Skip to main content
image of Jess M.

Guitar with Jess M.

Sunnyvale, California

4.8
(106)
Background check
Teaches online
Teaches all skill levels
Age: 10+
Speaks English, Japanese
Teaching since 2006
Bachelors of Music Education with Honors
  • 1 Repeated Students

Learn how to develop as a guitar player and apply general music skills to a variety of situations.

Beginner Learn the basics of rhythm and tonality so you can play the music you're most interested in. Intermediate Learn about common variations of the tonalities you already know and start to venture into more complex rhythm ideas like polyrhythms. Also start to build the chops to learn parts more accurately when learning songs. Advanced Expand into more complex polyrhythms as well as asymmetrical meters. Also expand harmony and melody to include modes and chromaticism. Push your skills through original creations or original arrangements of existing material.

Instructor details

Location:
Teacher's Studio
Teacher's Studio
SEE MAP
S Pastoria Ave
Teaches Online
Teaches Online

Teaching Hours

Monday
12 PM-1 PM
Tuesday
12 PM-2 PM
Wednesday
12 PM-4 PM
Thursday
12 PM-1:30 PM
2 PM-2:30 PM
3 PM-4 PM
4:30 PM-5:30 PM
Friday
3 PM-4 PM
Saturday
11:30 AM-12:30 PM
3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Sunday
10 AM-11 AM
2:30 PM-3 PM
Times are shown in your local timezone (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Pricing
30 minutes
$70
60 minutes
$130

About Jess M.

4.8
(106)
*Disclaimer* I'm currently not taking beginner students for bass, drums, piano, and ukulele or children under 10 years old. I highly recommend my studio partner Melissa though. Please check out her profile: https://takelessons.com/profile/melissa-m62 My Background I've been playing with classical ensembles and rock bands since 2001. Even though I started on classical trombone and rock guitar, I have come to expand my repertoire to a variety of instruments and genres. During my time in college I performed with the University choir, orchestra, and band. I also have organized, wrote/arranged for, and performed with a variety of bands in my home state of New Mexico, as well as Japan, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 2006 I have been an active teacher. This profession has taken me everywhere from working with classical guitar classes in New Mexico high schools to Elementary students in Japan to a variety of private students of various musical instruments and genres everywhere I've been. Since relocating to the Bay Area in 2010, I've had the pleasure of working with lots of great students from kids to adults with a wide range of ambitions. Since 2012 I've been running my own full time studio. Philosophy of Learning Lessons are generally designed to work towards giving students the tools to accomplish their goals and become increasingly independent over time. While all students will study similar fundamentals regarding technique, theory, and performance, every lesson is as different as every person. What kind of music do you want to make? I'll tell you what you need to do to get there, and help you take the steps to achieve your aspirations. It's really important to know though that everyone makes their own experience. The process of learning music involves you learning as much about your own mind and body as it does any external concepts, so please keep in mind only you can move yourself forward. I also love to help students put together a song, record, and produce it for them so that they can have a recording to share with their friends and family. I also hold events for my students. (Check out our pictures and videos below!) Younger students have opportunities to perform for friends and family at my studio every few months. Adult students also occasionally have events where they get a chance to get together and play music as well. Aside from in-studio lessons, students also have the option to sign up for online lessons via Zoom or the TakeLessons Classroom feature. (*Online lessons offered during different times than in-studio lessons.) *Unfortunately due to scheduling issues, I'm not currently accepting students for bi-weekly lessons. I can do regular weekly lessons, or occasional drop-in lessons, but bi-weekly appointments make it really hard for me to give the best scheduled times to my existing weekly students. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. My studio is equipped with: *Music Stands *A P.A. System *Vocal and instrument microphones *Guitars, Basses, Ukulele, Banjos, etc *Two guitar amps and a bass amp *Various percussion including a fully equipped acoustic drum set *An electric piano console and Yamaha organ *A MicroKorg Synthesizer *A Tuba, Trombone, Cornet, Saxophone, and Flute *An extensive physical and virtual music library *A recording system that students are not only welcome to use but encouraged to *HD Webcam and condenser microphone for high fidelity online lessons via Zoom
ReviewsWrite a review
5
88%
4
10%
3
0%
2
2%
1
0%
4.8
106 Reviews
Daniel
Teacher's studio
I took guitar lessons (adult learner) with Jess for a few months over the summer of 2023. Sadly had to put lessons on hold because of schedule issues on my end. Jess was an excellent teacher with well demonstrated mastery of the material. I got to practice a lot of useful exercises that felt well paced for my learning level. The variety of the exercises never left me bored and gave me good practice with different topics, from rhythm to music theory. The studio space was very comfortable and welcoming
Posted Jan 4, 2024
Senna
Teacher's studio
I felt very safe and comfortable in the accepting and non-judgmental environment. I was able to use my voice to sing without getting anxious.
Posted Feb 10, 2023
Yuko
Teacher's studio
Jesse is engaging, kind and you can tell he’s very experienced at teaching different levels in a patient manner. Highly recommend!
Posted Apr 28, 2022
112233...3636Next >Next >

Experience

Owner

Jan, 2011 - Present

MTS - Musician Training Solutions

I started my own music education service in the Bay Area in 2011. I started by offering in-home lessons and eventually expanded to opening a studio for individual lessons as well as band classes, workshops, and summer camps.

Instructor

Jan, 2011 - May, 2014

The Riekes Center For Human Enhancement

When I first moved to the Bay Area one of the first contracts I landed was as an aide for a month long rock band class offered in conjunction between The Riekes Center and The Summit School District. Since then, I worked with Riekes Center on many occasions for music classes, camps, special workshops, and one-on-one classes.

Teacher

Nov, 2010 - Present

TakeLessons

I've been working with TakeLessons since the fall of 2010. I've worked as an in-home, in-studio, and online teacher for a variety of subjects. I've also been appointed as a member of of the TakeLessons Teacher Advisory Panel and as a Team Administrator for their Google Helpouts initiative.

English Teacher

Apr, 2009 - Mar, 2010

RCS

For the 2009-2010 school year I taught English at four public elementary schools in Takaski-city, Gunma-Prefecture in Japan. During this time I planned curriculums for a wide variety of classes. Students ranged from 1st grade to 6th grade, and some groups would have weekly classes while others would only have about 3 classes over the course of a year. My classes were often built on participation, games, music, and movement.

Education

Bachelors of Music Education with Honors

Aug, 2004 - Dec, 2008

New Mexico State University

Certifications

Level 1 Orff Schulwerk Certification

Jul, 2008

American Orff-Schulwerk Association

Orff Schulwerk is a method of music education designed by Carl Orff. It focuses on learning through organic methods of approaching music and movement.

Languages

Japanese

Limited Proficiency

English

Native Proficiency

Private Lessons

  • 1:1 lessons with a trusted instructor
  • 300+ subjects to choose from
  • Meet online or in person
  • Free on-demand videos and articles