Lessons in Oakland and online

Play the song you actually came here to play.

Relaxed, one to one guitar and ukulele lessons for kids, teens and grown ups. We start with a song you love and learn everything else along the way.

Book a free first lesson Try a chord first

Ages 8 to 80 beginners very welcome
At your home or on video
Acoustic, electric and ukulele

Nia sitting on the stairs laughing with a teenage student who is playing an acoustic guitar — Week three with Maya: her first full song, start to finish.

Try a chord right here

Pick a chord, then tap a string or press strum. Turn your sound on. These six shapes are enough to play hundreds of songs.

Where are you starting from?

Pick the line that sounds most like you and I will point you to the lessons that fit. You can always change your mind after the first lesson.

First steps
Four 30 minute lessons

Holding the guitar, your first four chords and one complete song by the last lesson. Perfect for kids from 8 and nervous grown ups.

$140$35 a lesson
Choose Nia suggests
Real songs
Six 45 minute lessons

Strumming patterns, clean chord changes, the dreaded F chord and three songs of your choice, with a practice plan for the week.

$270$45 a lesson
Choose Nia suggests
Songwriter term
Ten 60 minute lessons

Chord progressions, simple theory without the headache, writing lyrics to melody and recording a demo on your phone.

$520$52 a lesson
Choose Nia suggests

Single lessons are $50 for 45 minutes. Siblings in the same visit get 15% off. Pay for a package

What we can work on

Acoustic guitarCampfire songs, fingerpicking, singing while you play
Electric guitarRiffs, power chords, playing along with the band tracks you love
UkuleleThe fastest way to your first song, great for ages 8 to 10
SongwritingTurning a voice memo idea into a finished song
Reading tabs and chordsSo you can learn any song from the internet on your own

A grandfather in glasses guiding his grandson's fingers on the neck of an acoustic guitar — Walter, 71, and his grandson Leo take a shared lesson on Saturdays.

Nia smiling on the stairs while a student practices a chord on her guitar

A student playing an acoustic guitar on a living room rug in front of a gray sofa

Hi, I am Nia

I have been teaching guitar in Oakland for eleven years, first at a community music school and now on my own, in living rooms all over the East Bay. I have played in two very local indie bands and one wedding band you might have danced to.

My lessons are calm and a little bit silly. Practice guilt stays at the door. We figure out what gets in the way and make the next week easier.

11 years teaching
140+ students so far
Background checked for home visits

What students and parents say

My daughter practices without being asked. I did not know that was possible.
Renee, mom of Ava, 11

I am 52 and I played my first song at my brother's birthday. Nia made it feel easy.
Marcus, adult beginner

We wrote a real song in ten weeks. It is on my phone and I play it for everyone.
Jada, 16

Your first lesson is on me

Thirty minutes, no strings attached (well, six strings). We play something, talk about the music you love and see if we click. No guitar yet? I bring a spare.

Reply: Within one day, with two or three times that work
Where: Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda or on video
Bring: Nothing but a song you would love to play