Kathleen Saffas
School Director/Voice & Piano Instructor
Contact directly at: kathy@bwschoolofmusic.com

Having been raised by parents who were both music teachers and performers, Kathleen's life from the very beginning has revolved around the performing arts. Piano and dance lessons were started at the age of 6, then 8 years of Oboe lessons followed. Literally...she has been performing on stage for 48 years in a wide variety of musical and dance activities.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from East Bay CA State University in 1979. Not one to stop learning, she went on to study opera for 8 years with the world reknown opera coach and conductor Dietrich Erbelding. Then came other advanced educational workshops: The Estill Voice Training System, a highly successful and quick method that shortened the learning curve from 4 years to 4 months for most students. If you want to learn how to belt without growing nodes on your vocal chords, sing your low notes as loud as your high notes, sing all the way up to the whistle range, and change the color of your voice to match whatever style of song you are singing at the moment, Kathy has over 30 years of teaching experience and a huge bag of tricks to get you there FAST!

She also spends time in researching the latest piano teaching methods so as to stay current with new and improved ways to teach this beautiful instrument.

Last but not least...Kathleen is a people person. She loves teaching so much that when she is in a lesson she is as happy as a thoroughbred on a race track. Loves working with children, teens, adults, and seniors.

Wendy Porter
Piano & Voice Instructor

Miss Wendy Porter is one of our many dedicated music instructors. She studied private piano for 16 years with composer and pianist Alexis Howe of San Francisco. Along with her piano she has had 6 years of private vocal training with Kathy Saffas as well as opera training from Dietrich Erbelding. She received her Bachelor of Arts in 2003 from East Bay California State University. Wendy can sing any style of music, but if you are interested in pursuing R&B she is one of your better choices. Her proficiency in piano as a vocal teacher gives her an undesputable advantage for being a top rate teacher. She is also very patient and kind by nature, so anyone taking from her will enjoy this lovely lady of the arts. When she isn't teaching or doing volunteer work, she freelances as a portrait and wedding photographer and graphic arts designer.
http://mirasolphotography.com

Melissa Nering
Piano Instructor

Melissa currently teaches private piano lessons in various locations throughout the East Bay as well as at Better World School of Music. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree minoring in music from California State University East Bay in Hayward. Melissa specializes in teaching beginning through intermediate level students from as early as four years old through adulthood.

As a classical trained pianist, she helps her students establish good practicing habits to improve their overall experience at the piano. She incorporates music theory, technique, ear training, as well as sight reading into each lesson, building a strong, musical foundation in each of her students.

Melissa has a kind and patient personality helping her students feel immediately at ease. She desires to motivate each student to reach their highest potential and enjoy making music throughout their lives.

David Arzo
Voice & Piano Instructor

Improve your voice and musicianship with lessons from an active musician who's experienced in the industry. David Arzo graduated with an Associate's Degree in Vocal Performance and a minor in Music Business from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. He has been singing for 15 years and is an active musician who writes, performs, and produces around the nation. He was trained in speech-level singing with Dave Stroud, Jazz Vocal and Improvisation with Mike Campbell (named one of the best 500 Jazz singers of all time), and Brazilian Jazz with Grammy Award Winner Carol “Mama O” Rogers. He’s proficient in all genres and styles but his expertise lies in contemporary music.

Some of the important things he'll work on for vocalists is: Breathing, Cold Spot, Diaphragm work, Diction, Vowel Placement, Proper Consonants, Tongue Placement, Jaw positions, Vibrato, Tone, Power, Resonance and many, many more techniques to help get you to properly improve your voice. He is also proficient at piano, guitar, bass, studio engineering, and Do-It-Yourself promotion. So whether you want to improve your voice, learn piano, brush up on theory, up your stage presence, or some tips on getting your band going, he can do it all.

David has shared the stage with Grammy winners, legendary musicians, teachers and students from Choral to Rock to R&B. He loves teaching students of all ages and abilities and believes in the joy that music brings and will always keep that at the forefront of his teaching method. You’ll learn and enjoy doing it, that’s what its ALL ABOUT!

Christopher Nicholas
Piano & Voice Instructor

Christopher will offer a very encouraging and open atmosphere for students of all ages wanting to learn how to sing. In his private instruction, you will learn the fundamentals of singing, such as: posture, correct keys, breath support, technical vocal exercises, phrasing, ear training fundamentals & more! In addition, you will also learn the emotional commitment towards lyrics and overcoming stage fright. Whether you sing pop, R&B, or love to improvise in the vocal jazz idiom, Mr. Nicholas can help.

He is also an accomplished songwriter. With a B.M in Songwriting & Performance (voice) from Berklee College of Music, Christopher will teach you how to: brainstorm for lyrics, get “un-stuck” if “stuck” in a song, melodic writing, & more. In addition, you’ll learn how to write basic introductions and endings for a more polished sounding performance!

Christopher holds a B.M from Berklee College of Music in Songwriting & Performance (for voice); in which he received the Berklee Achievement Scholarship for academic and vocal excellence. In addition, Nicholas received the Patsy C. & Fred W. Patterson College of Music Scholarship to the University of North Texas, where he received a M.M in Jazz Studies (related field in Music Ed.) He was a featured soloist on the album “In Case you Missed it” with the U.N.T Jazz Singers directed by Paris Rutherford, and his original song, “ I Write These Words” is being published by legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal.