Our Story
Michael Turner
Owner & Instructor
Michael Turner is a certified music instructor with over 25 years of experience in teaching instrumental, vocal, and general music. He is skilled in teaching a range of musical instruments such as woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, and general music instruments like recorder, song-flutes, xylophones, etc. Michael has been working as an instrumental, vocal, and general music instructor at the Oakland Unified School District since August 1997. He has also taught choir and other forms of vocal production and trained to teach general music in the style of Orff & Kodaly for elementary classes. Prior to that, he worked as a music instructor at the Ravenswood City School District from August 1995 to June 1997. In addition to his teaching work, Michael is also a Church Choir Director/Minister of Music at the East Palo Alto Seventh Day Adventist Church since June 1995. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethany College and a Professional Development Plan from Project Pipeline, and is certified by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the California Basic Educational Skills Test.
+1-650-464-1625
Madeline Turner
Owner & Instructor
Madeline Yvette Flamer-Turner has a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Francisco State University, where she majored in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing and Africana Studies with an emphasis on Humanities. She also has a Master of Education degree in Adult Education from San Francisco State University. Her thesis was titled "Black Teachers Teaching Black Adults Readers".
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She has been working at San Francisco State University since 2004, in the College of Ethnic Studies/Department of Africana Studies as an Administrative Analyst Specialist. In this role, she reports to the Department Chair and provides administrative support to the Department Chair and faculty, supervises office staff, and coordinates departmental operations and technical support. She is also responsible for coordinating special projects and events for the department.
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Madeline has experience as a Teaching Assistant and Adjunct Professor, teaching various courses in Africana Studies, including "Second-Year Written Composition," "Introduction to Black Literature," and "African American Gospel Workshop."
Madeline has also worked as a Coordinator Assistant for the Mental Health Stipend Project in the School of Social Work and as a tutor for Extended Opportunity Programs in ESL, English, Ethnic Studies, Critical Thinking, and Africana Studies. She has experience as a Student Assistant in the Gerontology Program, providing research, data entry, clerical support, filing, phones, and information and referrals for students and potential students.
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Madeline has served as an Advisor for several student organizations, including Jabulani Black African Legacy Rite, SFSU Gospel Gators, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Nu Mu Chapter, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She has also been a member of the Black Faculty and Staff Association Executive Committee and Jabulani Advisory Board.
Madeline has received various educational certificates and awards, including Educator of the Year from the National Council of Black Women San Francisco Chapter in 2019.
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Finally, Madeline has a music and art background, having served as the Lead Vocalist Director for the St. John Missionary Baptist Church Youth Choir, a Singer for Gospel on Stage San Francisco State University, and a Theatrical Performer and Singer for Rufus Turner & Company's production of "Your Arms are too short to Box with God." She has also served as the President of the Music Department for the California State Baptist Young People’s Convention, among other roles in music and art.
+1-650-771-2066