Bess Hepner's Music School

Bess Hepner's Music School

5.0Exceptional(7 reviews)
Top Pro
Offers online services
Top Pro
Offers online services

About

What makes me a unique teacher:

I see myself as a teacher before a musician. I have a lot of experience teaching in a variety of contexts, from babies to teens to adults.

I am super organized. I use approachable visuals and charts for guitar and ukulele. For guitar, I use Susan Palmer's method books to structure lessons.

I love working with kids and adults. I have lots of fun games for kids, and I make sure to teach them the same fundamentals as adults (in an age-appropriate way)

I’ve taught group lessons, private lessons, and summer camps at 2 music schools and privately since 2019.

Reviews:

"Working with Bess is incredible. She is patient, thorough, encouraging, and dedicated. I could see steady and tangible improvement from working with her, and gained a much better understanding of the guitar as an instrument!" - Aly, adult student

“Bess is lovely and her ability to engage over a computer screen is a skill that not everyone has.” -anonymous student

If you’re willing to put a fair amount of effort into this, you can expect to learn a lot! I have a lot of experience working with all ages and love to approach learning as a shared experience- I am excited to learn alongside you! In addition to music making, I teach basic history of instruments, genres, songs, and musical styles to the best of my ability in order to decolonize private lessons, which is always a work in process (for more info: https://decolonizingthemusicroom.com/) I aim to bring gender empowerment, high self esteem, and positive reinforcement to all my lessons.


Highlights

Current Top Pro
Hired 4 times
5 years in business
Serves Albany , CA
Offers online services

Social media


Specialties

Musical styles

Rock, Country, Blues, Jazz, Folk, Classical, Recommendations available

Guitar style

Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Ukulele, Recommendations available

Has instrument

Student who have a guitar, Student who don't have a guitar, but are planning to purchase one

Years experience

No formal training, No formal training; some self-taught experience, 0 – 2 years experience, 2 – 4 years experience, 4+ years of experience

Able to read music

Students who can read music staff, Students who can read guitar tabs, Students who cannot read music

Lesson length

30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes

Student's age

Under 5 years old, 5 – 10 years old, 11 – 13 years old, 14 – 18 years old, 19 – 25 years old, 26 – 45 years old, 46 – 65 years old, Over 65 years old

Reviews

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Julie J.

Bess is an incredible teacher! She makes lessons fun and engaging, but also knows how to tailor it to exactly what is needed by each participant. She is working with my friend and I, each at different levels, and manages to create lessons that are exciting and fulfilling for both of us.
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January 18, 2022

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Maria G.

Guitar lessons with Bess have been so worth it for me because she teaches not only the basics of guitar, but she also teaches music theory, something I have never been exposed to in the past. She encourages me when I am doing something well and she also corrects me if I still need to work on something. I dont think I would have been able to learn guitar on my own without Besss help!
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January 11, 2022

AD

Annie D.

Bess is a very patient and talented teacher. Her lessons are well paced and she clearly has a deep knowledge of music theory and how to teach any beginner. I’ve really enjoyed learning guitar with Bess!
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January 04, 2022

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Sarah H.

Bess is such a wonderful teacher and I would highly recommend her to anyone interested in learning guitar. I have been her student for almost two years now, starting from absolute zero to now understanding more music theory and playing things I never thought I’d be able to! She is very knowledgeable but also easy going and fun :) She does a great job of finding the right way to challenge me and to design my lessons for what I want to learn. Thank you Bess!
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January 03, 2022

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Bob W.

She’s giving me instructions and practice that match my skills and goals. She’s a terrific teacher with who I have enjoyed working
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September 29, 2021
Hired on Lessons

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Kat

Bess is lovely and her ability to engage over a computer screen is a skill that not everyone has.
... Show more
August 12, 2021

Frequently asked questions

Guitar: (beginner-advanced)

I teach all students open chords and barre chords, scales, music theory basics, soloing and improv, finger picking, reading tablature and sheet music, and the following genres based on your interest: classical, folk/fingerstyle/blues fingerpicking, rock, jazz, punk, funk, rhythm, songwriting and more. 

Ukulele: (beginner-intermediate)

I teach all students open chords and barre chords, scales, music theory basics, soloing and improv, fingerstyle, reading tablature and sheet music. For younger players (ages 4-9) I incorporate creative games and activities.

Voice: (beginner)

I teach all students the same fundamentals: warm ups, breathing exercises, elongating vowels, head voice and chest voice, rhythm, and ear training. Lessons are tailored to songs and genres students want to learn (not including opera or musical theater). 

Songwriting:

I usually teach songwriting along with another instrument or two. This is very open ended and based on students’ individual creative process.

  1. Bess started playing guitar at age 8 and has been performing since age 12. From age 15 to age 20, Bess played in the Western Massachusetts-based band Who’da Funk It?, a dance band that encompassed punk, funk, ska, afrobeat, soul, RnB, hip-hop, jazz, blues, rock, klezmer, bossa nova, etc. She studied classical guitar at Smith College with Phillip De Fremery 2012-2016. In 2016 Bess moved to Seattle and began pursuing her solo project bess hepner, as well as other music projects (she website for more information). She is currently based in the East Bay in California. 

  2. She has taught group lessons, private lessons, and summer camps at 2 music schools and privately since 2019.

Private/group lesson: $37 half hour; $50 for 45 minutes; $65 full hour

additional $20 if in home lesson

I have been teaching in many different conexts since 2012. I've worked as a preschool teacher, led workshops for teens, and ran an afterschool program. Looking for a career change, I knew I loved to teach, so I decided to pursue teaching music. I am unique from other teachers because I approach lessons first as a teacher and second as a musician.

I have worked with students of all ages: 4 to 99. I love working with very little kids, teens, and adults.

Consider what your goals are. Do you want to do this as a fun hobby? Are you looking to be a professional musician? Do you want to hire a teacher who can keep your little one engaged and entertained?


Services offered

Guitar
Singing
Music Theory