LESSONS
@ Tenam

Born into a musical family, Elliot Ramsey has been performing and studying music for most of his life. Reaching deepest into the study of string instruments, he has been taught by renowned players here in San Diego and Los Angeles.

 He has advanced proficiency in stringed instruments and teaches beginner-intermediate clarinet, saxophone, and flute. Elliot has instructed in many schools and music educational programs and has formed many connections with local classrooms and music venues.

As a performer he has played with world class acts on stages and festivals including 91X Fest, Gator by the Bay, House of Blues, Belly Up Tavern and countless small venues throughout the Southwest. 

Growing up in San Diego provided him with a wide variety of musical genres to study including Afro-Cuban, jazz, rockabilly, classical, theatrical, folk, rock and roll, ska, reggae, hip-hop and electronic music. 

Teaching is a joy to him and he has taught any and all people from ages 4-85. Specializing in auditions and personal growth, he will be sure to help make your student shine!

Mackelburg.wood@gmail.com
Alan has 16 years of experience as a lead and rhythm guitarist in various styles, especially RnB, rock, blues, pop, funk, and soul. He has an Associate degree in music, ample hands-on experience as a professional musician, and a continuous drive to grow as an artist. His original projects focus on soul and indie-folk styles.

Alan also builds his own guitars, using primarily upcycled urban hardwoods.

Happy to teach beginning and intermediate players, Alan believes learning the language of music is also about self-discovery. While it does take discipline, it should be a joy to unlock new methods of expression. Alan believes there are many “right” ways to play and to learn, and with the appropriate guidance each student can find their voice, what works for them, and what excites them – while building a strong foundation of knowledge and good habits that will serve them throughout their life as an artist.

Michelle Gallardo-Arias is a multifaceted vocalist with a passion for various art forms, cultivating a unique artistic path. She holds a Vocal Performance Degree from San Diego State University and recently completed her first season with the San Diego Opera Chorus. During this season, she performed fully staged productions of Puccini's Suor Angelica and Tosca, as well as the world premiere of Gabriel's Anne Frank's El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego.

Over the years, Michelle has performed with numerous ensembles and productions, appearing on renowned stages such as Carnegie Hall and the San Diego Civic Theatre. Her vocal talent and expertise, combined with proficient musicianship, have earned her a prominent position within the San Diego classical music scene. As a private voice instructor, Michelle mentors over 15 students weekly, emphasizing self-confidence, technical expertise, and an overall enjoyable approach to music-making.

https://www.jesuscervantesmusic.com/
Jesús Cervantes is a musician and educator based in San Diego, California. He has performed in venues across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China, and his work as a violinist encompasses a wide array of musical genres, ensembles, and influences.



As a performer, he seeks out unique collaborations, and is currently creating original interdisciplinary works. He serves as concertmaster of the San Diego City Ballet Orchestra, and has performed with organizations such as Opera Neo, DISCO RIOT, Project [BLANK], Groupmuse, Pacific Lyric Opera, La Jolla Symphony, Poway Symphony, Coronado Playhouse, Jazz 88.3, and Grossmont Symphony. His teaching philosophy is based in cultivating a global perspective and practice of music that draws on individual experience, and prioritizes personal expression. He believes music is a powerful vessel for storytelling, healing, discovery, and transformation, which can transform lives.

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In the summer of 2017, Jesus was selected as a fellowship recipient by the National Orchestral Institute at the University of Maryland, working with conductors such as Asher Fisch and David Allan Miller, and resulting in a 2018 "Best Orchestral Performance" GRAMMY nomination for the orchestra's American Masterworks album, recorded and released by NAXOS. He has been a participant of the Domaine Forget International Music Academy in Quebec, the International Youth Symphony, and the Indiana University String Academy. In 2015, he participated in SDYS’ 70th anniversary China tour, performing in four sold-out symphony concerts in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Yantai.

Jesús graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from San Diego State University, where he studied with Dr. Pei-Chun Tsai Liebhaber. He currently maintains a private violin studio, and is a strings coach at the San Diego School of Creative & Performing Arts and Mira Mesa High School.

Batya MacAdam-Somer is a violinist and violist specializing in collaboration and experimentation. Her work spans across classical, avant-garde, folk, and popular music practices, taking her to venues throughout the United States, Mexico, The United Kingdom and Europe. She has performed with ensembles and organizations including Project [BLANK], The Art of Elan, wasteLAnd, Bang on A Can All-Stars, Hutchins Consort, San Diego Symphony, and the Reno Philharmonic. She is also a member of Baby Bushka, an all-female band celebrating the music of Kate Bush. Batya is a dedicated student of The Alexander Technique, a method for cultivating mind/body awareness and connection. She enjoys bringing an embodied approach into teaching, where she focuses with her violin/viola students on developing a grounding practice in which individual expression can emerge. 

Carol “la Champi” has recently relocated to the San Diego area from Sevilla, Spain where she lived for 5 years. In addition to formally studying and performing flamenco, Carol immersed herself in flamenco at tertulias held at various peñas and bars in Sevilla and Jerez, at juergas/jam sessions as well as in the streets where she saw that there is room for absolutely everyone in flamenco. She is available for private lessons as well as group classes where she loves sharing her unique approach. She dances regularly at the flamenco tablao at Cafe Sevilla in San Diego.

Lexipulido.com

Lexi Pulido is a vocalist, music teacher, composer and owner of Tenam Studio based in San Diego, California. In the local music community, she is known for her versatility with improvisational vocals and music incorporating jazz vocabulary, classical technique, and a wide spectrum of influence and repertoire of Brazilian, groove, jazz, and experimental music. As a workshop creator and mentor, Pulido shares her philosophy of art as a practice of noticing accessible to anyone willing. Behind her work floats the subtle creed, “everything is art."

Max Turner Oestreicher is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and arranger, specializing in the role of the drum set. Max was in a steady string of surf punk and rock groups growing up, taking part in the local SD punk scene. Later on Max studied jazz, becoming the primary drummer for the jazz ensemble at his university. He also spent multiple semesters as part of the concert band, familiarizing himself with the ins and outs of pitched percussion. He studied afro-cuban percussion with local legend Manny Cepeda, and became proficient in many other percussion based instruments including congas and bongos. Max approaches each genre with respect for its tradition and history. He lends equal commitment and reverence to jazz, afro-cuban, samba, bossa nova, punk, rock, funk, soul, R&B, pop, folk, experimental, and more. Max has been giving private lessons for well over 10 years, and has developed many different teaching strategies to meet clients where they are in terms of age, learning style, technical ability, and creative goals.

Peter Lee is a multi-instrumentalist from SD CA. As a Bassist, performing a wide range of styles with acts such as Sierra Ferrell, Joshua White, Doreen Ketchens, and the San Diego City Ballet.

“I’m constantly exploring the space between action and reaction. Chance and chaos are reflections of the self, and show us where our gifts hide.”