Travis yee

Berklee College of Music

Travis is a guitarist, songwriter, and producer native to the Bay Area. Travis grew up immersed in the blues music scene playing with local legends like Lisa Kindred and Austin De Lone, eventually travelling to Boston to attend Berklee where he studied with guitarists Shaun Michaud and Norm Zocher. His journey through guitar led him to work with a wide variety of musical minds and styles that informed his art, music and pedagogy. In addition to teaching he writes and performs his own music and audiovisual art under the moniker Tarot Frank

A word from Travis: 

“My approach as a professional artist and musician gives me a unique perspective towards the world of guitar and how it connects to music as a whole. My mission in our lessons is to meet you where you're at and further develop within you that sense of curiosity, excitement and confidence that will drive your relationship with your instrument. Wherever you are along the path there's always something new to discover, and as a teacher, I live for those vicarious 'a-ha' moments that I share with my students."

Specialties: Rock, Folk, Country, Blues & Pop

Garrett Barley

University of California, Berkeley

Garrett has spent over a decade honing his skills as a performer, session musician, and teacher. He received his Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music from U.C. Berkeley, where he had the opportunity to study with internationally renowned performers and composers, Myra Melford and Ben Goldberg. In addition to being an in-demand teacher, Garrett also records and tours with his band, The Breathing Room.

A word from Garrett: 

“My passion for teaching revolves around sharing the joy of music with others. I place emphasis on exposing my students to different genres, and teach the history that coincides with these styles. Above all, I strive to equip my students with the skills necessary to fully appreciate and enjoy playing music for life.”

Specialities: Rock, Pop, R&B, Jazz, Funk, Country & Folk

Max Brody

California Jazz Conservatory

Max has been a private music teacher in the Bay Area for over ten years. He also has extensive experience performing and recording with a variety of different bands in styles including blues, jazz, rock and funk. His guitar playing was most recently featured on Bay Area singer Jamie Zee’s debut album and he’s currently working on writing and arranging music for his own debut album, a collection of acoustic guitar compositions inspired by jazz harmony and traditional folk guitar styles. Max studied jazz guitar at the California Jazz Conservatory.

A word from Max: 

“With every student, my first priority is that they’re having fun learning the music that they love. That’s why I’ve designed a flexible curriculum that covers fundamental musical concepts including theory, rhythm and tone production using both assigned music and music chosen by the student. More than anything, my passion is helping you grow into the unique musician that only YOU can be."

Specialities: Folk, Jazz, Blues, Pop, Rock & Funk

Robert castillo

University of California Berkeley

Robert is a multi instrumentalist with a focus in guitar. He has recorded and toured the world extensively with Grammy winning artists, as well as having worked in major film, TV composing and scoring sessions. The genres and styles he is able to draw from and bring to the table are diverse and many. Robert has had the opportunity to learn and gain a strong musical education from several high level professionals and academics in the Los Angeles area. His studies bring real world experience regarding the many aspects of live performance and studio recording.

A word from Robert:

“My goal with every student is to engage with them in the learning process. I want to figure out the best approach to having them gain the skills they want to learn, and teach those skills in a manner that is fun and makes sense. I have a curriculum of strong fundamentals that I use with every student , but I also highly encourage the student to pick songs they want to learn so they can enjoy the process in a way that is clearly relatable. In the end, I want to explore music with my students and discover the “aha” and magic moments that come from learning something new.”

Specialities: Rock, Pop, Brazilian, Blues & Classical

Alec Sloane

University of the Pacific

Alec is an Oakland-born composer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and educator. Initially embarking on his musical path as a singer-songwriter, Alec discovered his love for classical music as a young adult, and pursued his Bachelor of Music degree in Composition at the University of the Pacific. Alec’s works are greatly inspired by the spectral school of composition, and focus heavily on creating timbral landscapes inhabited by strong melodic characters. Keeping up with his first passion, Alec still regularly performs as a singer-songwriter and has released both solo EPs as well as albums with his duo, Big Brave Dog.

A word from Alec:

“As a teacher, it is my belief that everyone can get something out of playing music! Whether it is for fun, creative expression, or a professional pursuit, music enriches all of our lives. No one ever said “I wish I’d never learned guitar” We can work together to find what version of playing is right for you!”

Specialties: Classical, Folk, Finger-style, Classic Rock & Blues

Dr. Ian Rowe

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Ian is an award-winning classical guitarist and teacher. As a concert artist, Ian has been lauded by critics and audiences alike, with his solo concerts and appearances with orchestras taking him to three continents and over a dozen countries. Ian completed his graduate degrees at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he studied with David Tanenbaum and Sergio Assad.

A word from Ian: 

“When I started this guitar school, I wanted to foster a community of guitarists who love to listen to, play, and perform music. No matter their goals, age, or style, my priority it to ensure my students have the tools necessary to be independent and thoughtful players. My aim isn’t just to make better players, but players who love what they do.”

Specialties: Classical, Rock, Metal, Blues & Pop

Emery Barter

Oberlin Conservatory

Emery has been an Oakland-based guitarist and teacher for a decade and a half. He studied jazz guitar with Bobby Ferrazza at Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, and after earning his degree and relocating to the Bay Area, studied voice with renowned San Francisco Opera singer and educator Claudine Spindt. He has recorded and toured with many groups as a guitarist, bassist and vocalist, and is equally at home in the studio producing, performing, recording and mixing.

A word from Emery: 

“As a teacher my goal is always to help each student explore their own path. Everyone has different interests and learning styles, and my role is to help each individual develop their ear and abilities to allow them to ultimately direct their own musical journey. To that end, my aim is to demystify technique and theory, emphasizing the surprisingly simple and practical skills that professionals use to hear, understand and communicate about music."

Specialities: Bluegrass, Blues, Folk, Funk, Jazz, Pop, Rock & R&B

Zach Gamble

California Jazz Conservatory

Zach is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer specializing in Jazz guitar. Since picking up a guitar for the first time at the age of 9, he has studied, performed, and written music from various additional genres including Rock, Blues, Folk, Reggae, and Neo-Soul. During his time in the undergraduate program at the California Jazz Conservatory, Zach had the honor of studying with some of the greatest musicians in the Bay Area and beyond, from whom he draws his pedagogical influence. These include Romain Pilon, Liberty Ellman, Gilad Hekselman, Mimi Fox, Mike Zilber, and Dann Zinn.

A word from Zach: 

"The creation of music is an ability available to anyone at any age. Music itself has the power to offer both deeply personal as well as connective, community-oriented experiences and my personal approach to teaching draws from these perspectives. As a guitar/music teacher, I come from a foundation of play and personal exploration of our unique musical voices, working with students to establish and pursue their individual goals in whatever areas interest them. Whether it's learning to play acoustic guitar around a campfire or composing and recording multi-layered arrangements featuring you shredding on guitar, my goal is to serve your wants and needs as a beginner or expert musician.” 

Specialities: Jazz, Folk, Rock, Experimental/Electronic, Singer/Songwriter & Neo-Soul

Mark Sorensen

Berklee College of Music

Mark is a contemporary guitarist based in the Bay Area. Raised in Berkeley, he has been performing in the East Bay for nearly two decades. Having worked as a classroom music educator, Mark brings a unique and focused approach to guitar instruction. He has played with numerous groups in a wide variety of genres spanning traditional to cutting-edge. Mark is currently the lead guitarist in Channel The Suns, a progressive rock group with 3 albums released.

A word from Mark:

“Learning guitar is a journey. I aim to create roadmaps that take the mystery out of playing the guitar and make the journey fun. In my lessons, we study guitar fundamentals alongside music the student is passionate about. I always emphasize enjoyment in learning, and love to investigate what makes a song great. My goal in teaching is to provide the tools for long-term appreciation and exploration of music.”

Specialities: Rock, Fusion, Metal, Blues & Lead Guitar