About Us
We Believe...
It is important to have a teacher who knows how to keep it fun and who also knows how to help the student understand and effectively address the inevitable challenges.
The teacher's job is to create a positive learning experience for each student by using the wisdom of insight, experience and careful attention to detail in order to set each student up for success.
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Anyone can learn to play guitar. We work with all ages and levels!
How Our Guitar Lessons Work
Private Guitar Intro Course
Every new student starts with our 5-week private intro course. During that time, beginner students are introduced to basic concepts like simple melodies and chords. By the end of the trial students will have begun to read music notation.
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Weekly Lessons
After the private guitar course, students are encouraged to continue with private lessons. Some intermediate students may be invited to join one of our weekly group lessons.
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Additional Workshops
Select students may be invited to participate in exclusive weekly workshops such as: Blues Guitar Class and the Blues Jam.
Our Intro Guitar Course Includes:
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- 30min Private Lessons
- Weekly Sessions
- 1:1 With an Instructor
- A Personal Assessment of a Student's Skill Level & Musical Interests
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Study Materials, Music, Worksheets & More
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Music Block's General Music Library Access
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Music Block's Exclusive Digital Guitar Library Access
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An Invitation to an Exclusive Group for Continued Learning
$350 Value ONLY $119!
Join the Ultimate Band Experience for Kids and Teens!
Are your kids ready to unleash their inner rock stars? Look no further than the Block Academy of Music's exciting band class designed exclusively for children and teenagers! Our program offers a unique and thrilling opportunity for young musicians to learn how to make music in a band setting while having an absolute blast.
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Why Choose Our Band Class?
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At the Block Academy of Music, we believe that playing music is not just about individual skill development, but also about the magic that happens when talented musicians come together to create something extraordinary. Our band class is the perfect platform for kids and teens to explore the power of collaboration, creativity, and teamwork while honing their musical talents.
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Highlights of Our Band Class:
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Learn to Play Instruments: Students will have the chance to master a variety of instruments including guitars, drums, keyboards, and vocals. They'll receive expert guidance from our talented instructors who are passionate about nurturing their musical abilities.
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Experience the Thrill of Performing: Our band class goes beyond mere practice sessions. Students will have opportunities to showcase their skills through exhilarating live performances, helping them build confidence, stage presence, and a sense of accomplishment.
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Cultivate Musical Bonds: Collaboration is at the heart of our band class. Students will form lasting friendships and develop essential interpersonal skills as they work together to create incredible music.
Limited Time Back-to-School Promotion!
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To celebrate the upcoming back-to-school season, we are delighted to offer an exclusive promotion for a limited time only. Enroll your child in our band class or private lessons today and enjoy a 10% discount for three months! It's the perfect opportunity to give your young musician the gift of musical education while saving on tuition.
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Important Note: Availability is Limited!
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We have limited spots available for our band class, so be sure to secure your child's place at the earliest convenience. To find out more about the necessary experience level or to reserve a spot for your aspiring musician, please contact the Block Academy of Music. Our friendly staff will be happy to assist you and provide any additional information you may need.
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Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity for your child to embark on a musical journey filled with joy, creativity, and friendship. Enroll them in our band class or private lessons today!
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Let the music begin!
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Student & Parent FAQs
Does the student have to have their own guitar?
Yes. We highly recommend that a student has a guitar before starting their private intro course. This permits a student to take full advantage of their private lessons to be ready and equipped in order to be invited to join a cohort for levels 1-5 or to join one of the workshop programs.
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Where can I buy a guitar?
You can buy a beginner guitar on Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, Kline Music, Tim's Music, Skip's Music or Guitar Center. Kline or Tim's might even be renting guitars at this time. You can always ask your teacher at the intro course if they have any concerns about the guitar you bring to class.
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Can a parent sit in the class?
Yes. A parent is welcome to sit in and observe the private intro course.
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What if we have to miss a class?
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If you are taking the intro course and have to miss a class, give us at least a 24 hour notice and the lesson can be rescheduled. (Without a 24 hour notice, the lesson time is forfeited.)
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If you have to miss a class in levels 1-5, don't worry, ample resources are given to students so that they can still keep up with the cohort progress and not fall behind.
About the Instructors
Adam Block
My name is Adam Block and I am the business owner and head Guitar Teacher at the Block Academy of Music. I teach bass guitar lessons, acoustic guitar lessons, and electric guitar lessons music theory lessons and group lessons. I am a native of Sacramento and I have played the guitar for 25 years. I earned a bachelor’s degree in history from UC Davis, before attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston where I earned a second bachelor’s degree in Music and Guitar. I have extensive experience performing as a band leader, as a session musician in recording studio on numerous projects, and touring in bands throughout the East and West coasts.
I love playing music, but my true passion is being a music teacher. I love to teach people how to play the guitar, and why music works. Like music, teaching is an art. Teaching is the art of communication, and a successful music teacher is one who knows how to communicate abstract guitar techniques and music concepts to new guitar students in ways that are clear, concise, accessible and easy to understand. I truly thrive on seeing my students succeed.
Lew Fratis
Lew Fratis is a local Sacramento guitar legend, and music teacher with decades of experience as a band leader, song writer, and recording artist. In 1993 he led his band to win a Sammie award for “best blues band” and in 2013 he was inducted to the Sacramento Blues hall of fame. For Lew, teaching guitar is about inspiring students, and helping them to acquire the skills they need to express their selves with music.
Harley White Jr.
Pulitzer Prize-nominated musician and composer Harley White Jr. has been living life out loud, one note at a time, since the moment he picked up his first instrument – a violin – at the daybreak of his youth.
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Harley has been involved in the northern California Music scene as a session player, performer, composer, band leader, educator and mentor for decades.
He leads the Harley White Jr. Orchestra which features some of Sacramento's greatest talents in the Orchestra lineup such as, Darius Babazadeh (alto sax), Reagen Branch (tenor sax), Byron Colborn (baritone sax), Justin Au (trumpet), Aaron Smith (trumpet), Brandon Au (trombone), Clark Goodloe (piano) and Erinn Anova (arranger, resident diva).
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Harley is passionate about music education and mentoring his students. He brings his experience and insight to offer a rare and rich educational opportunity to his students by helping them to expand their musical capabilities.
Vincent Pantages
Bio
Vincent Pantages is an electric guitar player from Sacramento, California. He has been playing guitar for 15 years, playing in bands in and around Sacramento for the past 6 years, and teaching guitar for the past 5. After graduating from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Professional Music, he returned to Sacramento to rejoin his bands, start a new musical project, and continue teaching guitar. His guitar playing reflects a wide range of influences, including psychedelic rock, jazz, soul, funk, and bluegrass, and those influences show in his music. He loves to write, play, and teach music, and hopes to help his students be the best they can at their instrument while reaching and exceeding their own unique goals.
Sergio Zazueta
My name is Sergio Zazueta, I am a guitar teacher at the Block Academy of Music. I am from Sacramento, and I have been playing guitar for ten years. I am currently pursuing a degree in music at Sacramento City College. I play a variety of music styles and I have performed in various groups for the past seven years. I have a passion for writing music and teaching others, and I hope to help my students achieve their music goals and beyond.
Andrew Clayton Little
Andrew Clayton Little is a blues/jazz/rock guitarist from Sacramento. He is currently the lead guitarist in Mick Martin’s Big Blues Band and is also earning his Bachelors degree in Jazz Studies at Sacramento State University. Andrew first picked up the guitar at the age of thirteen, and hisdesire to play the guitar was first sparked by the sounds of blues/rock guitar. His influences include a number of musical artists such as blues greats Howlin Wolf, Albert King, and Albert Collins to jazz greats such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and Charlie Christian. Andrew has performed as a side man with with numerous bands including Jimmy Pailer and the Prophets, Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers, and he las worked as a band leader with the Andrew Clayton Little Project. Andrew believes that learning to play the guitar and make music requires that students balance the discipline necessary to study theory and technique with the freedom of self expression and creative exploration in music. He seeks to help students find their own voice and to help them to understand the rules and mechanics of making music.
Paul Stamas
With over a decade of professional drumming experience - including formal studies at Berklee College of Music and extensive work across jazz, Latin, funk, rock, and metal - I bring both academic training and real-world experience to every lesson. As an active performer, I've played in touring bands, theater productions, and recording sessions, giving students practical insights alongside fundamental skills.
My teaching experience ranges from directing drum clinics and summer camps to leading middle school drum lines and private lessons. I’ve worked with competitive students preparing for auditions, hobbyists who just want to jam to their favorite songs, and everything in between! Because every drummer has different goals, I tailor my instruction to match each student's pace and interests, while ensuring we cover technique, reading, drumming vocabulary, and musicality.
No matter your age or skill level, I believe drumming should be engaging, expressive, and personally rewarding!
Todd Weber
A 4th generation musician and a 3rd generation music teacher, Todd Weber is a lifelong Sacramentan who grew up listening to his father’s choirs and his grandfather’s Dixieland bands. Todd studied piano and voice before picking up the guitar at age 17,and finding his true calling. Todd began teaching guitar in 1995 and has been a full-time music instructor since 2005. Equally proficient in guitar, bass and ukulele, Todd specializes in teaching beginners of all ages, focusing on technique, improvisation and musicianship, relying on his favorite genres of Alternative Rock, Classic Metal and Worship music to get the message across. Todd’s students have received scholarships in music, played in local bands and have become music instructors themselves. Todd takes pride in his students' many successes and celebrates right along with them. Over his 30+ year performing career Todd has played over 500 shows in venues from Portland to Shreveport. Todd studied music theory at Sierra College, receiving his Associate of Arts degree in 1994.
