudson, Frederic Chopin, Whitney Houston, Jason Robert Brown, Heather Headley, Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Sondheim.

practice is crucial if you are looking to advance in your craft. In my experience, if you do not commit, or put in individual practice, you will not see results.

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.

*IN REGARDS TO THE "ASK A QUESTION BUTTON"*
Please refrain from using this button unless you are truly interested in lessons with me, live in the city of San Francisco, and your question cannot be answered by my profile information. If you have questions about payment, please contact the TakeLessons support team as I do not deal with payment directly. This saves me a lot of time that I need for other aspects of my life, and shortens my daily to-do list. Thank you for your understanding.

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.