A Bay Area native, Erik is a multi-instrumentalist who earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies & Performance at Sonoma State University.  From there, Erik moved to New York to study with jazz guitar greats, Vic Juris and John Abercrombie.

Erik returned to the Bay Area to share his musical knowledge and experience with children, teenagers and adults.  His music experience runs the gamut: Jazz, blues, rock, and classical.

Besides teaching for WOW! Music Studios, Erik has taught as a music instructor in the Dixie Elementary School District in San Rafael.  He has also spent time helping novice musicians to form their own bands and play gigs.

 

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Tommy Toy is the Co-Founder / Academic Director of WOW! Music Studios.

A classically trained multi-instrumentalist with over 30 years of music performance and teaching experience, Tommy has played both professionally and recreationally in a wide variety of ensembles ranging from symphonic orchestra to jazz big band, R&B / Motown cover band to power-trio rock group.

Besides running around the studio teaching, Tommy can also be found running around the tennis court doing his best Roger Federer imitation, or walking the Dipsea stairs with wife, Emily, and Nuggy, the WOW! dog.

Tommy Toy, Simply Music Piano & Guitar Instructor

When he’s not teaching, Erik can be found performing around the Bay Area.  He has played at the Berkeley Jazz Festival, Cotati Jazz Festival, Sonoma Jazz Festival and the Fillmore Jazz Festival, and received high accolades for his guitar work from both audiences and his peers.

Erik has had the pleasure to play with some of the most well-respected musicians in the business, including Bruce Forman, Paul McCandless, Dave Douglas, Eric Alexander, John Stowell and many more.

Erik Lindquist, Guitar & Simply Music Piano Instructor

A trumpet player since childhood, Matt fell in love with the piano during high school. He received his BA in Music and studied in the Teaching Credential program at Humboldt State University, where he played in just about every type of band possible, from symphony and wind ensemble, to jazz big band and small jazz combos, to Mariachi. He is currently the keyboardist and the horn section in the as-yet-to-be discovered rock cover band with fellow WOW! teacher, Tommy Toy.

In addition to being an avid musician, jamming on songs by his idols like Donald Fagen and Miles Davis, Matt is an avid explorer of the wonderful North Bay along with his wife, and their two wonderful kids.

Matt Post, Simply Music Piano Instructor