Westwood Music Academy

Guitar • Bass Guitar • Drums • Piano • Voice • Mandolin • Ukulele • Banjo

Violin • Viola • Cello • Trumpet • Sax • Flute • Harp • Music Theory

Westwood Music offers private music lessons featuring top instructors from the Los Angeles professional music community. From beginner to intermediate to advanced level players, we can match you with the right instructor to compliment your style and fulfill your goals.

Our prices are reasonable and we're open 7 days a week to accommodate everyone's schedule.

Our teachers:

 MITCH HOLDER - Guitar

 Mitch is a guitar players guitarist. Some of the artists Mitch has worked on in his long career in the LA Studios are Barbra Striesand, Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, Joe Cocker/Jennifer Warnes, Johnny Mathis, Stevie Nicks, Kilauea, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Barry Manilow, Lionel Richie, Dean Martin, Marilyn McCoo, Stephen Bishop, Bobby Blue Bland, Herb Alpert, Syreeta Wright, Dave Grusin, Lalo Schifrin, Nancy Wilson, Tom Jones, Juice Newton, Seals & Crofts, The Sylvers, Neil Sedaka, Brian Wilson, Jermaine Jackson, Donna Summer, Cher, Freda Payne, Lee Ritenour, Woody Herman, Leonard Cohen, Tom Scott, Leo Sayer, Minnie Riperton, Patti La Belle, Billy Preston, Hoops McCann Band, Sonny Criss, Hues Corp., Johnny Bristol, Shirley Bassey, Norman Connors, and many more.

Sean Watkins - Guitar

Sean, is the guitarist for the Grammy award winning band, Nickel Creek. For a limited time, Sean will be teaching weekly small group lessons at Westwood Music. He'll be teaching groups of up to 3 students, (mandolin and/or guitar) with a focus on bluegrass flat picking and rhythm techniques within the framework of getting to play with peers and the accelerated musical learning and understudying that only comes from that experience.

Doug Sikola - Guitar/Bass

In addition to teaching our Saturday group guitar classes Doug provides a full curriculum of private guitar and bass lessons. Doug, a self-professed “guitar nerd” with nearly 20 years experience as a professional musician, can take you where you want to go in your music studies.  With an extensive music vocabulary and education, he welcomes students of all levels and ages. Whether you want to learn Funk, Fusion, Blues, R&B, Rock, Pop, Country, or Americana – or master Straight-Ahead, Be-Bop, or Gypsy Jazz - Doug’s your guy!      

Understanding that each student possesses a unique learning style, Doug makes it a priority to get to know his pupils and find what methods work best for each one.  His innovative approach to teaching theory and composition takes the intimidation out of the learning process, and encourages the student to have fun while mastering the art of their craft.  He brings his own brand of authenticity and sincerity to everything he does, and genuinely wants his students to develop their talent to the fullest potential! 

LUKE THOMAS - Guitar

Luke is available for private lessons, group lessons, and workshops. He is an experienced full-time performer and instructor with a background in blues, jazz, popular, world, and rock styles and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Music and Jazz Guitar Studies. Luke has been playing, studying, and teaching music for over 15 years, and has developed a unique approach to help his students understand music, art, and the guitar in a learning-intensive, fun, and relaxed environment.

Many of Luke’s students have gone on to successful music careers, and Berkeley School of Music, UCLA, University of California Berkeley, LA Music Academy, Guitar Institute of Technology and more.

JOHN O'KENNEDY - Guitar, Mandolin, Dobro, Ukulele

The ultimate session musician, John O'kennedy excels on all kinds of stringed instruments including guitars, mandolins, dobro, Hawaiian guitars and other ethnic stuff. He is a professional instructor for students of all levels as well as a film and television music composer.

EVAN WINSOR - Guitar, Bass Guitar

A graduate of Berklee College of Music and a member of the Los Angeles based bluegrass band The Get Down Boys, Evan has a very comfortable approach to teaching bass and guitar. His knowledge is extensive and his ability to help the student understand their instrument and their role as a player is unrivaled.

GRIFFITH FRANK - Voice, Bass, Piano

Griffith Frank is an artist with a unique voice and has been nominated for, and won many prestigious vocal competitions and scholarships, including the LA Music Center Spotlight Awards and the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts.. Born in NYC raised in California, Griffith has studied at UCLA and perfected the art of music. With a three octave vocal range, he teaches pop, rock, musical, and semi classical material.