Our Approach

For those who like to rock…Welcome to the Garage Band Academy. Our purpose is simple: To provide an educational and stimulating environment to inspire musicians of all ages to pursue their dreams of performing the music they love. Our teaching strategy focuses upon the following:

• Learning the fundamentals of the instrument

• Learning to play the songs you love

• Learning to interact and network with other musicians and form, join, and play in bands

In addition to private instruction, the Academy provides seminars, workshops, clinics, band classes, and special performances where the students play onstage with fellow students, instructors, and professional guest musicians. Our students have performed at street festivals, fund raisers, music festivals, the Alameda County Fair, the Pleasanton Wine Stroll, and even get hired (that’s right…paid!) to perform at birthday parties.

Our dedicated staff is comprised of working musicians who are also experienced educators, and share a passion for the same music as our students. We are currently accepting students for guitar, drums, bass, vocals, and keyboards. Our studio is equipped with drum sets, keyboard, sound system, amplifiers…all set for you to plug in and play.

Our Staff

Hilary Pryde – voice, stage performance

Hilary’s strong musical background started while she was in elementary school, and then got her first taste of being a rock singer when asked to join a band for her high school talent show. She’s been fronting rock bands ever since, and is currently the lead singer for INK, a “Battle of the Bands” winner that performs regularly throughout Northern California. For the past 20 years, Hilary has been involved in a variety of recording projects, including television and voice-over sessions. In 2003, Hilary co-created a teaching program for elementary school children, and currently consults kids and young bands in preparation for school related stage musicals and talent shows. Along with great teaching tools, Hilary brings excitement and enthusiasm to the Garage Band Academy, with the goal of instilling confidence in her students so that singing and performing is a fun and rewarding experience.

Ryan Tapley – guitar, bass

A Livermore native, Ryan played the trumpet throughout his elementary and high school years. At the age of 16, he began teaching himself to play the guitar, and quickly started playing with other musicians and writing his own music. Ryan has been teaching guitar for the past 4 years, and enjoys playing and teaching a variety of styles including rock, funk, jazz, pop, and blues. Ryan has a considerable amount of experience writing, recording and performing with bands, most notably Punchface, the band he co-founded, and with whom, completed a tour of Japan.

Justin Sakogawa – guitar, bass

A self-taught guitarist who studied piano theory prior to learning guitar, Justin has been teaching locally for 5 years. Equipped with an AA degree in music, Justin specializes in rock, metal, and blues, and teaches all levels from beginner to advanced. For those looking to extend their range and knowledge of the fret board, Justin plays and teaches both 6 and 7 string guitars as well as 4 and 5 string bass. When he’s not teaching, you can find Justin fronting his hard-working metal band, Warscythe.

Marshall Warner –bass, keyboards

Marshall has been playing music since he was 6 years old, and started with classical piano.  A bit later he took up clarinet and electric bass.  Since the early 1980’s, Marshall has been consistently performing throughout the Bay Area in a variety of bands, playing styles such as blues, rock, country, and New Orleans roots/funk.  While Marshall considers bass his main instrument, he spends equal time performing on piano and organ. Along with a great understanding of the instruments he plays, Marshall brings passion for the music he makes, and a strong desire to share this with students of all ages.

Joe O’Loughlin – Headmaster, drums

Joe took 2 years of piano lessons beginning at the age of 8, and by the second year, the interest was lost, mainly due to the fact that he wasn’t playing any music that he liked. While growing up in a household filled with popular music, the next instrument Joe attempted was the guitar. Four lessons later, the rental guitar was returned for a pair of drum sticks and a practice pad. After 2 years of drum lessons and learning how to play to his favorite songs, Joe has been playing in bands ever since. To Joe, playing a musical instrument is one thing, but to play the music you love with like-minded musicians in a performance setting is second to none. Armed with a Master’s Degree in Education and a strong desire to make learning fun and relevant, Joe’s goal for the Garage Band Academy is to inspire confidence and creativity, as well as provide a means to where musicians of any age and ability can experience the joy of performing the music they love.