Teachers
Teachers
Tommy O'Mahony
Lessons | Teachers | FAQ | Policies | Contact Us Genres: Rock, Pop, and moreInstruments: Bass, Guitar, UkuleleAvailable Days: Wednesdays in San RafaelContact: tommyomahonybass@gmail.com Lesson Rates 30 min : $5045 min : $7060 min : $90 Schedule a lesson with Tommy Book a Lesson About Tommy O'Mahony Tommy O’Mahony is a professional musician and educator with 15+ years of experience in playing and teaching. Tommy is a Marin native and graduate of the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley with a Bachelors Degree in music, with an emphasis on Upright and Electric Bass. At the California Jazz Conservatory he studied under greats like Kai Eckhardt, Mark Levine and many others, as well as playing in the advanced jazz ensemble.Tommy currently splits his time playing in many bands around the Bay Area. One band of note is Soul Ska, Pacific Sun's “Best Band of the Year” for the last 2 years in a row. Tommy has performed with all kinds of artists from Bob Weir to Angelo Moore.Tommy has experience teaching music theory and ear training as well as several different instruments. In his instrumental lessons, he can teach specific playing techniques or just help you learn songs. Need help booking a lesson? Email lessons@bananas.com or call us at (415) 457-7600 x 104
Pete Madsen
Lessons | Teachers | FAQ | Policies | Contact Us Genres: Fingerstyle (acoustic) Blues, Slide guitar, Electric Blues, Rock, Surf, FunkAges: Children 10+ and AdultsAvailable Days: Fridays in San RafaelContact: buzzyfrets@yahoo.com or (510) 708-8874 Lesson Rates 30 min : $4545 min : $6560 min : $80 Schedule a lesson with Pete Book a Lesson About Pete Madsen Pete Madsen is an award winning (GGBS Best Duo 2018) acoustic blues, ragtime and slide guitarist from the San Francisco Bay Area who blends Kottke-esque virtuosity with thoughtful writing skills to produce wonderful guitar excursions. He has shared the stage with Kelly Joe Phelps, Alex DeGrassi, Peppino D’Agostino and many other incredible acoustic musicians. He performs mainly in the Bay Area and has played at the Freight & Salvage, Jupiter, Pt. Reyes Station House, and has taught and performed at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival. His performances include songs from the greats—Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Blake, John Fahey—as well as many original songs inspired by traditional blues and modern fingerstyle guitar. In addition to performing, Pete is a well-respected guitar teacher and writes regularly for Acoustic Guitar Magazine. He has written eight books of guitar instruction, including A Guide to Acoustic Blues Guitar, A Guide to Bottleneck Slide Guitar, Improvisation and Variations for Fingerstyle Blues Guitar, The CAGED System for Guitar, and Play the Blues Like.… He can be seen at his very popular classes in Berkeley at Timbre Folk (801 Bancroft st, Berkeley, CA 94710). LESSONS Lessons for beginners through advanced. Children and adults welcome! Pete specializes in acoustic blues fingerstyle and bottleneck slide guitar. But he is also well versed in many styles including rock, funk, surf, classic rock, early jazz and electric blues. He has been a part of the Bay Area music scene for over 25 years. Lessons are fun, informative and thoroughly professional. Students receive written music, TAB and mp3 files to study from. Pete has also put many of the songs he teaches on YouTube. You can check out more at his website here: https://petemadsenguitar.com/home Need help booking a lesson? Email lessons@bananas.com or text us at (415) 457-7600
Dylan Juhan
Lessons | Teachers | FAQ | Policies | Contact Us Genres: Jazz, Orchestral, Blues, Rock, Funk, AmericanaSpecialties: Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, VoiceAges: Students of all AgesAvailable Days: Saturdays - OnlineContact: dylanjuhan@gmail.com or (760) 419-5303 Lesson Rates 30 min : $5045 min: $7060 min : $85 Schedule a lesson with Dylan Book a Lesson About Dylan Juhan Dylan teaches Acoustic guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Upright Bass, Voice, Oboe, French Horn, Trumpet, and Songwriting/Music Theory to students of all ages. Born in Los Angeles and raised in San Diego, Dylan Juhan began playing classical, jazz, funk, and rock music in various middle and high school bands. Starting on oboe, Dylan gradually added bass guitar, guitar, french horn, ukulele, trumpet, euphonium, and upright bass to the list of instruments that they play. They trained under the renowned San Diego bassist Gunnar Biggs before studying at UC Irvine under a conservatory faculty including the Jazz Program Director and legendary pianist Kei Akagi and under the private tutelage of virtuoso bassist Darek Oleszkiewicz. Dylan also worked as a luthier at the San Diego County Music Exchange in Vista CA for several years during and after their undergraduate studies. Dylan now resides in Santa Rosa CA with their wife Katie, and continues to perform, teach, and record. Dylan has over 10 years of performance experience at wineries, weddings, private parties, musical theaters, taprooms, and more. Dylan specializes in upright bass, especially jazz, and has worked with musicians and bands including but not limited to: Spike Sikes, Michael Gold, Stephanie Ozer, Randy Vincent, Kendrick Freeman, Gary Zellerbach, Stax City, Alan Early, Ben Prentice, Laura Ochikubo, Nicholas Maldonado, Jack Perry, Koosha Hakimi, Devin Norris, Dan Imhoff, Jacob Philip Benning, Timothy O’Neil, and Brian Baudoin. You can check out more at his website here: dylanjuhan.com Need help booking a lesson? Email lessons@bananas.com
Lindsay Everly
Lessons | Teachers | FAQ | Policies | Contact Us Genres: Classical, Jazz, Rock, PopAges: Children 6+ and Teens/Young AdultsSpecialties: Piano, Voice, and SongwritingAvailable Days: Monday - Thursday in San RafaelContact: lessons@bananas.com Lesson Rates 30 min : $5045 min : $6560 min : $80 Schedule a lesson with Lindsay Please reach out to lessons@bananas.com for availability and scheduling. Lindsay's schedule is very full but openings during the summer may become available soon. About Lindsay Everly Lindsay has dedicated her life’s work to music education, performing and the music industry. Her diverse background as an On-Air radio personality in alt rock, completing her masters degree in the UK, studying and teaching in Ghana and performing at venues across the U.S. has benefited students in many ways. She believes in cultivating the individual talents and interests of students, while laying a strong foundation of essential skills that will serve them no matter what musical direction they take down the road. She teaches classical & jazz piano, rock/pop voice and songwriting. She has eight plus years of experience in private instruction and classroom teaching and loves what she does! She performs regularly at Johnny Foley’s Dueling Pianos in downtown San Francisco and for other dueling piano companies across the country. She also writes and releases original music. Need help booking a lesson? Email lessons@bananas.com or call us at (415) 457-7600 x 104
Angeline Saris
Lessons | Teachers | FAQ | Policies | Contact Us Genres: All GenresSpecialties: Electric BassAvailable Days: Mondays Lesson Rates 30 min : $6560 min : $125 Schedule a lesson with Angeline Angeline currently has a wait list for scheduling. Please reach out to lessons@bananas.com. About Angeline Saris Angeline Saris is a master instructor with over 20 years of private instruction experience and an exceptional depth of real-world performance. She is a bass player, songwriter, and educator whose career highlights include touring with Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer Todd Rundgren and guitar virtuoso Adrian Belew on the 2022 Celebration of Bowie Tour, with Grammy Award-winning producer and drummer Narada Michael Walden, jazz-ska-reggae legend Ernest Ranglin, and all-female Zeppelin tribute Zepparella. Most recently, she appeared on Carlos Santana’s new album Sentient, joined JGB’s organist Melvin Seals with the Joe Marcinek Band, and celebrated the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary with Stu Allen for Jerry Day. In 2024, she joined Jay Lane and the Mayhem (Dead and Co.) for a series of live performances to kick off his new solo project. In addition to being a first-call touring and session bassist, Angeline also writes, releases, and performs original music with her band, Angeline and the Snack Machine. Angeline has been featured in several publications, including Bass Player magazine and Guitar Girl magazine, and has appeared on the cover of Bass Musician magazine and Bass Quarterly magazine. When not out performing or in the studio recording, Angeline works as an educator and has taught at the prestigious Warwick Bass Camp in Germany, the National Guitar Workshop, as a demonstrator for Hal Leonard educational material, and as a private instructor. Angeline’s teaching focuses on making learning fun and engaging while also including solid musical theory. As she likes to point out, the iconic guitar line in “My Girl” is simply a major pentatonic scale — proof that students often learn theory without even realizing it. Drawing on her years of experience and in-depth mastery of the bass, she tailors each lesson to meet each student's individual learning needs. Angeline welcomes players of all levels and ages — her only requirement is an inspired curiosity and a commitment to regular practice. Angeline is proudly endorsed by Fender, GHS Strings, MONO cases, West Coast Pedal Boards, Get’m Get’m Straps, Warwick, and Marleaux Basses. To learn more, please visit her website at www.angelinesaris.com. Need help booking a lesson? Email lessons@bananas.com or text us at (415) 457-7600
Vince Littleton
Lessons | Teachers | FAQ | Policies | Contact Us Genres: All GenresSpecialties: Kids 9yo+, Teens, AdultsAvailable: Wednesdays in San Rafael Contact: vincelittleton@hotmail.com or 415-377-6770 Lesson Rates 30 min : $5060 min : $100 Schedule a lesson with Vince Please reach out to Vince through the contact info above before booking your first lesson. Thank you! Book a Lesson About Vince Littleton Vince Littleton has been teaching drum lessons in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly 15 years. Some of Vince's students now have active careers in music; others learned just for the fun of playing the drums. Besides teaching privately, Vince has worked with drum and bugle corps, middle school, high school and college marching percussion, symphonic percussion, and percussion ensembles. Vince is a methodical and patient instructor who enjoys working with people of all ages, at all playing levels. He combines his own methods with those he learned from the great instructors he has had since childhood. Vince still continues to learn about the vast world of music and percussion, and enjoys sharing this knowledge with his students. Vince currently plays drums professionally doing freelance work, as well as as a studio musician, and with the band Super Diamond. Visit Vince's website, www.vincemusic.com, for more information. Need help booking a lesson? Email lessons@bananas.com or call us at (415) 457-7600 x 104
Michael Price
Lessons | Teachers | FAQ | Policies | Contact Us Genres: All GenresTeaches: Guitar, Bass, and PianoSpecialties: Improvisation, Jazz/Rock/Pop theoryAvailable Days: Mon - Thurs in San RafaelContact: reallygoodmusiclessons@gmail.com Lesson Rates 30 min : $5045 min : $6560 min : $80 Schedule a lesson with Michael Book a Lesson About Michael Price Current performance projects as leader or sideman include Lulu & The Rent Party, Fantastic Fourth Street Quartet, Surfer Roma, Lonestar Retrobates, The American Alley Cats, and The New Moldy Figs. Various other groups, theater shows, school affiliations, and pickup bands round out a typical monthly schedule. Michael was especially honored to be the bassist for Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks 2012-2016. Musical parents – his mother a piano teacher and his father a blues/rock guitarist – gave Michael an early inspiration to create music and a wide exposure to musical styles. His musical path became a full time occupation when he formed a band with his friends in the fledgling Sonoma County “Jam Band” scene circa 1990-94. He went on to study Jazz and Classical music at Santa Rosa Junior College, Cabrillo College, UC Santa Cruz, Ali Akbar College of Music, and San Jose State University, acquiring various certificates and degrees along the way. But his primary education came from learning on the job in the various Jazz bands, show bands, dance bands, symphonic orchestras, pit orchestras, jam sessions, and of course from the recordings and performances of the masters who came before. Michael began teaching guitar around 1995, and immediately recognized that it was a valuable gift to be able to help aspiring musicians learn and grow. He has taught piano and guitar as a primary occupation (along with performing) for more than 10 years in Marin County, solid references on request. Michael’s approach to teaching music is generally focused on fundamentals, proper technique, and fluency in the language of music. A wide variety of materials and repertoire can be used, and older or more advanced students are encouraged to bring pieces that they are interested in. Improvisation, Jazz/Rock/Pop theory, traditional Western music theory, and musical etiquette are topics that come up if there is interest or demonstrated need. Need help booking a lesson? Email lessons@bananas.com or call us at (415) 457-7600 x 104
Josh Zee
Lessons | Teachers | FAQ | Policies | Contact Us Genres: All GenresInstruments: Guitar & BassSpecialties: Rock, Blues, CountryAges: 10yo +Available Days: Thurs and Sat in San RafaelContact: joshzee77@gmail.com Lesson Rates 30 min : $5560 min : $85 Schedule a lesson with Josh Book a Lesson Meet Josh Zee Josh Zee has been playing for over thirty years, is a major label recording artist, session player, touring musician and has been teaching for over 15 years. Josh has recorded 2 major label records on the SONY/Work label as the singer/guitarist and songwriter for the Rock group "Protein". They toured extensively throughout the U.S. on "The Warped Tour" and also toured Europe and Japan as part of MTV Asia Summer Fest. Josh’s next original band, "the Mother Truckers", has released 4 albums, toured all over the country and Europe, and have played along side such acts as Willie Nelson, Hank Williams 3, The Old 97’s, The Avett Brothers, the Supersuckers and many more. He also currently plays with The Whiskey Sisters and Mojo Rising, just to name a few. Josh has been written up in many national publications including frequent features in Guitar Player Magazine. Josh has many production and arrangement credits on the albums of other artists as well. “…this guy is still the best-kept secret in the blues-based country-fried universe!” - Matt Blackett, GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE Check out Josh playing with Nikki Six here Need help booking a lesson? Email lessons@bananas.com or call us at (415) 457-7600 x 104
Dana Miller
Lessons | Teachers | FAQ | Policies | Contact Us Genres: All GenresSpecialties: Students of all agesAvailable: Sun, Mon, Tue, Fri, Saturdays in San RafaelContact: 1drumjitsu@gmail.com or 415-521-8989 Lesson Rates 30 min : $5560 min: $100 Schedule a lesson with Dana Book a Lesson About Dana Miller Dana has been teaching students of all ages and levels for over 10 years. He has been a working professional drummer for over 20 years and brings that experience to his students. Having studied with drumming masters such as Chuck Brown and Pete Magadini, among others, Dana has developed a very natural, efficient approach to technique on the drum set. This technique ensures the student has a solid foundation on which to develop his/her playing. The focus is on good technique followed by an organized approach to developing coordination and creativity on the drums. Students of all levels and ages are welcome. For younger students, the focus is on building good practice habits and reading fundamentals (a skill they can use on any instrument they play), along with a fun atmosphere in which to learn. Need help booking a lesson? Email lessons@bananas.com or call us at (415) 457-7600 x 104
Cole Tate
Lessons | Teachers | FAQ | Policies | Contact Us Genres: All GenresInstrument: Guitar & UkuleleSpecialties: Rock & BluesAvailable Days: Mondays in San RafaelContact: coletate1@yahoo.com Lesson Rates 30 min : $6060 min : $120 Schedule a lesson with Cole Book a Lesson About Cole Tate Greetings Marin County friends and neighbors! For over 25 years, I have been teaching acoustic and electric guitar, ukulele and beginning bass, as well as music theory, songwriting and stage performance to students of all ages and skill levels, and I absolutely love doing it!Most of my students like learning the styles of classic and contemporary rock, pop, folk and country. I work with kids and beginners as well as all skill levels and am very good at helping people overcome the challenges of singing and playing at the same time.I am a band leader, singer/songwriter, a former recording studio owner/engineer/producer, have toured extensively and placed songs with other artists as well as in movies and television shows.I look forward to working with you and supporting you on your musical journey! www.coletateband.com What is the best advice you would give to an established player? “Keep challenging yourself to keep learning, there is always some technique or style you haven’t mastered! An example of that for me is slide guitar, I have had a blast adding bottleneck slide to my skill set.” Need help booking a lesson? Email lessons@bananas.com or call us at (415) 457-7600 x 104
