SJG School of Music: meet the SJG instructors

Bass Guitar Instructor Private Lesson Schedule: Thursdays, 5p - 9p	Steve Glaze has over 18 years of experience playing both electric bass and the guitar. Steve has played in many local bands and has toured as a sideman for various artists on both coasts, including San Francisco and New York. Currently he is playing in an original project, OMG! and, The Vinny Johnson Band, which has performed hundreds of shows. He has worked extensively in the studio as a session musician for many local artists. He has played on nearly 80 recordings of all styles. In addition, Steve has attended the California Recording Institute and is a certified recording engineer. He owns and operates Tone Freq Recording Studio in San Jose. He teaches all styles of music to all levels of musicians, especially beginners. Steve emphasizes: sight reading, music theory, strong fundamentals, proper technique, rhythm training, improvisation, ear training, groove and feel, ensemble playing, learning songs, playing popular bass lines and analyzing the theory behind them.
Cello Instructor Private Lesson Schedule: Sundays and Tuesdays, by appointment.	Monica Nguyen-Ramirez earned a B.M. degree in Cello Performance from UC Irvine, where she studied with Margaret Parkins. Monica later studied with Sandy Walsh-Wilson of the Alexander String Quartet at SFSU, as part of the MM program. Monica has also studied with Peter Gelfand, Principal Cellist of Symphony Silicon Valley and Jennifer Kloetzel, cellist of the Cypress Quartet. Monica is an active member of MTAC, and she offers students extra evaluation and performance opportunities through MTAC's CM and VOCE.
Drum Set & Percussion Instructor Private Lesson Schedule: Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, by appointment.	Jemal Ramirez's love for music and music education grew at an early age. Since then, Jemal has worked professionally in multiple facets of the music industry, including: composition, instruction and performance. His musicianship has given him opportunities to work with accomplished musicians such as the Eric Reed (Wynton Marsalis), Marcus Shelby, Joshua Redman, Mark Levine and country singer Brad Hawkins. Jemal's education, skill and experience allows him to perform and teach a wide spectrum of musical styles, including Rock, Jazz, Country and Classical. He has valuable real-world work experience and is a talented musician and educator. Jemal has taught for Music Create in Schools Today, Stanford Jazz Workshop and South San Francisco High School. Jemal currently teaches drum set, classical percussion and music ensembles at Westmont High School, St. Francis High School and in private lessons. Jemal has earned his Bachelors of Music in Music Education and Music Credential at San Francisco State University.
Guitar Instructor Private Lesson Schedule: Mondays - Thursdays, 12p - 8p, Fridays, 1p - 7p	Chris is the owner and founder of SJG. He has taught guitar full time in the San Jose area since for 20 years and is also the director of the SJG Rock workshop program. He teaches most styles of music and all levels of proficiency.He has earned his Bachelor's of Arts degree in Music has authored 4 guitar books,and composed and produced 2 albums. Emphasis and styles of instruction include: Beginning guitar, Rock,Blues and Jazz, Classical, fingerstyle guitar and Music Theory.
Guitar Instructor Private Lesson Schedule: Tuesdays, 3:30p - 8:00p	Mark Arroyo began playing guitar at age 12 with Chris Shahin. Mark landed his first gig at age 13 with a local punk rock band, No Chips for Shain (aka Shrinking Violet). He continued to develop his skill and talent in performing with a modern-rock cover band, Stereo. Over the course of his perfoming he acquired new skills of playing many different styles of music including: Rock, R&B, Jazz, Big Band and House. His influences include: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Helmet, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Pass, Primus and The Smiths. A graduate of San Jose State University ('03) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Arts, Mark has now focused his further development to the art of jazz guitar. I have studied both in-depth and briefly with Calvin Keys, Mimi Fox, Sid Jacobs, Pat Martino, and Chris Galvan. Mark began teaching guitar in 2003 and loves to pass on what he has learned to students of all ages and levels.
Guitar Instructor Private Lesson Schedule: Mondays and Fridays, 3p - 7p, Saturdays, 9a - 3p	A native of San Jose, Bill Cefalu is a versatile guitarist proficient in many styles of music, including jazz, blues, rock, country and slide guitar. He has been performing and teaching in the SF Bay Area for over 20 years. He received his bachelors degree in music from San Jose State in 1994. He has also studied with Warren Nunes, Bruce Forman, Rick Vandivier, Bud Dimock and Steve Erquiaga. Bill has performed as lead/rhythm guitarist for many Bay Area bands, including Pacific Standard Time; The Garage Band; The Board of Directors; and several of his own projects featuring his own original music. Venues include clubs, restaurants and corporate events throughout California; festivals including the Okayama International Festival in Japan, Tapestry in Talent in San Jose, and Music in the Park in Los Gatos. Bill emphasizes fret-board theory within a wide variety of styles, and encourages note-reading, tablature, overall musicianship, and playing for pure enjoyment!
Keyboard and Piano Instructor Private Lesson Schedule: Mondays- Thursdays 12p - 9p, Saturdays 10a - 3p	Joey Trombly teaches piano and keyboard at SJG School of Music. He has studied piano since age 6 and has earned a minor in Music from San Jose State University. He is well versed in classical music having played in many solo piano competitions and recitals. Joey is a skilled pop and jazz keyboardist having played numerous Bay Area festivals and concerts with the South Bay Studio Band Project for the last 6 years. He taught group piano and keyboard lessons for a local music program. As a teacher, you will find Joey Trombly to be knowledgeable, patient, talented and easy to work with. He specializes in classical, jazz and pop music. Beginners are very welcome. Joey is a talented educator who uses his skill and experience to impart his love of music to his students.
Vocal Instructor Private Lesson Schedule: Monday-Thursday, 2 pm -9 pm	Amanda Dieck has appeared with Bay Area companies such as the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Pocket Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera and Golden Gate Opera, The Marin Theatre Company and Broadway By the Bay. Currently she works professionally as a studio vocalist and performs with bands such as: Savoir Faire, The Element, The Switch and Blue Pearl. Amanda started teaching private vocal lessons 8 years ago. Some of her recent works were with the Marin Theatre Company as the musical director for the MTC summer youth production "Snoopy" and the teen musical production of "The Wiz" as well as teaching at Almaden Country School, the Old Mill and Park School. Amanda has worked with all vocal skill levels and specializes in vocal health and performance delivery.She also emphasizes: sight reading, breath control, diagnosis and correction of vocal faults and vocal stylization. As a teacher she is passionate, energetic and always searching for new ways to help her students meet their goals.
Violin & Viola Instructor Private Lesson Schedule: Wednesdays, 1 pm -9 pm	Sally earned her BA in Music Performance at San Jose State University. She a member of the Opera San Jose Orchestra and performs frequently with Symphony Silicon Valley, San Luis Obispo Symphony and the Santa Cruz County Symphony. Sally has performed with Harry Connick Jr, Smokey Robinson, Natalie Cole and Rod Stewart. She has over 20 years of teaching experience to students of all ages and levels and teaches classical, bluegrass, jazz and Celtic/Scottish fiddle styles. Sally helps all students with note reading and music theory. Sally teaches all ages and levels and specializes in adult beginners. This is an opportunity to study with a highly experienced teacher and performer.
Woodwinds Instructor Private Lesson Schedule: Fridays and Sundays, 2:30p - 8:30p	Kevin Deibert, native to San Jose, CA, began his training as a student of many local band programs. He played clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax, baritone sax and flute. He continued his music education at San Jose City College and San Jose State University. While studying music at university, he performed in professional bands and taught music in private lessons. Kevin soon found himself teaching more than performing and decided to devote more of his time to imparting his gift and talent to others by teaching woodwinds. Kevin has taught and performed throughout the Bay Area since 1978. He has had opportunity to perform in a variety of music groups, including: Jazz combos, Big Band, Rock and Classical styles. Kevin now has brought his experience and talent to SJG School of Music! You will find that Kevin's diverse performance and teaching experiences make him a compelling and insightful woodwinds instructor. Kevin continues to live locally in Evergreen Valley with his wife and two teenage children.
Woodwinds Instructor Private Lesson Schedule: Tuesdays, 2:30p - 8:30p	Bobby Rawlings was born in Pueblo, Colorado. He studied music for 4 years at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts with saxophonists George Garzone and Jimmy Mosher. He is a multi-instrument artist. His studies included drums, piano, trumpet, and woodwinds. Bobby's talent and passion has given him opportunities to play with Dizzy Gillespie, The Inkspots and Martha Reeves. Bobby has also opened for Smokey Robinson, Tony Bennet, Richie Cole, Wilfredo Vargas and Tito Puente, just to name a few. For ten years, Bobby worked as the chief arranger and soloist with Big City Revue, touring with them regularly to Hawaii, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Venezuela and the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. As a recording artist in Boston, he has recorded with the grammy-nominated little big band "Either/Orchestra". Currently, Bobby has produced 3 albums that are available on iTunes titled: Real Oldies, Scary Music for Halloween and All Scary Occasions, and Cockamamy Christmas.

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