TeVelde School Of Music

Lessons Offered

Where are Lessons Offered

About Me

TeVelde Music has TWO locations:

Arroyo Grande Campus:
624 E. Grand Avenue
(contact me)

-and-

San Luis Obispo Campus:
3440 S. Higuera St., Ste. 110
(contact me)

Our students learn to play faster, enjoy lessons more, and stick with their instrument longer. This is because our students WANT to come to their lessons. We listen to you, and custom-tailor each lesson to your individual learning style and personality. Our students are playing right from the start while being taught everything they need to know to enjoy a lifetime of music.

Seven Signs of Musical Talent: 1) Listens to a song over & over 2) Constantly sings/hums 3) Loves to Perform or Record 4) Gets songs "stuck" in their head 5) Taps fingers on surfaces/Dances/Moves to music 6) Asks for lessons 7) Has close relatives who are "musical". If you see three or more of these qualities, musical talent is present.

*All Ages (2 & Up), All Instruments
*Family & after school scheduling
*Teachers are highly trained and specialize in all types of learning:

1) Intro to Music (2-4 yrs)
2) Beg-Adv Lessons for Youth (5-12 yrs)
3) Beg-Adv Lessons for Teens (13-17 yrs)
4) Beg-Adv Lessons for Adults (18-54 yrs)
5) Older Adult Learning (55 and over)
6) Music Therapy for ADD, ADHD, Autism, TBI, and other learning & physical disabilities.
7) Music Therapy for the elderly and handicapped.

We are wheelchair accessible.

Our teachers stand apart through their commitment to give each student a unique opportunity to experience the amazing effects that come with taking music lessons. Students come away with top-notch musical training, as well as increased confidence and self-esteem, enhanced brain and body function, and a greater appreciation for something we can all connect with - music.

We go through an exhausting screening process to find and train teachers who are musicians, not musicians who want to "teach" on the side. We also have Music Therapists on staff for working with children and adults that have learning disabilities and special needs.

All this is a testament to our mission here at teVelde Music, Inc. We use music to spread joy. Come have fun with us!

Mission Statement:

To help each student develop their unique musical talents in a way that motivates them to achieve their highest goals. We want our students to love music!
To make sure each student connects with their teacher, and have the most positive learning experience possible.
To make sure our teachers love to teach every student they are given!
To make sure that our students love to learn music from the first time they have a lesson at our school!
To insure that every teacher and every student has the support they need to achieve personal excellence!
To provide opportunities for brain development at every stage of life!
To teach teachers and students the process of setting and achieving goals.
To teach parents and teachers about the benefits of starting lessons as young as possible.
To teach parents how to support their children effectively at home.
To teach teachers how to help their students develop Perfect Absolute Pitch (AP).
To make the best musical education affordable.

Perfect Absolute Pitch: Our Greatest Mission

We consider our greatest contribution to every student and potential musician is the opportunity to work with us develop perfect absolute pitch (AP), or relative pitch recognition in every student. teVelde Music, Inc. specializes in helping students learn to hear "in color". It has long been thought that AP can only be taught before the age of 6, otherwise the ability is lost forever. We are breaking new ground by being able to teach AP to students of ANY AGE! Our teachers specialize in developing this ability in all of our students.

My Musical Education Background

Our teachers have degrees ranging from: Sonoma State University - Piano Performance USC - Music Composition for Film Stanford - Cello Performance Chapman College - Vocal & Piano Performance Music Theory Berkelee School of Music - Guitar and Composition Guitar Institute - Jazz Guitar, Theory, Scoring Hancock College - recording engineering 50+ Cumulative years of private music study on 20 different instruments and Voice Our Teachers play in the SLO Symphony, and in many other orchestras, bands, and vocal ensembles. We have drama/acting specialists for vocal training, and singer/songwriters to teach vocal and instrumental development for young new artists. We will listen to what your goals are, and do our best to get you where YOU want to be with music!

Genres and Subjects Taught

1) Intro to Music (2-4 yrs)
2) Beg-Adv Lessons for Youth (5-12 yrs)
3) Beg-Adv Lessons for Teens (13-17 yrs)
4) Beg-Adv Lessons for Adults (18-54 yrs)
5) Older Adult Learning (55 and over)
6) Music Therapy for ADD, ADHD, Autism, TBI, and other learning & physical disabilities.
7) Music Therapy for the elderly and handicapped.

Lesson Rates

Private Lessons by Appointment:

30 min lesson, Certified teVelde Level 1 Teacher: $30
Beginning to Intermediate Level Students, Ages 2-Adult

30 min lesson, Certified teVelde Level 2 Teacher: $35
Intermediate to Advanced Level Students, Ages 8-Adult

30 min lesson, Certified teVelde Level 3 Teacher: $40
Advanced Level Students, Ages 14-Adult

Music Lessons for Students with Disabilities*:
30 min lesson, Certified Level 4 Teacher: $50-80

* Partial Scholarships may be available

Ages / Skill Levels Taught

We start private lessons at age 2 1/2-5, depending on the student. Please see our website for the signs of musical talent in preschool aged children. We teach private lessons for ages 2-18, 19-90. We have several summer camps that focus on ages 9-14: "School of Rock" Summer Camp, "Singer/Songwriter" Summer Camp, and "Advanced School of Rock/Jazz" Summer Camp. See our website for details.

My Certifications and Awards

National Guild of Piano Teachers "Excellence in Teaching Honor Roll" for 10 consecutive years.

International Conservatory of Music Educators, "Honor Roll for Excellence in Teaching", 2011 and 2012. Award given to both the SLO location and the AG location of the teVelde School of Music.


Founding member of the International Conservatory of Music Educators.

My Musical Influences

Our influences range from classically trained musicians to current country, pop, classic rock, jazz, theater, folk, or singer/songwriters. Our teacher's interests are as varied as our teachers. Many of our teachers are members of local symphonies, ensembles, rock and/or alternative bands, or are performing solo musicians and recording artists. We use ipads in our classrooms to show students performances of the top artists in the genre that they want to play so they can study successful techniques for each instrument.

Service Area

Jean
Arroyo Grande, CA

My almost 4 year old son has been taking the Preschool Lessons (Intro to Music) from Sierra at teVelde School of Music, and we both couldn't be happier. Sierra is a wonderful teacher, and incorporates her understanding of children, their attention spans, and need for movement, into every lesson. I appreciate Bonnie's philosophy on teaching music, and am very supportive about my son learning Perfect Absolute Pitch. It is an incredible and unique opportunity, and we plan to continue taking lessons for many years to come.

Miriam M
Arroyo Grande, CA

Our two children, 4 and 6 year old, have been taking piano lessons at the TeVelde School of Music for almost a year. And they love their teacher – Sierra – who is absolutely amazing! She is always positive, friendly and encouraging. She is enthusiastic about music in general but also about every little improvements the kids make. The perfect pitch is being taught in a wonderful way! They kids are able to distinguish notes by imagining colors! The TeVelde School is a wonderful place to experience music. We are so happy to have found it!

Lydia
Atascadero, CA

My 9 yr old son takes piano at TeVelde and we love it! Bonnie respects a child's music learning style and makes sure each child is with teacher who is best paired with them. She does not force the students to conform to a teacher's style but instead each one learns in the way they learn the best. This is a true gift in a teacher and very hard to do. The fact that this is important to the teachers at TeVelde says a lot for what their goal is. I so appreciate that she understands that different kids learn in different ways and that if you force them in a way that doesn't click with them that the enthusiasm can be extinguished. I think that's why all the students at TeVelde seem so excited and positive about what they are learning. It's not always easy for them but they are very motivated. Bonnie has a way of making each kid feel like they are the best most promising student in the school and they in turn work so hard to prove her right!

David
Grover Beach, CA

We have 2 girls ages 3 and 5 and have been taking lessons for about one and a half years. Bonnie is a genius. Perfect pitch is amazing. I always assumed you had to be born with it. Now, I think I have 2 girls who have it, all thanks to Bonnie. Even if they don't persue a musical path in life they will always have this gift to use and enjoy!

Becca
San Luis Obsipo, CA

I love talking with Bonnie! As a music teacher myself, I completely appreciate her enthusiasm towards learning and teaching, and her commitment to giving the best to her teachers and students. She has great ideas. Her understanding of how the brains learns best, of why all students should be given opportunities to learn perfect absolute pitch, and techniques on teaching that jump start mastering a piece are all reasons to enroll at teVelde School of Music. I am a fan!

Nanci N
Nipomo, CA

My 7-year old daughter has been taking lessons at TeVelde for several months now. When it appeared that she was losing interest and not wanting to 'practice', Bonnie was quick to help, and found a teacher she was better matched with. Now we have to tell her to stop practicing, to do her homework or go to bed. She LOVES playing the piano, and adores her teacher, Sierra. Sierra is patient with my daughter's chattering, and allows her to help pick the music she plays. It is so obvious that Sierra loves her job, and that makes a big difference in how one teaches. We love TeVelde, and look forward to enrolling our other children in it as well.

Amber
Cummings, CA

My daughter has only been a student at TeVelde for 2 months now and we are so excited to see the quality of instruction and the enthusiasm and love for music that has become a part of our daughters life through her lessons! She has fallen in love with her teacher, Holly and looks forward to each and every lesson. Thank you!!

Ynana Z
San Luis Obispo, CA

My son Luca (age 11) has studied with Bonnie TeVelde at this music school, then located in Arroyo Grande, for 6 years. With as much as I love burning fossil fuels and car time in general, I have thought of finding something more local for my children's music education many times. However, Bonnie and the teachers that she hires are simply the best. Luca learns piano, drums, and sight reading in the same class. He learns that music is fun, interesting and within his capabilities -- one of those "secrets of the universe." He truly grows in self esteem with every lesson. And now, an additional TeVelde School of Music has opened in San Luis Obispo!

Margo
Orcutt, CA

My children are 3 and 5 and have been taking lessons for 18 months. My oldest had lessons in our prior state on the east coast and after moving here, it took me months to find a teacher who would be a great fit for the ages of my children. teVelde has been more than a blessing to my family. I am amazed by the director and teachers who have a heart for young people as well as the skill set of both music and early childhood education to work with such young children. I have learned valuable lessons through watching the teachers with my children… the different ways they learn and receive information, their talents and interests being brought out and developed and the increase of their love for the art of music. Thank you Bonnie and Sierra for being part of my “village” in developing a great learning environment for my children.

Markell
Arroto Grande, CA

My eight year old son has been taking piano and drum lessons at teVelde Music for 10 months. Bonnie runs a wonderful school and instructors like Sierra, JJ and Dean make it special. I am astonished at the music my son is able to make after such a short period of time. Bonnie is an expert at finding the right instructor for each student. The School of Rock summer camp was the highlight of our summer. Our son is turning into a musician before our very eyes!