Easy and Flexible
ModernTone Studios is open seven days a week and it’s really easy to schedule music lessons. Whether you learn in-person at our Lafayette, CA studio or online via video, manage your schedule from your laptop, desktop, phone or tablet. You can choose how and when you’d like your payments to go through and adjust your lesson times/frequency through our online system. Our dedicated studio coordinator is also available to help you with any scheduling needs.
Kick-Ass Studios
Learn like a pro where the pros play. Every room at ModernTone is acoustically treated, soundproofed, and optimized to inspire incredible performances – whether you’re an experienced player or a beginning music student. Play in a great-sounding space featuring hand-picked instruments, amps, and music accessories. Our ever-growing collection of gear is always available to you. Need help picking out a new instrument? We’re always down to talk about music, just ask!
Pro Teachers
Music is our love, our passion, and our trade. Learn music from teachers who play professionally and have decades of experience on stage and in the studio. When you take lessons with us at ModernTone, you’ll get our unique perspective on music, how to practice, and how to use your skills in the real world. We’ll create a custom lesson plan that includes your favorite songs, so you can reach your goals by learning the kind of music that excites you.
Local Community
Join ModernTone’s vibrant community of musicians located 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. Our music programs encourage you to play in a band, participate in recording sessions, and work with songwriters on original tunes.
Live Support
Do you need extra help with your practice routine? Stuck on some notes that aren’t quite clicking yet? Even between lessons, we’re here to help! Contact us by phone, text, direct message, or email for live support as you hone your new skills in-between lessons. If you have any scheduling difficulties, payment questions, or other issues, just hit us up. We always respond within 24 hours (usually way faster). We look forward to hearing from you.
Secret Ingredient
We just love music. There’s no other way to say it. From teaching, to recording, to passing on knowledge and learning new things ourselves – every day at ModernTone is an opportunity to immerse yourself in music of all styles. Sharing the gift of music is nothing short of a labor of love, which comes through in each and every lesson we teach. We can’t wait to collaborate with you and show you how to be the kind of musician you want to be. Let’s play!
All lesson options available both in-person and online. Send us a note or schedule a free consultation to get started.
Your Instructors
There’s a perfect music teacher for you at ModernTone. Whether you’re just starting out, trying to go pro, or anywhere in between, we’ll show you how to reach your goals. Each instructor personalizes lesson plans to meet you where you are as a musician and push you to improve at your own pace, in your own time. Click or tap a photo below to get to know the pro who could change your life through music.
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
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
Katherine 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
Chris Martsolf
Drummer, pianist, and music producer with a Music degree from UCSC and a passion for multiple genres
Diana Alvarez
Vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and educator with a PhD and a love for teaching soulful music of all styles
Lessons at ModernTone Studios
You can take private music lessons at any age, level, and understanding of music at ModernTone Studios. Choose between in-person sessions at our East Bay music studio or play in the comfort of your own space through live remote lessons. Wherever you want to be and however you want to learn, come unlock your full musical potential.
For in-person lessons we’d love to have you at our newly-renovated studio in Lafayette, CA. You can easily reach us from Highway 24 and parking is super easy. We’re also less than a mile from Lafayette BART so you can even walk or cycle to your lessons. The location is perfect for anyone looking for music lessons in Walnut Creek, Moraga, Orinda, Martinez, Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, Pleasant Hill, Concord and the greater Bay Area.
If remote learning is more your speed, try online music lessons with ModernTone. Join hundreds of students who learn to sing, play, write songs, produce, and create music from anywhere. With our convenient remote learning system, connecting with your instructor is as easy as clicking a link on your phone or laptop. Join a live private lesson on any device and connect with your favorite instructor.
You’re new to music but have always wanted to play. You may have received an instrument as a gift, are curious about a new hobby, or just want more music in your life. Maybe you’ve always thought about guitar, singing, piano, or drums but never knew where to start until you found us, so let’s dig in! We’ll start things off by showing you how to use your instrument, talk about some basic musical terms, and quickly move on to actual playing. By the end of your first lesson, you will know a few simple melodies, get familiar with some notes, and probably even learn how to play your first song. Most importantly, we will help you build your confidence and make sure you have loads of fun – because that’s what music is all about!
You’ve been playing for a while and have a pretty good understanding of your instrument, but want to take music to the next level. Maybe you feel stuck and aren’t sure how to get better. Don’t worry, this is super common and easy to fix. Lessons with us are designed to take your playing from “eh” to “awesome.” Whether you taught yourself how to play, or had a teacher before – we’ll pick up right where you left off. Work with a seasoned pro who can identify the gaps in your musical knowledge and design a custom lesson plan to get you where you want to go. We’ll use your favorite music as a jumping-off point while introducing you to new ways to play your instrument. Try some lessons and become the musician you always wanted to be.
You’re a musician on a mission. You’ve been around and know your stuff, maybe you’re even playing some gigs, but you know you can get more out of music. Invest in your craft. It’s time to take lessons for keeps. Polish up your skills and learn insider secrets from music industry professionals with decades of knowledge to share. We’ll focus on the subjects that matter the most to you, introduce you to top-level exercises, and teach you how to develop an original sound. We know you can speak the language of music pretty well, but taking lessons at an advanced level can help you become truly fluent. Discover the secrets behind some of your favorite pieces of music and learn how to practice like a pro, so you can unlock your full musical potential.
Reviews
We are the highest rated music studio in the Bay Area and maintain a 5-star rating on Yelp, Facebook, and Google. Check out what students like you have to say about their experience at ModernTone.
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.
If you look at the schedule and don’t see a time that works, shoot us a note or give us a call. We’re usually able to find something that fits.
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.
- 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.
