Take Lessons
at McCabe’s

Private lessons, group classes, and working musicians who meet students where they are. Beginners, kids, returning players, and lifers welcome. And yes, Bob Dylan did take lessons here. We take no responsibility.

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Private Lessons

Private Lessons

One-on-one instruction with independent teachers at McCabe’s. Guitar, voice, piano, violin, ukulele, banjo, harmonica, and more.

Lessons for Kids & Teens

Kids & Teens

A friendly place to begin. Some teachers specialize in younger students, and others welcome students across ages and levels.

Group Lessons

Group Lessons

Small group classes when available, including beginner-friendly guitar courses and focused skill-building workshops.

Ask the Music School

Not Sure Yet?

Tell us a little about the student, the instrument, and what you’re hoping to learn. We’ll help point you in the right direction.

How Lessons Work

1

Choose a teacher or instrument

Browse by instrument below, or start with the Music School if you’re not sure where to begin.

2

Contact the teacher directly

Private lessons are scheduled directly with the instructor. Rates, availability, and lesson fit may vary by teacher.

3

Come take your lesson

Lessons are taught here at the shop — the same place people come to buy, repair, hear, and talk about instruments every day.

Head of McCabe's Music School, Jimi Cabeza de Vaca

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca helps keep McCabe’s Music School pointed in the right direction.

Questions about lessons? Start with Jimi.

If you’re a student or parent trying to find the right teacher, instrument, or lesson path, Jimi can help.

Musicians interested in teaching independently at McCabe’s may contact Jimi as well.

Ask Jimi Interested in Teaching?

Current Group Lessons

Small classes, real connections, and a supportive place to learn together at McCabe’s.

View All Classes

Total Beginning Guitar

Saturdays, July 18–August 8
2:45–3:45 p.m.
Teacher: Jimi Cabeza de Vaca
$220

Designed for students with no prior guitar experience. Build a solid foundation: technique, basic chords, chord boxes and charts, and how to find songs to practice on your own.

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Fingerstyle guitar closeup

Intro to Fingerstyle Guitar

Sundays, July 19–August 9
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Teacher: Jimi Cabeza de Vaca
$220

Develop independent right-hand control, explore fingerstyle approaches, and learn to play bass lines and melodies simultaneously. Designed for students with basic chord knowledge.

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learning to play ukulele

Beginning Ukulele

Saturdays, August 15–September 5
2:45–3:45 p.m.
Teacher: Jimi Cabeza de Vaca
$220

Learn to play the ukulele in this fun and relaxed four-week class! Perfect for beginners, this one-hour course introduces the basics of the instrument through hands-on instruction and group playing. Students will learn essential chords, strumming patterns, and songs while building a solid foundation to continue exploring the ukulele. No prior musical experience is required.

COMING SOON

Beginning 5-String Banjo

Saturdays, August 8–29
4:00–5:00 p.m.
Teacher: Jimi Cabeza de Vaca
$220

Discover the unique sound and traditions of the 5-string banjo in this four-week beginner course. Each one-hour class introduces the fundamentals of the instrument while exploring both bluegrass Scruggs-style picking and old-time clawhammer playing. Through a mix of technique, rhythm, and simple songs, students will build a strong foundation for continued learning. No prior musical experience is necessary.

COMING SOON

Private Lesson Teachers

Browse teachers by instrument. Click a teacher’s bio to learn more, or contact them directly to ask about rates, availability, and lesson fit.

Guitar

Choose from McCabe’s guitar teachers below, or ask Jimi if you’re not sure where to begin.

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca, Head of McCabe's Music School

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca

Guitar • Piano • Accordion • Ukulele • Songwriting

Welcomes beginners, kids, and experienced players alike.

Classical, finger style, rock, fretboard theory, music theory

B.A. from UCLA in ethnomusicology

M.F.A. from CalArts in guitar

Also available to teach accordion and piano

Rubén Rojas, guitar, voice, and piano teacher at McCabe's

Rubén Rojas

Guitar · Voice · Piano

Welcomes students of all ages and levels, especially beginners.

Rubén teaches guitar students of all ages and levels, with a special welcome for beginners. His musical background includes Classical, R&B, Jazz, Fingerstyle, Blues, Rock, Folk, music theory, and guitar improvisation.

He also teaches voice at all levels, as well as beginning-to-intermediate piano.

Rubén holds a B.A. from UCLA in Music Industry and History and is a graduate of the Applied Music Program at Santa Monica College.

Paula McMath, kids guitar teacher at McCabe's

Paula McMath

Guitar

Specializes in teaching guitar to children.

Paula McMath specializes in teaching guitar to children. She believes in allowing a student’s interest to drive material selection, and she strives to help kids “feel” music as well as hear and see it.

Her teaching emphasizes fingerboard knowledge, music notation, chord vocabulary, fingerpicking, right-hand rhythm techniques, scales, scale-tone chords, and songwriting.

Paula also brings extensive training and experience in ORFF Schulwerk, a music-teaching approach that uses singing, speech, movement, body percussion, and small pitched and unpitched percussion instruments.

In addition to teaching, Paula works professionally as a singer, guitarist, and songwriter in the Los Angeles area and in her native Canada.

Pete Snell, improv and theory teacher at McCabe's

Pete Snell

Guitar

Specializes in theory and improvisation for blues, jazz, pop, and rock.

Pete Snell specializes in theory and improvisation for blues, jazz, pop, and rock.

In the early 1980s, he played jazz guitar in New York while studying composition at the Manhattan School of Music.

After moving to Los Angeles, Pete landed a recording deal with Capitol Records, where he wrote and produced two albums for the band In Vitro.

He joined Lyle Lovett in 1990 and has since toured with Bonnie Raitt, Sam Phillips, Rickie Lee Jones, Lou Reed, John Denver, and many others, while also playing session work for television and film.

Kit Alderson, folk and country guitar and autoharp teacher at McCabe's

Kit Alderson

Guitar • Autoharp

Teaches folk and country-related styles, with an emphasis on fingerstyle singer-songwriter music.

Kit Alderson teaches primarily folk and country-related guitar styles, with a particular emphasis on fingerstyle singer-songwriter music.

He works with beginning through intermediate students ages 16 and older. Kit does not teach electric guitar.

He can also transcribe songs for fingerstyle guitar and has built a catalog of thousands of transcriptions.

Tom Zehnder guitar teacher at McCabe's

Tom Zehnder

Guitar · Voice · Songwriting

Teaches songwriting, voice, and guitar to students at all levels, sometimes all three in one lesson.

Tom Zehnder enjoys working with students at all levels. Drawing on decades of experience in composing, songwriting, and producing original scores and songs for video games, television, and film, Tom teaches songwriting, voice, and guitar, sometimes combining all three in a single lesson.

He also performs regularly with several bands.

Tom earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music composition from UCLA, graduating summa cum laude. He grew up making music in the living room with his father, the late John Zehnder, who encouraged the whole family to sing and play by ear together. Most importantly, it was fun.

Vicki Hill singing and guitar for children and adults at McCabe's

Vicki Hill

Guitar · Voice

Offers beginning guitar, music theory, note reading, and singing for children and adults.

Vicki Hill teaches beginning guitar to children and adults. She also offers instruction in music theory, note reading, and singing.

Vicki has taught at McCabe’s for more than 20 years. She is a singer-songwriter with performance and recording experience both as a solo artist and with bands.

She also plays banjo.

Zach Lupetin, songwriting and guitar teacher at McCabe's

Zach Lupetin

Guitar · Songwriting

Offers guitar instruction and helps aspiring songwriters of all ages develop and prepare original work for performance.

Zach Lupetin is an award-winning songwriter and the founder and bandleader of the roots-rock group Dustbowl Revival. Formed after Zach posted a hopeful Craigslist ad in Venice Beach, the band has toured in more than ten countries and accumulated more than 20 million streams.

Zach’s songs range from harmony-rich folk ballads and politically charged blues to soul, funk, and Beatles-inspired rock and roll. His collaborations include Keb’ Mo’, The Secret Sisters, and Ivan Neville.

Since 2020, Zach has worked with aspiring songwriters of all ages, helping them develop, complete, and prepare their original work for performance. His years of writing, recording, collaborating, and touring with large ensembles give him a broad well of practical music-making experience.

Zach came to Los Angeles by way of Chicago and the University of Michigan, initially intending to pursue playwriting and screenwriting. In 2018, he launched the music-interview podcast The Show on the Road, through which he has interviewed more than 200 artists and bands.

He also hosts Sway Out West on 88.5 FM, The SoCal Sound.

Steve Rose, guitar and ukulele teacher at McCabe's

Steve Rose

Guitar • Ukulele

Steve brings vintage jazz, rich chord work, and a playful, song-first approach to guitar lessons for students at all levels.

Steve Rose is a singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and longtime McCabe’s teacher.

Whether a student wants to strum songs, build a richer chord vocabulary, develop solo arrangements, or explore the ukulele beyond the usual three-chord repertoire, lessons are shaped around the student’s interests.

Major fun remains part of the curriculum.

Evan apRoberts experienced lap steel and slide guitar teacher at McCabe's

Evan apRoberts

Slide Guitar • Lap Steel • Mandolin

Touring and studio guitarist with more than 30 years’ experience in guitar, slide guitar, and lap steel.

Evan apRoberts is a musician, visual artist, and songwriter from Northeast Los Angeles who has been active in the Los Angeles music scene since the mid-1990s. He records his own music under the name Breezers and has toured and performed as a sideman with artists including Michael Nau, Pink Mountaintops, Joel Jerome, Little Wings, Kath Bloom, and Port O’Brien.

With more than 30 years of experience as a guitarist, slide guitarist, lap steel and mandolin player, Evan brings an unusually broad creative background to his teaching. His path through the arts has been unconventional from the start, and his irrepressible optimism and adaptable approach make him a natural fit for students of any age or skill level.

Voice

Whether you’re finding your voice, strengthening your technique, or learning how to inhabit a song, McCabe’s voice teachers help students sing with greater confidence, control, and expression.

Hayley Stange, voice teacher at McCabe's

Hayley Stange

Voice

Teaches contemporary vocal styles using classical technique to build skill, confidence, and artistry.

Hayley Stange is a voice teacher, singer, and songwriter based in Venice, California. She holds a B.A. in Music Industry from Cal Poly Pomona and teaches contemporary styles including pop, jazz, folk, R&B, country, and musical theatre.

Her approach is rooted in classical technique and focuses on helping students develop vocal skill, confidence, and artistry. Lessons may also incorporate songwriting, musical literacy, and performance interpretation, tailored to each student’s individual goals.

Before joining McCabe’s, Hayley founded and ran a successful private voice studio in Redlands, working with students across all age groups, many of whom studied with her for several years.

Hayley especially enjoys presenting twice-yearly student recitals and watching her students grow from year to year. She continues to pursue further education in support of her development as both a teacher and musician.

Voice teacher Tom Zehnder

Tom Zehnder

Voice · Guitar · Songwriting

Teaches songwriting, voice, and guitar to students at all levels, sometimes all three in one lesson.

Tom Zehnder enjoys working with students at all levels. Drawing on decades of experience in composing, songwriting, and producing original scores and songs for video games, television, and film, Tom teaches songwriting, voice, and guitar, sometimes combining all three in a single lesson.

He also performs regularly with several bands.

Tom earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music composition from UCLA, graduating summa cum laude. He grew up making music in the living room with his father, the late John Zehnder, who encouraged the whole family to sing and play by ear together. Most importantly, it was fun.

Rubén Rojas, guitar, voice, and piano teacher at McCabe's

Rubén Rojas

Voice · Piano · Guitar

Welcomes students of all ages and levels, especially beginners.

Rubén teaches guitar students of all ages and levels, with a special welcome for beginners. His musical background includes Classical, R&B, Jazz, Fingerstyle, Blues, Rock, Folk, music theory, and guitar improvisation.

He also teaches voice at all levels, as well as beginning-to-intermediate piano.

Rubén holds a B.A. from UCLA in Music Industry and History and is a graduate of the Applied Music Program at Santa Monica College.

Piano

From first chords to favorite songs, classical repertoire, and improvisation, McCabe’s piano teachers help students build strong fundamentals, musical confidence, and a lasting feel for the ivories.

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca, Head of McCabe's Music School

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca

Piano • Guitar • Accordion • Ukulele • Songwriting

Welcomes beginners, kids, and experienced players alike.

Classical, finger style, rock, fretboard theory, music theory

B.A. from UCLA in ethnomusicology

M.F.A. from CalArts in guitar

Also available to teach accordion and piano

Rubén Rojas, guitar, voice, and piano teacher at McCabe's

Rubén Rojas

Piano · Guitar · Voice

Welcomes students of all ages and levels, especially beginners.

Rubén teaches guitar students of all ages and levels, with a special welcome for beginners. His musical background includes Classical, R&B, Jazz, Fingerstyle, Blues, Rock, Folk, music theory, and guitar improvisation.

He also teaches voice at all levels, as well as beginning-to-intermediate piano.

Rubén holds a B.A. from UCLA in Music Industry and History and is a graduate of the Applied Music Program at Santa Monica College.

Celeste Ramos piano and violin teacher at McCabe's

Celeste Ramos

Piano · Violin · Viola

Offers piano, violin, and viola lessons for students ages three through adult, from beginners to advanced players.

Celeste Ramos welcomes students ranging from age three through adulthood. She offers comprehensive instruction in piano, violin, and viola for beginning through advanced players.

Celeste believes that every student can thrive in a holistic, adaptable, and inclusive learning environment. Her passion for both performing and teaching shapes a studio designed to meet each student’s individual needs and goals.

Ukulele

Small enough to take anywhere, cheerful enough to change the room. Learn chords, rhythm, and songs that make four strings feel like plenty.

Steve Rose, guitar and ukulele teacher at McCabe's

Steve Rose

Ukulele • Guitar

A longtime McCabe’s teacher and ukulele ensemble leader, Steve brings vintage jazz, Hawaiian music, inventive arrangements, and a healthy disregard for taking things too seriously.

Steve Rose is a singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and longtime McCabe’s ukulele teacher. For roughly two decades, he has guided students and led ukulele ensembles here at the shop, working with players at every level. His lessons explore vintage jazz and Hawaiian music, chord accompaniment, solo playing, and the many different sounds that can come from four small strings.

In 2021, Steve released Ukulele Shorts, a collection of early jazz and popular standards alongside original songs written with one foot planted firmly in another era. The album layers multiple ukuleles with vocals and other instruments, demonstrating just how varied and expressive the ukulele can be. Ukulele Magazine praised it as one of the more interesting and sophisticated showcases for the instrument.

Steve also teaches guitar. Whether a student wants to strum songs, build a richer chord vocabulary, develop solo arrangements, or explore the ukulele beyond the usual three-chord repertoire, lessons are shaped around the student’s interests.

Major fun remains part of the curriculum.

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca, Head of McCabe's Music School

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca

Ukulele • Guitar • Accordion • Piano • Songwriting

Welcomes beginners, kids, and experienced players alike.

Classical, finger style, rock, fretboard theory, music theory

B.A. from UCLA in ethnomusicology

M.F.A. from CalArts in guitar

Also available to teach accordion and piano

Mandolin

Small enough to take anywhere, cheerful enough to change the room. Learn chords, rhythm, and songs that make four strings feel like plenty.

Evan apRoberts experienced lap steel and slide guitar teacher at McCabe's

Evan apRoberts

Mandolin • Slide Guitar • Lap Steel

Touring and studio guitarist with more than 30 years’ experience in guitar, slide guitar, and lap steel.

Evan apRoberts is a musician, visual artist, and songwriter from Northeast Los Angeles who has been active in the Los Angeles music scene since the mid-1990s. He records his own music under the name Breezers and has toured and performed as a sideman with artists including Michael Nau, Pink Mountaintops, Joel Jerome, Little Wings, Kath Bloom, and Port O’Brien.

With more than 30 years of experience as a guitarist, slide guitarist, lap steel and mandolin player, Evan brings an unusually broad creative background to his teaching. His path through the arts has been unconventional from the start, and his irrepressible optimism and adaptable approach make him a natural fit for students of any age or skill level.

Violin, Viola & Fiddle

From first notes to classical repertoire, folk tunes, and old-time fiddle styles, McCabe’s teachers help students build solid technique, musical confidence, and a sound of their own.

Celeste Ramos piano and violin teacher at McCabe's

Celeste Ramos

Violin · Viola · Piano

Offers piano, violin, and viola lessons for students ages three through adult, from beginners to advanced players.

Celeste Ramos welcomes students ranging from age three through adulthood. She offers comprehensive instruction in piano, violin, and viola for beginning through advanced players.

Celeste believes that every student can thrive in a holistic, adaptable, and inclusive learning environment. Her passion for both performing and teaching shapes a studio designed to meet each student’s individual needs and goals.

Caid Jones, fiddle teacher at McCabe's

Caid Jones

Fiddle · Violin

Helps students build strong technique, overcome obstacles, and find their own musical voice through classical and folk traditions.

Caid Jones is a fiddler and violinist from Idaho who grew up competing nationally in American fiddle styles, including bluegrass, jazz, swing, blues, and rock. Much of his early musical education came from traveling to competitions and festivals, where he played with and learned from leading musicians in the field.

In 2013, Caid moved to Los Angeles to pursue music professionally. He earned both a B.F.A. and an M.F.A. in classical and contemporary violin performance from California Institute of the Arts.

Caid quickly discovered a passion for teaching and helping young musicians navigate the challenges of learning an instrument. His goal is to make lessons engaging and authentic while showing students that, with the right perspective and practice, obstacles can be overcome.

He is trained and certified in the Suzuki Method, Till Method, and Fiddle School Method. After recovering from a playing-related injury and retraining through the Till Method, Caid also developed particular insight into helping orchestral violinists and violists address technique and injury-related challenges.

Caid believes strongly in building community through music and helping students find their own voice through their instrument, using folk music as a foundation for that growth.

Banjo

A little twang, a lot of personality. Learn the rolls, rhythms, and right-hand magic that make the banjo impossible to mistake.

John Rosen, banjo teacher at McCabe's

John Rosen

Banjo

A longtime McCabe’s teacher and internationally experienced performer, John brings patience, humor, and more than 40 years of banjo expertise to every lesson.

John is a professional banjo player with more than 40 years of experience teaching and performing. He has played on stages around the world with a diverse range of artists and bands, including Dropkick Murphys, The Wrecking Crew, Ashley Campbell, NOFX, Old Man Markley, and Ed Helms.

John has taught banjo at McCabe’s for more than a decade, specializing in Scruggs-style, clawhammer, and melodic three-finger banjo. He welcomes students of all ages and skill levels, with total beginners particularly encouraged.

Most importantly, John is patient, empathetic, and a lot of fun to learn from.

Bass

The low end that holds everything together. Learn the groove, timing, and musical instincts that make a great bass player indispensable.

Max Zwarych, electric and upright bass teacher at McCabe's

Max Zwarych

Electric Bass · Upright Bass

On electric or upright, Max meets students where they are, combining strong musical fundamentals with a relaxed, practical approach to the music they want to play.

Max Zwarych teaches electric and upright bass across a wide range of styles. Lessons can focus on music theory, technique, reading, or simply the pleasure of making music, depending on each student’s interests and goals.

Max earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach. While there, he performed with the conservatory’s jazz ensembles and presented a senior jazz bass recital.

Whether a student wants to strengthen their fundamentals, better understand how music fits together, become a more confident reader, or just have fun playing bass, Max offers a flexible and well-rounded path forward.

Harmonica

Small enough for a pocket, expressive enough to fill a room. Learn to bend notes, find the groove, and make a little instrument say a lot.

Mimi Mayer, harmonica teacher at McCabe's

Mimi Mayer

Harmonica

Mimi helps beginning players get comfortable with the harmonica through an encouraging, low-pressure approach grounded in curiosity and fun.

Mimi Mayer is a professional musician and beginning harmonica teacher who has been playing musical instruments since childhood, starting with piano.

After years of wanting to learn blues harmonica but never quite taking the plunge, Mimi finally stopped thinking about it and started playing. She has now been performing on harmonica for more than a decade, including appearances with blues bands and artists in Southern California and beyond.

Although the blues first drew her to the instrument, Mimi plays an eclectic mix of blues, pop, rock, classical and holiday music, zydeco, swamp pop, and country. She brings that same musical curiosity to her lessons, helping new players get past the “someday” stage and start making music.

Autoharp

Part rhythm, part melody, and wonderfully welcoming. The autoharp makes it easy to start making music—and surprisingly hard to stop.

Kit Alderson, folk and country guitar and autoharp teacher at McCabe's

Kit Alderson

Autoharp • Guitar

A McCabe’s teacher since 1970, Kit brings a lifetime of folk and country music—and a remarkable piece of McCabe’s history—to every lesson.

Kit Alderson has taught autoharp at McCabe’s since 1970, making him one of the longest-serving members of the McCabe’s teaching community. He specializes in traditional folk and country styles, helping students discover both the accessibility and the musical possibilities of the instrument.

Kit was a member of a later incarnation of the Stone Poneys, Linda Ronstadt’s influential early folk-rock group. He also played autoharp and guitar in the Floating House Band, McCabe’s original house band, performing, singing, and recording with the group for its album on John Fahey’s Takoma Records.

His musical work has also reached the movies. Kit served as an instrument instructor on A Mighty Wind and helped prepare the performers for Walk the Line. He is credited with playing autoharp on Reese Witherspoon’s recording of “Wildwood Flower” for the film’s soundtrack.

Whether a student is picking up an autoharp for the first time or hoping to explore the traditional repertoire more deeply, Kit offers decades of experience rooted in the music itself—and in the history of McCabe’s.

Accordion

A whole band tucked under your arm. Learn the push, pull, rhythm, and melody that give the accordion its unmistakable charm.

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca, Head of McCabe's Music School

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca

Accordion • Guitar • Piano • Ukulele • Songwriting

Jimi welcomes accordion players at every level, especially beginners, with lessons grounded in patient instruction, practical musicianship, and a deep understanding of how music works.

Classical, finger style, rock, fretboard theory, music theory

B.A. from UCLA in ethnomusicology

M.F.A. from CalArts in guitar

Also available to teach accordion and piano

Songwriting

Turn ideas, stories, and stubborn little melodies into songs worth keeping. Learn how to shape lyrics, chords, structure, and voice into something unmistakably your own.

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca, Head of McCabe's Music School

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca

Songwriting • Guitar • Piano • Ukulele • Accordion

Jimi helps writers connect melody, harmony, rhythm, and lyrics, building stronger songs through practical musicianship and an encouraging, exploratory approach.

Classical, finger style, rock, fretboard theory, music theory

B.A. from UCLA in ethnomusicology

M.F.A. from CalArts in guitar

Also available to teach accordion and piano

Paula McMath, kids guitar teacher at McCabe's

Paula McMath

Songwriting · Guitar

Paula gives young songwriters a welcoming place to experiment with words, melodies, and musical ideas while developing confidence and creativity.

Paula McMath specializes in teaching guitar to children. She believes in allowing a student’s interest to drive material selection, and she strives to help kids “feel” music as well as hear and see it.

Her teaching emphasizes fingerboard knowledge, music notation, chord vocabulary, fingerpicking, right-hand rhythm techniques, scales, scale-tone chords, and songwriting.

Paula also brings extensive training and experience in ORFF Schulwerk, a music-teaching approach that uses singing, speech, movement, body percussion, and small pitched and unpitched percussion instruments.

In addition to teaching, Paula works professionally as a singer, guitarist, and songwriter in the Los Angeles area and in her native Canada.

published songwriter and McCabe's teacher Tom Zehnder

Tom Zehnder

Songwriting · Guitar · Voice

A composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, Tom helps students shape ideas into complete songs with stronger lyrics, structure, melody, and musical direction.

Tom Zehnder enjoys working with students at all levels. Drawing on decades of experience in composing, songwriting, and producing original scores and songs for video games, television, and film, Tom teaches songwriting, voice, and guitar, sometimes combining all three in a single lesson.

He also performs regularly with several bands.

Tom earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music composition from UCLA, graduating summa cum laude. He grew up making music in the living room with his father, the late John Zehnder, who encouraged the whole family to sing and play by ear together. Most importantly, it was fun.

Zach Lupetin, songwriting and guitar teacher at McCabe's

Zach Lupetin

Songwriting · Guitar

An experienced songwriter and bandleader, Zach helps students find their voice, sharpen their storytelling, and turn promising ideas into songs that hold together.

Zach Lupetin is an award-winning songwriter and the founder and bandleader of the roots-rock group Dustbowl Revival. Formed after Zach posted a hopeful Craigslist ad in Venice Beach, the band has toured in more than ten countries and accumulated more than 20 million streams.

Zach’s songs range from harmony-rich folk ballads and politically charged blues to soul, funk, and Beatles-inspired rock and roll. His collaborations include Keb’ Mo’, The Secret Sisters, and Ivan Neville.

Since 2020, Zach has worked with aspiring songwriters of all ages, helping them develop, complete, and prepare their original work for performance. His years of writing, recording, collaborating, and touring with large ensembles give him a broad well of practical music-making experience.

Zach came to Los Angeles by way of Chicago and the University of Michigan, initially intending to pursue playwriting and screenwriting. In 2018, he launched the music-interview podcast The Show on the Road, through which he has interviewed more than 200 artists and bands.

He also hosts Sway Out West on 88.5 FM, The SoCal Sound.

Lessons for Kids & Teens

Most McCabe’s teachers welcome younger students. These four are especially good places to start.

Paula McMath, kids guitar teacher at McCabe's

Paula McMath

Guitar

Specializes in teaching children through creativity, movement, musical exploration, and songs they are excited to learn.

Vicki Hill singing and guitar for children and adults at McCabe's

Vicki Hill

Guitar · Voice

Offers beginning guitar, singing, note reading, and music theory for children.

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca, Head of McCabe's Music School

Jimi Cabeza de Vaca

Guitar • Piano • Accordion • Ukulele • Songwriting

Welcomes beginners, kids, and experienced players with patient, flexible lessons shaped around each student.

Rubén Rojas, guitar, voice, and piano teacher at McCabe's

Rubén Rojas

Guitar · Voice · Piano

Particularly encouraging approach for beginners and younger players.