Meet Nels - Piano and Guitar Teacher

Nels ”Nelson” Jenstad, ASCAP Composer Member (since 1989). Instructor of guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, and by demand, ukulele! Nelson studied Harmony/Music Theory and Music Psychology for purposes of songwriting, composition, and music instruction. Nelson offers classes in popular guitar, piano, blues, rock, and songwriting on keyboards, and "generally useful" music theory. He also conducts special classes for creative musicians who want to learn about the tools for making and recording music.

He studied the Art of Songwriting under Paul Chiton, San Francisco; The Experimental Chorus (new music) under Dr. Herrmann LeRoux, S.F. Conservatory of Music; Jazz Improvisation under NEA Jazz Master David Baker; and Music Theory, Electronic Music, Piano, Recording, and TV Production at California colleges. In the summer of the year 2000, Nelson Jenstad completed his Ph.D. in Music Psychology at a theosophical university (non-acc.) in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Nelson Jenstad, a performer at the Orange County Fair since 2017, also has experience performing at the Japan Center, San Francisco, Live Oak Theater, Oakland, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Concord Theater, Jack London Square, Oakland, and throughout Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Francisco at rock and alternative venues. Jenstad also worked as Production Manager for The Contra Costa Symphony Assoc. Ron Daniels, Conductor. Jenstad’s original music and recordings can be found on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and online everywhere. Music placements include indie films, student films, a Japanese Ford Kuga commercial, internationally, and in a wide variety of digital media.

Nelson has been teaching one-to-one and classes in Orange County since 1989. He directed school band at Anderson Elementary in Newport Beach and spent a summer teaching harmonica to twenty automobile designers at the Hyundai Tech Center, Irvine, CA for their required music program. Nelson's individualized approach to teaching is sensitive to the student's musical pathways. The commitment to the art of music follows the passion to learn all that one can.

MONTHLY TUITION Rates

30 minutes     $180

45 minutes     $230

60 minutes     $290