Private Lessons & Coaches in Larkspur, CA

Music has been my lifelong passion, and sharing that passion as a professional pianist and dedicated educator for over 30 years brings me immense joy. My teaching philosophy centers around fostering a deep appreciation for music while nurturing each student's unique talents and goals. Let's embark on a rewarding musical journey together. Originally from Madrid, Spain, Maria Garcia Plaza started to play the piano at the age of 5. She attended the Conservatory of Music Arturo Soria in Madrid at the age of 7 and began her violin studies at the same time with Maestro Hermes Kriales. Maria has been teaching piano since she was 18 years old and it is one of her passions. She loves working with kids, introducing them at an early age to the love of music through games, making the class fun and enjoyable. At an early age she began performing and won 1st prize at the Polimusica Youth Awards at the age of 12. This allowed her to obtain a scholarship to perform with the JONDE (National Youth Orchestra of Spain) for two consecutive years. Since then she has played with several orchestras (Symphonic Orchestra of Madrid, Symphonic Orchestra of La Rioja, Camerata Musicalis), traveling through Spain, France, Italy and Germany. Maria arrived in San Francisco in 2012 and taught piano at several schools around San Francisco and San Mateo. She also teaches in Spanish. Maria is currently part of the Awesöme Orchestra based in Oakland. Her last performance was at Fox Oakland Theatre in 2016 with the band Green Day on its 20th anniversary, playing their album Dookie with Awesöme Orchestra.

Hey my name's Derek Schmidt and I'm a musician, sound designer, and music educator living in SF. I have a Masters in Music Composition and decades of performing experience.I've played piano for over three decades, for performance, production, and composition. I come at piano from an composer/songwriter perspective, so I can ground the lessons in music theory to help it all make sense, no matter what instrument you decide to play. I best teach beginning and intermediate students who want to explore different musical styles.

Unlocking the magic of the violin is my lifelong passion, and sharing that joy with students like you is incredibly rewarding. With 40 years of experience, I provide personalized guidance and support to help you achieve your musical aspirations.

With six years of experience playing club and high school volleyball, I am dedicated to fostering a positive and skill-building environment. I am committed to helping each player unlock their full potential, both on and off the court. My coaching emphasizes technical proficiency, strategic thinking, and teamwork. I also have coaching experience and currently coach at a volleyball club. I hope to help you develop your love for the game, one pass at a time!

I bring precise technical instruction, tactical insight and patient mentorship to every lesson, combining discipline with a genuine passion for the sport. I have taught tennis for several years, specializing in stroke mechanics, match strategy and player development with professionalism and warmth.

Russ is an experienced coach with over 25 years of leading athletes at the high school and youth levels. As a player, he spent two years competing in college after three standout years on his high school varsity team, where he helped capture a state championship and two league titles. His coaching career includes 25 years of high school varsity and JV football, as well as five years in Pop Warner. Currently, Russ brings his leadership and passion for the game to coaching high school boys flag football, where he continues to mentor and inspire student-athletes.

With five years of coaching experience and a background as a college-level player, I'm dedicated to helping students of all skill levels achieve their tennis goals. I bring passion, expertise, and an enjoyable learning environment to every lesson.

After playing for over 10 years, I've had many opportunities to coach youth all the way through high school. I've worked each summer as a coach for my local club, working alongside great coaching staff my whole life to coach the younger players. In high school, I ran my own clinics two years in a row for both men and women that led to the beginning of the Del Oro Lacrosse Team in Loomis, CA. As a defender, my coaching specialties include footwork, body positioning, stick skills, field vision, and defending from both the wings and from X. Our first session will focus early on understanding exactly which fundamental areas you need to focus on, then giving precise guidance in those areas. I focus on building a strong foundation, where players can perfect the basics so they can stack more advanced topics as they progress.

"Great teacher!

For six decades, I've had the privilege of sharing my passion for baseball. My coaching philosophy centers on building fundamental skills while fostering a lifelong love for the game. Let's work together to elevate your game! I played 4 years of D1college baseball . Currently coaching at a high school and a wood bat college summer team.

With 16 years of baseball instruction, I cultivate players' potential through personalized coaching. My passion is fostering skill development while ensuring a positive and enjoyable learning environment. Let's work together to elevate your game!