Meet Our Teaching Faculty

Spencer Layne is a 27-year-old professional multi-instrumentalist musician/producer with 16 years of experience. His resume includes sold-out performances at The SF Fillmore, Santa Ana Observatory, and Catalyst Santa Cruz, opening for Green Day, and a Hollywood-recorded debut album with his band Carpool Tunnel. Spencer graduated with a B.A. in Guitar Performance from Berklee College of Music and intends to continue dedicating his time and energy to all things music.

Spencer teaches private lessons, band workshops, and group classes at Fort Mason and is Blue Bear’s All Star Band director. He’s available for lessons on guitar, bass, drums, voice, and ukulele.

 

Joe Lyle is a multi-instrumentalist who specializes in Drums and Percussion. He recently moved from New Orleans, where he owned and operated a vinyl record store for seven years, to San Francisco to pursue music full-time. Joe has earned a degree in Drum Performance from Berklee College of Music in Boston and has toured the world with a motley crew of award winning artists such as, Solange Knowles, Zambian rock legends We Intend to Cause Havoc, Chaz Bear of Toro Y Moi, Chris Cohen of Deerhoof, Duckwrth, TANUKICHAN, and more. He boasts a personalized approach to teaching wherein he takes the time to get to know his students’ interests, within and outside of music, and caters to each student’s personality and learning style. His goal is to nurture each student’s natural curiosity about their instrument and to create a love for music that lasts a lifetime.

 

 

Taylor Phelps is a versatile guitarist and dedicated music educator with over eight years of teaching experience. Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Taylor holds a Bachelor of Music in Studio Music and Jazz from the University of Tennessee. His musical journey began at just four years old with his first guitar, sparking a lifelong passion for creativity, performance, and sharing music with others. Throughout his career, Taylor has taught students of all ages and skill levels across a variety of instruments, including guitar, piano, bass, drums, and ukulele. His teaching philosophy emphasizes patience, curiosity, and joy, encouraging students to build a strong foundation while exploring their own unique voice. In addition to his work as an instructor, Taylor has extensive experience performing in a wide range of musical settings, including jazz combos, rock bands, touring acts, studio recording sessions, and collaborative songwriting projects. He brings this real-world experience into each lesson, helping students connect their practice to authentic musical expression.

Now based in San Francisco, he’s excited to connect with new students and be part of a vibrant and creative music community.  Taylor teaches private lessons and group guitar on Wednesdays at Mission Bay, and private lessons, band workshops, and group guitar on Thursdays at Fort Mason.

Amanda VanderMeer graduated with high honors from Portland Community College’s Professional Music Program and has been playing and writing music for twenty-five years, touring the globe and releasing two studio albums. Since 2006, she has taught a wide range of ages in drums, piano, vocals, music theory, and songwriting. She plays drums in her current band Deathtrap America.  Amanda teaches online private lessons in piano, drums, and voice.

“Uncle” Ray Wilcox is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, producer, and band leader. He loves sharing his passion for playing music with a group of people. It’s the most present you can be in a not-so-present world.

Transplanted from New Jersey in 1987, Ray formed noise pop pioneers Zircus and went on to play with East Bay funk monstrosity !Tang and dozens of other bands. Ray records and has produced 15 albums for his independent label, Pacific Soul Records. He was a San Francisco teacher for 35 years before he switched exclusively to music in 2022. Ray loves to collect vinyl and tinker in his home Logic X studio. You can always find Ray playing his brand of psychedelic soul around town, at the farmers market, in the clubs, or at your favorite dive bar.