Music Lessons
Lesson Format
We offer weekly one-on-one 30-minute lessons in a reserved time slot. This gives our students enough time to practice and be ready to build upon what they learned the previous week. All of our teachers begin working with new students by establishing their goals, as well as the kind of music they want to learn, to create a personalized lesson plan. 45min, 60min and every other week lessons are also possible. Let us know your needs.
Instruction plus
Your instructor will make recommendations on books, accessories (e.g. metronome, tuner, music stand, recording device, etc.) and instruments as needed. We keep most of these materials in stock for purchase, and encourage students to request items not in our inventory to staff. If we don’t have it in stock, we’ll find it!
Lesson Policy Form
Monthly rates
$175/month* for Credit/Debit, Venmo, PayPal & Auto payments
($5 monthly discount for Cash & Check payments)
*First month requires an additional security deposit of $43.75.
For questions about lessons, email us!
Meet Our Teachers
Jess Barbosa
(All levels) piano(beginner) ukulele
Jess started teaching music as a teen in 2000 after getting recruited by her piano teacher. She taught beginner lessons at Peabody Music Box all throughout high school and two years of art school. She has taught ever since, and toured across the country as a performing musician.
Erin Rivero
(All levels) clarinetErin Rivero began learning clarinet in elementary school and went on to become a public high school instrumental and vocal music teacher. Her ensemble and classroom teaching experience includes jazz band, wind symphony, string orchestra, guitar, music theory, and women's choir. She earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from Chapman University, where she was the principal clarinetist and concert mistress for the conservatory's chamber orchestra and wind symphony.
Erin's teaching practice focuses on student-centered goals, instrument-specific technique, literacy and sight reading, breath work, tonal development, repertoire expansion, and above all, learning how to enjoy both practice and performance so that music is neither a chore nor a cause for anxiety. As a lifelong musician and educator, Erin believes in balancing seriousness of purpose with not taking ourselves too seriously. In addition to the clarinet, she sings and plays guitar, ukulele, piano, and recorder. She is currently a librarian and engages in casual community performance settings including the Terrible Adult Chamber Orchestra in Los Altos, CA.
Jeff Tamelier
(All levels) guitarJeff Tamelier is a renowned guitarist, producer, educator and author. He recorded and toured with Starship and Eddie Money. He is known globally for his work with Tower of Power, not only as a guitarist and songwriter, but as a clinician for Fender and Dunlop. His critically acclaimed Hal Leonard-released book, Funk Guitar featuring Jeff Tamelier of Tower of Power, remains in print 20 years later and selling worldwide. He has had an acclaimed instructional video on Arlen Roth’s Hot Licks catalog. Since 2007, Jeff has served as president and CEO of Track Shack Recording Studios and Productions, in Sacramento, where he continues to produce music of all genres. His production on 2010’s Gigatone Music’s parody release “Barracks Greatest Hits“ was Grammy nominated.
Gabe Katz
(All levels) drumsGabe has been drumming for 30+ years and teaching for 15+ years. He has an alternative teaching style that caters to the individual needs of his students. He has a fun approach to teaching and focuses on techniques to bring out personal style. Gabe’s musical background is mostly in rock, punk, and avant-garde, and he incorporates elements from many genres to help students find their voice. Gabe enjoys drumming and loves to share that joy with others.
Pete Feltman (teaches at 5951 College Ave Oakland)
(All levels) banjo (all but tenor), guitar, harmonica(beginner & intermediate) ukulele, voice, mandolin
A singer-songwriter, Pete loves to play, teach and talk about music, regardless of genre or tradition. He has been singing all his life, playing piano for over 30 years, and strings for 20. He strives to help his students discover their own voice, in melody and word, so they can express their ideas with confidence in tone and feel. He currently plays banjo with Westcoast Wildfire and The Gravel Spreaders. He also serves as the Director of Music Ministry at the College Ave Presbyterian Church.
Eli Streich
(All levels) DrumsEli was raised in a family of musicians and educators. At the age of six, he began studying the drumset and has stuck with it ever since. He holds a diploma from Oakland School For The Arts with an emphasis on instrumental music, as well as a Bachelor of Music from Sonoma State University, with a focus on Jazz Studies. Aside from working as a music teacher and freelance musician, Eli also regularly gigs in the Bay Area DIY circuit with local art-rock outfit Gumby’s Junk. Eli’s goal as a teacher is to not only develop technical ability behind the kit, but to also foster creativity and enthusiasm for music!
Marzuki Grinage
(All levels) voice, piano, guitar, bass, and music production & beat making
Marzuki has over 20 years combined experience studying and teaching the world-renowned Speech Level Singing Technique created by Seth Riggs (used by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Prince, Ozzy Osbourne, Barbra Streisand and over 135 Grammy Award Winners.)
Other experience includes being mentored by his father Bassist Les Grinage (Odetta, Taj Mahal, Earl “Fatha” Hines, Mingus, Bill Evans) guitar lessons with Nils Frykdahl (Acid Rain, Idiot Flesh, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Faun Fables, Free Salamander Exhibit) Music Theory at Laney College, Jazz Composition, Theory, Harmony, Arranging and Ear Training with Jim Grantham (Berklee College of Music, San Francisco State) Bass with Kai Eckhardt (John Mclaughlin) Drums with Alan Hall (Berklee, The Jazz School) Production, Engineering, Songwriting and Certification from The Music Recording Industry Program at San Francisco State University.
Marzuki’s highlights include performing and or recording with members of Santana, Sly And The Family Stone, Graham Central Station, The James Brown Band, The Wailers among others and Vocal Coaching Grammy Winner H.E.R. (Gabi Wilson) for her breakthrough performances of Alicia Keys “If I Ain’t Got You” on the Maury Povich Show and The Today Show.
Graham Pratzner
(All Levels) piano, guitar, violin
(Beginner) trumpet
Graham is a multi instrumentalist, singer songwriter and leader of Bay Area Indie rock band Whiskerman. Born into a musical family, Patzner studied classically since 5 years old. He attended Rutgers University for the Mason Gross conservatory for theater and blends his musical training and theater training into an experience that is uniquely instinctual and expressive. Ever chameleonic, Patzner can cross multiple musical genres in both improvisation and composition.
Powerful songs, emotional and energetic live shows and a signature soulful voice have made Patzner a staple in the sf Bay Area music scene for over 10 years. After making 4 albums with Whiskerman, Patzner released a solo record, "Ballads". Patzner has opened for notable acts such as Jesca Hoop and Jon Batiste and worked with producers Tony Berg and Jeff Saltzman. Patzner recently released "Kingdom Illusion" through Whiskerman and continues to release singles through his solo project.
Daniel McFadden
(All levels) Saxophone and flute(beginner/intermediate) piano/keyboards
Daniel started his musical training at 6 when he began taking piano lessons here in Oakland. He started playing saxophone in his middle school band in the renowned Edna Brewer music program. Since returning to Oakland after graduating from college, he has been playing saxophone and flute professionally with a variety of local groups. He specializes in jazz, funk, soul, and rnb but has some background in classical training and music theory. Daniel is constantly learning new things and loves spreading his love of music to others. He specializes in saxophone and flute, but can also be found playing piano and organ regularly! He takes an ear training and improvisational approach to music lessons, but also recognizes the importance of being able to read music. His interests outside of music include science education, outdoor sports, and cooking!
Laura Burnett
(All levels) Piano
(beginner/intermediate) ukulele, viola
I studied both piano (Classic) and viola (Suzuki method) from age eight through eighteen. For piano, I completed Certificate of Merits, received the National Guild of Piano Teachers High School Diploma, and competed in Bach Festivals.
In viola, I played in the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra through High School. In undergraduate, I played viola on the UCSD Symphony Orchestra and received a minor in music performance. I am self taught in guitar and ukulele. I’ve been teaching over 10 years.
I love teaching music and it has turned into the most enjoyable second career for me. I love finding exactly how to help each student overcome something with which they are struggling. I also work very hard to read my students in order to provide the optimum learning curve to avoid frustration or boredom. Additionally, I enjoy working with each student to choose pieces that keep them engaged as they develop their skills and talents.
Richard Stuverud
(All levels) drums, keyboard, vocals
Known for playing in several bands in the Seattle scene, his first was the punk rock band The Fastbacks.[3] Through the mid-90s, Stuverud played in the bands Three Fish and Tres Mts.,[4] both side projects of Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament.[5] Three Fish released the albums Three Fish (1996) and The Quiet Table (1999), through Epic Records. The album Tres Mts. (Three Mountains), with Doug Pinnick of King's X and guest guitarist Mike McCready, was released in 2011. Pearl Jam's 2011 box set, Vitalogy, includes the previously-unreleased demo version of "Nothingman" with Stuverud on drums. Richard also works on his solo material.
David Glasebrook
(All levels) audio engineering(beginner/intermediate) voice, guitar, bass guitar, fingerstyle guitar including alternate tunings, theory, composition
David is renowned as a producer, engineer, and session musician, having worked live and in the studio with artists ranging from Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Peter Case, to indie bands such as Sugar Candy Mountain, to legendary poet and songwriter Patti Smith.
David has been making music for as long as he can remember. As a young child he began singing, playing piano, and studying clarinet. By age 10 he had started playing guitar, by age 13 he was writing songs and playing in his own band, and within the next few years he was a working musician both in the studio and on-stage.
In addition to guitar, David has studied vocal performance, bass guitar, piano, clarinet, tenor sax, songwriting, producing, and engineering. He has studied both privately and at the collegiate level at the University of Indianapolis and Santa Monica College.
As a teacher David likes to balance ear training and theory with learning new techniques and helping each student discover their own “voice”. David specializes in voice, beginning guitar, intermediate guitar, bass guitar, fingerstyle guitar including alternate tunings, theory, composition, and audio engineering.
Nora Free
(All levels) all woodwind instruments (sax, flute, clarinet, oboe) and jazz improvisationNora Free is a jazz saxophonist, composer, educator, and experimental improvisor based in Oakland, California.
Previously an active member of the NYC jazz scene and a frequent studio musician, she has played with Macy Gray, Tony Allen, Bobby Few, Rasul Siddik, Ichiro One, and Lawrence “Butch” Morris; and has performed as an opening act for David Murray, Geri Allen, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, David “Fathead” Newman, and many others. Nora has appeared domestically and abroad at: the Blue Note (NYC), Smoke Jazz Club (NYC), The Bitter End (NYC) Le Poisson Rouge (NYC), Z’avant garde (Paris), The UPercut Jazz Club (Marseille), Upstairs Jazz Room (Montreal), the Rex Theater (Pittsburgh PA), The Herbst Theater “Raw Dance” (San Francisco) the Sheboygan Music Festival (2015), JazzFest Berlin (2011), and Jazz à Liège (2011), the Rochester International Jazz Festival (2009).
She holds degrees in saxophone performance and composition from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Pittsburgh, respectively.
Nora has lectured in jazz history and theory at the University of Pittsburgh, where she was a fellowship recipient. She has also taught classes in improvisation and music composition in the US and abroad.
Owen Kelley
(All levels) ukulele
(beginner) electric bass, and guitar
Owen began playing guitar at age 11, going on to study jazz and classical guitar at the Capital University of Columbus, Ohio. As a teacher, Owen strives to balance fun with learning new concepts like sight reading, theory, chord progression and improv. He loves all rock and pop music, but holds a special place for modern rock, blues and jazz. Since moving to Oakland, in 2010, he has performed locally and nationally, and currently appears in the bands Cash Pony, Talkies, and Fine Points. In addition to his tutelage at Mountain Music, Owen accompanies voice classes (guitar/piano) at the Studio Grand Group.
Paris King
(All levels) guitar, ukulele, music theory, sound engineering, modular synthesis, and songwriting
Paris formally became a music teacher in 2021, although he has taught music for 30 years. He specializes in guitar and ukulele. Paris believes the hallmark of a great teacher is that each of their students learns to play in their own unique voice. This is why in his teaching he emphasizes proper technique, as well as music theory and rhythmic studies. He also finds it important to expose students to historical musical styles specifically geared toward the student's areas of interest. As a student, he has studied North Indian classical music with Ali Akbar Khan, West African drums with Moshe Milan, piano with Gary Schwantes, music theory with Mondre Moffett, classical bass with Alex Glickman (formally of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra), and jazz guitar with Calvin Keys, Jack Eskridge, and Anthony Michael Peterson. Professionally, he has performed Carribean music as guitarist for Jr. Toots for 10+ years.