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RKA
RKA Team
Lessons
Homeschool Courses
Group Classes
Guitar Setups
Sign Up
FAQ
Donate
RKA Team
Lessons
Homeschool Courses
Group Classes
Guitar Setups
Sign Up
FAQ
Donate
  • A long-haired guitarist with tattoos on his left arm playing a green electric guitar on stage during a live music concert.

    JUSTIN SAKOGAWA

    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!

  • ANDREW MIRANDA

    RKA Vice President

    Instruments Taught:
    Drums, Ukulele

    Focus
    Metal - Rock

    Bands
    13 Thrones

    Bio - Coming Soon

  • Emily Greco

    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!

  • James Perez

    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.

  • Anisa De Ramos

    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.

  • Grant Sherrod

    Instruments Taught:
    Guitar

    Focus
    Metal, Rock

    Bands
    Deadringer

    Bio - Coming Soon

  • Brian Camara

    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.

Rockin’ Kidz Academy

405 Boulder Ct Ste 500
Pleasanton, CA

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