We are a fun-loving, independent music school in the Mission District of San Francisco. Come #MakeMoreMusic with us!
Founded in 2014 by Christian F. Howes, Claire Plumb, and Matt Rupert, Little Mission Studio offers high quality music education through private music lessons, group music classes and workshops, and summer music camps. We strive to inspire creativity and cultivate musicianship in our community, and truly believe that people of all ages and skill levels can discover the joy of music!
Music Lessons & Classes for All Ages & Skill Levels
Claire Plumb brings an infectious love of music and singing to Little Mission Studio. She received her BM in Opera Performance at The Peabody Conservatory, Johns Hopkins University, where she studied in the studios of Harolyn Blackwell and Ah Hong. She additionally studied in workshops and masterclasses at Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the University of Oregon.
At age 16, she was named one of the Top 50 Young Sopranos in the USA by the American Association of Teachers of Singers and Top 33 Vocalists in the nation by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.
Claire composed her own music (2006-2007, Baltimore, MD) and sung original works for new composers, before moving to San Francisco in 2009 and starting her private voice studio. Her written music is described as “lyrical and haunting” and she released her first solo album in 2013.
Claire continues to perform original works in the San Francisco Bay area and she believes that music is a teacher to all who seek creativity and compassion in their lives.
Matt brings a passion for teaching and a wealth of experience to Little Mission Studio. He attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD (2007), where he was in the Bachelor of Music program for clarinet in the studio of Steven Barta, the Bachelor of Music Education program, as well as a Minor in Piano Performance in the Studio of Nancy Roldan. His past studies also include chamber music workshops in Vienna with members of the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera Orchestra.
As a music educator, Matt has taught in the Baltimore County, Howard County, and San Francisco County public school systems. He specializes in instrumental music but has also spent significant time teaching and directing choral programs and musical theatre, as both as Musical Director for the OnStage Middle School Workshop in New Jersey and as an Artist in Residence with the SF Arts Education Project in San Francisco.
In September 2008, Matt moved from Baltimore to San Francisco. He currently performs with such Bay Area Groups such as the ECHO Chamber Orchestra, for which he also serves on their steering & artistic committee. Matt also regularly performs solo and chamber music in San Francisco.
In 2014, Matt co-founded Little Mission Studio, a new music school with the mission of providing the highest quality music education in San Francisco, where he serves as piano & clarinet faculty, and runs the Little Mission Jam Band & Little Mission Chamber Ensembles.
As a composer, Matt studied with Bay Area composer Belinda Reynolds. His works have been premiered by Bay Area musicians & orchestras such as the ECHO Chamber Orchestra & Fog City Percussion. His compositions range from solo & chamber works, to full orchestral works, & he believes in writing music for both professionals as well as contributing to student repertoire. His book ‘Music for Broken Arms‘ was published in 2022 & features piano music for students using only one hand at the keys.
In 2021, Matt co-founded the Make More Music Foundation, in memory & honor of his parents. This non-profit foundation has the mission of uplifting and educating the next generation of young musicians through scholarships to musical instruction, hosting community educational concerts, & facilitating instrument donations & placements. Matt proudly serves as President of the Board for the Foundation.
Christian started playing percussion from a very young age and that passion led him to play in an award-winning marching band, concert band, and percussion ensemble all through his high school years. He furthered his study at the University of Michigan where he received a BM in percussion performance as well as a BSE in computer engineering.
Christian now splits his time between building exciting, next-generation, software, as well as playing and teaching music. Christian enjoys teaching individuals and small groups, including arranging and teaching for high school marching band and percussion ensembles. He spends a significant amount of time every year volunteering his skills to Music For All, assisting in marching band competitions and summer camps.
Christian can be found playing around the Bay Area with several orchestras, choirs, and theatre groups, including the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony and Symphony Parnassus.
Christian’s software work has included the Little Mission Studio practice challenge tracking tool, work with large telecom companies, small start-ups, mobile development, and machine learning support in agriculture equipment.
Mezzo-soprano Marina Davis is a recent graduate from The San Francisco Conservatory, where she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Performance and a Master of Music in Voice. She also holds a Bachelor of Music from The University of Toronto in Voice Performance. Throughout her higher education, Marina has gained extensive knowledge about vocal pedagogy. She is very passionate about healthy, supported singing. She has taught students of all ages, and believes that every student has a unique voice. She uses a flexible teaching style that accommodates all types of learners. Although she is primarily an opera singer, she also has experience and training in musical theater and pop styles.
Recent opera roles include Cherubino, Le nozze di Figaro (SFCM 2019) and Hänsel, Hänsel und Gretel (SFCM & San Francisco Opera Education 2018). Marina has performed with Opera on the Avalon (2017), the Halifax Summer Opera Festival (2014, 2015), Opera 5 (2014), was a Young Artist at SongFest (2015) and a Voice Fellow at Opernfest Prague (2019). Awards include, Finalist in the American Prize for Art Song/Oratorio (2019, college/university division), SFCM’s Phyllis C. Wattis Scholarship (2018), Senior winner of the Symphony by the Bay’s Young Artist Concerto Competition (2016), and the University of Toronto’s Greta Kraus Award (2014).
Rebecca Johnson is a kind and encouraging piano and voice teaching welcoming students of all ages and genres. A professional voice technician, she obtained intense graduate study of vocal pedagogy and the vocal mechanism at Belmont University upon completing her Bachelor’s in classical singing from Goucher College.
Rebecca began voice lessons at the age of thirteen when she caught the ‘musical theatre bug’. Rebecca has sung opera and musical theater roles including but not limited to Luisa in TheFantasticks, Nettie in Carousel, Fainte in Les Miserables, Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, and Marcellina in The Marriage of Fiagaro. Rebecca was selected to sing in reputable summer porgrams: The American Institute for Musical Studies in Graz, Austria; Vienna: Language of Lieder through Westminster Choir College; and Bach Millennium Music at Santa Clara University where she sung with orchestra. Rebecca has taken vocal lessons for eighteen years and credits much of her technique to notable teachers Michael Warren, Badiene Magaziner, and Kathryn Leemhuis. Rebecca continues to perform regularly in the Bay Area.
Rebecca has taught music since 2015. She joins the faculty at Little Mission Studio after moving from Philadelphia where she instructed voice and piano at Chestnut Hill Music Academy. Rebecca specializes in teaching children with neurodivergence and acutely understands the unique challenges of living with ADHD.
Japanese-African American soprano, Rayna Mia Campbell, is thrilled to bring some of her knowledge to Little Mission Studio!
Born and raised in Belleville, Illinois, Rayna began her studies in piano at the age of 8. She later joined her local choir and fell in love with performance. Campbell participated in the Opera Theatre St. Louis, Artist-in-Training Program where she became a co-founder for Teens for Opera Theatre St. Louis. She had the opportunity to perform with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra under the baton of Gemma New, the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis with Nicholas McGegan, and Winter Opera St. Louis.
Campbell has been teaching voice since 2020. She began in New York with Reaching for the Arts, which provided students the opportunity to learn and showcase themselves in the arts regardless of financial status or advantage. Her focus was healthy singing, musicality, and personal interpretation. While taking a short break from teaching to focus on school, Campbell has sharpened her knowledge of vocal pedagogy. She has taught young students and is always excited to teach anyone who wants to learn.
Campbell’s recent roles include Drusilla (L’incoronazione di Poppea) with West Edge Opera, Silvia (Zanetto), Magda Sorel (The Consul), Vitellia (La clemenza di Tito) with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring) with the Miami Classical Music Festival. She recently performed the West Coast Premiere of “Death of a Little Girl with Doves” by Jeremy Beck, a cycle about the life and letters of French sculptor Camille Claudel.
Campbell is a recent graduate from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she is the recipient of the Carol and Dixon Doll Scholarship. She earned her Professional Studies Certificate and Master of Music degree from SFCM and her Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music. She is also a grant recipient of the Buder Foundation in St. Louis.
Clark Evans has been a part of many varied ensembles as a cellist and as a pianist, competed as a soloist on both instruments, and has taught many students. He has received awards and has had opportunities to perform as a soloist with various community and professional orchestras including the Brigham Young University Philharmonic, the Utah Philharmonic, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and the Civic Orchestra of Tucson. Additionally, he was a finalist in the 2018 Osaka International Music Competition.
Evans was cellist for the award-winning Timpanogos Piano Trio, the recipient of national first prize at the 2016 MTNA Competition in the Chamber Strings division, coached by Scott Holden and Alex Woods. He is a past member of the Civic Orchestra of Tucson, the Quartet Chetyre, and the Brigham Young University Philharmonic.
Past students of his studio have participated in regional and state-wide festivals. They consistently receive superior ratings and place highly in competitions. Evans’ teaching includes strong emphasis on musicality in all levels of performance, and he seeks to inspire the artistic voices of young musicians.
A prolific composer, he has had the privilege of seeing many of his works performed throughout the United States and Europe. His music has been commissioned by individuals and by professional and student ensembles, and has been performed in local venues, on tours, and programed in regular concert seasons. He has received the awards of finalist (2010) and honorable mention (2011) in the annual ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Competition; in 2017 he was a finalist in the collegiate division of the same competition. Additionally, in July of 2018 he was involved as an assistant to the Administrator for the prestigious annual Barlow Commission. In 2019 he was awarded 1st prize in the Vera Hinckley Mayhew Composition Contest.
In past years, he has participated in festivals as an orchestra member of the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute (2012) and also as a chamber musician and composer as part of the International Music Festival of the Adriatic (2016) and the Vienna Summer Music Institute (2018). In 2017, he participated in the Brevard Music Center festival where he sat principal cellist, was a semi-finalist in the Jan and Beattie Concerto Competition and had the opportunity to work with visiting artist Johannes Moser. He also participated in the 2017 Tucson Cello Congress held at University of Arizona and won first place in their collegiate level solo competition.
Evans is a graduate student at the San Francisco Conservatory of music, where he is the recipient of the Elinor Armer Scholarship in Composition. His past education includes a B.M. in Music Performance, with an emphasis in strings, from Brigham Young University (2019).
Sarah Hooton is a young emerging artist and teacher in San Francisco. She recently completed her Master of Music in Viola Performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and is excited to add her wealth of performance knowledge into her teaching at Little Mission Studio.
Growing up in Cairns, Australia, Sarah began learning violin when she was 9 years old. Her first experiences in ensemble playing were with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Queensland Symphony Orchestra, participating in student workshops throughout her schooling. She also competed in the local Eisteddfod each year and competed at the national level, placing 2nd in the Australian Vocal and Concerto Competition in 2015. After moving to Brisbane to obtain her Bachelor of Music at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, she discovered the sweet mellow sounds of the viola and decided to make the switch. Sarah now plays the viola full-time but still picks up the violin from time to time.
In addition to orchestra, Sarah particularly loves the intimacy of Chamber Music and was selected to play in the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival in Leavenworth (Washington, USA) in July, 2019. To satisfy her never-ending love for collaborative music-making, she has also worked as a violist with Camerata Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, and was invited to perform as a guest violist with the Endeavour Trio in November of 2018. Now in San Francisco, Sarah is Co-Founder of a new group called The Bridge Music Collective.
As equally passionate about teaching as she is performing, Sarah was part of the faculty at Music Creators (located in Underwood, Brisbane) for 5 years, teaching violin and viola. After moving to San Francisco, she worked as a Teaching Artist in the Bridge To Arts and Music program (BAM) at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to help bring music education to children who don’t get the opportunity to learn music at their own schools. After teaching for more than 6 years, Sarah has learned to adapt her teaching style to each individual student, bringing her emotional intelligence and sensitivity to meet her technical and detailed approach.
Outside of the music realm, she has also been practicing Yoga for several years and is currently obtaining her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in the hopes to educate fellow musicians on body awareness and injury prevention to improve musicians’ lives inside and outside of the practice room.
Paula Karolak is from San Diego, California. She started her violin studies early in life and in high school fell in love with the rich tone of the viola.
She is currently a member of the Santa Rosa Symphony and performs all over the Bay Area as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player. She is proud to be a founding member of the UZAY Gallery and is Board President of Symphony Parnassus. When not performing music Paula loves to rock climb and is a student at CCSF in Computer Science.
Paula completed her undergraduate studies at UCLA where she studied viola with Paul Coletti and Richard O’Neill as well as violin with Guillaume Sutre. She later attended SFCM to study with Paul Hersh and Jodi Levitz. She continued her studies with the San Francisco Academy Orchestra and was mentored in orchestral performance by Don Ehrich and Joy Fellows.
As a soloist she has appeared with the UCLA philharmonic, UCLA women’s choir and the Academy Orchestra. She has performed with the Dilijian chamber music series and was a member of the Trinity Alps Chamber players. For two years she was also part of a Silicon Valley start up where she worked with 3d printers to create custom fit bike helmets.
Paula has over two decades of experience teaching all levels, beginners to collegiate. She has coached chamber and orchestral music for the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra and Golden Gate Philharmonic as well as maintaining a private studio.
Gabe Reed is a classical pianist from Bend, Oregon. He graduated summa cum laude from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. In Bend, Gabe studied for twelve years with Jan Saito, and while at Santa Clara he studied with Hans Boepple. At Santa Clara, Gabe worked as a teaching assistant in music theory classes of his fellow students. He was awarded the Irene M. and Roe A. Maier music scholarship and won the university’s Concerto and Aria Competition, earning the chance to solo with the school orchestra. Gabe is now completing his Master of Music in Piano at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he is a student of Sharon Mann. He has had the honor to receive master classes from pianists like Van Cliburn medalists Olga Kern, Kenneth Broberg, Sean Chen, and Dmytro Choni.
Gabe has taught students of all ages in the Bay Area, and has previously taught at Veksler Academy in Sunnyvale and Milpitas. Though Gabe loves classical music and sharing his expertise, he also enjoys teaching beginners, working with kids, and teaching all genres of music.
Vincenzo Lomaestro is a professional pianist from Ripacandida (Potenza, Italy). He started playing the piano at the age of ten. Vincenzo earned his Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Piano cum laude at the Conservatory of Music Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa in Potenza, under the guidance of Maestro Umberto Zamuner and Alessandro Stella.
He has performed concerts in many Italian cities both as a soloist and in chamber music ensembles. In 2022 he attended an advanced piano training at the European Arts Academy ‘Aldo Ciccolini’ Foundation in Trani, with the Maestro Pierluigi Camicia. Last Summer, Mr. Lomaestro was accepted at the Philadelphia Young Pianists’ Academy (PYPA), where he expanded his knowledge as a pianist, teacher, & as an artist. Mr. Lomaestro has also been teaching all levels of piano for many years and looks forward to passing on his experiences to inspire a new generation of musicians.
Rachel Denzer is a passionate piano teacher dedicated to nurturing a love for music and creativity in her students. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music with a pedagogy minor from Northern Kentucky University, where she honed her skills and knowledge in music education.
Rachel’s journey in music began with performances in church organizations across greater Cincinnati in 2005, and she has since continued to share her musical talents by performing in various small choirs and worship teams wherever she resides. In 2010, Rachel embarked on her teaching career full-time, educating students as young as three to 85.
With a belief that there is no “one size fits all” approach to learning the piano, Rachel emphasizes a tailored lesson experience for each student. Her teaching philosophy centers on fostering a love for music, nurturing creativity, and embracing the arts while cultivating a safe and welcoming environment where mistakes are celebrated as opportunities for growth.
Rachel’s dedication to music education has been recognized through accolades such as the Celebration of Learning – University Grant from NKU. This grant enabled her to contribute to the community by providing Kindermusik classes in various after-school and preschool programs in Northern Kentucky. Active in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) chapters across Ohio, Kentucky, and California, Rachel continues to expand her horizons in music education. While she comes from a classical background, Rachel is also passionate about exploring jazz and improvisation.
Beyond her musical endeavors, Rachel finds joy in various hobbies such as hiking, rock climbing, indie video games, and creative crafts like sewing, punch-needle, and tufting rugs. Her love for hands-on activities reflects her appreciation for the art of craftsmanship and expression in all its forms.
An avid chamber musician and proponent of new music, San Francisco flutist Jessie Nucho is passionate about sharing her love of music through performing and teaching. Well versed in both the traditional and contemporary repertoire, Jessie is an adventurous performer, combining all styles of music in innovative ways. In recognition of her dynamic stage presence, she received Carnegie Mellon University’s 2010 Harry G. Archer award for excellence in performance. Jessie recently performed at the Berkeley Arts Festival and the Hot Air Music Festival. She has appeared as a guest soloist with the Carnegie Mellon University Baroque Ensemble as well as the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Percussion Ensemble. Jessie has premiered more than fifty pieces and continues to commission new works from Bay Area composers.
Jessie enjoys frequent collaborations with musicians from the Bay Area and throughout the country. Most recently, she was a guest performer with the San Francisco-based new music ensemble Wild Rumpus as part of the Legion of Honor Listening Series. Jessie regularly appears with the Fog City Guitar Duo and will be joining them for their upcoming cross-country tour. In 2012, she won the Pittsburgh Concert Society Major Auditions as a member of the Hugo Trio, performing with harpist Natalie Severson and violist Alex Hettinga.
Off the stage, Jessie is devoted to her work as flute teacher and chamber music coach. She is a member of the outreach ensemble Prevailing Winds, performing and coaching flute sectionals and chamber music groups at Bay Area high schools. Jessie was co-producer and artist liaison for the 2015 Hot Air Music Festival, showcasing ensembles from the Bay Area.
Jessie holds a Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Tim Day of the San Francisco Symphony. Previous instructors include Alberto Almarza and Jeanne Baxtresser at Carnegie Mellon University.
Aaron Priskorn has played trumpet for more than two decades, exploring many genres of music, while staying true to his classically-trained roots. Because of his unique sound, he is often sought after as a guest artist and collaborator for many various events/productions throughout the SF Bay area.
Aaron is passionate about teaching the trumpet and enjoys sharing the knowledge he received from his teachers. He holds degrees from Mannes College of Music (BM) and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (MM). Aaron tailors his lessons to incorporate ear training, music theory, improvisation, performing practice among other exercises to make trumpet playing as easy and fun as possible!
Aaron is bandleader, composer, arranger and trumpet player of his group, ‘Sisu Brassland’ and released ‘Matka’, an album of his compositions for brass. He has also released 2 trumpet + loops albums (Venus Loops and Tartuffe) as well as Lip Service Brass Trio Holiday Album’. He has also recorded David Garner’s ‘Trumpet Sonata’ as well as other albums for Melvoy, Devon McClive and Sons, Entamoeba, The Family Crest among others. He also performs in and helps create the soundtrack for SF Academy of Art’s Fashion Show.
Aaron can be heard regularly with Classical Revolution, Green Street Mortuary Band, and has played with Lindsay Sterling, Evanescence, Lauren Weedman, The Stone Foxes, and recently performed at San Quentin State Prison. Aaron is excited to teach at Little Mission Studio!
Described as an “insightful musician with a beautiful sound” (Karlos Rodriguez, Catalyst Quartet), David Cortez is currently a graduate student in Saxophone Performance at San Jose State University, where he also received the 2022 Most Oustanding Performer Award in his undergraduate studies under Dr. Michael Hernandez. He has been a music educator for over 5 years and enjoys working with students of all levels.
Recently, he has appeared as a soloist with the Redwood Symphony, ECHO Chamber Orchestra, Resound Ensemble, Disrupt Ensemble, Santa Cruz Symphony, Peninsula Cantare, and the San Jose State University Wind Ensemble.
Cortez has been invited to fellowships and festivals of national acclaim, including Chamber Music Silicon Valley’s Emerging Artist Fellowship, Quinteto Latino’s Seminario Conference, Ensemble Evolution 2023, the Rascher Saxophone Academy, and the Yarn/Wire Institute. David was a Grand Prize Winner in the International Frances Walton Competition and the Beverly Hills National Auditions. He was also a national finalist at the MTNA Chamber Music Competition and an invited live competitor to the prestigious Naumburg Saxophone Competition.
As an active chamber musician, David has appeared in music series across the West Coast. Featured highlights include Music by the Sea(San Diego, CA), Music in the Mansion (Beverly Hills, CA), 405 Shrader (San Francisco, CA), Bainbridge Island Museum Series (WA), the Seattle Public Library (WA), Bridge Street Theather (Catskill, NY), the San Jose Museum of Art (CA), the Mexican Heritage Center (San Jose, CA), and more.
Cortez performs with the critically acclaimed MANA Quartet and plays on saxophones fit to the acoustic specifications of its inventor, Adolphe Sax. He can be heard on Classical KING FM and NPR’s Live Sessions.
Canadian classical guitarist, Katie Gavelin has been a part of the musical world for over 20 years. Beginning as a young child, her love for the instrument quickly grew resulting in her desire to make it her profession from a young age.
Katie has been a featured artist with the Calgary Classical Guitar Society, and given numerous solo and chamber performances in the Southern Alberta area since 2008. These performances have featured works by Britten, Bogdanovic, Hoppstock, Beauvais, and Tarrega. In 2014 she had the honor of premiering The Second Oldest Question by William Beauvais, which was written for her in 2013. She also was a member of the inaugural US Guitar Orchestra in summer 2019 which premiered 3 pieces written for the group and toured with William Kanengiser in a multi-city tour beginning in Carnegie Hall (NYC) and ending in Paris, France.
Katie has had the honor of participating in masterclasses with renowned guitarists such as Roland Dyens, Kazuhito Yamashita, Michael Partington, and Manuel Barrueco.
As a teacher Katie believes in creating strong musical fundamentals with her students while exploring various styles of music. She strives to help her students achieve a strong technical understanding of how their instrument works, but also how music is constructed, blending music theory with guitar technique.
In 2012 Katie completed her Bachelor of Music under the instruction of Ralph Maier at the University of Calgary. She continued her studies in 2015 with a Masters of Music, and 2016 with a Professional Studies Diploma from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the instruction of Marc Teicholz.
John Angel is a guitarist, composer, and music educator in the SF Bay Area. He has loved music from a young age and has a passion for sharing his love with others through performance and education.
John studied classical guitar at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Although he has institutional education in music John never lost contact with his first musical love, heavy metal, and its raw energy and DIY ethos. He has played in masterclasses for classical guitar greats such as Roland Dyens and David Tanenbaum, performed in venues dedicated to new music, and even appeared on the occasional house show bill. Currently, John performs and records with Harjo, an experimental guitar trio, and takes on guitarist, vocalist, and composer duties for his own high energy metal band.
As an educator, John relishes creating lasting relationships with his students. His primary focus is instilling a lifelong love of music in his students and preparing them to create music in a way that is fulfilling and meaningful to their lives.
Classical Guitarist Bradly Pupa is a performer and teacher based out of San Francisco, California. He recently performed Manuel Ponce’s Concierto del Sur with the Berkeley Symphony at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, gave a recital on the Peninsula Guitar Series, and toured through China performing in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hangzhou. Bradly is an active competitor and has won first prize at the 2017 Sierra Nevada Competition. He holds a Bachelors ’16, Masters ’18, and Professional Studies Diploma ’19 from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he studied with Sergio Assad and Judicael Perroy.
As an educator Bradly is heavily invested in each student’s individual relationship with lessons, the guitar, and music. Through a holistic and nurturing outlook he seeks to help every student pursue excellence by focusing on technical efficiency, musical literacy, and most importantly patience. Predominately using classical music as a backdrop with both the Suzuki and RCM methods he has students place in the top 1% of examinations in all of North America. Music is a gift he seeks to give every student he meets whatever their goals are.
At Little Mission Studio, we believe there’s more to learning music than just a weekly lesson. As a student of Private Music Lessons at Little Mission Studio, your Private Lesson tuition includes access to:
Bi-monthly Studio Classes
Seasonal Studio Recitals
Community Events & Faculty Recitals
Solo Practice Space (as available).
We also encourage musical collaboration with your fellow musicians, & offer ensemble classes & have rehearsal & performance space available.
Scheduling:
Lessons are scheduled & purchased monthly. Before the beginning of each month, you will receive an online invoice listing all lesson dates for the coming month, including any exceptions like holidays or planned faculty absences.
You have until your invoice due date (your first lesson day of the month), to respond to your invoice & coordinate any upcoming conflicts or scheduling needs on your end that will affect your lesson time for the coming month.
All LMS Private Lesson Students use our online Student Portal to look for alternate lesson times during a week they might have to miss their regular lesson.
If you cannot attend an alternate lesson time one week and need to skip a lesson entirely, email the LMS office, and your lesson schedule for the month will be adjusted accordingly. Payment for any planned student absences will be credited on the following month’s tuition invoice.
Tuition invoices not responded to before their due date are assumed accurate.
Running late? Sick? Stuck in meeting? Use our online Student Portal to cancel and reschedule lessons. Your instructor does not handle scheduling in any way, but is notified if you cancel and/or reschedule using the Student Portal. You may also always email the LMS office directly with any scheduling issues or concerns.
Attendance Expectations:
Once enrolled, you will have a regular weekly lesson time. Learning music is incredibly exciting & rewarding, but also requires hard work & consistency. To ensure the best learning experience, students are expected to attend their regular weekly lesson time. Your teacher has set aside your regular lesson time each week & expects to see you on a weekly basis at the same time consistently.
Students unable to consistently attend their regular weekly lesson time more than three lessons per month may be asked to forfeit their lesson time.
Tuition:
Students are enrolled in auto-pay billing and your payment for the coming month’s lessons will be run when you receive your next invoice, which will be your last lesson day of the month (ex. last Monday of every month if you have lessons on Mondays).
Lesson tuition payments not received by their due date will be subject to a 5% late fee.
Little Mission Studio accepts payment online only via Stripe & Square (most major US credit/debit cards).
Cancellations:
Student Cancellations: Of course emergencies or occasional illness happen. If you need to cancel a scheduled lesson, let us know as soon as possible, by using our online Student Portal to cancel your lesson. You may then use the Student Portal to try to reschedule your lesson within the same week, pending the availability of your instructor. Our faculty maintain very full schedules, & student-cancelled lessons are not guaranteed a make-up time. Student-cancelled lessons that cannot be rescheduled or made-up within one week of the original lesson time remain charged in full. Late student-cancellations, less than 6-hours before the lesson start time, will not be granted a make-up lesson.
Faculty Cancellations: In the rare event your instructor needs to cancel a scheduled lesson due to illness or emergency, you will receive lesson credit in the following month.
Stopping Lessons: Once you’re enrolled, your lessons are ongoing & you remain a Private Lesson Student unless Little Mission Studio hears from you otherwise. If you need to stop your lessons for whatever reason (moving, changing jobs, etc.), you must notify the office before the 1st of the coming month.
Group Music Class & Workshop Policies:
Enrollment & Scheduling:
We accept enrollment for Group Music Classes & Workshops on a rolling basis. Enrollment for most classes closes one week prior to the class start date; check each class description for further details.
Space in classes is limited & students will be enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis. Often, Group Music Classes will fill up, so early enrollment is encouraged.
We list the full class schedule with each class description. Be sure to read over each class schedule carefully to be sure you can attend all class sessions.
Click here for a list of current Group Classes and Workshops.
Attendance Expectations:
In order to help ensure the best class experience for you & your fellow musicians, we ask that you commit to attending all class sessions. Missed or skipped class sessions are non-refundable & unable to be made up.
Tuition:
Tuition for Group Music Classes is paid online during our online enrollment process.
If you submit a Group Music Class enrollment form, but do not complete tuition payment online, you will be removed from the class list & your enrollment cancelled.
Cancellations:
Ensemble Classes: If you with to cancel your enrollment or drop an Ensemble Class, you must contact us 24 hours before the second session of your class for a refund of class tuition, minus $100 deposit. No refunds are available if notice is given after this deadline.
Group Music Classes: If you wish to cancel your enrollment or drop a Group Music Class, you must contact us 24 hours before the second session of your class for a refund of class tuition minus 15% of tuition. No refunds are available if notice is given after this deadline.
Workshops: Tuition for Workshops in non-refundable.
Summer Music Camp Policies:
Enrollment:
We accept enrollment for Summer Music Camps on a rolling basis. Enrollment for most camps closes one week prior to the camp start date; check each camp description for further details.
Space in camps is limited & students will be enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis. Often, our camps will fill up, so early enrollment is encouraged.
Tuition for Summer Music Camps is paid online during our online enrollment process.
Your full camp tuition includes a non-refundable $100 deposit.
If you submit a Summer Music Camp enrollment form, but do not complete tuition payment online, you will be removed from the camp list & your enrollment cancelled.
Cancellations:
Missed or skipped camp sessions are non-refundable.
If you wish to drop from a camp, you must contact us no less than three weeks before the camp start date for a refund of camp tuition, minus $100 deposit. No refunds are available if less than three week’s notice is given.
Early Bird Camp Discount: If full tuition for camp is paid by April 1st, you will automatically receive $100 off your camp tuition! More Details.
Ensemble Class Discounts:
Make Music Together! Take the skills you’ve been learning & collaborate with others in one of our Ensemble Classes. Tuition for all our Ensemble Classes is by donation!
Family Discounts:
We love musical families as much as Maria von Trapp! Receive a 10% discount off of all lesson & class tuition, when two or more members of an immediate family are enrolled in lessons or classes at Little Mission Studio.
#MakeMoreMusic Discounts:
Want to take both voice lessons and piano lessons? Want to take a guitar class & try saxophone lessons? Any individual student enrolled in more than one type of lesson or class at Little Mission Studio will automatically receive 10% off of their tuition for everything! Make more music & save more money!
*All discounts are non-combinable. Little Mission Studio will apply one discount to tuition as applicable, whichever is greatest.
Gift Cards:
The Gift of Music! Little Mission Studio offers Gift Cards in any amount that are redeemable towards the purchase of lessons, classes, workshops, practice/rehearsal space rental, or merchandise at Little Mission Studio. Gift Cards make a thoughtful & unique gift for friends, family, loved ones, or co-workers! You choose the value, & the recipient can use it towards any lessons or classes offered at Little Mission Studio. Purchase in person at the studio or order online. All online orders will be shipped.
We understand that practice space is hard to find in San Francisco! Roommates, neighbors, & small apartments are all challenges to finding the time & space to practice appropriately.
Current students can book solo practice time for free during our hours of operation. Not a current student & need to practice? Our rates for non-students are affordable at just $24/hour. All practice rooms must be scheduled & reserved at least 24 hours in advance. Please contact us to schedule and reserve time in a practice room. More info on requesting practice rooms here.
Rehearsal Room Rental:
Have a chamber group or small ensemble you’d like to rehearse? Rent any of our rooms at the affordable rate of $49/hour. Rehearsal room rental must be scheduled & reserved at least 24 hours in advance. Please contact us to schedule and reserve time for rehearsal space. More info on requesting practice rooms here.
Music Camps
Below are upcoming Summer Music Camps at Little Mission Studio. Click on the camp name for a full description and schedule.
To enroll in a camp, fill out our Enrollment Form, specifying which camp you’re interested in.
Monday, July 22th – Friday, July 26th, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Camp Final Showcase: Friday, July 26th, 2:00 PM
For students entering Grades 2 – 9.
Extended care available.
Tuition: $499
Early Bird Camp Discounts:
Plan ahead and save on tuition! If full tuition for camp is paid beforeApril 1st, 2024, you will receive an automatic $75 discount on camp tuition.
Full tuition must be paid before April 1st, 2024 to qualify for discount. Early Bird Camp Discount cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts.
Group Music Classes
Below are upcoming Group Music Classes at Little Mission Studio.
To enroll in a class, complete our Enrollment Form, selecting which class you’d like to enroll in.
Group Music Classes – Winter/Spring 2025:
Enrollment is open for our Winter/ Spring 2025 Session! Classes start in January 2025.
Click on the class names below for full information, dates, and class details.
Enrollment for each class closes one week prior the the class start date.
Want to give a class as a gift? Purchase a Gift Card for the amount of class tuition!
Ensemble Classes – Winter/ Spring 2025
We’re now offering our Ensemble Classes with tuition as pay-by-donation for everyone! This is our way of offering financial assistance to those who may need it with no questions asked. If possible, donating full class tuition helps keep us running as a small, independent, arts institution, as well as helps to offset tuition for anyone in need. Thank you!
Note, minimum donation amount of $100 per class, which is non-refundable.
If you have strong scheduling preferences or would like to coordinate performing or attending with other students the same recital (siblings, friends, etc.) please sign up early. There are enough spots for everyone, but certain recital times will fill up!
Holiday Caroling Party!
Saturday, December 14th, 2024
Come celebrate the holidays with us in our annual Holiday Caroling event with music, snacks, crafts, & more. Save the date & more details coming soon! ❄️
Winter Break: LMS Closed
Sunday, December 22nd, 2024 through Sunday, January 5th, 2025
Class Showcases & Concerts:
Many of our group classes and ensembles conclude their session with a free showcase of all our students have learned. If you’re thinking of taking a class or joining an ensemble, these free showcases are a great way to come by, see the studio, and see what our classes are like!
Little Mission Show Choir, Guitar Ensemble, & Jam Band: Winter Concert
