Meet Our Teaching Faculty
San Francisco’s Best Music Teachers & Educators
Our Team, One Commitment
Our faculty is deeply committed to teaching as a profession, dedicated to helping students meet their unique goals.
Blue Bear teachers also work as musicians, expert in their individual crafts, with significant experience in the music industry.
Teacher Bios
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Mark Abdilla
Born and raised in San Francisco, Mark A discovered his passion for guitar at the age of 13. He earned a B.A. in music from San Francisco State University and an Associate Arts degree from the College of San Mateo. From the classical compositions of J.S. Bach to the raw energy of hard rock, Mark has embraced the diverse range of the guitar throughout his musical journey. Initially, Mark performed with rock bands in San Francisco before venturing to Hollywood, where he became part of a band that frequented the local club scene. However, a transformative trip to Andalusia, Spain in 2004 ignited his fascination with Flamenco guitar, which has since become his primary focus. While specializing in Flamenco, Mark is also proficient in various Latin styles including Brazilian, Cuban, and Spanish classical. Additionally, his repertoire spans all eras of rock ‘n’ roll, blues, funk, and jazz. Mark has been a regular performer and instructor, captivating audiences and students alike with his dynamic approach to music. He has maintained a consistent presence in Europe and Mexico since 2000, showcasing his musical prowess internationally.
Mark’s teaching philosophy places a premium on his students’ enjoyment and engagement, whether in private lessons or classroom settings. By integrating songs that deeply resonate with each student, he fosters the organic development of technical proficiency and skills, transforming the learning journey into a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Mark teaches private lessons and group classes in guitar and ukulele at Fort Mason on Tuesdays and Thursdays; he also teaches piano and bass.
Liz Baker
Liz Baker has been playing the piano for over 20 years, and loves every minute of it. Though she specializes in jazz, Liz is also classically trained and enjoys playing and teaching music of all kinds. Currently, she plays as a Musical Director for BATS Improv at For Mason, and teaches musical improv at Leela Improv in downtown San Francisco. She also plays traditional and folk music for Renaissance Faires around the country. Her past projects include jazz juries at the Reno Jazz Festival, award-winning pit band in SF Fringe, Directing as an MD for Portal the Musical, and participation in several groups for the Great Charles Dickens Faire over the past 15 years.
On top of her background in piano, she also has experience in auxiliary percussion for orchestra pit, as well as Marching Band, musical pit bands, and Jazz combo. As a teacher, Liz has taught a variety of ages – from 6 to 64 – and believes you are never too old or too young to start playing your own music.
Liz teaches private lessons on piano, guitar, bass, and ukulele on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at our Inner Sunset studio.
Henry Baker
Henry Baker is a multi-instrumentalist and audio technician who has been a member of San Francisco’s music community since 2010. For the past few years, he has been passionate about music education, with a particular focus on composition, improvisation, music theory, and collaboration.
Henry teaches private lessons on piano and ukulele on Thursdays at our Sunset campus.
Patty Boss
Patty Boss (ASCAP) is a pianist and composes music for television, including national feature scoring credits for Emmy-winning Bay Windows series in San Francisco, “Hope on the Street,” which received recognition and awards, including Northern California Emmy Nomination for Best Documentary. She has held roles as Audio Lead and Composer for Leapfrog Inc.; Composition Guest Lecturer at New College, San Francisco; Broadcast Mixer for CurrentTV; music production for XBOX advertising; EA Games sound design credits for The Sims, & The Urbz; and keyboardist and backing vocalist for several performing bands. She holds a degree from Berklee College of Music, piano principal.
Her music plays on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN Special Report, Animal Planet, Discovery, NFL, NBA, NFL, UFC, CBS Sports Spectacular, MTV, Bravo, National Geographic Channel, Entertainment Television (E!), TLC, Oxygen Network, TV-One, A&E, FYI Network, History Channel, Travel Channel, VH1, TLC, TV1, Investigation Discovery Network and more. Recently, Patty’s music has been heard on America’s Got Talent (NBC), For My Man (TV One), American Beauty Star (Lifetime), Fear Factor (MTV), Inside the NBA (NBA TV), The Daily Show (Comedy Central), The Challenge (MTV), and The Journey: Big Ten Basketball (BTN).
Patty teaches private lessons in piano, music theory, and music recording and production at Mission Bay on Mondays and at Fort Mason on Tuesdays. Her schedule is currently full.
What students are saying:
- “Patty has the ability to break down a complicated idea into something easier to understand. She has a patient approach to imparting knowledge that is reassuring and inspiring. I have learned tons from her and consider her a big part of my music/composition/audio production learning experience.” – Jess Hatton-Brown, UK performing artist and singer-songwriter living and performing in France
- “Patty creates a safe and welcoming environment for everyone to share openly. She empowers anyone willing to learn by being generous with her time and always offering concise, actionable feedback.” – Sherry Lynn, Music entrepreneur, California
- “Patty Boss is generous with her time and knowledge. She has a heart to help others become better in the craft of sound production and composition. She is passionate about helping others achieve their best.” – Rebekah Ann Curtis, Singer-Songwriter
- “I saw Patty playing the piano in college. She was so passionate. Someone who loves music that much gotta be a good teacher. And she cares about friends and people.” – Min Lee, Korean artist/painter
Alejandro Bowley-Fuentes
Alejandro Bowley-Fuentes is an enthusiastic drummer, pianist, and guitarist, and has been a music educator for six years. He grew up loving the drums because of their natural simplicity and the appeal of getting to bang on stuff, but soon branched out to piano and guitar due to his curiosity and desire to explore other musical shapes and sounds.
Alejandro’s main focus in his teaching is to foster a deep love and comprehensive understanding of music, and he pushes all his students to explore music in a way that brings them joy. What grounds him is a deep love for the rich history of music from around the world, and what drives him is his desire to spread that love and appreciation to others. Alejandro works with all ages and is especially gifted at working with younger musicians because of his patience, positive demeanor, and ability to inspire. His mission is to help each of his students become the best musician they can be and equip them with the right tools to make that happen. Alejandro has experience playing in rock bands and studio recording sessions, and is excited to share his experiences with his students.
Alejandro teaches private lessons in guitar and piano on Tuesdays at our Sunset studio.
Robert Brownstein
Robert Brownstein’s musical training began in utero because his mother was an accomplished classical pianist and spent hours practicing. Then, through her training, he was playing Bach, Beethoven, and show tunes by the age of 4. His first performance was in kindergarten when he performed his pieces and accompanied his school for the holiday recital. With a degree in music from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Robert has made it his mission to spread the joy of learning to play piano to anyone interested and has been teaching for over 35 years. He has developed a variety of fun and innovative techniques and shortcuts to make playing piano accessible to all and has proven time and time again that it is never too late to start.
Robert teaches private piano lessons at Fort Mason on Mondays and at our Sunset studio on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Lea Centauri
Lea Centauri has been singing since age four and is a master vocalist and instructor with experience teaching Voicedance, from Paris to Istanbul. Voicedance is the breath and music of singing as expression, for all singers wanting the experience of Voice.
A mezzo-soprano, Lea lived in Paris for several years, performing and teaching throughout France as well as in Turkey and other countries in Europe and North Africa. She is a vocal coach for all genres–Jazz, Pop, Blues, R&B, Rock, Show Tunes, Hip Hop, and Rap–working with individuals on technique and preparation for recording and performance, and also working with those who just want to sing for fun and personal enjoyment. Her Voicedance program starts with breathing exercises for relaxation and clearing of energy, moving to vocal scales for tuning, range, stamina, and feeling good within as you sing, then to singing triplets for vocal control and expression, and finally to songs to enhance your vocal ability and build a repertoire of material you want to sing. Lea is also a songwriter and teaches beginning piano as well. She teaches only private online lessons.
What students are saying:
- “Lea is absolutely the best vocal coach I’ve ever had. Working with Lea has completely elevated my tone, range, and breath control. She makes sure that I do it right every time, with grace. She patiently allows me to correct my mistakes to ensure I get it right, and that I understand how to correct it. ” – April W.
Hilary Craddock
Hilary Craddock grew up in New York City and began her piano study at age 5. She attended the Brearley School K-12 and then graduated with a degree in English and Art History from the University of Virginia. She attended the Diller Quaile School of Music in Manhattan, NY from elementary through high school. There, she studied classical piano, music theory, and madrigal singing with Marjorie Duncalf. Hilary studied piano pedagogy and music history at SF State, during which time she also sang in the jazz choir led by Molly Holm and studied ear training and advanced music theory.
Hilary has been teaching piano in the Bay Area since 1998. While raising two boys of her own, she developed a special talent for teaching the youngest and most energetic and curious learners.
Hilary fills her life with music, always learning a new instrument, or musical style, or leaning into her classical background. You can find her at various venues around town performing with her band, The Lost Weekends, for live band Karaoke events. Hilary gravitates toward singing, playing, and performing with others. Before kids, you could find her on Friday nights upstairs at the legendary Paradise Lounge, hosting raucous singer-songwriter performances.
Hilary teaches private piano lessons at Mission Bay on Saturdays.
Caroline Dahl
Caroline Dahl plays boogie-woogie, blues, and rock piano in bands and solo at many Bay Area clubs. She is frequently seen wearing sequins and sensible shoes. Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, she earned a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Kentucky. She had some classical piano lessons in high school, but soon abandoned them to self-teaching of American popular styles picked up from records and the radio. Specializing in up-tempo boogie woogie, swing, and blues, Caroline currently plays with the Cajun/American roots band, Tom Rigney and Flambeau. Caroline also plays solo piano regularly on Sundays at Mama’s Royal Cafe in Mill Valley. She has played solo at piano boogie-woogie and blues festivals in France, Switzerland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Canada, and at numerous venues in the United States. She is also an internationally exhibiting textile artist. carolinedahl.com and YouTube at dahlvideo. Caroline teaches private lessons on Tuesdays at Fort Mason.
What students are saying:
- “Caroline is a great teacher. She is patient, teaches at a pace that is understandable to me and is upbeat and encouraging. I look forward to my lesson every week and always leave motivated to learn more and get better.” – Mike E.
Sharman Duran
Sharman Duran, vocalist and keyboardist, has been performing jazz standards, Top 40, Soul, Rock, Pop, and Latin jazz in bands since 1976. She works with adults and students in 7th grade and older. Sharman teaches private lessons in voice and piano at Fort Mason on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Iris Evans
Iris Evans is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who specializes in traditional American music–jazz, bluegrass, country, blues, and rock. Born into a musical family, she grew up playing bass, guitar, and mandolin at bluegrass festivals in Northern California before branching out into classical and choral music, and in 2023, she expanded into theater, doing music and sound design with Life in Arts Productions. She developed a lifelong love for jazz as a trombonist and bassist, played in the Portland ska scene, and led and taught many small ensembles and private lessons before moving to San Francisco to pursue music education full-time. Her favorite styles to play are flatpicking guitar, jazz and Latin trombone, and jazz and ska bass, while her pedagogy emphasizes functional technique, rhythm, and basic sight reading.
Iris teaches private lessons in guitar, bass, piano, mandolin, ukulele, and trombone at Fort Mason on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Brett Grimm
Brett Grimm is a jazz pianist, composer, producer, audio engineer, and passionate educator. A recent graduate of the music program at UC Santa Cruz, Brett has years of experience performing as a soloist and as a member of small and large ensembles. He has also led his own bands in Santa Cruz, and now the Bay Area regions, with his project Bonesio having released several singles and an EP.
Brett believes in giving each student the musical tools to enable real freedom and creativity at the instrument. He believes being truly comfortable while playing is of utmost importance, so that the student can express themselves however they see fit.
Brett teaches private lessons in all music styles on piano and guitar on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at Mission Bay and on Wednesdays at Sunset.
Francesca Lee
Francesca Lee graduated from Sir Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts (Music) in 2002 majoring in pop vocal performance and songwriting with disciplines in both guitar and keyboard. She is best known for her soulful/sultry vocals and music that merges styles of Folk, Pop, Blues, and Jazz.
During her residency in the U.K., Francesca performed as a backup singer for the popular televised awards show, The Top of the Pop Awards at The Manchester Arena alongside artists like Nellie Furtado, Tom Jones, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Minogue, Wyclef, and Travis. She was also featured in a pilot episode for the MTV Networks show (The Real World). She recorded her first debut independent album with Scottish Sony recording artist Sandi Thom, who later topped the Billboard charts in the U.K. with her song “I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker.”
In 2004 she moved to San Francisco and established herself in the Bay Area music scene as a singer-songwriter. A top ten regional finalist in The Lilith Fair Talent Search through Ourstage.com, songs from her album The Pieces Left, produced by Michael Winger, Executive Director for NARAS (The Grammys), was featured on KFOG’S LOCAL Scene Vol. 6 and Songwriters Unplugged-Live at Yoshi’s.
She has been working as a professional musician in The Bay Area since 2004 and has been a staff show producer for Bread & Roses Presents since 2010. She is passionate about guiding students on how to discover their own unique sound, carve out their niche, and how to develop their craft as singer-songwriters. She has also served as a previous judge for West Coast Songwriter’s monthly songwriting showcase & competition.
Francesca teaches private lessons at Fort Mason for ages 8 and up.
James Mitchell
James Mitchell has been a formidable member of the Bay Area jazz community for nearly thirty years. Having grown up in Napa, he began performing at wineries, restaurants, and weddings with various groups at the age of 15. His high school hosted the biggest marching band review in California, was highly competitive, and won several awards. James received his Bachelor’s in Music degree from Sonoma State University in 2006 and moved to San Francisco shortly thereafter. He performed with the Tony Award-winning musical theater company, San Francisco Mime Troupe, from 2009 to 2012.
With experience playing classical piano, bebop, Latin jazz, second line brass band music, punk rock, ska, Afrobeat, and contemporary pop, he teaches a wide range of styles. A few places he’s performed are Wembley Hall, The Bulls Head jazz club in London, Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans, Miami University in Ohio, and Vibrato Grill Jazz, Herb Alpert’s club in Los Angeles. With over two decades of teaching experience, he’s versatile in working with students of any age. Whether the goal is studying the classics, understanding music theory, improvising, or composing, James’ primary goal is to make learning music fun.
James teaches private lessons on piano and brass Tuesdays to Saturdays at our Inner Sunset studio. Contact the school to inquire about openings – [email protected].
Lori O'Dell
Lori O’Dell has an extensive background in the arts and has been a professional musician and choreographer for over 20 years. She holds a Master’s in Piano and Chamber Music from the University of Georgia, as well as a Doctor of Education.
Lori taught Music Appreciation, Music Theory, and Keyboard for 14 years in the California Community College System, and has also worked in the private and public K-12 school sector as a piano and voice instructor. She has created and cut music, choreographed, and performed and taught dance and music around the world, including Japan, South Korea, the UK, Qatar, Namibia, and Kenya.
An active member of the Bay Area music scene, Lori serves as rehearsal pianist for the San Francisco Boys Chorus and Pianist for Marin Girls Chorus, with whom she will be performing at Carnegie Hall in the Summer of 2025. She is on the board for the San Francisco Chapter of the Music Teachers Association of California and has curated symphonic concerts throughout the city with various non-profits and foundations.
Lori is a teacher of all ages and a fan of all styles of music – from classical and jazz to pop, rock, and bluegrass. As a native of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, bluegrass was and still is a huge part of her life. When she’s not playing piano, you can find her sharpening her banjo skills and on the dance floor flat-footin’. And to counter that bluegrass, Lori’s other true passion is electronic music, and she has been following her favorite band, Depeche Mode, around the world for decades.
Her primary mission is to meet students where they are, listen to their goals and passions, and help them achieve their dreams-whatever those dreams might be. While she anchors her instruction in theory and technique, she also believes that improvisation, sight-reading, collaborating, and playing by ear are essential elements to making a well-rounded musician and artist. Most importantly, she believes music should be fun. It is possible to be a phenomenal player and also have fun! Music has brought immeasurable joy to Lori’s life, and it gives her great joy to share music-making with others. Learning to play an instrument is like learning another language – a universal language that lasts a lifetime.
Lori teaches private piano lessons on Tuesdays at Fort Mason.
Taylor Phelps
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 on Thursdays at Fort Mason.
Davia Schendel
Davia Schendel is a San Francisco-born-and-raised musician, songwriter, and artist. She studied theater and music at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television, continuing her education at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where she received her Master’s of Arts with focuses on music, film, and dramatic writing. She has toured the US and has performed for Sofar Sounds, Breaking Sound, and other concert series around the country. Her latest EP, “Through the Deluge,” released in May 2024, received praise in the press. Its lead single, “International Orange,” an ode to the Golden Gate Bridge, garnered her a TV appearance on KRON4’s Live! In the Bay. She is currently working on a full-length album, as well as several film-scoring projects. In addition to songwriting and performing, she firmly believes in the power of arts education and has taught music, visual, and performing arts since 2017.
Davia teaches private lessons and group classes in piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, and songwriting on Mondays and Tuesdays at Fort Mason.
Joan Torres
Joan Torres was drawn to music from an early age. After choosing the bass as his main instrument, he diligently worked to understand the art form and its many flavors. He studied Jazz with a list of great musicians such as Puerto Rican legend Tony Batista (William Cepeda), the four-time Grammy-winning bassist and educator Oscar Stagnaro (Paquito D’Rivera), and Matthew Garrison (Joe Zawinul), considered one of the most technically gifted jazz musicians of his generation. Torres’s skill was recognized by musical institutions such as Berklee College of Music, which awarded him several scholarships to attend both its summer programs and the college as a full-time student. He developed his musicianship by studying and performing a wide variety of music, including Salsa, Rock, Reggae, Latin Jazz, Funk, Fusion, Jazz, Classical Choir music, and even Brazilian Capoeira music.
After years of playing and sharing with other musicians, Torres decided to revisit some of the music he had written over the years to start his own project, Joan Torres’s All Is Fused. While composing, producing, and leading the ensemble from 2011 to the present day, Torres has consistently pursued opportunities to collaborate with like-minded artists of different genres and skill levels.
Through his work with All Is Fused, Torres has earned two nominations for Best Jazz Producer at the Independent Music Awards, the group itself having earned ten nominations throughout the years and two wins, including most recently Best Fusion Album in 2020 for their album Revolution. All Is Fused has performed in one of Puerto Rico’s biggest festivals, “Ventana al Jazz” (2014), at venues such as the SFJAZZ Center (2018), shared the stage with performers such as Michael Manring, Felix Martin, Richard Trinidad, The Wrong Sides, and have collaborated with artists such as Paoli Mejias, Bubby Lewis, and Elena Hedrych.
Since relocating to San Francisco in 2014 torres has collaborated with many local artists in a variety of styles including Cuban timba (Eduardo Corzo, The Cuband), Salsa (Julius Melendez), Jazz (Calvin Keys), Latin Fusion (LOUDA), African Fusion (Piwai, Nathan Okite), Rock (6 Speed Supernova), as well as remotely with artists in the Prog Metal scene such as The Wrong Sides, Felix Martin, and Rodrigo Pagavino. Through these projects, he has shared the stage with the likes of Steven Adler, The Ocean Collective, Ando San, and Tesseract. Beyond collaborations with artists, he has also collaborated with brands such as DR Strings, Fishman, and Raven Straps as an artist endorser.
Torres began collaborating with Venezuelan, two-handed tapping marvel Felix Martin in 2020. Torres has performed as part of Martin’s trio in the Caribbean, South America, North America, and Asia. Torres’s bass work is also featured in Martin’s singles, such as “El Cantante,” and his 2024 album The Gathering. Additionally, as an early member of the Martin’s FM Guitars, Torres contributed to the development of their first bass guitar, becoming the first bassist to use dual-fretboard basses.
As an educator, Torres has taught lessons and workshops across the globe to people of all ages in countries such as the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Singapore, and world-renowned institutions such as the Puerto Rico Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, and Musicians Institute Tokyo. His approach of music-first, instrument-second has allowed his students to improve their ability to perform, compose, improvise, and communicate with other musicians.
Joan teaches Monday band workshops at our SoMa studio along with private lessons on bass, drums, guitar, and piano; he is also available for private lessons on Sunday afternoons at Fort Mason.
Amanda VanderMeer
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.
Ji Yoo
Originally from the Bay Area, Ji Yoo started teaching music classes for babies and preschoolers upon her return to the Bay after living in New York City for 7 years. During that time, she worked as a director in an after school tutoring program, working with students from pre-school to high school seniors. Ji has played around the city in all types of environments, including restaurants, music venues, the airport, town hall, museum, and the occasional busking.
“When I discovered Blue Bear, I was thrilled because it involves three of my greatest loves in life. Children, Education, and Music. It is incredibly rewarding to be making music with the children and families and hope to make a positive impact on their lives.”
In addition to Little Bears classes, Ji teaches private piano lessons on Monday afternoons at Mission Bay.