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

Filter by Instrument:

Gabe Cohen

Gabe Cohen is a San Francisco-based singer-songwriter, producer, and DJ. He has over 15 years of experience playing music, with proficiency in guitar, drums, bass, piano, vocals, and more. He mostly performs under the alias “Karl Havok,” a folk- and punk-based project he’s been working on since 2020. He studied English at Tulane University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 2022. While at Tulane, he played in many New Orleans bands such as Sympathy Wizard, Hooligan Dutch, Sage, and more. Since graduating, Gabe has focused on his solo material such as Karl Havok, and his electronic music and DJ endeavors. Gabe was a student at School of Rock in his youth and later went on to teach and direct summer camps at the same school. 
Gabe teaches band workshops and private lessons at SoMa on Mondays and group classes and private lessons at Mission Bay on Wednesdays. He’s available for private lessons at both locations on guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, DJing, and electronic music, and also for drum lessons at SoMa on Monday afternoons.

Jay Lane

Jay Lane is a long-time Bay Area drummer who’s played with Bob Weir’s projects, Les Claypool’s projects, Charlie Hunter Trio, Alphabet Soup, Freaky Executives, The Uptones, and numerous other bands in the area for the past 30 years. Jay got his start at Blue Bear when it was on Ocean Ave. in SF, and took private drum lessons with Steve Savage. Jay’s schedule is M-F 10 am-5 pm or weekends by special request.  Studio-quality audio Zoom lessons – $100/hour or $50/half-hour.
 

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.

Ray Wilcox

“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.
Ray teaches adult band workshops and All Star bands.

 

Back to top