Specializing in Celtic Harp Lessons & Performance
Brendan has over a decade's experience in teaching lessons and workshops, performing, and accompaniment. He is a sought after performer specializing in background music for events: weddings, parties, fundraisers, art openings, graduations, yoga classes, spiritual events, memorials/funerals, and more, as well as adding ambience to wineries, shops, restaurants, and tasting rooms. Brendan teaches and plays in the Wine Country of Sonoma County, and serves locations including Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Services
Music for Events
From top-notch wineries and restaurants to cozy living rooms, Brendan plays for weddings, parties, restaurants, yoga classes, art gallery shows, and all kinds of events. Celtic harp provides the ideal balance of fascination and calm: it is always pleasant but never overbearing. Whether it's an evening of candle-lit meditation or a joyful Wine Country wedding, Brendan will draw from years of experience and a massive folk repertoire to suit your occasion.
Celtic Harp Lessons
Whether you have always wanted to play harp or you just want a new way to unwind, to find community, or to connect to your heritage, Brendan can help. With a focus on aural folk music traditions, Brendan offers both group workshops and individual harp lessons for adults and kids.
Clawhammer Banjo Lessons
Brendan specializes in five-string banjo, ideal for American old-time music, and will give students a solid grounding in clawhammer technique, tune repertoire, chordal theory, and the many tunings that characterize the rich and wonderful old-time genre.
Piano Lessons
Brendan is cultivating a reputation as a powerful yet sensitive piano accompanist for fiddle and song. Whether you or your child are a beginner or a skilled player looking for some new tips, Brendan can help you develop confidence and style as an accompanist or solo pianist and introduce you to the rich world of traditional music.
"Brendan's music-making, on both harp and piano, is sensitive, eloquent, and thoughtful. He has a deep knowledge of music and takes great joy in sharing it with others. In addition, he is caring, positive, and has boundless patience: essential qualities for a teacher! I highly recommend Brendan as both a performer and teacher."
- Laura Risk, fiddler and musicologist, Montréal, Québec
“I can see, hear and feel your compassionate soul in your playing. You reassure others and subtly remove the intimidation factor by being so humble and present in the midst of your insanely powerful musicality that comes through when you are speaking with your instruments. ”
- Jasmin F., Olympia, Washington
“You did such a beautiful job at my son's wedding. You brought magic to a lovely day.”
- Nancy M., Morgan Hill, California
Watch & Listen
"I would highly recommend Brendan as a teacher and a performer. He is a lifelong musician who is a beautiful pianist and harpist. He is completely accomplished on both instruments and very talented. He is kind and patient in all things he does and I would love to have him as a teacher for my own children. I couldn't recommend Brendan more as a teacher."
- Cali McKasson Kovin, Principal Harpist for Symphony Tacoma in Tacoma, Washington
Reach out today!
