Private Lessons
Our List of Incomparable Instructors
Kit Alderson
(310) 838-5636
jjalderson@live.com
Teaches mainly traditional folk and country styles
Has taught autoharp at McCabe’s since 1970
Founding member of the Stone Poneys, Linda Ronstadt’s original band based in Santa Monica
Played autoharp and guitar in McCabe’s original house band, the Floating House Band
John is a professional banjo player with over 40 years experience teaching banjo and performing. He has played banjo on stages throughout the world with a diverse range of artists and bands, including Dropkick Murphys, The Wrecking Crew, Ashley Campbell, NOFX, Old Man Markley, and Ed Helms.
John has been teaching banjo at Mccabe’s for over a decade, specializing in Scruggs style, clawhammer, and melodic 3-finger style. He welcomes all ages and skill levels (total beginners are particularly welcome!).
Most importantly, John is a patient, empathic and FUN teacher!
Jimi Cabeza De Vaca
(310)972-9469
jimi@mccabes.com
All levels, especially beginners
Classical, finger style, rock, fretboard theory, music theory
B.A. from UCLA in ethnomusicology
M.F.A. from CalArts in guitar
Also available to teach accordion and piano
Max Zwarych
(310)625-3922
Maksimzwarych@gmail.com
Electric or upright, all styles
Specializing in theory, technique, reading, or just plain fun
Camila Wilson
(310) 429- 5809
camila.mccabes@gmail.com
Camila teaches all levels and ages. She has an associates degree for cello performance from Santa Monica College and a B.A in musicology from UCLA. She enjoys teaching classical music as she was taught through the Suzuki method, but is open to teaching other genres.
Monique Mizrahi
Tel/Whatsapp: +39 3884968228
Skype: moniquehoneybird
monique@honeybird.net
Available to teach remotely via Zoom or Skype
Jimi Cabeza De Vaca
(310)972-9469
jimi@mccabes.com
All levels, especially beginners
Classical, finger style, rock, fretboard theory, music theory
B.A. from UCLA in ethnomusicology
M.F.A. from CalArts in guitar
Also available to teach accordion and piano
Rubén Rojas
(424)298-1603
Teaches all levels and all ages, especially beginners.
Background in Classical, R&B, Jazz, Fingerstyle, Blues, Rock, Folk, Music Theory and Guitar Improvisation.
B.A. from UCLA in Music Industry and History, Graduate of the Applied Music Program of Santa Monica College.
Ruben also teaches vocal students of all levels and beginning to intermediate Piano.
David Ellis
dellisgtr@aol.com
www.davidellisguitar.com
(424) 603-4042
Beginning (all ages — absolute beginners should have a nylon-string guitar)
Folk, blues, flamenco and rock (beginning to intermediate)
Classical (all levels)
David has been a guitar instructor at McCabe’s Guitar Shop® in Santa Monica for the past thirty-something years. His students have been accepted into music programs at USC, UCLA, UC Irvine, Cal State Long Beach and the Berklee College of Music.
Performance highlights include playing several concerts with the Broadway singer Kristin Chenoweth, playing on the red carpet for the 71st- 74th Academy Awards, performing with the Los Robles Master Chorale, and performing in the garden of Disney Concert Hall.
Kit Alderson
(310) 838-5636
jjalderson@live.com
Teaches mostly folk and country-related styles, especially fingerstyle singer-songwriter music;
Beginners through intermediates; no electric guitar, and no one under 16
Can transcribe songs for fingerstyle; has a catalog of thousands of transcriptions
Paula McMath
cell: (310)625-8586
paula@paulamcmath.com
Specializes in teaching guitar to children
Believes in allowing interest to drive material selection, and strives to have kids “feel” music as well as hear and see it
Emphasizes: fingerboard knowledge, use of music notation, chord vocabulary, fingerpicking, right-hand rhythm techniques, scales, scale tone chords, and songwriting
Extensive training and experience in ORFF Schulwerk — a system of teaching music that utilizes singing, speech, movement, body percussion, and small pitched and unpitched percussion instruments
Works professionally as a singer/guitarist/songwriter in the Los Angeles area — and in her native Canada
Vicki Hill
(323)286-8163
vickihill@sbcglobal.net
Beginning guitar for Kids and Adults
Music theory, note reading, and singing also offered
20+ years teaching at McCabe’s
Singer/Songwriter with performance and recording experience both solo and with bands
Also plays banjo
John O’Kennedy
Landline: (818) 760-7288
john_okennedy@yahoo.com
Teaching Specialties: Guitar, Bottleneck, Mandolin, Lap Steel/Dobro
Ukulele, Music Theory
John has been a utility teacher for decades and he knows his way around
a variety of stringed instruments. Whether you are a beginner or a pro,
John can take you through the fundamentals, and all the way to the
specific styles and techniques. He also has a formidable knowledge of
applicable music theory, otherwise known as “on-the-job smarts.” His
over 30 years of experience includes: film and TV music composer,
arranger, producer, multi-instrumentalist, session player, sideman, and
music director for a long list of bands and singer-songwriters in the LA
area.
Pete Snell
(310)387-0930
petesnell@verizon.net
Specializing in theory and improvisation for blues, jazz, pop and rock
Played jazz guitar in New York in early ’80s while studying composition at Manhattan School of Music
Landed recording deal with Capitol Records in L.A., writing and producing two albums for the band In Vitro
Joined Lyle Lovett in 1990, and toured with Bonnie Raitt, Sam Phillips, Rickie Lee Jones, Lou Reed, John Denver and many others while playing sessions for TV and films
Steve Rose
(310)890-4017
ukerocker@gmail.com
Pop, jazz, rock, folk
Guitar arranging for singers and songwriters
Theory and improvisation
Also teaches ukulele
Tom Zehnder
(310)415-0902
tom@vaportrailpro.com
http://vaportrailpro.com/
Tom enjoys engaging students at all levels and is thrilled to recently join the accomplished team of music teachers at McCabe’s Guitar Shop. Drawing from decades of experience composing, songwriting, producing original scores and songs for video games, TV and Film, as well as performing in several bands regularly, Tom teaches songwriting, voice and guitar, sometimes all three in one lesson. Tom holds a bachelor of arts degree in music composition from UCLA, graduating summa cum laude and grew up in the living room of his dad, the late John Zehnder, who encouraged the whole family to sing and play “by ear” together – and it was fun!
Louis Thomass
+1 (310) 985 7886
Louis has been a professional musician and guitar teacher all his life.
Teaching all levels and ages of players on acoustic as well as electric guitar.
He’s specialized in Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Fingerstyle and West Coast Rock.
Besides being a solo artist he’s doing live shows and studio recordings for other people.
Louis studied Musicology in Munich, Germany.
Zach Lupetin
310 717 6452
Z. Lupetin is an award-winning songwriter and bandleader of the beloved roots-rock adventurers Dustbowl Revival. Since coming together via a hopeful California Craigslist ad out of Venice Beach, Zach and Dustbowl have toured in over ten countries and produced seven albums and EPs, accruing over twenty million streams and counting. The group’s latest LP appeared in the top 20 of the alternative sales charts and enjoyed features in Rolling Stone and Billboard.
Zach’s songs range from harmony-rich folk ballads to soul and funk jams, politically-charged blues and Beatles-esque rock n roll – including collaborations with Grammy-winners Keb’ Mo’, The Secret Sisters and upcoming singles with Ivan Neville.
During 2020, Zach began working with young and aspiring songwriters of all ages to help them create and fully-realize their work and bring it to the stage. Having toured with eight piece bands for decade, Zach is a wellspring of music-making information. He came to LA via Chicago and the University of Michigan, hoping initially to be a playwright and screenwriter. He began his music interview podcast The Show On The Road in 2018 – picking the brain of over 150 songwriters and bands counting including Ani Difranco, Steve Earle, Iris Dement, Vulfpeck, Madison Cunningham, Black Pumas and more. He currently hosts The Sway Out West Radio Hour on 88.5FM The Socal Sound on Saturday mornings.
Mimi Mayer
(323)309-2197
angelcitytalent@gmail.com
Professional Musician and Beginning harmonica teacher
Mimi has been playing various musical instruments since the age of two, starting with piano. After years
of wanting to play blues harmonica but not actually TRYING to do it, she finally took the plunge 8 years
ago and dove deep into it. She now plays a variety of styles – blues, pop, rock, classical, holiday, zydeco,
swamp pop, country, etc.
Tamzin Elliott (They/Them)
Tamzin Elliott is a composer, singer, and harpist who teaches both beginning Classical and Folk harp, as well as early Irish Wire-strung harp. Tamzin holds a doctorate in Composition from the University of Southern California and is able to give instruction in other musicianship skills, such as reading notated music, sight-singing, and fundamentals of music theory.
John O’Kennedy
Landline: (818) 760-7288
john_okennedy@yahoo.com
Teaching Specialties: Guitar, Bottleneck, Mandolin, Lap Steel/Dobro
Ukulele, Music Theory
John has been a utility teacher for decades and he knows his way around
a variety of stringed instruments. Whether you are a beginner or a pro,
John can take you through the fundamentals, and all the way to the
specific styles and techniques. He also has a formidable knowledge of
applicable music theory, otherwise known as “on-the-job smarts.” His
over 30 years of experience includes: film and TV music composer,
arranger, producer, multi-instrumentalist, session player, sideman, and
music director for a long list of bands and singer-songwriters in the LA
area.
Fred Sokolow
(310)838-4215
sokolowmusic@gmail.com
www.sokolowmusic.com
Private lessons in
Blues (electric and acoustic), Jazz, Rock, Country, Bluegrass, Rockabilly, Bottleneck, Fingerpicking, Flatpicking
Lots of theory and improv skills taught, as well as songs
John O’Kennedy
Landline: (818) 760-7288
john_okennedy@yahoo.com
Teaching Specialties: Guitar, Bottleneck, Mandolin, Lap Steel/Dobro
Ukulele, Music Theory
John has been a utility teacher for decades and he knows his way around
a variety of stringed instruments. Whether you are a beginner or a pro,
John can take you through the fundamentals, and all the way to the
specific styles and techniques. He also has a formidable knowledge of
applicable music theory, otherwise known as “on-the-job smarts.” His
over 30 years of experience includes: film and TV music composer,
arranger, producer, multi-instrumentalist, session player, sideman, and
music director for a long list of bands and singer-songwriters in the LA
area.
Jimi Cabeza De Vaca
(310)972-9469
jimi@mccabes.com
All levels, especially beginners
All music types of modern music, music theory
B.A. from UCLA in ethnomusicology
Also available to teach accordion and guitar
Sam Robertson
(805)-403-6353
Sam is a pianist/engineer/producer. He has toured throughout the U.S. and Europe. Additionally, he works as a house engineer/producer at the legendary 4th Street Recording in Santa Monica. Sam has experience with a variety of musical styles: classical, blues, jazz, folk etc, he also teaches accordion. Sam graduated from UCLA in 2019 with a B.A. in Ethnomusicology. He welcomes students of all ages and abilities!!
Jessica Sandidge
(917)488-8374
jessandidge@gmail.com
www.jessicasandidge.com
Jessica has taught at such schools as Avenues World School in New York City, Wellesley Hugh school in Massachusetts, and is currently teaching piano and voice at the Irvine School of Music and Glendora Music and Arts School. She works with kids of any age teaching piano and early music education. She is also an accomplished opera singer, having sung at Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, and at the legendary McCabe’s Guitar Shop.
Danny Moynahan
http://dannymoynahan.com
Is that a real saw? Are those teeth sharp? Is it easy to play? The answer is yes, yes, and yes, if you learn from a pro like Danny Moynahan. Originally a saxophonist in ska, reggae, afrofunk, soul and jazz settings, Danny fell in love with the musical saw upon hearing the legendary sawyer Charlie Blacklock perform in Santa Monica, CA in the late 1990s. He began playing the very next day, and has since become a highly sought-after recording artist, performer, and teacher of the musical saw. All levels welcome.
Zach Lupetin
310 717 6452
Z. Lupetin is an award-winning songwriter and bandleader of the beloved roots-rock adventurers Dustbowl Revival. Since coming together via a hopeful California Craigslist ad out of Venice Beach, Zach and Dustbowl have toured in over ten countries and produced seven albums and EPs, accruing over twenty million streams and counting. The group’s latest LP appeared in the top 20 of the alternative sales charts and enjoyed features in Rolling Stone and Billboard.
Zach’s songs range from harmony-rich folk ballads to soul and funk jams, politically-charged blues and Beatles-esque rock n roll – including collaborations with Grammy-winners Keb’ Mo’, The Secret Sisters and upcoming singles with Ivan Neville.
During 2020, Zach began working with young and aspiring songwriters of all ages to help them create and fully-realize their work and bring it to the stage. Having toured with eight piece bands for decade, Zach is a wellspring of music-making information. He came to LA via Chicago and the University of Michigan, hoping initially to be a playwright and screenwriter. He began his music interview podcast The Show On The Road in 2018 – picking the brain of over 150 songwriters and bands counting including Ani Difranco, Steve Earle, Iris Dement, Vulfpeck, Madison Cunningham, Black Pumas and more. He currently hosts The Sway Out West Radio Hour on 88.5FM The Socal Sound on Saturday mornings.
John O’Kennedy
Landline: (818) 760-7288
john_okennedy@yahoo.com
Teaching Specialties: Guitar, Bottleneck, Mandolin, Lap Steel/Dobro
Ukulele, Music Theory
John has been a utility teacher for decades and he knows his way around
a variety of stringed instruments. Whether you are a beginner or a pro,
John can take you through the fundamentals, and all the way to the
specific styles and techniques. He also has a formidable knowledge of
applicable music theory, otherwise known as “on-the-job smarts.” His
over 30 years of experience includes: film and TV music composer,
arranger, producer, multi-instrumentalist, session player, sideman, and
music director for a long list of bands and singer-songwriters in the LA
area.
Steve Rose
(310)890-4017
ukerocker@gmail.com
All levels
Vintage jazz and Hawaiian
Chord and solo playing
Major fun!
Also teaches guitar
Jessica Sandidge
(917)488-8374
jessandidge@gmail.com
www.jessicasandidge.com/
Jessica Sandidge is originally from Santa Monica, CA, and got her music degrees at UC Santa Cruz and New England Conservatory. She then lived in New York City where she performed as an opera singer and taught voice and piano lessons for 15 years. She has taught at such schools as Avenues World School in New York City, Wellesley High school in Massachusetts, and is currently teaching piano, violin, and voice in the Los Angeles area. She began her musical journey playing the violin from 4-10th grade, then moved onto the harp, ultimately finding her voice in college on the stage as an opera singer. She works with kids and adults of any age teaching piano, voice, and beginning violin. She is also an accomplished opera singer, having sung at Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, among others.
Jessica Sandidge
(917)488-8374
jessandidge@gmail.com
www.jessicasandidge.com/
Jessica Sandidge is originally from Santa Monica, CA, and got her music degrees at UC Santa Cruz and New England Conservatory. She then lived in New York City where she performed as an opera singer and taught voice and piano lessons for 15 years. She has taught at such schools as Avenues World School in New York City, Wellesley High school in Massachusetts, and is currently teaching piano, violin, and voice in the Los Angeles area. She began her musical journey playing the violin from 4-10th grade, then moved onto the harp, ultimately finding her voice in college on the stage as an opera singer. She works with kids and adults of any age teaching piano, voice, and beginning violin. She is also an accomplished opera singer, having sung at Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, among others.
Rubén Rojas
(424)298-1603
Private lessons in:
Guitar and Voice
Teaches beginners
Studied Jazz Guitar and obtaining a B.A in Music Industry from UCLA
Tom Zehnder
(310)415-0902
tom@vaportrailpro.com
http://vaportrailpro.com/
Tom enjoys engaging students at all levels and is thrilled to recently join the accomplished team of music teachers at McCabe’s Guitar Shop. Drawing from decades of experience composing, songwriting, producing original scores and songs for video games, TV and Film, as well as performing in several bands regularly, Tom teaches songwriting, voice and guitar, sometimes all three in one lesson. Tom holds a bachelor of arts degree in music composition from UCLA, graduating summa cum laude and grew up in the living room of his dad, the late John Zehnder, who encouraged the whole family to sing and play “by ear” together – and it was fun!
Private Lessons: All scheduling is done directly with each teacher. Contact info can be found on this page, or by calling the shop. There is a strict 24-hour cancellation policy. If you cancel a lesson less than 24 hours in advance (or don't show up at all), your teacher is entitled to the ticket(s) required to cover the lesson time.
