• Address: 22793 Foothill Blvd. (Corner of Foothill Blvd, D St. & Main St.), Hayward, CA 94541 (map)
• Date Posted: 10/07/09

Join the many families of Better World School of Music that are saving valuable hours each month by scheduling Music or Dance classes for different family members at the same time. Call us today to see how we can help you save time in your busy schedule!

We currently have four piano teachers. All of them are patient and positive in their approach to teaching since they all love what they do. They would be very excited to be able to teach you or your child the piano.

All the teachers are familiar with several different piano methods such as Faber and Faber, Bastian, Alfred's, Hal Leonard, Suzuki. Once they start you or your child's lessons they can figure out where the student is starting from and keep them going. We also download interesting piano pieces from the Internet to keep our students interested.

We offer a little something extra...when the student fully prepares their songs we can record them to CD and reward them with their very first "album". Often the young students will sing into the microphone as well as play their songs so we capture their voice and their playing.

Parents have the option to sit in the lesson, or relax in our very comfortable waiting room, or even drop off and run errands since we are located close to banks and restaurants in downtown Hayward.

Meet Our Instructors:

Kathleen Saffas
School Director & Piano/Voice/Music Instructor

Having been raised by parents who were both music teachers and performers, Kathleen's life from the very beginning has revolved around the performing arts. Piano and dance lessons were started at the age of 6, and then 8 years of Oboe lessons followed. Literally...she has been performing on stage for 48 years in a wide variety of musical and dance activities.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from East Bay CA State University in 1979. Not one to stop learning, she went on to study opera for 8 years with the world reknown opera coach and conductor Dietrich Erbelding. Then came other advanced educational workshops: The Estill Voice Training System, a highly successful and quick method that shortened the learning curve from 4 years to 4 months for most students. If you want to learn how to belt without growing nodes on your vocal chords, sing your low notes as loud as your high notes, sing all the way up to the whistle range, and change the color of your voice to match whatever style of song you are singing at the moment, Kathy has over 30 years of teaching experience and a huge bag of tricks to get you there FAST!

She also spends time in researching the latest piano teaching methods so as to stay current with new and improved ways to teach this beautiful instrument. Last but not least...Kathleen is a people person. She loves teaching so much that when she is in a lesson she is as happy as a thoroughbred on a racetrack. She just loves working with children, teens, adults, and seniors!

Her earlier musical experience includes eight years of playing Oboe in various orchestras, including the Music Educator's National Conference Orchestra, which earned a scholarship to Holy Names College. Here she received two years of training in the Kodaly Method of sight singing. As a voice major at Cal State University, she graduated with a B.A. in Music, being rated at the top of her Choral Conducting Class.

She has built a successful music school in helping people in the community perform with their families in musical productions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Wendy Porter
Piano & Voice Instructor

Wendy is one of our dedicated music instructors. She studied private piano for 16 years with composer and pianist Alexis Howe of San Francisco. Along with her piano she has had 6 years of private vocal training with Kathy Saffas and went on to continue her studies with Dietrich Erbelding, a world renowned opera coach. She received her Bachelor of Arts in 2003 from East Bay California State University.

Wendy can sing it all whether it is classical or R&B, and her proficiency in piano and as a vocal teacher gives her an undisputable advantage for being a top rate teacher.

Angela Kempe
Piano & Voice Instructor

Whether you want to learn classical, jazz, pop, or rock, Angela does it all from singing to playing the piano. She loves to work with students of all ages and abilities, from children to adult beginners, or those interested in returning to music after several years away. For those geared towards a professional career in singing, this teacher can provide performance techniques and anything needed to succeed in the music industry, including how to make lead sheets for a band and to get your press kit together.

In her vocal lessons she focuses on the fundamentals of proper singing technique that can be applied to any style of singing. She will help you increase your power and range without vocal blow out. Because of the style of singing and vocal warm-ups she learned from the Mark Baxter Vocal Studio, she will work with the muscles involved with the voice so they are strengthened and coordinated by exercises which do not interfere with 'style.' Second, all additional muscles (the trouble makers) are relaxed. The result is vocal strength and flexibility, which allows you to sing from the heart rather than your head.

She received her Bachelor Degree in Music in 2003 at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. She is currently pursuing her Master Degree in Vocal Performance at Cal State East Bay. Her personal vocal instructor was Mark Baxter who is a well-respected, published author and teacher.

Melissa Nering
Piano Instructor

Melissa currently teaches private piano lessons in various locations throughout the East Bay as well as at Better World School of Music. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree minoring in music from California State University East Bay in Hayward. Melissa specializes in teaching beginning through intermediate level students from as early as four years old through adulthood.

As a classical trained pianist, she helps her students establish good practicing habits to improve their overall experience at the piano. She incorporates music theory, technique, ear training, as well as sight reading into each lesson, building a strong, musical foundation in each of her students.

Melissa has a kind and patient personality helping her students feel immediately at ease. She desires to motivate each student to reach their highest potential and enjoy making music throughout their lives.

Our school is conveniently located in downtown Hayward. Visit our website for more information or call 510-828-2222 to contact us!

http://www.bwschoolofmusic.com/

We offer music lessons for everyone!
Woodwinds: Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe, Flute
Strings: Guitar, Violin/Viola, Cello, String Bass, And Electric Bass
Brass: Trumpet, Trombone, and Tuba
Percussion: Drums

We also provide Vocal Lessons, Preschool Dance & Children's Show Choir

If you don't see the instrument or dance you want to learn, contact us, we are always updating our services.

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