Music Lessons
- Individualized lessons in guitar, piano, voice, ukulele, & violin/viola
- Technique, musicianship, note-reading, and ear training
- Play, improvisation, and composition from the very first lessons
- Programs tailored to the first three years of private music education, regardless of age: utilizing methods developed over my 20+ years of teaching experience, I help each student build the foundation for a personal, lifelong connection to music, feel safe to be creative, and discern their unique path forward
- Research-backed, holistic focus on play: The vast majority of my students practice because they want to: because music is fun
Pricing
- $50/30 min. lesson; $100/hour lesson.
- Sequoia Grove School students can access discounted pricing: $47/30 min. lesson; $55/45 min. lesson.
- Free consultations and resources between lessons and performance opportunities
- Most students make a commitment to one 30-minute lesson weekly
“Karlyn has been such a gift to my child and our family. My daughter has come so far with the piano since starting weekly lessons with Karlyn. She looks forward to her lesson every week. I believe this is because Karlyn meets her where she is emotionally and mentally each lesson and encourages her with warmth, creativity, and enthusiasm. Karlyn is so musically talented and I feel so blessed that my child has her as a role model and friend.”
Jess B.
Parent of 7-year-old piano student
Community Partnerships
Clarence Arts is a community partner or collaborator with the following schools and programs. Financial assistance for programs may be available accordingly:
Sequoia Grove Charter Schools (Feather River Charter School, Clarksville Charter School, Lake View Charter School)
San Rafael Community Education
Katherine Delmar Burke School
“Karlyn is amazing with our kids. Our 7-year-old and 6-year-old absolutely love Wednesdays because of piano lessons. Our 7-year-old has been taking lessons with Karlyn for a year now. She’s started reading music and loves making new music. Karlyn is patient, kind, and her love for music is clear when she’s teaching. We’ve been able to do all lessons remotely and it’s been going great. I would definitely recommend Karlyn.”
-Hellen G., parent of 6-year-old and 7-year-old piano students
Hellen G.
Parent of 6-year-old and 7-year-old piano students
About Karlyn
Karlyn Leo Clarence is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer, and educator. Her approach to music education is rooted in a belief that individual creativity is an empowering and healing force. Since the early 2000s she has taught music and other arts at a variety of public and independent schools, as a private music lessons teacher, and as a creator of specialized extracurricular programs. She is inspired by music’s capacity to build resilience and connection.
Karlyn studied viola performance at the University of Minnesota, North Indian classical viola and voice at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California; composition and modern improvisation on viola at Mills College, where she was a recipient of the presidential viola performance scholarship; and baroque viola performance at UC Berkeley, where she was the recipient of a research fellowship for her work on musicology and law. She currently performs, records, and tours with her own music and as a member of a variety of other musical projects.
Karlyn has extensive experience working in music with individuals with learning differences and trauma. She also has experience working in special education, working on crisis and warm lines, as a medical caregiver, and in community grief work, for which she also makes music.
“Karlyn is the best piano teacher in the world. She teaches songs nice and quickly but she isn’t rough or unkind. Karlyn is amazing, I love her.”
Maia S.
6-year-old piano student