Our Services

The RKA offers the following

-1 on 1 Lessons
-Group + Band Classes
-Live Concert Events
-Open Mic Nights
-Youth hang out nights
-Workshops
-Masterclass Clinics
-Fun-raisers and more!

*Most of the pictures you have seen are from when Justin worked at Pleasanton’s Garage Band Academy from 2009-2020. We all know and remember what happened in 2020 and the GBA did not survive. During those 11 years Justin gained the knowledge and experience to not only hone in and master his own teaching skills, but he trained and hired qualified staff to build a well rounded ‘dream team’ of instructors specializing in different styles to cover as many bases as possible.

If you’d like to help our cause join our rockin’ academy or donate today!

We offer familiy discounts and incentivized friend refferals

-50/50 referral deal: Refer a friend, when they sign up you BOTH get a $50 credit towards the next month’s tuition.

-Family discount: 10% off second students tuition, stackable for multiple family members. 

Professional Studio Equipment: An inspirational music environment conducive to learning should be more than just 2 chairs and a music stand…

+All new students recieve an RKA goody bag with a shirt, stickers and guitar picks! If you would like additional shirts we accept donations

-$50 one time enrollment fee

30m - $225/mo 
Good for: Beginners and self study students. It’s more like a weekly check in to see where you’re at and what to assign next.

60m - $450/mo (or 2x 30m lessons)
Good for: Students who would like more time to explore theory concepts in depth, such as chord construction/extensions, scales, modes, harmony, melody, etc take more time to elaborate on. Other advanced topics covered: tone, music history, gear and instrument care, music and band related business, writing and recording. Just as good as the 30m but more time to dive deeper.

90m - $625/mo (or 3x 30m lessons)(save $50)
Good for: Advanced students, gives more time to deep dive into all topics mentioned above. Definitely recommended for students traveling further distances. *Price break introduced at this offering. 

Online (via google meet)30m - $200/mo

Good for: Long distance Intermediate and advanced students to cover theory and technique. Playing over web cam has its benefits and limitations, thus the price discount.

-Tuition is annual, paid monthly for the months with 5 weeks AND when we off take holidays. (Every quarter there is a 5th additional week. You will get those additional 4 lessons included because we will take 4 weeks off for Spring (1), Thanksgiving (1) and Christmas (2) breaks.

$300/mo
Weekly 1hr Band class/rehearsals

Band + Lessons Package = (10% off band)
$225+$270= $495/mo

Tier 1 - Group Class
*0-4 Quarters of Group Experience
Musicians are grouped together to play cover songs. Age, instrument, experience and musical tastes are all taken into consideration.

Tier 2 - Band
*1-3 Years of Band Experience
With 1-3 years of group class experience, students who stick together at this point can choose an original band name and incorporate writing original compositions into the fold and professional level cover songs.

Tier 3 - Hometown Heroes
*3-5 Years of Experience
At this level, we can explore recording demos, booking local gigs, custom band logo and merch printing.

Band Program Graduates
The Late A.M.
CRYPT

-Backline Provided
-Setlist can grow to fit the bands interests
-We take age, instrument and skill level heavily into consideration so no one is ‘benched’ for maximum playtime and progress
-Bi annual performance gigs (summer/winter) Additional gig opportunities depending on band skill and readiness
-Pairing lessons with the band program is EXTREMELY RECOMMENDED to ensure progress for the sake of the group
-Min 2 band members to get started (Metallica started with just Lars and James jamming. You're not better or more special than Metallica or 99% of how every bands start)
-Have an attitude of gratitude - ask not only what the band program can do for you, but what you can do to help make it the best experience for all band members involved!

Here it is, the ‘secrets’ section. This is a systematic overview of the building blocks of music theory. Unfortunately some music teachers don’t actually know this stuff either. It doesn’t make them a bad person or a bad player for that matter, but it does mean they are a novice teacher. In martial arts you spend years getting to black belt lvl 1 and that is considered beginning of your journey, everything leading up to that is the fundamentals. By getting down your chords and scales, it might seem advanced but that is just learning your ABC’s. And if a teacher never covers theory or worse doesn’t know it, you’re just stuck learning tabs and songs at the 1st grade level.

Major + Minor Chords
-Open Chords
-Barre Chords
-CAGED system/Inversions
-Chord Extensions (Maj7, Min7, dominant7)
-Arpeggios/sweeps

Natural Major + Minor Scales

-Modes: (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian)
-Pentatonic
-Harmonic Minor
-Half whole diminished
-Exotic Scales

-Reading music notation
-Harmony/melody
-Articulation/tone
-Gear/equipment care and maintenance
-Versatility in styles: Blues, rock, jazz, fusion, metal, classical, flamenco, country, pop
-Song composition
-Music history

*INSTILLING DISCIPLINE*

ACH bank transfer preffered

Credit/Debit cards (+3% monthly processing fee)

*Fill out billing information in your TeacherZone account

There are no make ups for cancellations the day of/no-shows.

Please give as much notice as possible when you’ll be gone. If you give enough notice we can most likely get the make up time scheduled. 

If you miss a lesson you have a few options

-Choose another day/time that works to get the make up in (depending upon teacher availability)
-We can divide the lesson time and add it onto future lessons
-Bring in your instrument for a restring and light cleaning (bring your preferred strings)

If you’re gone for 2-4 weeks
-We will double up your lesson times and/or days until you’re caught up (there is always something to learn, not just practicing songs)
-We can do a full set up on your guitar ($100 value: Tuning, neck relief, action, intonation, cleaning, etc.)

If a teacher is gone
-We’ll open up whatever make up time needs to happen

-Tuition is annual, paid monthly for the months with 5 weeks AND when we off take holidays. (Every quarter there is a 5th additional week. You will get those additional 4 lessons included because we will take 4 weeks off for Spring (1), Thanksgiving (1) and Christmas (2) breaks. (yes this is in here twice).