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

Availability: Saturday and Sunday

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

Availability: Thursday

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

Availability: Monday and Wednesday

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, and Classical

Availability: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

Michael flory

California State University East Bay

Michael is a Bay Area native who has been performing and teaching for over 10 years. After spending his formative musical years traveling and performing in metal bands, he craved a deeper understanding of music. This desire brought him to Cal State East Bay where he received his Bachelors of Music under the mentorship of jazz guitarist Nick Tocco and composer Inés Thiebaut. Since graduating, Michael has been teaching full-time as a private instructor and has played for audiences across the U.S. and Europe. These days he likes to spend his free time studying film music and performing with his wife in their band Cartilage.

A word from Michael:

“Everyone learns differently and I come to every lesson knowing that I must adapt to the needs of every person as an individual and as a musician. I focus on creating specialized lessons for my students with an emphasis on technique, music theory, and repertoire, all while maintaining a fun and engaging rapport. Nothing has been more rewarding than seeing my students' talents mature and grow.”

Specialities: Rock, Metal, Blues, Pop, Jazz, and R&B

Availability: Saturday

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

Availability: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

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, and R&B

Availability: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday

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, and Lead Guitar

Availability: Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday

Michael barach

University of California, Berkeley

Michael Is a Berkeley based musician and teacher. As a performer, he has played at high production music festivals including Lightning in a Bottle and Desertica Festival in Mexico. At U.C. Berkeley, Michael studied music and psychology and graduated with high honors. During his time at Berkeley he studied with renowned jazz musicians including Myra Melford, Frank Martin, Liberty Ellman, Ben Goldberg, and Kai Eckhardt among others. Michael performs with multiple jazz ensembles and rock bands throughout the bay. He also has 7 years of experience teaching private guitar and bass lessons.

A Word from Michael 

”As a teacher, my goal is to make the process of learning the guitar not only educational but also fun and engaging. I am committed to recognizing and accommodating the diverse range of learning styles, individual goals, and prior experience that each student brings to the table. My approach to the curriculum is tailored to suit the unique needs of each student, ensuring that the material is not only relevant but also resonates with their specific musical aspirations. Whether you are just starting out or have been playing for years, I look forward to meeting you where you’re at.”

Specialities: Jazz, Rock, Funk, Blues, and Pop