Private Lessons
Private Lessons —Spring 2026
Whether your child is picking up an instrument for the first time or building on years of experience, Magnolia’s private lessons offer a warm, creative space to grow as a musician.
Our teachers meet each student where they are — blending solid technique with musical curiosity, confidence-building, and real skill development over time.
Ben Einstein is now enrolling for guitar, ukulele, and piano. Lessons begin the week of Feb 9.
Kat, Lillian, Sara Jayne, and Josh are currently fully booked for the spring semester. Summer registration opens April 17.
If you’d like to work with Kat, Sara Jayne, Lillian, or Josh, we’ll email you when summer spots open.
How Lessons Work
Lesson options: 30 or 45 minutes (weekly)
Instruments: Guitar, ukulele, voice, and piano
Ages: Typically 7+ (younger beginners may be considered on a case-by-case basis)
Location: Magnolia Music School — 3929 Grand Ave, Oakland
Lessons follow a semester calendar with a consistent weekly time slot. Tuition is based on the total number of scheduled lessons for your chosen day and time.
Private vs. Shared Lessons
Families can choose between private (1-on-1) lessons or shared lessons (2–3 students). Both formats are supportive and skill-building — the best fit depends on your child and what you’re looking for.
Private lessons are a great match for students who want a highly personalized pace, extra support with fundamentals, or a quieter setting to build confidence.
Shared lessons can be a great fit for siblings or friends — and they can be a more affordable way to learn while still getting lots of individual attention.
Want shared lessons but don’t have a partner? Totally fine — you can join solo, and we’ll do our best to create a match when a good fit becomes available.
You can read all about our teachers in the About section of our site.
Spring 2026 Lesson Calendar
Lessons follow a semester calendar with consistent weekly lesson times.
Semester dates: Week of January 5 – Friday, May 8, 2026
Makeup weeks: Weeks of May 12 and May 19 (reserved for make-ups and administrative wrap-up)
Planned breaks & holidays (no lessons):
• Monday, January 19 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Week of February 16 — Presidents’ Day week break
• Week of April 6 — Spring Break
Tuition is calculated based on the total number of scheduled lessons for each student’s chosen day and time.
New students enrolling with Ben: Lessons begin the week of Feb 9.
Our Teaching Team
Kat White
Founder of Magnolia Music School, Kat works with students to develop confidence, creativity, and expressive musicianship.
Kat’s private-lesson roster is currently full.
Guitar • Ukulele • Songwriting
Ben Einstein
Piano • Ukulele • GuitarNow enrolling (starting week of Feb 9)
Teaches: guitar, ukulele, beginner piano
Lesson lengths: 30 or 45 minutes
Lillian focuses on ease, curiosity, and confidence. She meets students where they are and creates a relaxed, encouraging space to explore technique and self-expression. Lillian teaches on Thursdays and Fridays.
Lillian’s private-lesson roster is currently full.
Piano, VoiceLillian Yee
Josh teaches with a focus on solid technique, musicality, and creativity—helping students connect their favorite songs to real skill growth. He teaches on Wednesdays.
Josh’s private-lesson roster is currently full.
Guitar, Ukulele, PianoJosh Icban
Sara Jayne McDonald
Ukulele, Cello, GuitarSara Jayne brings warmth, patience, and magic to her teaching, helping young students develop confidence through music. She has availability on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Sara Jayne’s private-lesson roster is currently full.
Pricing
Private lessons (1 student)
30 minutes: $75
45 minutes: $100
Shared lessons (2 students)
30 minutes: $100 total ($50 per student)
45 minutes: $130 total ($65 per student)
Shared lessons (3 students)
30 minutes: $135 total ($45 per student)
45 minutes: $165 total ($55 per student)
Current students will remain at their existing tuition rate through the end of the spring semester.
Tuition adjustments if a shared match is created
Students enroll and reserve a weekly lesson time through our system at the private lesson rate. If we’re able to confirm a shared lesson partner and convert the lesson to a shared format, we’ll adjust tuition going forward so future payments reflect the shared rate.
We’ll always confirm the schedule and the rate before making any change.
Interested in summer lessons?
To express interest and receive updates when registration opens, please complete our Private Lesson Interest Form. We’ll reach out with scheduling details and next steps as soon as new spots become available.
Attendance Policy
Please review our Attendance & Refund Policies for details about make-ups, cancellations, and illness guidelines.
Magnolia’s approach is simple and fair — we’re committed to clear communication and flexibility whenever possible.