RKA President

Instruments taught:
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele

Focus
Metal, Jazz Fusion, Rock, Blues

Bands
Warscythe (2006-Present)
Vile (2013, 2023)
Kinnefret (2014-2015)
Hatriot (2015-2017)
Splattered (2015-Present)
From Hell (2016)
Defeated Sanity (2019-2022)

Justin Sakogawa is a Bay Area heavy metal guitarist that has been playing since 2003, teaching since 2005 and leading group band classes since 2009. He holds an AA Music degree from Las Positas College, appeared on 8 studio albums and has toured extensively across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

With nearly 2 decades of teaching experience, Justin will help you achieve and crush your musical goals. From breaking down complex music theory concepts to proper practice regiments, instrument care, recording etiquette and beyond, he is here to custom tailor an approach to music specifically for your learning style and needs. You'll see that if you have the drive and passion for music and guitar you'll actually never "practice" a day in your life but rather play every time!

RKA Vice President

Instruments Taught:
Drums, Ukulele

Focus
Metal - Rock

Bands
13 Thrones

Bio - Coming Soon

Private Music Lessons, Group Music Lessons, Group Art Lessons, and Homeschool Courses

Instruments Taught:
Piano, Voice, Kalimba, Ukulele, Guitar

Art Mediums Taught:
Pencil, Pen/Ink, Charcoal, Pastel, Acrylic Paints, Oil Paints, Mixed Media

Emily is an enthusiastic musician and visual artist with a passion for fostering creativity and community. She won several piano performance and music theory awards through Certificate of Merit, and also holds several awards from DPIE for her many art projects (one of which can be found displayed in a local library!) She went on to join multiple musical ensembles in college, performed in collaboration with several talented groups, and even traveled to sing in Carnegie Hall! She recently graduated with her B.A. in music, and has discovered a deep affinity for choral music. She is a proud member of ACDA, and has three years of choral conducting experience with grades TK-12th grade. No matter what your age or skill level, Emily is excited to help you grow as a musician, visual artist, or both!

A former homeschooler herself, Emily also hopes to offer a variety of courses to the homeschooling community of the Bay Area to encourage students in their love of the arts!

Instruments Taught:
Voice, Guitar, Ukulele

Focus
Jazz, Rock, Pop

Bands
The Mid Afternoons (2023 - Present)
Zen and Sarafin (2025 - Present)

James Perez is a vocalist, composer, educator and multi-instrumentalist from the San Francisco Bay Area. James has been teaching and performing for over 15 years, performing a multitude of musical styles ranging from Classical, Choral, Pop, Rock, Indie, and Jazz. He had received his education and Bachelors of Arts in Music (Vocal Performance) from Cal State East Bay, Hayward and Las Positas College in Livermore, under the tutelage of vocal instructors Christine Abraham, Ian Brekke, and Ash Walker.

With a strong focus on breaking down musical technique, complex music theory, and ear training, James plans and curates each lesson to help students be ready to be flexible and independent musicians. From the beginner musician to intermediate and advance folk, there is always something to be learned from a different perspective.

Instruments Taught:
Guitar / Ukulele

Focus
Classical

Anisa De Ramos is a Classical Guitarist from San Leandro California. Anisa has been playing guitar for 14 years. She started playing rock and metal music in middle school and in college picked up classical guitar. Anisa has received her music education from Chabot College and Cal State East Bay studying classical guitar under Richard Flores and Marc Tiecholz. 

Anisa also has experience teaching classical and acoustic guitar for several years. Teaching all age groups from kids, teens, and adults. As a teacher Anisa wants to teach her students proper classical and acoustic guitar technique while also having fun and playing music that her students look forward to learning and playing.

Instruments Taught:
Guitar

Focus
Metal, Rock

Bands
Deadringer

Grant is a dedicated guitar instructor who helps students with a passion for music unlock their talents in genres such as pop, metal, rock, punk, blues, and flamenco.

He employs a three-step method to guide students in mastering all the notes on the guitar, understanding essential chords and scales, and learning music theory and techniques to create original songs and perform their favorite tracks by their musical heroes.

Grant began teaching guitar to share the sense of freedom, love, and confidence that comes with being a skilled guitarist and educator. He finds fulfillment in watching his students forge new friendships, develop a stronger sense of identity and purpose, and achieve creative goals that bring them happiness and fulfillment. As a young musician, Grant was deeply inspired by rock music and aspired to be the quintessential "cool" guitarist in a rock band. He studied guitar under a mentor for 12 years, focusing on virtuoso rock and metal guitarists from the 1970s and 1980s, drawing inspiration from artists like Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, and Led Zeppelin. He quickly excelled and played in heavy metal bands throughout high school and college. Now more mature and less driven by youthful angst, Grant has expanded his expertise into flamenco guitar and currently performs in an Afro-Brazilian reggae band as well as a metal band called Deadringer.

Grant believes that music and education have no limits. He is passionate about inspiring students to believe in themselves, reach their creative goals, honor and connect with their culture through music and above all have fun.

Instruments Taught:
Drums

Focus
Latin Jazz

Bands
MALO
Prelude to Ruin

First generation Portuguese-American; Brian Camara has grown to be a very versatile, creative, and relentlessly slamming drummer. Born and raised in San Leandro, California, Brian picked up the drumsticks at age 13 which led to drum lessons at a local music store with pro drummer William Woodley for several years. At 16 years of age Brian was already playing with numerous punk and metal bands through out the SF Bay Area while remaining active in musical programs in high school such as marching band, winter percussion, and jazz band where he gained a lot of formal and classical training on drums and percussion. Upon high school graduation, Brian dove straight into the drum corp scene. He marched as a snare drummer for the San Jose State University drumline as well as the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets Drum and Bugle Corp where he solidified his rudimental chops and toured the states.

In 2009 Brian relocated to Los Angeles to attend PIT @ Musicians Institute where he became a much more well rounded, solid player. Mastering his craft on the drums, he studied with world class teachers: Jeff Bowders, Jason Harnell, Donny Gruendler, Andrew Megna, Gary Hess, Fred Dinkins, Ed Roscetti and Chuck Silverman. After successfully graduating with an AA degree from Musicians Institute, Brian scored a gig touring with one of LA’s finest rockabilly bands; The Rocketz. The tours consisted of a 6 week spring midwest tour and a long 10 week summer full U.S. tour, displaying his chops and showmanship nationwide to the masses.

Brian currently resides back home in the city of Oakland where he keeps a busy schedule teaching drum lessons and performing regularly with his main projects ABELsound; a funky/jazz trio, latin/reggae group the Ruckatan Latin Tribe, Jorge Santana, and many other groups/muscians through out the Bay Area and beyond.