Easy and Flexible
We are open 7 days a week and make it super easy to schedule music lessons. At ModernTone Studios you can book and manage your lessons anytime from your phone, tablet or computer, choose how and when you’d like to pay and even adjust your lesson frequency as you go. We also have a dedicated studio coordinator to assist with all of your scheduling needs.
Kick Ass Studios
Our studio spaces have been built from the ground up with acoustics and soundproofing in mind to make sure you get the best lesson experience every time. We handpick all of our amps, instruments, and accessories, and pride ourselves with using high-quality equipment that is made in the USA.
* lessons also available remotely via online video
Pro Teachers
Music is our love, our passion, and our trade. We have spent decades studying, practicing, and mastering this craft, eventually turning it into our livelihood. We rehearse regularly to stay on top of our game, follow industry trends and fashions, exchange ideas with other musicians constantly and strive to get better every single day.
Local Community
Join a vibrant community of musicians in the heart of the East Bay. Our students come from Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Martinez, Danville, San Ramon, Pleasant Hill, Concord and all over the Bay Area. Get together with like-minded music lovers and form musical friendships in your neighborhood.
Live Support
Practicing is where most students struggle the most. A small misunderstanding can sometimes lead to a week’s worth of frustrating practicing sessions. Luckily, we are here to help! Call, text, DM or email us with your question, and we promise to get back to you that same day.
Secret Ingredient
While each of us first got into teaching for various reasons, we all kept doing it for the same one: we absolutely love it! Sharing the gift of music with others is immensely rewarding and honestly feels great. It’s a labor of love, and it shows in the way we teach.
UPDATE: Lessons available both in-person and remote. Send us a note or schedule a free consultation to get started.
Instructors
All of us here at ModernTone are professional musicians who have been teaching for years and have helped hundreds of students like you realize their full musical potential. For beginners, intermediate players, and even advanced musicians who want to polish up, we are excited to teach you something new. Click or tap on an instructor below to learn more about them.
Daniel Nervo
Master guitarist and educator who plays with top bands in the Bay Area and loves teaching all levels
Charles Pariente
Guitarist, producer, and songwriter with a passion for punk rock and a BA from Berklee College of Music
Jessica Winn
Vocalist, pianist, and educator with 20+ years of music experience and a master's from SF Conservatory
Tim DeCillis
Drummer and guitarist who plays rock, pop, jazz, classical percussion and a variety of world music styles
Paige Patrick
Vocalist, educator, and vocal coach with a passion for great singing and a master's in vocal performance
Briget Boyle
Vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and music educator who loves teaching, performing, and recording
Ryan Ayres
Composer, producer, pianist, and woodwind player with a master’s in music from the Peabody Institute
Jan Fidelis
Guitarist, band leader, and educator with a Masters degree in music composition and a passion for shredding
Barbara Byers
Vocalist, composer, and pianist with a PhD in music and experience in a wide variety of musical styles
Lesson Info
We offer private music lessons for adults, teens and kids of all playing levels. Whether you are a complete beginner, an intermediate student or an advanced player looking to go pro, we can help you unlock your full musical potential.
Our instructors are professional musicians who play in bands, perform, and record. Lessons are tailored to your unique goals, musical taste and the amount of time you have to practice every week. We are fluent in music theory and have tons of experience in creating a personalized curriculum that will take you where you want to go.
Lessons take place in our newly renovated studios in Lafayette, CA right off the freeway. We have a private parking lot, and street parking is plentiful. We are less than a mile away from Lafayette BART, and the way over is perfect for walking or cycling. The studio’s location is great for aspiring musicians looking for music lessons in Walnut Creek, Moraga, Orinda, Martinez, Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, Pleasant Hill, Concord and the greater Bay Area.
Welcome to the exciting world of music! We’ll start things off by getting you familiarized with your instrument of choice, learn a few basic musical terms and quickly move on to actual playing. By the end of your first lesson, you will be able to play a few simple melodies, get to know a couple of notes and probably even learn how to play your first song. We will help you develop correct playing technique and gradually walk you through the different stages of getting to be a better musician. We will also help you build confidence and make sure you have loads of fun because that’s what music is all about!
Are you feeling stuck? You can play, but don’t know how to get to the next level? Do you want to know what you’re doing instead of just winging it? You’ve come to the right place! We will show you how to move forward and help you establish better practice routines, as well as work on some theory, advanced chord voicings and even soloing. Whether you taught yourself how to play using YouTube videos, or you had a teacher before – we can take you to the next level and help you be the player you always wanted to be.
Are you tired of playing the same licks over and over again? Do you want to play faster, but not sure how to develop better technique? Are you frustrated by not being able to play as well as you know you can? We’re here to help!
First, we’ll make sure you have the basics figured out and bridge any gaps you may have in your music education. Next, we will work our way up from your current playing level and focus on the subjects that matter the most to you.
We will show you how to combine and superimpose scales to add some flavor to your playing, introduce you to some super helpful technique building exercises and teach you how to develop an original sound. We will also explore some different comping and soloing ideas and show you how to use the music theory you already know in your everyday playing – both rhythm and lead.
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.
Schedule Lessons
STEP 1
BOOK
Choose type of lesson you’d like 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 will text you a couple of days before your lesson to remind you that it’s almost music time.
On lesson day you arrive at our newly renovated studios. Your instructor will meet you in one of our lesson rooms which are all equipped with hi-quality instruments and amps that were individually handpicked. Before our time together is up, we ensure that you fully understand your practicing assignments and double-check that we provided you with all the music charts you need.
Have questions during practice? We’re here to help! Hit us up and we’ll figure it out together.
Can’t find a time that works? Shoot us a note or give us a call and we’ll make it happen. We’re usually able to move things around to help you get a spot.
FAQ
While the studios are open every day of the week, we can’t all be there all the time. However, most of us are available for lessons on multiple days throughout the week. Our quick online booking process matches your schedule with your instructor’s availability and helps you find the best day and time for your lesson. Want to reserve that day and time every week? Click the “recurring” tab after choosing a day and time. Prefer to book a different date every time? Be our guest. You can even book multiple lessons in advance, each at a different day and time.
Your instrument, a notebook, and a will to rock and roll! A list of songs you like is also a great idea.
We sure can! Introducing you to new ideas, techniques, methods, scales and musical concepts, will help you break out of your rut and regain your long lost enthusiasm. In addition to that, we will make sure you improve gradually from week to week and help you establish a proper practicing regimen. We’ll teach you how to be meticulous about your playing and maybe even show you a secret trick or two ;)
You can definitely borrow, just make sure that you are free to keep it for a while because you will need it to practice at home between lessons. However, in the long run, it’s probably best to own your instrument.
Monthly Lesson Plans
Our monthly lesson plans are designed for committed students who take lessons regularly and would like to reserve the same day and time with their favorite instructor. Missed a lesson? Couldn’t make it this month? No worries! Your unused lessons roll-over from month to month so you will never be charged for lessons that you did not attend (just don’t forget to let us know 48 hours in advance).
Lesson Plans for Kids
While we strongly recommend 1-hour lessons for aspiring musicians of any age, we appreciate that some kids have a hard time focusing for a full hour, especially the younger ones. To help, we offer 30-min lessons for children under the age of 10.
Music Lessons Gift Certificate
Looking for a unique music gift that the musician in your life will love? Get them lessons with a professional! Gift certificates are available for all types of music lessons and are great for both current 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.
Music is our love, our passion, and our trade. We have spent decades studying, practicing, and mastering this craft, eventually turning it into our livelihood. We rehearse regularly to stay on top of our game, follow industry trends and fashions, exchange ideas with other musicians constantly and strive to get better every single day.
- 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
- We believe in using high-quality musical instruments and equipment
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.
