School Hours:

Winter break (no lessons) from Wednesday 12/22 to Saturday January 1^st.

Melanie’s song Seastruck now on RTE Radio 1′s playlist!

Watch video of Seastruck below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BDjHo-WX6c

-If you like it, please request any of the following DJ’s to play it:

From the album Thieves of Time, released on Mistletoe Music
Available on CDBaby.com: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/melanieo

Also on ITunes : http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/thieves-of-time/id422091303

A native of Dublin, is an internationally known vocalist , songwriter and music educator from Ireland. . She  was a multi-award winner of Feis Ceol competitions (vocals) and she is accredited by both the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Goldsmiths College in London . She has recorded 5 albums for the  label “Mistletoe Music” , including the Irish Music award nominated  “House of the Dolphins” , and her own unique style of Celtic Jazz is now universally accepted as “Spellbinding… uplifting music from a true innovator”–Rough Guide to Irish Music

She has extensive experience in teaching vocal technique and performance,  as well as   jazz , musical theater and folk singing .  and has taught at the Oakland School of the Arts, the New College of California in SF, and  UC Berkeley’s CAL Extension amongst others.  She is currently a faculty member (part-time) of the New World Music Academy and also teaches Irish Song at the Jazz School Berkeley  on the World Music program.  She was a Visiting Scholar/Musician-in-Residence at UC Berkeley’s Celtic Studies from 2003 -2009.

She is delighted to be a new member of staff at Starland Music Center, teaching vocals, and is currently resident in Berkeley, CA.

“A gorgeous sound…Celtic Cadence with a jazz sensibility” (Contra Costa Times)

“Breathtaking…sheer virtuosity” (Irish Times) 

“Extraordinary … whether she sings Irish traditional, jazz or Jacques Prevert”–Le Telegramme

1.       Alive or Dead, What Musician would you do anything to see?

ELLA FITZGERALD, the jazz singer.

2.       Largest Musical Influence?

Jazz! Though Irish music and musical theater are not far behind.

3.       Any hidden talents besides music?

Acting., specifically comedy!

4.       What did you want to be while you were growing up?

A Performer!

5.       If you could have any ‘Super Power’, which one would it be?

To be able to leap into the air as high as a skyscraper and land perfectly intact!

6.       If you could master any other instrument which would it be?

Piano.  I play it,  but I would really love to master it!

7.       Have you had what people would consider your “15 Minutes of Fame”, and if so when/what was that?

Yes, it was on RTE TV, the National Broadcasting station of Ireland , and my singing of celtic- jazz- bossa nova (singing Gaelic with a bossa nova beat),  went out to approx. 4million people . It was Millenium Eve, and the whole of Ireland was watching that night.

8.       It’s your last meal: What would it be?

An Irish breakfast

9.       You are  sent to a deserted island, and you only have one album to listen to: Which is it?

“Sketches of Spain” -      which pairs Miles Davis with  arranger/composer  Gil Evans.

10.   If you could leave one lesson with your students what would it be?

Breath Control! :-  Learn how to breathe properly.  Everything about singing is based on breath…  It is the key to being a good singer!

Check out this wonderful article written about Melanie in the Alameda Patch by Cecelia Leong

Q and A with Stephanie Holmes:

Paula St. Germain: “What artist, alive or dead, would you do anything to see in concert?”

Stephanie Holmes: “This a tough one, but I must say Ella Fitzgerald.”

P.S: “What is an interesting fact we should know about you?”

S.H: “That I am a movie Star!” she boasted jokingly, “I was an extra in the movie Dirty Dancing.  It was filmed in the town I was going to school in; the whole town was extras. We never thought anyone would see it! You know…it was my boyfriend’s leather jacket that Patrick Swayze wears in the film. My boyfriend at the time came to pick me up from the set and the filmmakers bought it off him for $500!”

P.S: “Do you have any secret talents we should be aware of?”

S.H: “I bake…one of my first jobs was as a baker in a restaurant. I just make ‘funny bones’ for Halloween out of pretzels, marshmallows and melted white chocolate.”
(Delicious, I insisted she bring some in!)

P.S: “What super power would you want to have?”

S.H: “The ability to heal cancer.”

P.S “If you could master any other instrument which one would you choose?”

S.H: “The Harp.”

P.S: “I couldn’t bare to be the one to break tradition…What is your favorite ice cream?”

S.H: (Smiles) “I am lactose intolerant so I don’t have one unfortunately.”

Well I suppose that should be the last time for that question, can’t beat that answer!

Help out a friend or family member to experience the joys of making music by giving them our new referral card.

Ask for referral cards at the front desk

Our new referral card doubles as a $25 OFF coupon for lessons allowing your friend or family members to receive a $25 discount when they sign up for lessons.  AND to make it even cooler you receive a $25 gift coupon in appreciation for spreading the word which you can use for lessons or merchandise. Ask Paula or Jordan for referral cards at the front desk the next time you’re at Starland. They’ll put your account number on them so we know where it came from.

P.S. Thanks in advance for helping make my dream of a world full of people making beautiful music come true.

Tomas Michaud

Eric started piano lessons at the ripe old age of six and has been hooked on music ever since.  He played piano for several years until he was given a drum-set for his tenth birthday!  Eric faced at an early age the dilemma all musicians eventually face… which instrument do I play?!?!  Playing a musical instrument is like eating a chip, you can never eat (or play) just one!  So, Eric decided to step away from piano for a little while and pursue drum lessons.  “I was so excited!” remembers Eric.  Shortly after starting drum lessons, Eric started a garage band with his brother called “Speed Queens”.  “My brother was a huge influence on me to pursue music!”  In high school, Eric played the drums in a rock band.  “The band went through so many name changes it’s hard to remember what they all were!” Eric reflects.  The one thing Eric clearly remembers however, is how much fun they had.

Also in high school, Eric started listening to a lot of jazz music.  As a result of those jazz inspirations and influences, he became serious about his future in music.  Eric attended Bard College, not far from where he grew up, in upstate New York and graduated with a double major in Music and Chinese in 1999.  It was during these years that the piano solidified itself as Eric’s primary instrument.

Along with completing a double major, Eric also met his lovey wife Melka while at Bard.  After graduation they went together to Suzhou, China to teach English for a year.  “It was a great experience!” remembers Eric.  When they got back to the states Eric continued to develop his newly discovered passion for teaching by accepting a job at a special needs school, where he taught for the next year.

In 2001, Eric got accepted into the Master of Arts program at Mills College here in the Bay Area.  So, without further ado, Eric and Melka packed up their belongings and moved out West to California.  I think it’s safe to say, after almost ten years of flourishing in the Bay Area, that Eric made the right choice in coming to California.  Of course, this is no surprise to any of you reading this since you all live in the fabulous Bay Area too!  Eric graduated from Mills College with his Master of Arts in Music Composition in 2003.

Eric started teaching piano and drum lessons privately in 2002.  Then, in 2005, Eric started working for Starland Music!  ”It’s a great place to work!” says Eric.  ”It’s very rewarding as a teacher to see a student overcome obstacles and finally get IT!”  Eric is very excited to be helping his students to prepare for the recital he is planning to take place later this year!

Along with teaching, Eric also started working for Melody of China in 2006.  What started out as an administrative type position, turned into much more when he started writing songs for them using traditional Chinese instruments.  ”Meandering Streams” and “Butterfly’s Beginnings” are just two of his more recent pieces.  With titles like that I knew I was in for an amazing listening experience, and they did not disappoint!  I especially loved “Scattered Seconds”.  If you would like to listen to Eric’s music (and read his blog!) please visit www.emtones.com.

Q&A With Eric Myers

KA:  Now that summer is just around the corner, what summer time activity are you most looking forward to?

EM:  I am looking forward to going to Lake Tahoe with my friends from back home later this summer.  I am also looking forward to camping and hiking.

A:  What kind of music do you enjoy playing the most?

EM:  Jazz!  More recently I have been focusing on improving my ragtime chops!

KA:  What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

EM:  Cookies&Cream or Chocolate Peanut Butter.

KA:  Who are your musical inspirations?

EM:  Fats Waller, Scott Joplin, McCoy Tyner, Thelonious Monk and Ahmad Jamal just to name a few.

KA:  Do you have any hobbies outside of music?

EM:  I am really getting into web design, and I enjoy doing yoga and hiking with my wife.

Thomas grew up with his family in the small town of Madera, California.  ”I didn’t come from a musical family, my first real exposure to music was a radio” Thomas reflects.  However, When Thomas was in the 4th grade, he developed a crush on a girl who played drums in the school band.  So, in an effort to impress her, Thomas joined the school band as a drummer!  Unfortunately, the drums did not turn out to be her instrument and she quit the band a short time after Thomas joined.  By that time however, Thomas had already discovered his first love and he was hooked… on music!  ”My first drum set was the worst drum set ever!  I had to keep it together with duct tape!”  Thomas eventually made the decision to sell his souped up race truck to purchase his first professional drum set.

Thomas played in the school band and drumcorps all through high school and college.  Right after high school, Thomas got offered his first teaching position as the percussion instructor for his high school’s band.  ”It was a huge learning experience to be writing and teaching drum-lines for orchestra pieces” Thomas reflects.  Thomas also learned a very valuable teaching lesson.  ”It was strange to be teaching the buddies I had been hanging out with at school only a few months before that.  It taught me a lot about respect, both commanding it and earning it.”  While Thomas was teaching, he attended Fresno City College specifically to study under the direction of Mike Dana, a well known music arranger.

After teaching for three years, Thomas decided to try his hand at something else and got a job managing a paint store.  But, it wasn’t long before Thomas missed being surrounded by music.  So, he quit his job, packed his belongings and moved in with an old band mate who lived in the San Francisco bay area; with no plans in mind other than the pursuit of his love for music.  Just one month after moving to the bay area, Thomas started working at Starland.

Being a part of Starland has brought about many opportunities for Thomas.  For example; within six months of Thomas starting at Starland, the Starland Music Center percussion program was born.  ”I didn’t really fall in love with teaching until I began working at Starland, and now I can’t imagine a time when I would ever stop teaching.  Teaching music is a huge part of being a musician for me.  It keeps me humble and young at heart!  Also, over the years Thomas has played with many musicians that he met through Starland.  Then of course there is the most important example of all; Thomas met his lovely wife, Deborah, at Starland.

Thomas has been in a variety of bands over the years, starting with a blues band when he was in Jr. high school that went by the name Tight Rope.  ”We used to play gigs at a place called The Flamingo when we were in high school.  It was a great experience!”  Then, after moving to the bay area, Thomas started jamming every Thursday night on KBLR; a pirated Berkeley radio station.  Those jam sessions eventually led to one of the bands he is still a part of today, Pockit!  Since then Thomas has played in over 20 bands, some good, some bad, and some down right awesome! “I just wanted to be surrounded by music, so I took every gig I could find!  The money wasn’t great, but the experience taught me to be a better musician and that is worth way more to me than money.  Plus, it was inspiring to be involved with so many great musicians.”

Q&A With Thomas Perry:

KA: If you had not pursued music, what profession would you have pursued instead?

TP: I would have joined the Navy as a pilot.  I even went to boot camp for two summers as a teenager on Treasure Island as a part of the Sea Cadet program.

KA: Do you play any instruments besides percussion?

TP: Yes, I play the bass, guitar and even a little piano.  Dennis Cole was my first bass teacher, and I started playing guitar mostly because Wayne Anderson told me I couldn’t!

KA: What is your favorite beverage?

TP: Iced tea.

KA: Do you have any hobbies outside of music?

TP: I love to build models like cars, planes and ships.

KA: Who has been the most inspiring drummer in your life?

TP: Nate Grisby (The percussion instructor Thomas ultimately replaced at his high school).

Wayne grew up, the youngest child in a family of musicians and theater performers, in a small town in Connecticut.  His father, Clarence Anderson Jr., was a music teacher/trumpet player and he encouraged Wayne to pursue his love of music at an early age.  As a result Wayne played several instruments, including the drums and the sax, before finding his nitch with the guitar at the age of nine.

With family jam sessions being a regular occurrence in Wayne’s home growing up, it was natural for Wayne to seek out others with musical talent to jam with in his teenage years.  “High school was when I really started thinking about music as a profession.” Wayne reflects.  The band he was in while in high school, played their very first paying gig for a graduation party.  “It was very cool” says Wayne.

After high school, Wayne was itching to see the world and dreaded the thought of going to college so soon after graduating.  So, Wayne enlisted in the Navy instead.  “It was great” says Wayne, “I got to see a lot of cool places and experienced life beyond the small country town I grew up in.”  After four years in the Navy, Wayne settled down in the town he was last stationed in.  The Bay Area’s very own, San Francisco.

After his time in the Navy Wayne, who never ceased in pursuing his love of music, began taking every jazz, blues, classical, Brazilian, composition and theory guitar class he could find.  As a result, Wayne has had the privileged of studying under great musicians such as Warren Nunes (Author of The Jazz Guitar Chord Bible), Adam Levy (Norah Jones guitarist), David Hartman, Bob Bozina and Steve Erquiaga.  Wayne also attended the Blue Bear School of Music in San Francisco for many years.

Wayne has a list of past performances as long as your arm!  The highlights on that list include performing at the San Francisco Filmore Jazz Festival and the North Beach Jazz Festival; as well as performing along side artists such as Herbie Lewis, Donald “Duck” Bailey, Pete Yellin, Sonny Simmons, Ed Kelly, Andy Narell, Vince Lateano.  Wayne’s current projects include working with jazz vocalist Lily Layton, Doug Ellington (grandson of the great Duke Ellington); and is a member of both the Dwayne Oakley Jazz and Blues Ensemble and the Jim Grantham Quartet.  Wayne is also working on his own solo CD of completely original music as well as his own guitar method.

Along with a history overflowing with musical experiences and influences, Wayne absolutely loves passing on his knowledge and passion for music to his students.  Wayne has been teaching guitar at Starland Music for ten years, and has taught for fifteen years all together.  When I asked Wayne what his favorite part about teaching was he had this to say “Teaching music is really rewarding!  When everything clicks with my student for the first time and I see that love and passion for music begin to grow in them, it’s amazing!  When I see in them the desire to perform, compose or even teach music themselves, it makes me so proud to be a music teacher.”

Q&A With Wayne Anderson
KA:    Which concert is your favorite of all that you have attended?
WA:   Hands down, Pat Martino Live at Yoshi’s.  It was so good they made it into a CD!
KA:    What hobbies do you enjoy outside of music?
WA:   I love to draw, play soccer and read.
KA:    Which album is in your music player right now?
WA:   Kurt Rosenwinkle, Live at the Village Vanguard.
KA:    Who are your musical influences?
WA:   There are so many!  Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, BB King, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Lee Morgan and Charlie Parker just to name a few.
KA:    Where can we see you preform?
WA:   A couple of Sunday’s a month with the Jim Grantham Quartet at The Coffee Mill in Oakland from 3pm-6pm; and every Friday with Dwayne Oakley’s Jazz and Blues Ensemble at Le Colonial in San Francisco from 6pm-9:30pm.

Cynthia discovered at a young age that music held the key to her happiness.  As a young child, after watching her mother play, she asked her parents for piano lessons at the age of five; and that, as they say, was the start of a beautiful friendship.  Her first teacher was Marlene Olander.  Over the next ten years, Mrs. Olander not only taught her how to play the piano, but also nourished her love of music.  ”She had the patience of an angel” Cynthia says about Mrs. Olander.  If not for her, Cynthia believes she would not be teaching today.  After Mrs. Olander, Cynthia continued her long love affair with music by taking lessons from several other teachers both privately and at Mills College in Oakland,  from which she graduated with a bachelors degree in music.

It wasn’t until her brief, yet rewarding lessons with Debbie Sietman in London, England, that Cynthia really began to see into the depths of what music could offer.  ”She really opened my eyes to whole new levels of detail and interpretation in music,” Cynthia remembers.  ”After all, the notes and the timing are only half of music; interpretation is the other half, and that is what makes it art.”  Learning from Ms. Sietman took Cynthia’s piano skills, and more importantly her love for playing, to a whole other level.   ”It changed my life in ways I will never forget.”

Cynthia has been teaching piano lessons on and off since she was a teenager.  In fact, she just had her ten-year anniversary at Starland at the beginning of this month!  I asked Cynthia what she loves most about teaching, and almost instantly a sparkling, and quite contagious smile appeared on her face.  ”My students!” she says without hesitation. “Music is unbelievably exciting and complex and gorgeous, and I just love sharing the beauty of it all with my students!”  Then at a speed faster than I can write, Cynthia tells me that her philosophy on teaching music is this: “Teaching music is not just about teaching the instrument, but about loving your students and expressing that love through your teaching.”  Cynthia remarks that in addition to the technical and artistic aspects, teaching music involves teaching many important life skills; like patience, attention to detail, determination, deferring gratification, breaking large projects into small pieces, and learning to laugh at your mistakes.  It’s vital in music, and in life, to see mistakes as just information.  They teach you what to work on; they don’t mean that you are a failure.  ”I believe that it’s not just about learning to play the piano well, but about developing a passion for musical knowledge and understanding, and above all else loving every moment of t he experience; that is what makes you a good musician!”

In addition to being an accomplished pianist, Cynthia is also an in-demand composer.  She composed her first piece at the age of eight, and is well-known throughout the Bay Area for composing 19th-century inspired dance music for balls.  I had the distinct pleasure of hearing a few of her pieces, and as goose bumps cover my arms (something that only happens when I hear amazing music!)  I was truly in awe of her talent.  Cynthia has graciously extended to me an invitation to attend a ball where her pieces will be showcased in the future.  Something tells me that, even with my not-so-graceful dancing skills, it will be a night to remember!

Q&A With Cynthia Hussey
KA: What is your favorite color?
CH: PURPLE!
KA: What is something about you that few people know?
CH: I actually love heavy metal music!
KA: What hobbies do you have outside of music?
CH: Anything and everything that allows me to be creative!  I love designing and sewing costumes and ball gowns, choreographing dances, making lace and Chinese knotwork and of course last but certainly not least DANCING!  I love dancing!  Especially Irish Ceili, English Country, Vintage Ballroom, Lindy-Hop, and Contra Dancing.  I also love volunteering at the Dickens Fair where I get to dance with the visitors at Mr. Fezziwig’s warehouse.  (Spreading the love of dancing!)
KA: Where have you performed?
CH: I used to play dinner music at a hotel while I was in school!  I also play at recitals from time to time.
KA: What is your favorite dessert?
CH: I can only choose one?!
KA: <laughs> no of course not!
CH: Well they are just all so yummy!  I am quite fond of quality milk chocolate, especially with creamy Hazelnut, and anything sweet with Saffron, Cardamon, Peanut Butter, or Coconut.
KA: So, tell me about the tiaras?  Are you a real princess?
CH: <laughs> I just love wearing them; they make me happy!  In fact, I wish more people would wear one! Everyone is a princess or a prince. I just wear my tiara on the outside!

Dennis grew up in a music loving family.  Many of his first memories as a child are ones that involve being put to bed early so his parents and their friends could get together and sing in his living room.  He would fall asleep several times a week listening to cheerful ukulele music, and the words to songs of days gone by, wafting down the hall.  He can still sing most of those songs by heart to this day.  As a young man Dennis frequently attended dance class, it was in those classes that he realized what he really wanted to do.  He was fascinated by the bands hired to play as they twirled around the room and he made a decision right then and there to pursue music!  Encouraged by his family, he tried several instruments including the accordion and the trumpet before settling on the guitar.  “My first guitar teacher was horrible!” Dennis remarks.  He was so bad Dennis almost didn’t continue with it!  I think we can all agree what a travesty that would have been!

At the age of nineteen Dennis was drafted into the military.  He turned to music to help cope with being so far away from home (along with the stresses of being at war) and spent all of his spare time playing in the USO bands.  During those years is when his love of the guitar turned into a true passion!  As soon as he was released from the military, Dennis began a lifelong pursuit of anything and everything he could learn about music.  He enrolled at Cal State Hayward, with the intent of studying classical guitar.  He reflects that, in the end he came away with more musical knowledge than he had ever expected.  He was like a sponge soaking up all of the musical theory, styles, and instruments he could in his four years at Cal State.  He was so determined to learn all he could in pursuit of his passion for music, that he even took oboe lessons for a little while!

After college, Dennis set out like most musicians to put all he had learned into practice and make a name for himself.  He started a band with his friends and in 1975 they played their first gig at the Garlic Festival in Gilroy.  After achieving some success in the music industry, including touring with the likes of Eddie Money, Dennis discovered that what he truly wanted was to share his love for music by teaching what had been so carefully taught to him through school and his own personal experiences.  Dennis has made teaching music and learning how to be a better teacher his passion in life for the last 30+ years.  His advice to young musicians just starting out?  “Pursue the love of music, not the competition of being the best.  It’s a lot of work to be a musician and the only way you will make it is if you truly love it.”  Now a days Dennis can be seen teaching here at Starland Music, where he has been teaching for 25 years; playing the bass guitar in Circuit Breakers, just like he has done for the last 15 years; and playing the guitar in his own Randall Cole Band, they have been together for 20 years!

Q & A with Dennis

Kat: Do you have a favorite song of type of music?
Dennis:  Nope.  I consider myself an eclectic musician.  I like it all!
Kat:  What was your favorite subject in school?
Dennis:  Auto-Shop.  I learned how to trouble shoot life in that class.
Kat:  What do you love most about teaching music?
Dennis:  I love helping my students to fulfill their musical dreams as I fulfill mine to play and teach music every day.

Araks comes from a musical family and started her musical education at the age of four.  Before the age of fourteen she had performed as a soloist with the Istanbul symphony, became an accompanist for a string teachers student concerts, and appeared on Syrian Television.  After graduating simultaneously from the Notre Dame de Sion French High School and the Istanbul State Conservatory of Music, she came to the United States on a full scholarship from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  She received her Bachelors and Masters degree in piano and harpsichord performance.

Araks has been the director of the Yamaha Music School at Starland since 1984.  She has also become an examiner of the Yamaha Corporation of America.  She currently teaches all levels of the Yamaha program, as well as advanced piano, theory, harmony, ensemble, and composition.  She is a member of the Music Teachers Association of California and the American College of Musicians.  Over her very long musical career she has won numerous awards and has performed concerts around the world.  In addition, Araks was inducted in the Piano Guild’s Hall of Fame in 1996. (235)

Q & A with Araks
Kat: Do you have a favorite song or type of music?
Araks: Anything by Chopin.
Kat:  What do you enjoy doing on a nice summer day in the Bay area?
Araks: Swimming in my pool!
Kat:  What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Araks:  When it’s available I love peppermint candy ice cream, but it’s only in season during the holiday’s so the rest of the year I like coconut pineapple ice cream.
Kat:  What do you love most about teaching music?
Araks:  I love seeing the kids working so hard to improve, and the excitement that brings to them to achieve something great musically.