From classical compositions to classic rock; modern pop, jazz and country, there are a million ways to ring those 88 keys. From learning basic chords and reading sheet music to advanced emphasis in one or more styles, West Side Music Academy can pair you with a teacher to sit by your side as you master your craft.
Piano Lessons In West Seattle & Online
Sean Barker
Teacher
Instruments: Piano, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, flute
Students: Beginning to advanced
Preferred pronouns: he/him
Sean Barker was born and raised in Spokane, WA, where he began piano lessons at the age of 8 and clarinet at age 10, working with a number of fine teachers in the Spokane area, including Mary Wilson, Debra Greagor-O’dell, Mary Simpson and Margie May Ott on piano and Carol Kowzan on clarinet, and performing with the Spokane Youth Symphony as Principle Clarinet. Sean holds undergraduate degrees in Piano Performance and Clarinet Performance from the University of Montana, class of 2002, where he studied with Dr. Jody Graves on piano and Dr. Maxine Ramey on clarinet.
In 2002 Sean began work as a music teacher and free-lance musician in Seattle, WA, where he ran a successful teaching studio, seeing over 40 students each week. An active performer, he worked regularly with local orchestras and collaborated with other musicians on various projects, including an annual Mostly Mozart concert held in the courtyard of his apartment building. While in Seattle Sean studied piano with Dr. Peter Mack of Cornish College of the Arts.
In 2008 Sean returned to the University of Montana to pursue a Masters Degree in Music, where he also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. For the 2008-2009 school year he was awarded the UofM Graduate Assistant Teaching Award for excellence in teaching, awarded to only one graduate student each year at the University.
From 2010 to 2018, Sean lived in Berlin, Germany, where he taught private students, co-chaired a musical theater department at Die Etage Performing Arts School, and his alto ego, “Shomo the Bearded”, was the karaoke pianist extraordinaire at Monster Ronson’s Ichiban Karaoke. He worked primarily with singers in Berlin, performing unique weekly programs at Sally Bowles Art Café. In 2016 Sean also premiered his first major composition, a song cycle setting of Wallace Stevens’ poems “13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird”, sung by soprano Danielle Simpson.
In the Summer of 2018 Sean returned to Seattle where he is rebuilding a teaching studio and is looking forward to working with local musicians as both a pianist and clarinetist.
Cami Voss MacDonald
Teacher
Instruments: Piano
Students: All ages; Beginning to Advanced
Styles: Country, Jazz, Blues, Classical, Pop
Preferred pronouns: she/her
Cami and her husband Chris are the founders of West Side Music Academy. The school started with Cami teaching piano. When her roster filled up faster than expected her sister Kate took on a full waiting list of students and her soon to be husband Chris began teaching guitar lessons. The rest is history!
Cami has been teaching piano since the late 1980s, all the while performing in various capacities. She studied music at Skagit Valley College, Western Washington University and Northwest University and has a BA in Classical Piano Performance, Her classical teachers/mentors include Ford Hill, Sonya Hanke and Mizue Yamada-Fells. For jazz, she studied under Dick Cady and Bogey Vujkov.
These days Cami is back to her roots playing and singing in country bands around the Pacific Northwest, and still loving teaching students of all ages. Besides teaching here at WSMA Cami is a music teacher at Tilden School, board member at Kenyon Hall and works closely with the West Seattle Junction Association providing music programming for various junction events.
Cheli O’Bannan
Teacher
Instruments:Piano and Voice
Students: All Ages
Styles: Classical, Country, Rock, Pop
Preferred pronouns: she/her
Cheli O’Bannan has been teaching piano and voice at West Side Music Academy since 2014 and also serves as the office manager. She was invited to teach by Cami and quickly found a home at WSMA where she values the strong sense of community.
Cheli has performed in various bands throughout the Northwest since the 1990s, covering a wide range of styles including pop, rock, folk, and country. She has experience performing both original music and covers with a focus on keyboards and vocal harmonies.
She loves teaching students of all ages and brings a sense of humor into her lessons. Cheli works hard to tailor her teaching approach to each student’s personality and individual learning style creating a supportive and engaging learning environment.
Yin Ting Pang
Teacher
Instruments: Piano
Students: Ages 3 and up
Styles: Classical, Pop
Yin Ting began piano lessons at 12 and quickly reached diploma level within 4 years, driven by a deep passion for music that continues to shape her teaching today. After graduating from the University of Washington, she became a piano teacher who loves sharing that passion with her others. She will help you to learn to play any music you love whether it’s classical, pop, Disney, or songs from your culture, while you fall in love with piano.
Yin Ting offers piano lessons for students ages 3 and up, from complete beginners to advanced players, with a teaching style that focuses on building a strong teacher and student connection. Whether your goal is to learn the basics, develop musicianship, or advance your performance skills, she tailors each lesson to meet your individual needs and help you reach your fullest potential.
Riley Tobin
Teacher
Instruments: Piano and Bass
Students: Beginning to intermediate
Styles: Jazz, Classical, Pop
Pronouns: he/him
Born in West Seattle, Riley Tobin was introduced to the piano at six years old and started taking lessons at Westside Music Academy. He picked up bass in his 6th grade year and gained early experience through rehearsals, recitals, and school performances. In high school he took on more competitive experiences, playing higher level orchestras such as the Marrowstone Music Festival Orchestra and participating in numerous competitions. He also fell in love with jazz in 8th grade when he started playing both piano and bass in big bands and smaller jazz combos and has won accolades at competitions like the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival for his playing. Riley is currently studying jazz at the University of Washington.