LESSONS
@ Tenam
Tenam connects the community with local music and art teachers to offer classes for all ages. One-on-one, semi-private, and group options available! Read about our teachers below and click by instrument!
VOICE - PIANO - DRUMS - VIOLIN - GUITAR/BASS/UKE - RECORDING/PRODUCTION
VOICE
Voice/Piano/Guitar/Songwriting
Shelbi Bennet
Shelbi Bennett is a San Diego–based vocalist and songwriter known for her work with The Midnight Pine, Baby Bushka, and numerous collaborative projects. Rooted in choral and theatrical singing from a young age, she went on to study jazz at Grossmont College, where she co-founded The Midnight Pine. With that group she honed a style marked by haunting vocals and richly textured songwriting, gaining recognition across San Diego’s music scene. She later joined Baby Bushka, a celebrated ensemble reimagining the music of Kate Bush, and has since become a sought-after performer and studio vocalist, lending her voice to projects spanning genres and artists throughout the region.
Alongside her performance career, Shelbi has over a decade of experience as a vocal coach, beginning around 2013 with both the School of Rock and independent teaching. She works with singers of all levels and styles, blending technical training with artistic development to help students explore harmony, performance, and expressive interpretation. Her teaching philosophy is informed by her extensive experience on stage and in the studio, making her equally at home guiding aspiring performers and supporting professional vocalists in refining their craft.
Vocals - Guitar - Piano - Bass - Uke
Sarah King
Sarah is an experienced voice teacher from the San Diego area, offering private lessons since 2016. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from San Diego State University and has taught both private lessons and small group classes across Southern California.
​
Her career expanded into Classroom Music Education in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she taught voice at Notes Music Academy in Oakland and within the San Leandro Unified School District. These experiences allowed her to work with a wide variety of students, strengthening her versatility as an educator.
​
Sarah is skilled in multiple genres and enjoys accompanying herself on guitar, ukulele, piano, and bass. She believes the voice is a precious instrument and emphasizes vocal health while helping her students explore and thrive in any style of music they are passionate about.
​
An experienced educator, Sarah has taught in both private and academic settings, working with students of all ages—from early childhood through adulthood. Her teaching résumé includes positions at Notes Music Academy, Music Central, Hale Ukulele, Mission Hills Music, and Santee Music Academy, as well as elementary and secondary school music programs in the San Leandro Unified School District, Mission Hills School, and the Preuss School at UCSD. She brings expertise in a wide range of genres, including pop, musical theatre, classical, rock, R&B, indie, jazz, folk, spiritual, and choral music.
​
Whether guiding young beginners through rhythm and movement or coaching advanced vocalists in technique and artistry, Sarah fosters musical growth with a balance of technical skill, creativity, and joy for the art form.
OWNER - JAZZ VOCALS - PIANO - GUITAR - UKULELE - SONGWRITING
Lexi Pulido
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."
PIANO
Voice/Piano/Guitar/Songwriting
Shelbi Bennet
Shelbi Bennett is a San Diego–based vocalist and songwriter known for her work with The Midnight Pine, Baby Bushka, and numerous collaborative projects. Rooted in choral and theatrical singing from a young age, she went on to study jazz at Grossmont College, where she co-founded The Midnight Pine. With that group she honed a style marked by haunting vocals and richly textured songwriting, gaining recognition across San Diego’s music scene. She later joined Baby Bushka, a celebrated ensemble reimagining the music of Kate Bush, and has since become a sought-after performer and studio vocalist, lending her voice to projects spanning genres and artists throughout the region.
Alongside her performance career, Shelbi has over a decade of experience as a vocal coach, beginning around 2013 with both the School of Rock and independent teaching. She works with singers of all levels and styles, blending technical training with artistic development to help students explore harmony, performance, and expressive interpretation. Her teaching philosophy is informed by her extensive experience on stage and in the studio, making her equally at home guiding aspiring performers and supporting professional vocalists in refining their craft.
Drums/Piano
Jeffrey Mosier
Jeffrey Mosier is an experimental musician and composer who sometimes also plays and writes normal music.
His major works include The Local Group, a large set of pieces based on the galaxies surrounding our solar system, and three full length albums available on streaming services. He has had pieces featured at the Hot Air Music Festival in San Francisco, NWEAMO in San Diego, and Siena Summer Music in Italy.
As a performer he has played with numerous bands and ensembles around San Diego including SWARMIUS, Grossmont Symphony, Greater San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and various punk rock and heavy metal bands. Jeffrey has also attended the European American Musical Alliance program in Paris, France.
In 2021 he was featured as a guest on the 7 Degrees of Separation radio show from NYC. Most of his academic research is about American music from the 20th century, but Jeffrey has also taught classes on Composition, International music, Electronic music, Drumset, and Piano.
Jeffrey holds AA degrees in both Classical Music, and Humanities and Fine Arts from Grossmont College, a BM in Composition from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and MM in Global Composition from San Diego State University. His major composition teachers were Elinor Armer and Joseph Martin Waters.
http://www.jeffreymosier.com/
Vocals - Guitar - Piano - Bass - Uke
Sarah King
Sarah is an experienced voice teacher from the San Diego area, offering private lessons since 2016. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from San Diego State University and has taught both private lessons and small group classes across Southern California.
​
Her career expanded into Classroom Music Education in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she taught voice at Notes Music Academy in Oakland and within the San Leandro Unified School District. These experiences allowed her to work with a wide variety of students, strengthening her versatility as an educator.
​
Sarah is skilled in multiple genres and enjoys accompanying herself on guitar, ukulele, piano, and bass. She believes the voice is a precious instrument and emphasizes vocal health while helping her students explore and thrive in any style of music they are passionate about.
​
An experienced educator, Sarah has taught in both private and academic settings, working with students of all ages—from early childhood through adulthood. Her teaching résumé includes positions at Notes Music Academy, Music Central, Hale Ukulele, Mission Hills Music, and Santee Music Academy, as well as elementary and secondary school music programs in the San Leandro Unified School District, Mission Hills School, and the Preuss School at UCSD. She brings expertise in a wide range of genres, including pop, musical theatre, classical, rock, R&B, indie, jazz, folk, spiritual, and choral music.
​
Whether guiding young beginners through rhythm and movement or coaching advanced vocalists in technique and artistry, Sarah fosters musical growth with a balance of technical skill, creativity, and joy for the art form.
UPRIGHT+ELECTRIC BASS - CLARINET - UKE - GUITAR - KEYBOARD - SAXOPHONE
Elliot Ramsey
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!
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PIANO - DRUMS - GUITAR - BASS - ABRSM Music Theory - UKULELE
Erica Torgerson
Erica is a multi-instrumentalist from San Diego, CA. Her love for music began with piano lessons as a child and expanded to the drums, guitar, bass, ukulele, and various percussion instruments. Erica uses music to stay grounded and loves jamming with friends and playing in local rock bands and indie bands such as The Torgs and Too Legit in venues around San Diego like The Music Box, Winstons and Navajo Live. Erica’s teaching style is very relaxed, down-to-earth, and tailored to fit individual needs. She is passionate about empowering others, spreading joy, and healing through music education.
PIANO - GUITAR - BASS - DRUMS - UKULELE - COMPOSITION
Elliot Rick
Elliot Rick is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music educator from Los Angeles, California. Known for being stylistically diverse and highly adaptable, he has shared the stage and studio with many artists, including Luis Oliart, Nolune, Kelsey Blackstone, and Ryan Pollie.
As a film composer, Elliot excels at bringing directors’ visions to life. Recent credits include ‘In the Small Hours’ from Retro-Active Pictures and ‘Business Card’ from Cryluck Productions.
Elliot was hired by his childhood music school when he was 16 years old, and thus has nearly a decade of experience in music education. His teaching style is focused on nurturing the unique creative potential of every student, empowering them to become confident, well-rounded artists.
OWNER - JAZZ VOCALS - PIANO - GUITAR - UKULELE - SONGWRITING
Lexi Pulido
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."
DRUMS
Drums/Piano
Jeffrey Mosier
Jeffrey Mosier is an experimental musician and composer who sometimes also plays and writes normal music.
His major works include The Local Group, a large set of pieces based on the galaxies surrounding our solar system, and three full length albums available on streaming services. He has had pieces featured at the Hot Air Music Festival in San Francisco, NWEAMO in San Diego, and Siena Summer Music in Italy.
As a performer he has played with numerous bands and ensembles around San Diego including SWARMIUS, Grossmont Symphony, Greater San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and various punk rock and heavy metal bands. Jeffrey has also attended the European American Musical Alliance program in Paris, France.
In 2021 he was featured as a guest on the 7 Degrees of Separation radio show from NYC. Most of his academic research is about American music from the 20th century, but Jeffrey has also taught classes on Composition, International music, Electronic music, Drumset, and Piano.
Jeffrey holds AA degrees in both Classical Music, and Humanities and Fine Arts from Grossmont College, a BM in Composition from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and MM in Global Composition from San Diego State University. His major composition teachers were Elinor Armer and Joseph Martin Waters.
http://www.jeffreymosier.com/
PIANO - DRUMS - GUITAR - BASS - ABRSM Music Theory - UKULELE
Erica Torgerson
Erica is a multi-instrumentalist from San Diego, CA. Her love for music began with piano lessons as a child and expanded to the drums, guitar, bass, ukulele, and various percussion instruments. Erica uses music to stay grounded and loves jamming with friends and playing in local rock bands and indie bands such as The Torgs and Too Legit in venues around San Diego like The Music Box, Winstons and Navajo Live. Erica’s teaching style is very relaxed, down-to-earth, and tailored to fit individual needs. She is passionate about empowering others, spreading joy, and healing through music education.
PIANO - GUITAR - BASS - DRUMS - UKULELE - COMPOSITION
Elliot Rick
Elliot Rick is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music educator from Los Angeles, California. Known for being stylistically diverse and highly adaptable, he has shared the stage and studio with many artists, including Luis Oliart, Nolune, Kelsey Blackstone, and Ryan Pollie.
As a film composer, Elliot excels at bringing directors’ visions to life. Recent credits include ‘In the Small Hours’ from Retro-Active Pictures and ‘Business Card’ from Cryluck Productions.
Elliot was hired by his childhood music school when he was 16 years old, and thus has nearly a decade of experience in music education. His teaching style is focused on nurturing the unique creative potential of every student, empowering them to become confident, well-rounded artists.
DRUM SET - PERCUSSION
Max Turner Oestreicher
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.
VIOLIN
Acoustic/Electric Violin
Jesus Cervantes
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.
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.
https://www.jesuscervantesmusic.com/
GUITAR/BASS/UKULELE
Voice/Piano/Guitar/Songwriting
Shelbi Bennet
Shelbi Bennett is a San Diego–based vocalist and songwriter known for her work with The Midnight Pine, Baby Bushka, and numerous collaborative projects. Rooted in choral and theatrical singing from a young age, she went on to study jazz at Grossmont College, where she co-founded The Midnight Pine. With that group she honed a style marked by haunting vocals and richly textured songwriting, gaining recognition across San Diego’s music scene. She later joined Baby Bushka, a celebrated ensemble reimagining the music of Kate Bush, and has since become a sought-after performer and studio vocalist, lending her voice to projects spanning genres and artists throughout the region.
Alongside her performance career, Shelbi has over a decade of experience as a vocal coach, beginning around 2013 with both the School of Rock and independent teaching. She works with singers of all levels and styles, blending technical training with artistic development to help students explore harmony, performance, and expressive interpretation. Her teaching philosophy is informed by her extensive experience on stage and in the studio, making her equally at home guiding aspiring performers and supporting professional vocalists in refining their craft.
Vocals - Guitar - Piano - Bass - Uke
Sarah King
Sarah is an experienced voice teacher from the San Diego area, offering private lessons since 2016. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from San Diego State University and has taught both private lessons and small group classes across Southern California.
​
Her career expanded into Classroom Music Education in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she taught voice at Notes Music Academy in Oakland and within the San Leandro Unified School District. These experiences allowed her to work with a wide variety of students, strengthening her versatility as an educator.
​
Sarah is skilled in multiple genres and enjoys accompanying herself on guitar, ukulele, piano, and bass. She believes the voice is a precious instrument and emphasizes vocal health while helping her students explore and thrive in any style of music they are passionate about.
​
An experienced educator, Sarah has taught in both private and academic settings, working with students of all ages—from early childhood through adulthood. Her teaching résumé includes positions at Notes Music Academy, Music Central, Hale Ukulele, Mission Hills Music, and Santee Music Academy, as well as elementary and secondary school music programs in the San Leandro Unified School District, Mission Hills School, and the Preuss School at UCSD. She brings expertise in a wide range of genres, including pop, musical theatre, classical, rock, R&B, indie, jazz, folk, spiritual, and choral music.
​
Whether guiding young beginners through rhythm and movement or coaching advanced vocalists in technique and artistry, Sarah fosters musical growth with a balance of technical skill, creativity, and joy for the art form.
UPRIGHT+ELECTRIC BASS - CLARINET - UKE - GUITAR - KEYBOARD - SAXOPHONE
Elliot Ramsey
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!
GUITAR - BASS - UKE
Alan Mackelburg
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.
PIANO - DRUMS - GUITAR - BASS - ABRSM Music Theory - UKULELE
Erica Torgerson
Erica is a multi-instrumentalist from San Diego, CA. Her love for music began with piano lessons as a child and expanded to the drums, guitar, bass, ukulele, and various percussion instruments. Erica uses music to stay grounded and loves jamming with friends and playing in local rock bands and indie bands such as The Torgs and Too Legit in venues around San Diego like The Music Box, Winstons and Navajo Live. Erica’s teaching style is very relaxed, down-to-earth, and tailored to fit individual needs. She is passionate about empowering others, spreading joy, and healing through music education.
PIANO - GUITAR - BASS - DRUMS - UKULELE - COMPOSITION
Elliot Rick
Elliot Rick is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music educator from Los Angeles, California. Known for being stylistically diverse and highly adaptable, he has shared the stage and studio with many artists, including Luis Oliart, Nolune, Kelsey Blackstone, and Ryan Pollie.
As a film composer, Elliot excels at bringing directors’ visions to life. Recent credits include ‘In the Small Hours’ from Retro-Active Pictures and ‘Business Card’ from Cryluck Productions.
Elliot was hired by his childhood music school when he was 16 years old, and thus has nearly a decade of experience in music education. His teaching style is focused on nurturing the unique creative potential of every student, empowering them to become confident, well-rounded artists.
OWNER - JAZZ VOCALS - PIANO - GUITAR - UKULELE - SONGWRITING
Lexi Pulido
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."
RECORDING/PRODUCTION
Drums/Piano
Jeffrey Mosier
Jeffrey Mosier is an experimental musician and composer who sometimes also plays and writes normal music.
His major works include The Local Group, a large set of pieces based on the galaxies surrounding our solar system, and three full length albums available on streaming services. He has had pieces featured at the Hot Air Music Festival in San Francisco, NWEAMO in San Diego, and Siena Summer Music in Italy.
As a performer he has played with numerous bands and ensembles around San Diego including SWARMIUS, Grossmont Symphony, Greater San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and various punk rock and heavy metal bands. Jeffrey has also attended the European American Musical Alliance program in Paris, France.
In 2021 he was featured as a guest on the 7 Degrees of Separation radio show from NYC. Most of his academic research is about American music from the 20th century, but Jeffrey has also taught classes on Composition, International music, Electronic music, Drumset, and Piano.
Jeffrey holds AA degrees in both Classical Music, and Humanities and Fine Arts from Grossmont College, a BM in Composition from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and MM in Global Composition from San Diego State University. His major composition teachers were Elinor Armer and Joseph Martin Waters.
http://www.jeffreymosier.com/
Digital Composition, Songwriting, Recording Arts, Synthesis & Sampling, Rock & Pop Instruments
Francis Roberts
Francis Roberts is a composer, songwriter, music producer, and educator based in San Diego, CA, whose musical passion is creating sound recordings, no matter the genre, application, or his role in the process. Outside of composing, Francis performs as a guitarist and synthesist, and is an avid game enthusiast and visual artist, and loves cooking.