Music Instructors at Under The Sun Studios
Active Instructors:
Ronald A. Llenado, Director of Curriculum, Head Music Instructor, Head Acting Instructor, Head Improv Instructor, Co-Director of Rumor Improv
Guitar, Electric Bass, Piano, Drums, Voice, Music Theory
Improvisational Acting, Musical Theater, Stage Tech
Ron Llenado is an experienced music instructor who has taught hundreds of music students in the Walnut Creek/Concord/Pleasant Hill area. Most recently, he developed the music program at SOLAD Dance Center in Walnut Creek and the guitar program at The Creek Youth Center. Before that, he taught at Countrywood Music in Walnut Creek for over 7 years.
Ron started playing piano at the age of 5 and became very interested in theater and choir while in high school. He has studied guitar with Steven Holland, Samuel Baritel, Lenny Gill, Mark Abrahamian, and Rick Cittar. He has studied flute and saxophone with Max Pricco and drums with Gerry Kennett. He has studied piano with Janet Murray of Walnut Creek, Minda D. Azarcon of Vallejo, Michael Smolens of Berkeley, and Heather Kerrihard of Berkeley. He has studied voice with Minda D. Azarcon of Vallejo and William Garcia Ganz and Michael Smolens in Berkeley.
He is currently studying voice with Victoria Rapanan of Pleasant Hill.
From humble beginnings singing in the Concert Choir and doing theatrical productions at De La Salle High School in Concord, Ron continued to the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied Music and Biology. While there, he founded 2 a cappella singing groups, directed 3 concerts, and performed in several shows, including several musicals, straight plays, and choral concerts. He has done stage, lighting, and sound tech for hundreds of performances in the Bay Area. He has led several local top 40 bands and musical directed several teen theater productions and benefit concerts. He has performed in several productions with Diablo Light Opera Company. Ron also runs a mobile DJ company, serving as both emcee and DJ.
Ron has resided in Walnut Creek for 15 years and looks forward every day to educating the adults and youth in his community.
After using every modern guitar method he could get his hands on in his teaching practice, Ron has decided to author his own modern guitar method, to be provided only to his students. Ron is very happy to have found a home at Under the Sun Studios in Concord, Ca. Ron also maintains a MySpace page and a personal vanity page, if you'd like to read more about him personally.
Kyle Mendes
, Associate Music InstructorElectric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass, Drums
Kyle joined Under The Sun Studios in November 2006. He started as an intern and has quickly advanced to the position of teaching assistant and classroom/substitute teacher. He is now a full-time instructor.
Kyle began his study of guitar at the age of twelve. He took lessons at his elementary school and quickly discovered a passion for blues, classic rock, and heavy metal.
Kyle has studied with many teachers over the years. In middle school, he studied with Under The Sun Studios' head instructor, Ron Llenado. In high school, he continued his studies with Jim Gleason in Piedmont.
To date Kyle has played in six bands. The most active have been the folk duo, Two Peace Protest, and the metal quintet, Geryon. Both bands have played in multiple venues, recorded music, and released CDs.
Kyle plays guitar, drums, bass, and sings.
On Sabbatical:
Joe Pallotta, Associate Music Instructor
Guitar/Bass/Drums
Joe joined Under the Sun Studios in October 2007, as Associate Music Instructor, Guitar/Bass/Drums. Before joining Under the Sun Studios, Joe was an assistant teacher at John Swett High School as a student. He assisted in such classes as Contemporary Music, Percussion Arts, and Music Art Appreciation. He was also part of the drum line, for a short time. Joe is currently attending Diablo Valley College and is seeking his certificate of completion for Recording Arts in the Music Department.
Joe started playing music seven years ago at the age of twelve and advanced quickly. He specializes in guitar and drums and is the third in a line of male drummers in his family.
Joe has fronted 3 bands in the last 5 years and is currently the front man for Heard By Word, a band he started with his father on drums and best friend, Craig Wilson, on the bass.
You can find their music via MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/heardbywordmusic
Former Instructors:
Rick Cittar, Head Music Instructor, Guitar/Bass Studies
Rick Cittar is the Head Instructor for Guitar and Bass at Under The Sun Studios. He combines over 20 years of professional experience as a performer, band leader, and guitar and bass instructor with a strong academic background - AA, Merritt College, Music; Cal State Teaching Credential
Rick loves to teach his students to become better musicians on the guitar and bass, and is committed to sharing the great joy of music with everyone who works with him. He is effective with students of all ages and music backgrounds. The young child who is fascinated with the guitar, and the teenager who wants to learn some favorite songs to play with friends are great students for Rick. He develops a personal program using printed literature combined with many of his own supplemental sheets and hand-written charts to track a course of progress for each student. Rick teaches to each student in their particular style of learning, and presents a balanced and powerful combination of technical training, note-reading, tablature, chart-reading, ear-training, and music theory for the student's overall development.
Rick also works with the adult player returning to the instrument with a renewed passion to become a better and more fulfilled player. With the powerful advantage of one-on-one personal instruction, Rick will train you to be a better musician as you play the Guitar or Bass.
Rick's method employs the benefit of correct technique, constant feedback, and an opportunity of performance with the various recitals and music showcases he produces.
Rick has played guitar most of his live, and is dedicated to sharing his many insights about music with his students. The subtle aspects of playing, such as intonation, dynamics, tone, phrasing, and interpretation are the difference between sounding notes and making music. His effective combination of technical training with years of playing experience in all popular style makes Rick the ideal instructor.
Artemesia Keith, Associate Music Instructor
Violin/Viola/Early Music
Artemesia Keith has been playing both violin and viola since she attended Bancroft Middle school in San Leandro, CA. After two years of playing violin, she joined the Berkeley Youth Orchestra, and spent another two years playing with the student string orchestra at San Leandro High School. In her last two years of high school, she left BYO and joined the Young People's Chamber Orchestra of Berkeley and switched instruments from violin to viola. She studied for several years with Betsy London of Oakland, Ca. She joined the Under the Sun Studios teaching staff in July of 2008, and looks forward to sharing her expertise, good humor, and patient disposition while teaching you to love the music you make, whether you listen to classical, rock and roll, or bluegrass.