Starland is an organization committed to helping people express themselves through music and become happier and more fulfilled people. We sustain a community of people who are committed to studying, practicing and creating music.
We believe music is valuable in people’s lives. We provide a place for teachers to share and encourage this value while working in an uplifting, sustainable, positive, growth and learning-centric space and community. We choose team members who have passion, are committed to growth and learning, and practice compassion.
We found our mission on a sustainable business concept of linked prosperity. It consists of three equal and interrelated parts:
- We provide superior quality music education and musical products in a nurturing, safe environment with a commitment to setting new standards of excellence in customer service.
- We operate on a sustainable financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our stakeholders, and opportunities for financial growth for our team members. We promote business practices that encourage personal growth and high self-esteem.
- We operate in a way that contributes greatly to our local and world community, while commanding deep respect for all individuals in and outside of our company.
Meet Our Team
Tomas is an accomplished guitarist, recording artist, and music educator. He founded Starland in 1979, after teaching at the then "Yamaha Music School". The owners encouraged him to buy the business, and he reluctantly did. Tomas has spent decades building Starland into what it is today. He currently runs our entire online school, which focuses on guitar lessons for adults.
An Oakland native and UC Berkeley graduate, Aimee is a multi-instrumentalist who has been playing music her whole life. She started at Starland in 2012 and has worked in every role from team member, to teacher, and now the School Director. Her background in music education started all the way back in 2007 and she's had a passion for sharing the joy of learning music ever since. She loves growing as a musician and picking up new instruments- her newest endeavor being guitar. It's never too late to learn!
Thomas is a multi-instrumentalist from Central California and has been playing music since 11 years old. He moved to the Bay Area in 2001 and started working at Starland the same year. In addition to running all of the logistics at Starland, Thomas has built our drum program from the ground up. Over his tenure as our Lead Drum Instructor, Thomas has taught hundreds of students and developed a program that helps students build confidence as both musicians and people.
Patrick is a Bay Area native and lifelong pianist and saxophonist. He has been at Starland since 2021. With over a decade of experience in music education and administration, he's dedicated to helping students and families launch their musical journeys. After graduating from University of Pacific's Conservatory of Music, Patrick started building his career working with local music schools guiding incoming students toward their goals. Driven by the belief that everyone is inherently a musician, he draws on his background as an active performer, world-touring artist, and educator to guide incoming students toward the right path and instrument for their goals.
Eli combines a lifetime of multi-instrumental experience with deep technical expertise to support every musician who walks through our doors. He was raised in a musical family, and wrote and produced his first full-length album by fifth grade. He later mastered drums, bass, and digital music production while performing across the Bay Area. A Cal Poly graduate and founder of Alameda’s LoveHaight Studios, his production work has garnered millions of streams across Spotify, Apple Music, and radio broadcasts. Eli brings a passion and smile for inspiring artists of all ages and skill levels.
Jaime, Assistant Enrollment Coordinator
Pegah, Front Team Member
Rayelle, Front Team Member