Bio
Katherine Ayres is a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who writes and performs music as a pianist, bassoonist, saxophonist, vocalist, and occasional DJ. She is versed and experienced in a wide range of musical styles, from classical to jazz to sample-drenched electronica.
She holds a Master’s degree in Composition from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s degrees in Composition and Music Theory from the University of North Texas.
Katherine’s instrumental work has been performed by ensembles such as the San Francisco Symphony and the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars, and has been presented in high-profile venues such as Davies Symphony Hall and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Texas.
Her work as a producer has been released digitally and physically through various independent labels, as well as streamed live for enthusiastic audiences on YouTube and Twitch.
As a music educator, Katherine encourages students to be curious and explore more of the music they are passionate about. By exposing students to many styles and assimilating those into their own writing, she helps aspiring musicians discover their own unique voice as an artist, regardless of genre or medium. Katherine’s lessons are inspiring, educational, and super fun.
Schedule Lessons
STEP 1
BOOK
Choose your lesson from the list and pick a good day and time. You can even schedule recurring or multiple lessons and sync lesson times with your Google, iOS or Outlook calendar. Want to get some lessons for a friend or loved one? Private music lesson gift certificates are available here.
STEP 2
PAY
We accept all major credit and debit cards as well as PayPal. You can choose to pay as you go, buy multiple lessons in advance, or set up autopay – whichever works best.
STEP 3
PLAY
We’ll text you a couple of days before your lesson to remind you that it’s almost music time.
On lesson day, come to our studio in Lafayette or login to your remote music lessons from wherever. Your instructor will meet you right on time so you can dive into music right away. Before your lesson is up, we’ll make sure you have a handle on your practicing assignments and double check that you have everything you need to practice at home.
Have questions about anything? We’re here to help! Hit us up and we’ll figure it out together.
Reviews
We are the highest rated music studio in the Bay Area and maintain a 5-star rating on Yelp, Facebook, Google and Thumbtack. Check out what our students have to say about their experience at ModernTone.
Piano Lessons Gift Certificate
Looking for a unique music gift that the pianist in your life will love? Get them lessons with a professional piano instructor! Gift certificates are available for piano and keyboard lessons and are great for both experienced players and first timers.
More Info
ModernTone is located in the heart of downtown Lafayette at 1018-B Almanor Ln, Lafayette, CA 94549. We have a private parking lot and street parking is easy and plentiful. The studio’s location is right off the freeway so getting here from Walnut Creek, Orinda, Moraga, Martinez, Danville, San Ramon, Pleasant Hill and Concord is a fast and simple.
Lessons are $90 for a full hour and $55 for half-hour sessions. We recommend weekly lessons, but you are free to set the lesson frequency as you wish. We also offer monthly lesson plans designed for committed students who take lessons regularly. We respectfully request at least 24 hours notice for cancellations. No-shows and lessons cancelled less than 24 hours in advance will be charged in full.
- We believe in pushing our students to their full potential, but doing so in a positive, nurturing and encouraging way
- We believe that matching students with the right instructors help to form a better human connection between them and leads to better, happier students
- We believe that music should be learned in a soulful, inspiring, and comfortable environment, using hi-end professional gear.
Our teaching and recording studios have been built from the ground up with acoustics and soundproofing in mind. We designed the spaces to be ideal for music teaching and recording. We handpick all of our amps, instruments, and accessories, and pride ourselves with using high-quality equipment that is made in the USA.
Don’t take our word for it – read what our students have to say:
Let's Talk
Drop us a line and let us know what you are thinking. We typically respond in minutes, but it can take up to 24 hours when things are super busy.
