San Ramon
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

San Ramon

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School of Rock San Ramon
460 Montgomery Street
San Ramon, CA 94583
(925) 415-3340

Location Specifics

Located in the San Ramon Marketplace (corner of Alcosta & Bollinger Canyon).

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Hours
  • Monday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM - 6 PM

Music programs at School of Rock San Ramon combine one-on-one lessons with group band practices

School of Rock is happy to serve San Ramon and surrounding areas with quality music lessons from real, practicing musicians. We teach everything from singing to piano, bass guitar, drums, and songwriting. Students can develop their skills in popular local genres including pop, punk, metal, and indie in a supportive and encouraging learning environment. The bay area is steeped in rich music heritage; it's home to local legends such as Green Day, Santana, Grateful Dead, Counting Crows, Metallica, Exodus, Neil Young, and many, many more.

Programs we offer

Rock 101 music program in San Ramon for kids and beginners
Rock 101
Ages 8-13

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock San Ramon's top programs for kids and beginners. Students have one weekly group rehearsal where they learn to play classic rock songs that have been simplified for beginner musicians. Additionally, Rock 101 students in San Ramon have a weekly private music lesson with an instructor who helps them learn the concepts and skills behind their performance songs.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

Our music programs for kids in San Ramon are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock San Ramon who have participated in the Rookies program can move to our Rock 101 music program once they’re ready. Additionally, students (typically ages 8 to 13-years-old) can begin Rock 101 without any prior experience. The goal of this rock program is to quickly develop a basic competence on students’ chosen instruments before moving on to our famous Performance Program.

Performance music program for teens in San Ramon
Performance
Ages 8-18

The Performance Program at School of Rock San Ramon is our hallmark music program, where tens of thousands of students enroll each year. It consists of a weekly group rehearsal where kids and teens learn by playing rock music's most iconic songs with a band composed of their peers. Students are assigned songs and parts that are tailored to them based on their age, experience and ability to learn new skills and concepts. Students then work through their parts in weekly private music lessons, refining the skills and concepts that those songs introduce. The goal of this curriculum is to prepare kids and teens for live performances. Every few months, School of Rock San Ramon Performance Program students take the stage and play at local San Ramon music venues in front of a live audience.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

School of Rock San Ramon's music programs for kids and teens are designed to inspire by getting students on stage and performing. All of our other music education programs focus on readying students for our famous Performance Program. This is where students develop incredible musical skills. Performance Program students have often gone through our Rock 101 program first or have some previous basic music experience. These young musicians will have custom development plans outlined by their instructors with key concepts reinforced during private lessons and group rehearsals, all with the goal of performing live at a San Ramon music venue.

Rookies music program for children in San Ramon
Rookies
Ages 6-7

At School of Rock San Ramon, our music program for children with no previous musical experience (typically ages 6 to 7-years-old) is called Rookies. Rookies students have one weekly group music lesson where they learn fundamentals like chords, rhythm and song structure. Kids get to learn and experiment with multiple instruments so they can later decide which one they ultimately want to continue pursuing in Rock 101.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP LESSON
  • USE OF SIMPLIFIED ROCK INSTRUMENTS TO TEACH KIDS TO PLAY MUSIC

The Path to Take the Stage

All of our music programs are designed to inspire students to learn and develop a strong musical proficiency. At School of Rock San Ramon, younger students who are not ready for a more comprehensive program like Rock 101 can start in Rookies. Additionally, students who have completed the Little Wing program will progress into the Rookies music program. No prior musical experience is needed for Rookies. Once your child is ready for private music lessons (typically older than first or second graders), they will graduate into our Rock 101 program.

Songwriting
Age 12 and over

Our Songwriting program for kids and teens teaches the fundamentals of songwriting, arrangement and music theory, and helps students compose original works.  At School of Rock San Ramon, songwriting students receive one weekly private lesson where they learn concepts, technique and theory on an instrument of their choice. These principles are then applied in a weekly group lesson where students work together on songwriting exercises and lyrical workshops.  Every few months, Songwriting students take the stage to perform or band together to record their original songs.

What to Expect
  • 1 weekly private lesson
  • 1 weekly group lesson

The Path to Take the Stage

Our Songwriting program for kids and teens in San Ramon is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock San Ramon who have completed our Rock 101 program can move to our Songwriting program once they’re ready. Additionally, new students who have prior experience with and basic knowledge of an instrument can also begin Songwriting. The program culminates with a live showcase where students perform their original compositions in bands at a local music venue. Students taking the Songwriting Program online will remotely record their original songs to produce a demo of the class's music.

Remote student playing guitar
Online
All Ages

At School of Rock San Ramon, our students can take online, one-on-one music instruction from the comfort of their homes. We call this program School of Rock Remote. This online music program contains weekly one-on-one instruction conducted by our expert School of Rock instructors in a safe virtual lesson room.
 
Students will receive their training using our proprietary education program, The School of Rock Method™, which couples live video lessons with our proprietary Method App™, SongFirst Approach™ and Method Books™. 

What To Expect
  • ONE WEEKLY 1-ON-1 LESSON
  • LESSONS CONDUCTED USING SECURE VIDEO TECHNOLOGY

THE PATH TO TAKE THE STAGE

All of our music programs for kids, teens, and adults are designed to help students gain amazing musical proficiency. School of Rock’s online music lesson program is no exception. Online guitar lessons, online piano lessons, online drum lessons, online singing lessons and online bass guitar lessons are all offered through the School of Rock Remote online program.

Adult music program in San Ramon for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock San Ramon's Adult Program is for students over 18 years old who are looking to either improve their musical proficiency or pick up an instrument with no prior musical experience. As with most School of Rock music programs, the Adult Program uses a performance-based music education approach. This means the curriculum focuses on learning music concepts and applying them in a live performance setting. Our Adult Music Program includes one weekly private music lesson and a weekly group rehearsal. Every student at School of Rock San Ramon is placed in a band of fellow adults and then assigned specific songs as a way of learning key music concepts and skills. Adult students then take the stage to play at a live show in San Ramon.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

All of our music programs are designed to inspire by getting students on stage and performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency along the way. The School of Rock San Ramon Adult Program is open to all experience levels and each student will follow a customized learning plan developed by their instructor. Adult students will work together during rehearsal to prepare for a live performance at a real rock venue in San Ramon.

House Band program for gigging at local venues in San Ramon
House Band
Age 17 and Under

The School of Rock San Ramon House Band music program gives students under 18 the opportunity to join a gigging band composed of fellow musicians from their school. These students perform additional live shows throughout the year. All students in the Performance Program have the opportunity to audition for a spot in School of Rock San Ramon's House Band. Once selected, House Band members become leaders in their School of Rock community and perform live shows at CA rock venues throughout the year.

What To Expect
  • A GIGGING MUSICIAN'S EXPERIENCE
  • FREQUENT LIVE PERFORMANCES IN COMMUNITY

The Path to Take the Stage

Performance is the core of School of Rock's educational approach. Therefore, we create additional opportunities for students to perform on stages throughout San Ramon and the rest of CA. The House Band music program allows each school's most talented students the opportunity to join a band and play routinely in front of live audiences. Once a member, students will gain real music experience associated with gigging musicians and will become leaders and mentors inside the School of Rock community.

The AllStars national tour features the best child and teen musicians
AllStars
Age 17 and Under

The School of Rock AllStars Tour takes the very best students from around the world and sends them on a nationwide summer tour across the United States. Less than 1% of School of Rock students are selected each year to represent School of Rock as an AllStar. All Performance Program students are eligible to audition for this prestigious program. The intensive audition process starts off with video submissions followed by live auditions. Once selected, AllStar students will have an authentic touring experience including traveling on a tour bus, doing tour publicity and starring in nightly performances at famous venues and festivals during a two-week tour.

What To Expect
  • A MULTI-CITY, COUNTRY-WIDE MUSIC TOUR EXPERIENCE
  • PERFORMING ON SOME OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST FAMOUS STAGES IN THE WORLD

The Path to Take the Stage

Becoming an AllStar is the highest level of achievement for a School of Rock student. They play on legendary stages large and small, including The Knitting Factory, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Troubadour and Lollapalooza. AllStar students often go on to have accomplished careers in the music industry. Former AllStars have gone on to become touring artists, star in Broadway musicals, get signed to record deals, become finalists on talent competitions like "The Voice" and "American Idol" and have other notable roles in the music industry.

Music Lessons in San Ramon

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock San Ramon

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock San Ramon, we offer beginner guitar lessons for kids. Our expert guitar instructors guide your child from start to finish with private instruction and weekly group band rehearsals. Every instructor at School of Rock San Ramon is an experienced musician, and they emphasize foundational music theory and technique when teaching guitar lessons to kids. Unlike other San Ramon guitar lessons and programs, School of Rock is designed to get students performing in a band.

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Adults

It’s never too late to learn to play the guitar. Similar to our kids guitar lessons, School of Rock San Ramon's beginner guitar lessons for adults utilizes a performance-based curriculum. Our experienced instructors teach adult students through popular rock songs, and teach students to play guitar in a way that’s challenging and fun. We believe the best way to learn is by doing, which is why we combine weekly private guitar lessons with group band rehearsals. At School of Rock San Ramon, we teach beginner guitar lessons for adults in our Adult Program. This program gets students performing onstage at a local San Ramon venue.

Key Concepts
  • Technique
  • Solos
  • Chords
  • Theory

Intermediate to Advanced Guitar Lessons

As students gain skills and experience, we move them along to more challenging programs at higher skill levels. Intermediate and advanced students take the skills they learned in beginner guitar lessons, and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. School of Rock San Ramon offers advanced guitar lessons for kids and adults that teach by playing challenging classic rock songs and emphasize playing the guitar in a real music venue. Our San Ramon guitar teachers will work with each student to develop a custom learning plan.

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock San Ramon

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

School of Rock San Ramon is the best option for anyone looking to learn the drums. Our beginner drum lessons get kids behind the drum kit and on their way to taking the stage. That’s why at School of Rock San Ramon we combine private drum lessons for beginners with weekly band rehearsals—it prepares students to perform live. With years of experience teaching drums in San Ramon, our drum instructors teach beginner drum students core techniques, including how to groove, play rudiments and more.

Beginner Drum Lessons for Adults

Our drum lessons for adults are designed to accommodate all skill levels. At School of Rock San Ramon, our beginner drum lessons for adults are built for musicians with little to no experience. We teach adults using the same core performance-based education philosophy as our drum lessons for kids—performing with a band accelerates the learning process. Adult students will perform live at a venue in San Ramon. Unlike other San Ramon drum lessons for beginners, School of Rock combines private drum lessons with weekly band rehearsals so students are ready to play in front of real, live audiences.

Key Concepts
  • RUDIMENTS
  • TIME SIGNATURES
  • TECHNIQUE
  • GROOVE

Intermediate to Advanced Drum Lessons

More experienced to advanced drum students need a drum lesson curriculum that builds upon foundational skills and continues to grow musical proficiency. That’s why at School of Rock San Ramon, our drum lessons are customized for each student and his or her goals. Our San Ramon drum instructors integrate more complex techniques and concepts—intermediary grooves, shifts, meters and more—into a student's individual lessons and group band rehearsal, and will also select more difficult songs for his or her live performances.

 

Kid learns to sing at School of Rock San Ramon

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock San Ramon offers beginner singing lessons for kids. Our unique, performance-based approach develops students' musical proficiency by preparing them to perform live. At School of Rock San Ramon, our vocal coaches are practicing musicians who integrate key music fundamentals—breathing, posture and more—into a curriculum based on performing with a band. Each week, beginner singing students participate in a private singing lesson and a band rehearsal.

Beginner Singing Lessons for Adults

School of Rock San Ramon teaches adults how to sing in our innovative Adult Program. Students develop vocal skills at a challenging pace designed to help you see results with every singing lesson. Adult vocalists learn how to keep tempo, stay on-key and master advanced vocal techniques for a powerful and healthy voice. Our curriculum teaches students how to sing by using popular rock songs that emphasize key concepts. Each week, Adult Program students have a private singing lesson for beginners and group band rehearsal.

Key Concepts
  • TECHNIQUE
  • HARMONY
  • POWER
  • READING

Intermediate to Advanced Singing Lessons

At School of Rock San Ramon, our singing lessons for kids and adults are designed to help our students reach a high degree of musical proficiency. Intermediate and advanced singers take skills learned from previous singing lessons and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. Our advanced singing lessons teach students to sing by performing popular rock songs that illustrate a specific vocal concept or technique. We pair weekly private singing lessons with weekly band rehearsals with the goal of getting musicians to perform live in San Ramon.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock San Ramon

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock San Ramon offers beginner bass guitar lessons for kids that blend weekly private instruction with weekly band rehearsals. This performance-based approach results in a high level of musical proficiency because it engages and inspires students. Every School of Rock bass instructor is a practicing musician in San Ramon and teaches bass lessons for kids that get great results. Beginners learn to play bass guitar by using popular rock songs that illustrate key concepts and techniques.

Beginner Bass Lessons for Adults

Adults looking to learn bass guitar can enroll in School of Rock’s Adult Program. No experience is necessary in our beginner bass guitar lessons for adults. At School of Rock San Ramon, our experienced, local bass guitar instructors have the patience and skills to help adult students gain musical proficiency. As with all School of Rock music programs, our bass guitar lessons for adults ciriculum is performance-based, and include both weekly private instruction and weekly band rehearsals.

Key Concepts
  • GROOVE
  • TECHNIQUE
  • THEORY
  • TONE

Intermediate to Advanced Bass Lessons

Our intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons teach San Ramon students the skills they need to become the backbone of a band. Students take skills from previous bass lessons and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. At School of Rock San Ramon, our bass instructors use popular rock songs as a way of teaching students advanced concepts and techniques. We pair weekly private bass lessons with weekly band rehearsals to inspire and engage students throughout the learning process.

Kid learns to play piano at School of Rock San Ramon

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock we teach differently than other music schools in San Ramon. Our curriculum is performance-based, meaning that we prepare students to perform. Our piano lessons for beginners combine weekly private instruction with weekly band rehearsals. At School of Rock San Ramon, our beginner keyboard lessons for kids take key concepts and music fundamentals—finger placement, scales, key differentiation and more—and teach them through popular rock songs. This approach inspires and engages students, which results in attaining a high level of musical proficiency. Our piano teachers have years of experience teaching music in the San Ramon area, and know how to coach and motivate students of any skill level to play the keyboard.

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Adults

The School of Rock San Ramon Adult Program puts beginner keyboard students in a band. Adult Program students in the San Ramon area learn to play piano through a combination of weekly private beginner piano lessons and weekly band rehearsals. At School of Rock, our piano lessons give adult students the chance to perform in a band at local San Ramon music venues, taking them out of the classroom and onto the stage.

Key Concepts
  • TECHNIQUE
  • TONE
  • THEORY
  • READING

Intermediate to Advanced Keyboard Lessons

At School of Rock San Ramon, our keyboard lessons for kids and adults are designed to help students get results. Intermediate and advanced students take skills learned from beginner keyboard lessons and layer on more advanced piano techniques with concepts. Our local keyboard instructors are all practicing musicians in San Ramon, and use popular rock songs as a way of teaching complex skills. We pair weekly private piano lessons with weekly band rehearsals to inspire and engage students throughout the learning process.

Our Experienced Music Teachers

All of School of Rock San Ramon’s music teachers are experienced musicians devoted to helping students attain musical proficiency. Our instructors guide students one-on-one to personalize learning, inspire confidence and build social skills.

Owner Toni Baker
Toni Baker
Owner
Toni began studying classical voice at age 13. Upon returning to the Bay Area after college, she started singing back-up for a jam band. Tired of standing around with nothing to do while the band was jamming, she taught herself to play bass. She now plays bass and sings in a multi-genre rock band and as part of an acoustic duo. In addition to playing music, Toni owned and operated a successful organic meal delivery service. After eight years, she closed it down to stay home with her two boys. School of Rock is now their second home. She is excited to combine her business experience with her love of music.
Owner John Baker
John Baker
Owner
"It all leads up to this day" sang Jerry Garcia. Such has been John's journey with School of Rock. Born and raised right here in the Tri-Valley, John attended both CSU Chico, where he majored in recording arts and general music, and the Guitar Institute of Technology at Musicians Institute in Hollywood California. John spent his college years as a busy guitar instructor and a very active gigging musician. Upon returning to the Bay Area, John supported his gigging nightlife with a day job teaching carpentry to kids. Thus began his second great passion in life - working with kids. “Learning to teach music to kids is much like learning music. There is no finish line. One must always continue striving, for a music education provides a great challenge with huge rewards.” With School of Rock, John’s two great working passions truly come together in perfect harmony. When not immersed in all things School of Rock, John loves to spend time with his family.
General Manager Rachel Jefferies
Rachel Jefferies
General Manager
Rachel has lived in the Bay Area her whole life and has been surrounded by live music since a very young age. She grew up going to her older brother’s gigs and attending concerts with her family. In middle school, she started attending the Van’s Warped Tour and continued to go every year until it ended in 2019. She enjoys a wide variety of genres, but her favorites are pop punk, folk punk, indie rock, and country. She is currently attending Cal State East Bay and finishing her bachelor’s degree. She loves watching the students of School of Rock progress and blossom into rockstars!
Music Director Miranda Shakes
Miranda Shakes
Music Director
Miranda is a San Ramon native. She grew up singing in the Danville Girls Chorus and Cal High choir under the direction of Ken Abrams and Lucerne Mottaz, respectively. After 10 years of classical piano lessons with Julie Rieth, she started writing her own music, performing locally as well as in China and the Pacific Northwest. From 2021 to 2023 she was the lead singer of Moving Van.

In 2017, Miranda graduated from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Anthropology with minors in Music and Asian studies. She wrote her senior thesis on the sociology of music taste and how people answer the question "What kind of music do you listen to?" During her undergraduate studies, she took extensive classes in electronic music production and studied ethnomusicology abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. For the 2018-2019 school year, she was a first-grade teacher at an international school in Guangzhou, China. In 2022, she completed her Master's in Education at San Francisco State University with an emphasis in Equity and Social Justice Education.

Miranda first started teaching at School of Rock San Ramon in 2016 as a voice instructor and summer camp director. Over time, her arsenal of classes expanded to include Performance, Rock 101, Rookies, and Little Wing. In 2023, she became the Music Director at School of Rock Issaquah where she was also the House Band director. She is thrilled to return to her hometown school in San Ramon as Music Director.
Assistant General Manager Cali Craig
Cali Craig
Assistant General Manager
Cali has been influenced by music her entire life. Ever since she was a child, she has admired her parents' massive CD collections of R&B and hip-hop greats like Notorious B.I.G, Tupac, and Nas. She was especially fond of Missy Elliot and Queen Latifah as a child.

Throughout her elementary school days, Cali jumped at any chance to be able to play any instrument that was available to play. As she grew older, Cali began to learn the history of classic artists like The Temptations and Queen. She believes that understanding the journey musicians embark on to achieve greatness is crucial.

Nowadays, Cali is still inspired by music in her everyday life. In her free time, you can find Cali looking through Soundcloud to discover new artists and genres to get acquainted with as well as curating playlists for her and her friends. She is actively building her vinyl collection to feature new modern sounds as well as music from the past.
Studio Coordinator Hayden Fletcher
Hayden Fletcher
Studio Coordinator
Hayden has loved rock and roll music for as long as he can remember. From making mixtapes for friends that heavily featured Led Zeppelin to taking a train all the way down the coast just to see his favorite little indie band from LA, music is a part of who he is. He always likes to say that his dad raised him on classic rock, and his mom raised him on Broadway musicals, so his music tastes are all over the place.

He played piano as a kid, taught himself bass in high school, and for the last ten years he has worked as a professional videographer, creating music videos with local indie bands and touring the West Coast to capture live performances. He loves working with music creatively, and is always looking for more vinyl to add to his library.
Studio Coordinator Clara Horn
Clara Horn
Studio Coordinator
Clara has an extreme passion for music. Though she does not play an instrument herself she regards music just as important to her life as any musician would. She grew up going to underground metal and punk shows with her older cousin and has had the opportunity to witness many local music scenes from the Gilman in Berkeley, CA to the Milestone in Charlotte, NC.

Clara loves live music so much that she eventually decided to combine this passion with her photographic talents to become a live music photographer. You can easily catch her at any local show taking pictures for all of the artists in the Bay Area!
Guitar Teacher Mitchell Manburg
Mitchell Manburg
Assistant Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Mitchell started guitar at age 9 to impress a girl but ended up falling in love with music instead. During his teenage years, he learned the classic rock songbook from Dave Rude (Tesla) and later began playing out at the University of Arizona where he studied philosophy, Spanish, and English while discovering the indie rock scene. After graduation (and a life-changing summer in Alaska) he returned home to Oakland and started his first band and studied singing, lyric writing, and band operating. Burnt out of his day job and realizing the learning curve, he moved to Los Angeles in 2016 to study guitar performance at Musician's Institute, and business at the Songwriting School of LA. In Los Angeles, Mitchell explored various avenues of the industry, though spent most of his time fronting a band as a lead guitar player, gigging solo, running his own concert series, and teaching guitar professionally. In the last year, Mitchell returned to Oakland where he released his debut solo EP and has tapped his toe into the world of film scoring. Mitchell believes all of someone's life experience factors into how one plays music and teaches guitar following principles learned in "Effortless Mastery" by Kenny Werner, "The Music Lesson" by Victor Wooten, "Zen Guitar" by Philp Toshio Sudo, and "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. "If you want to know the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration." - Nikola Tesla.
Andres Sagredos
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Ukulele Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Andres has been fronting rock bands since he was a wee lad. He first picked up the guitar at age 10 and began performing in his early adolescence. Since he moved to Oakland in 2011, he has spent his time gigging and collaborating with fellow Bay Area musicians. Andres believes in the importance of fostering a creative instinct in his students. Music is a vehicle for self-expression, and he is thrilled to be sharing his passion for songwriting and live performance with the next generation of players.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Rafael Macedo
Rafael Macedo
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Rafael has over 20 years of experience teaching and performing as a guitarist, composer and producer for his band The Element. At the age of 12 Rafael started playing acoustic guitar and only two years later the electric. Rafael learned and played by ear till he was 17. Hungry for knowledge, he went to study guitar and music theory with Alexandre Lima at the Prediger Music School in Porto Alegre, Brazil. After two years of intense study, Rafael was invited to teach at Prediger School in 1998. In that same year, Rafael realized that he needed a band where he could explore different kinds of music and styles. This created The Element.

Besides The Element, he also was part of the Orchestral Choir of OSPA (Porto Alegre Symphonic Orchestra), where he studied vocal techniques with teacher Decápolis de Andrade and with maestro Manfredo Schmiedt. In that period Rafael was part of many important concerts, such as the Mahler 2º Symphony, Verdi Quattro Pezzi Sacri and Beethoven 9º Symphony. Nowadays, besides managing, producing and composing for The Element, Rafael is a music major in composition at Diablo Valley College, and will be transferring to a four-year school. He also works as a freelance composer/arranger.
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher Brian Kameya
Brian Kameya
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Since the age of five, Brian Kameya has lived a life around music. He began piano lessons at that age and continued until he was 14 when he taught himself to play the electric guitar. As time passed he would learn the bass, as well as the drums. After some time performing on stage with various bands, he decided to to take a break and focus on the recording aspect. He graduated from The Conservatory of Recording Arts in Tempe, Arizona and spent the next several years working with bands in Los Angeles as an audio engineer. He would eventually return to the Bay Area where he now lives and teaches. One of his many passions is music and he feels that with the right guidance, anyone can share this passion.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Ian White
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Ian’s mom played Mötley Crüe for him while he was in the womb, so he has been a rock fan from the very start. Growing up Ian was a huge heavy metal fan, and when he saw KISS live for the first time at eight years old it sealed the deal. That same Christmas, Santa delivered him his first guitar and he started pursuing his dream of becoming a rock star. Since then, heavy metal and playing music has consumed his entire life. He plays in two bands, First Contact and Shirlee Temper, and he loves acting like a maniac onstage. His favorite bands are KISS, Mötley Crüe, Avenged Sevenfold, AC/DC, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest.

He prefers high energy, in-your-face music, and also really loves ska, big band and swing, classical and romantic era music. Spreading musical knowledge is one of Ian’s passions in life. At School of Rock, he hopes to inspire kids to have the same burning flame for music that he does.
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher Tyler McClellan
Tyler McClellan
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Voice Teacher
Tyler McClellan’s mom took him to his first concert when he was five. She considered it the beginning of his training as it sparked a passion for him to become a musician. He started playing drums and guitar at six years old and never looked back. At 10 years old he became second chair drummer in Diablo View Middle School's jazz band, and soon after started his first rock band Pandemonium. As he transitioned into high school he became the conga player, then lead jazz drummer, at Northgate High School. He competed in festivals such as the Folsom Jazz Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Playing drums every day helped him learn genres such as funk, soul, rock, metal, and salsa. His love for music pushed him to learn trumpet, tuba, and bass guitar. As a senior in high school, he started teaching drum lessons to beginner and intermediate students. This also gave him the opportunity to be a band coach, record in studio settings, and become a studio drummer and guitarist. Currently, he is in a jazz big band in Walnut Creek and is in his rock band At This Point. He is excited to bring many years of experience to every student and help them strive to be their best. He is a drum teacher, guitar teacher, and bass guitar teacher at the School of Rock in San Ramon.
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Aaron Hoffman
Aaron Hoffman
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Aaron Hoffman was forced to take piano lessons when he was young but his love for music was inspired at age 14 when he started to play bass with a friend who was learning guitar. He later joined a jazz combo at the Berkeley Jazz School, where he also played bass. He naturally gravitated towards drums as well, beginning to learn on a friend's kit that was left behind at his house after a rehearsal. Aaron frequently attended jazz band performances and music appreciation events at his high school. He also started playing shows with his band while he was in high school and has continued to play out with many projects over the years. Aaron has studied music at Diablo Valley College, where he focused on theory, jazz improv, and songwriting. He was in a Beatles combo for a couple of years and then his interest swiftly changed to all things punk. Over the years he’s also delved deeply into jam bands, garage rock, prog rock, and math rock. Ultimately he finds improv to be the most fulfilling, but he loves working with his students. He enjoys exploring unconventional ways of learning music and seeks to inspire a love for music in his students that will help guide them as they take their first steps and beyond. He is a guitar teacher, bass guitar teacher, piano teacher, and drum teacher at the School of Rock in San Ramon.
Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher Daniele Citti
Daniele Citti
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Daniele Citti has been surrounded by music since the day he was born, from the Italian opera he heard in the womb to the hours of Pink Floyd he listened to in his dad’s car. Being raised by a musical family with diverse tastes has led to a wide understanding and appreciation for every genre under the rainbow, and ultimately has led Daniele to pursue music as a life passion. He first began learning guitar at the age of six after watching his dad play, and although he has picked up many more instruments along the way (piano, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet and bagpipes to name a few), he still loves to play guitar every day.

Daniele received a Bachelor’s in Music from Saint Mary’s College of California and during his time there sang all four years with the Chamber Singers and Glee Club. While in the choir, he traveled the world participating in singing competitions, winning both gold medals in the Champions categories at the World Choir Games in Latvia, Hungary and South Africa. He is a guitar teacher, bass guitar teacher, piano teacher and vocal instructor at School of Rock San Ramon.
Matias Guerrero
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Vocal Teacher
With a strong family background in music, Matías Guerrero started in the industry at a very young age when he signed up for piano lessons. From that point onward, music was a constant part of his life. In middle and high school he played cello because of his grandfather, who was also a cellist, and participated in his school orchestra. After graduating high school, Matías picked up an electric bass and started prepping for a career in music. During his time as a bass and audio production student in Miami and Los Angeles, he was fortunate to learn from and be personally mentored by some of the very best in the industry. He’s taken part in a few bands and performances along the way, as well, and has honed his skill set into a versatile one that encompasses a wide set of genres. He is a guitar teacher, bass guitar teacher, piano teacher and vocal instructor at School of Rock San Ramon.
Ian Carlton
Keyboard Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
After many years of piano, drums, and guitar lessons as a child and teenager, and a stint as the Kurt Cobain impersonator and bassist for a high school grunge band, Ian saw the Mighty Mighty Bosstones live on Boston Common in the summer of 2013, and it changed his life forever. At UC Santa Cruz, he studied classical piano under Maria Ezerova, learned music production practices from Robin Whitehouse and Nathan Altice, performed with the UCSC Big Band and Orchestra, and once went on a weekend road trip to LA to see Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution.

Ian is a huge ska fan and will vibe out to funk, jazz, blues, reggae, post-punk, prog rock, J-surf, neoromantic, chiptune, or anything else somebody talking to him is passionate about—but if you're not careful, he *will* steal the aux cable and put on Bill Wurtz. He is excited to contribute his fire to School Of Rock.
Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher Miles Precarlo
Miles Precarlo
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Ukulele Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Miles started playing music at a young age. He sang in a boys choir and then later his focus shifted from choral work to musical theater. He remained involved in musical theater throughout his young adult life and he also played piano growing up.


He studied at CSU East Bay in Hayward majoring in Music. He obtained a BA in music with an emphasis in Music Education. He was also a participant in the Music Education Circle series of courses, which introduced him to every orchestral instrument. During this time he learned to play and teach them all proficiently. He remained active in choirs throughout his college years and started playing with a local band, The Landbirds, who focused on Beatles covers.


He is currently in a choir called Choral Audacity singing as a Baritone and is also the recording engineer for the group. He is still playing with the Landbirds as the keyboardist and vocal arranger for the band.


Outside of music, Miles is a visual artist using primarily watercolors and copic markers. He is active in the local zine scene writing comics and stories.
Drum Teacher Allante Piazza
Allante Piazza
Drum Teacher
The first Christmas gift Allante can remember was a red drum set that he played everyday until it was unplayable. He began his music life in 4th grade playing trumpet in symphonic band. In 7th grade, he switched back to drums and played drum set in his middle school funk band and percussion in symphonic band. He started his first band, inspired by blink 182, and other punk bands of the time. "Those bands are the reason I am who I am, it’s what gave me an identity." In high school, Allante played drum kit in jazz band and pep band, and percussion in the wind ensemble. Freshman and sophomore year he played snare drum in marching band and in Drumline he played snare drum and tenor quads. Junior year he auditioned and became Drum Major of the marching band! After high school he attended Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA where he majored in drum performance. Since 2014, Allante has been playing studio sessions, hired gigs and touring the US with his band, Radiokeys. His style of drumming is a blend of his mom's old playlist of Bobby Womack, Al Green, and Kirk Franklin, as well as his childhood favorite bands - Blink 182, Sum 41, and A Day to Remember.
Keyboard Teacher, Guitar Teacher Damian Varnum
Damian Varnum
Keyboard Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Although growing up in a die-hard Rock and Metalhead family, unlike many well known musicians, Damian did not start his musical journey until his late teen years. Instead, Damian's journey was marked by lifelong passion and adoration for music and the piano, never being able to pass one by without attempting to play. Unfortunately, like many people, this passion and interest was subdued by the widespread belief that music is only for talented and fortunate prodigies. Not having the confidence to pursue music earlier in life, Damian originally began his artistic journey with a lifetime of writing, drawing and martial arts before finally picking up a guitar at age 17 as an emotional outlet. Though initially just a fun hobby, it would be an early introduction into what would later be realized as a life's purpose!

After graduating high school and amidst the height of Covid lockouts, Damian would finance a keyboard he could not afford off of a gut feeling that it would be a purchase he thanked himself for later on. Initially letting it collect dust for a couple months, it wasn't until Damian began singing to pass time at a mindless job as a retail security guard that this lifelong passion was finally fully realized! With the help and guidance of his partner who was herself a lifelong musician and actor from a musical family, Damian began tearing through any practice book, website, YouTube channel and textbook he could get his hands on, filling binders with notes and regularly practicing for up to as much as 4-5 hours a day! This would go on for months until he finally felt ready to turn his hobby into a career, where he would enroll at Las Positas College under their music program for both Music Education and Piano Performance, as well as studying voice and theater!

Having been given a new life by his teachers and peers, Damian would rest at nothing to pass on the gift he had been given, turning up the heat and reaching Grade 5 in ABRSM Music Theory and playing Chopin within his first year. Damian is still currently enrolled at Las Positas, actively pursuing the same dream of sharing the gift of music and sense of belonging with the coming generation of musicians, young and old alike!
Guitar Teacher, Ukulele Teacher DYLAN SMITH
Dylan Smith
Guitar Teacher, Ukulele Teacher
Born and raised in Hayward, California, Dylan started playing music at the age of 10 starting with saxophone and guitar then later adding the bass and piano. His main musical influences are from the rock, jazz-fusion, funk, and pop genres. Some of Dylan’s favorite artists are Phish, Led Zeppelin, Casiopea, and Michael Jackson.

Dylan began giving private guitar lessons at the age of 17 and loves sharing music with new students. Dylan has additionally played in various bands since junior high-school and also loves writing and performing original songs with friends!

Dylan’s other main hobby consists of spending time outdoors and in nature, the Mojave Desert being a personal favorite. When not teaching, performing, or practicing music, he can usually be found somewhere out on the trail.
Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher Mateus Gracias Mateus Gracias
Mateus Gracias
Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Mat, more than a lover of music, is a lover of sound. Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, Mat has harmony, melody, and rhythm flowing through his veins. Raised on all things prog rock and blues, he went on to try to expand his musical horizons in every possible way, falling in love with the scrappy attitude of garage rock and punk, the variety and energy of psych rock, ambient music, and neo-soul, and eventually finding love for jazz and reconnecting with the Brazilian music of his childhood.

On top of being a guitarist in the local Bay Area scene (Fistfight with Traffic and Cat House), Mat is a former alumnus, House Band member, and AllStar of School of Rock San Ramon. He is very excited to bring his unique perspective to the school as an instructor! If you find him tweaking his pedalboard over and over to find the weirdest combination of sounds or trying to transcribe Ruth Underwood or Marc Ribot parts, don’t hesitate to say “hey!”
Drum Teacher Logan Cruz
Logan Cruz
Drum Teacher
Logan’s love for music began at age 10 when he got the video game Rock Band. He instantly gravitated toward the drums, getting his first kit one year later. Music has been his greatest passion ever since, taking lessons and band classes at Red House Studios before eventually working there. His bands have encompassed many genres including alternative, post-punk, celtic rock, and math rock. Logan has experience playing shows and recording with each of these bands as well as doing session work on his own. He has also studied many different styles of music, including jazz, latin, r&b, reggae and metal. He enjoys all genres of music, and believes in studying and teaching all of them to help drummers develop their own style.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher Isabella Citti
Isabella Citti
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Isabella has been surrounded by music her entire life. As a little kid, her favorite artists were Guns N' Roses, Queen, and anything her brother listened to. She started piano at the age of 3 and has been playing ever since! Since then she has taught herself seven different instruments and is currently studying music at Saint Mary’s College of California. Isabella auditioned for and was accepted into the Chamber Singers and Glee Club at Saint Mary’s and competed in the World Choir Games in Belgium as well as South Korea.

Isabella was a part of the School of Rock program as a student in Santa Rosa, California, where she was born and raised. She fell in love with the program and she couldn’t be more excited to be a piano and vocal instructor for the San Ramon location!
Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Alex Flores
Alex Flores
Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Alex was raised in the Castro Valley/Hayward area. Before he started playing guitar, he grew up listening to the radio all the time with his family in the car, mostly playing country, pop, and alternative rock which was rampant during the 2000s. His parents gave him his first acoustic guitar when he was 10 years old and his first electric guitar at the age of 11. He didn’t really pick up on the instrument until he was 15 when some classmates of his showed him bands like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and Black Sabbath, which got him inspired to play guitar.

During his years in high school, Alex picked up the instrument pretty quickly and decided that he wanted to get into a career in music when he graduated. He first went to Chabot Community College to complete his GE classes before he transferred to CSU East Bay for his bachelor's degree. While at Chabot, Alex learned the concepts of music history and theory to get a better understanding of how to write and perform music and then started to learn how to play classical guitar as the main focus of his music degree. He is currently in his final semester at CSU East Bay Hayward and will be graduating with a bachelor's degree in Music Performance on Classical Guitar.
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Jackson Bengtsson
Jackson Bengtsson
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Starting with pots, pans, and his baby voice on the kitchen floor, Jackson has been a musician since birth. He picked up piano in second grade and began choir and guitar in the seventh. Since then he has been a part of multiple collegiate ensembles at Willamette and Western Washington University. He directed the male a cappella group at Western and participated in multiple operas at Willamette.

Jackson has a background that ranges from musical theater, pop, a cappella, and choir, to his current professional career as the front person of the metalcore band Designer Disguise. His deep passion for music and performance can be seen throughout DD’s catalog and can be traced back to being the Beast in his high school’s production of Beauty and the Beast.

Jackson received a bachelor’s degree in music from Western Washington University and minored in Audio Technology. He continues these endeavors as a producer, recording artist, and performer to this day. He believes in the power and magic of music and is passionate about bringing that same love of singing to his students.
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher Jonny Freeman
Jonny Freeman
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
At 10 years old, after watching his classmate perform "We Will Rock You" at the school talent show, Jonny begged his parents to buy him a guitar and start taking him to lessons. Through his teacher and his dad’s CD collection, Jonny was exposed to the riffs and licks of classic rock, metal, and blues. At 15, he decided to pivot and began learning the drums. Inspired by the great rock drummers of the '90s and attending his friends’ shows at local venues such as 924 Gilman, he knew that he wanted to play on stage. After meeting some classmates with similar ambitions, they began to experiment with noise and discovered new and exciting sounds.

Through college and his bandmates, Jonny was exposed to indie rock, post-punk, progressive rock, and jazz, which have massively influenced his playing and broadened his musical scope. Jonny has been gigging in the Bay Area for several years with various artists and plans to perform for the rest of his life. He continues to explore different styles of music in his search for new points of inspiration.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Kobe Tabulinar
Kobe Tabulinar
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Kobe was surrounded by music from day one. His biggest influences were within his family. His stepdad, Ryan, gave him his first drum lesson, and his uncle, Peter, gifted him his first guitar at the age of 10. Both of them set the precedent for what it means to be a true music lover along with the support needed to follow his passion.

Kobe’s music journey has gone in many different directions. He played the trumpet and French horn in marching band, upright bass in jazz band, and many genres at our very own School of Rock San Ramon. At School of Rock, he spent four years in House Band as well as being a part of the School of Rock AllStars.

Although funk music is Kobe's “bread and butter,” he has an unconditional love for all music. Music has changed Kobe’s life tremendously and his goal is to spread his love of music through performance and teaching.

“People won’t remember what you said. They won’t remember what you did. They will remember how you made them feel.” - Victor Wooten (Originally by Maya Angelou)
Drum Teacher Adam Willis
Adam Willis
Drum Teacher
Adam Willis has been rocking his drums on stage and in the studio for well over 25 years. From concert halls to coffee shops, and everything in between, Adam has performed at nearly every significant venue in the Bay Area, as well as many elsewhere. His vast experience has included concerts, private events, festivals, weddings, corporate affairs, recording projects, and video shoots.

Well-versed in multiple genres, Adam is known for his smooth, rock-solid, in-the-pocket style that always strives to best serve and support the music at hand. Adam’s easy-going nature and collaborative approach make him a joy to work with and learn from. He is a lifelong student of music, always learning and evolving his craft.
Drum Teacher Joe Kunz
Joe Kunz
Drum Teacher
Joe has been playing drums since he was 8 years old. He explores all genres and incorporates genres and ideas from all over the world into his playing style. After playing in bands in Portland, Oregon, Joe moved to the Bay Area to collaborate with artists here. He has also worked in various recording studios and has produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered albums for various artists. Joe teaches music in order to inspire the next generation and help provide a musical vocabulary for self-expression.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher Michelle Roebuck
Michelle Roebuck
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Michelle grew up in Chongqing, China. When she was in kindergarten, she started playing the piano. After pursuing classical music for a long time, she joined the choir at California High School and fell in love with choral music.

Toward the end of high school, Michelle discovered indie rock for the first time and started listening to it religiously. Working as a singing and keyboard teacher is almost like a dream come true because she can share her deep love of music with her students.
Drum Teacher Ally Lagodzinski
Ally Lagodzinski
Drum Teacher
Ally is a multi-instrumentalist from the Bay Area who began playing drums in middle school as part of the school’s band and jazz band. She continued with drums in high school, where she played in the band, jazz band, and drumline, and joined the marching band as a quad player. When she wasn’t playing drums, she led the band as assistant drum major in her sophomore year, and then as drum major in both her junior and senior years. With a strong passion for music, Ally began learning harp and piano during her later years of high school and into college. She first attended Humboldt State but returned to the Bay Area due to health issues to study music at Las Positas College. Currently working toward her associate degree in music, Ally is excited to teach and help students enjoy a fun yet comprehensive learning experience in music.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Val Cavanagh
Val Cavanagh
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
New to the Bay Area, Val hails from New York with nearly two decades of experience in the music industry. Val became hooked on music after seeing Rush as their first concert. Soon after, at age 10, they began playing guitar when their stepfather gifted them one. Around the same time, they also started taking bass lessons in middle school. Throughout middle school, high school, and college, Val played bass in various academic programs, including jazz band, musicals, marching band, and collegiate-level bands, all while self-teaching guitar.

Val has always loved live performance, especially playing guitar in punk and emo bands over the years. After earning a degree in audio production, they began writing and performing solo, while also opening a recording studio. Through studio sessions, it was apparent to Val that queer and brown people were not being included or represented fairly in their local music scene; so in 2021 they founded a music festival, Forevermore Festival, to highlight and empower the marginalized voices.

When Val isn’t planning a tour, organizing a festival, or writing music, you can find them cooking, rollerblading, or fighting against the capitalist regime.
School of Rock is where music and learning come together

For over twenty years, our amazing instructors have transformed hundreds of thousands of students across the world into skilled musicians. Become a musician at School of Rock.

Reviews

More than a 10 out of 10!

My daughter has gained confidence, is having a lot of fun and feels like she belongs to something that alone is worth more than a 10! She is also learning to read music, play an instrument and work as a team/band.

Organized but still authentic!

My son's confidence has grown by leaps and bounds. The program is very organized but still authentic for the kids to truly feel what it's like to be a performing musician. The notes we receive after each lesson really let parents know how their child is doing.

We are so happy we found this place!

The instructors have supported my daughter every step of the way, letting her know mistakes are allowed and okay! Her vocals - wow! We can't believe how far she has come! We love the school and the instructors!

You'll be right at home at School of Rock.

The talented staff really care about turning your goals into reality and teach you new skills in a go at your own pace manner. In a few weeks of lessons, having never picked up an instrument before, I've already learned to play songs on the drums.

It's a home away from home.

School of Rock is a place where my child can learn the kind of music he loves and get excited about being an artist. He’s found friendships that mean the world to him through your programs.

It's more than an after-school activity.

The program is really well-run. The instructors are qualified, personable and great mentors. They have created an environment that goes beyond a fun after school activity. It has been the most meaningful course my child has taken.

Kids work together and support each other.

The teachers are hardworking and dedicated. The program teaches kids to work together in different groups and support one another. The kids also learn a wide variety of music styles and genres. It’s great.

The teaching philosophy makes a difference.

The quarterly shows give the students a goal and they work together to put on a good show. I recommend School of Rock to any parents who have children interested in music.

The community vibe builds confidence.

I love the community feeling at School of Rock. My daughter so enjoys being there and comes out after her lessons with such confidence.

I highly recommend School of Rock.

The people at School of Rock do a great job of creating and enhancing a love of music, working on musical skills improvement and providing a fun and stimulating environment for the kids in the program.

School of Rock makes a difference that goes beyond music.

My son is normally very shy and I was worried he wouldn’t like the group format of Rock 101. We decided to give it a try and the results are amazing. He has so much fun and is much more willing to practice.

School of Rock programs are wonderful.

School of Rock is a great foundation to introduce your kids to music, build confidence and be around kids who are like-minded. We love watching our son and his band members perform at the end of every season. It's evidence that he is learning.

School of Rock creates a life-long love for performance.

The format of being performance-focused is a great entry point into a music education for kids and even adults. It's less intimidating for newbies because it's about teamwork and creating music together.

School of Rock is the best thing we've done for our kids.

I love that School of Rock has given my kids so much confidence in their abilities. They believe in themselves. I love the performance class for them because they are working with their peers instead of just being in lessons once a week.

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