Music
Private Music Lessons
Lessons Overview
- Lessons are available to students in 1st grade and above as a full year commitment. Please consider your student's schedule carefully before committing to lessons.
- Lessons are once a week for 30 minutes.
- Lessons are available from 3:30-6:00pm, M-F, and are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis.
- Any amount of time your student spends in ASP prior to lessons is free for Lower School and Middle School students.
- All Lower and Middle school students must sign into the After School Program before their lessons and must be signed out according to ASP procedures.
Prices, billing procedures, and policies:
Billing for ASP Private Music Lessons will be broken out into three installments throughout the school year. There is a one time non-refundable deposit payment required at the time of registration. Payment dates are in line with Trimester start dates (September, November, February).
Pricing:
- $50 per 30 minute lesson (once a week) for Non ASP Plan Users
- $45 per 30 minute lesson (once a week) for ASP Plan Users (5pm or 6pm plan)
Absences & cancelations:
Absences:
Absences for a scheduled school related conflict (for example: mandatory field trip or school-related event not inclusive to sports or extra curricular activities) will not be charged, but all other absences will be charged for teacher's time.
Absences for a scheduled school related conflict (for example: mandatory field trip or school-related event not inclusive to sports or extra curricular activities) will not be charged, but all other absences will be charged for teacher's time.
Canceling indefinitely:
Students needing to cancel lessons indefinitely will be required to pay for lessons unless a replacement can be scheduled.
LS Band
ASP Band
Monday's and Wednesday's
Beginning Band: 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Intermediate Band: 4:15pm - 5:00pm
Band is a wonderful opportunity for students to bond with classmates, meet new friends, develop personal discipline, build self esteem, and begin the practice of an art form that will deliver joy and satisfaction from their school days to beyond. Beginning Band is for students with little to no experience, while intermediate students will have completed at least one full year in band.
The school has a limited number of instruments to loan to families. There are also several local companies to rent instruments from at a reasonable cost.
Students do not have to choose an instrument prior to bands’ start, where they’ll be given the opportunity to explore the instruments before making a decision. Requests for instrument loans should be directed to nhuaman@headroyce.org.
Pricing:
$1,920 for the full 2021-22 school year
Broken out into three installments ($640/trimester)
About our Band Director:
Nzingah hails from New York State's Hudson River Valley. She studied at Harlem's Jazzmobile with Basie alumnae: Frank Foster, Frank Wess and Bill Baron. She also studied at Carl Berger's Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY, Berkeley School of Music in Boston and at Rutger's University, where she received her BA in Music. In 2000 Nzingah received her Orff Certification from Mills College. Since relocating to CA, Nzingah has worked with a variety of ensembles including the Mendocino Music Festival Orchestra, Azucar Y Crema (a women's salsa band), the Junius Courtney Big Band and in 2008 was featured artist for the annual concert series, Afro Solo.
More recently she has performed with R&B legend Johnny Tolbert; vocalist Denise Perrier and violinist, Sandi Poindexter. In addition to leading her own jazz quintet, Nzingah currently peforms with the Latin Jaxx ensemble; Azucar con Ache and the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music Orchestra and Count Basie Tribute Band.
A dedicated music educator, Nzingah teaches private lessons in general music, woodwinds and band. She has taught at a number of public and private schools including The San Francisco School, the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, Elmhurst Community Prep, Alliance Academy, Lick-Wilmerding High School and San Pedro Elementary School.
Piano
Sarah Noll
Sarah Noll has taught music in schools and privately for 35 years. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in piano performance. She has a wide variety of performing experience as an instrumentalist and singer in styles ranging from Africa to the Balkans, and from classical to new music repertoire. Sarah worked as a dance accompanist for many years before finding her true love - teaching young people.
Lesson Availability for 2021-22
Tuesdays - 3:30-5:30pm
Wednesdays - 4-5:30pm
Thursdays - 3:30-5:30pm
Guitar / Drums Instructor
Dan McGuffin
Looking forward to another year in the After School Program at Head Royce.
As a singer, songwriter, drummer and guitarist I have over 40 years of experience in various bands and working situations. I am mostly self taught but have also attended: Canada College - for Percussion; Serramonte Music Center- Private Guitar Lessons with Jim Compilongo; Drum Lessons with Mike Carrata at Gelb Music in Redwood City; Vocal lessons, Reading, Writing and Music Theory-Blue Bear School of Music in San Francisco. I have been teaching drums, guitar and bass to students of all grades at Head Royce for six years including Summer School for two years.
My philosophy and approach to teaching is based on working with each individual student as they best respond to learning an instrument. Getting the student to create and play music right away is key. Work and fun go hand in hand in my lessons. Also, praise and encouragement for any effort and never giving up!
Please check out my website: DRUMSNSTRUMS.COM
Thank you,
Dan McGuffin
Lesson Availability:
Monday - Thursday - 3:30-5:30pm
Trumpet/Cornet Instructor
William Harvey
William Harvey has been teaching trumpet at Head Royce School since 2019 and enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities. A graduate of Boston University, he plays principal trumpet with the Oakland Symphony and also teaches trumpet at the at University of California, Berkeley.
Lesson Availability:
Mondays: 3:30-5:30pm
Tuesdays: 3:30-5:30pm
Saxophone/Flute/Clarinet Instructor
Nzingah Smith
Nzingah Smith hails from New York State's Hudson River Valley. She studied at Harlem's Jazzmobile with Basie alumnae: Frank Foster, Frank Wess and Bill Baron. She also studied at Carl Berger's Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY, Berkeley School of Music in Boston and at Rutger's University, where she received her BA in Music. In 2000 Nzingah received her Orff Certification from Mills College. Since relocating to CA, Nzingah has worked with a variety of ensembles including the Mendocino Music Festival Orchestra, Azucar Y Crema (a women's salsa band), the Junius Courtney Big Band and in 2008 was featured artist for the annual concert series, Afro Solo.
More recently she has performed with R&B legend Johnny Tolbert; vocalist Denise Perrier and violinist, Sandi Poindexter. In addition to leading her own jazz quintet, Nzingah currently performs with the Latin Jaxx ensemble; Azucar con Ache and the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music Orchestra and Count Basie Tribute Band.
A dedicated music educator, Nzingah teaches private lessons in general music, woodwinds and band. She has taught at a number of public and private schools including The San Francisco School, the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, Elmhurst Community Prep, Alliance Academy, Lick-Wilmerding High School and San Pedro Elementary School.