Teaching Philosophy

PIANO AND VOICE TEACHER

Jacob Woll is a pianist, vocalist, and music educator based in Livermore, California. Born and raised in Livermore, he has been involved in music his entire life, developing a strong foundation through years of performance and training.

He was heavily involved in musical theater throughout high school and early college, performing with StarStruck Theatre. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from California State University, East Bay, and later completed his Master’s degree in Education at Alliant International University.

Jacob is the Co-Founder of Livermore Fine Arts Studio and currently serves as the Worship Pastor at Trinity Church Livermore, where he leads music and invests in developing artists within the church community.

Jacob’s teaching style is engaging and interactive, with a strong emphasis on student involvement. His goal is not just for students to understand music, but to actively do it—helping them build real skills, confidence, and a lasting passion for piano and voice.

PIANO TEACHER

Austin Phillips holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied under Mr. Antonio Pompa-Baldi. He began playing the piano at the age of six and was previously a student of Dr. Jed Galant, Mr. John McCarthy, and Ms. Zita Sandor.

From the age of eight through high school, Austin actively participated in numerous piano competitions across the Bay Area, earning multiple awards. In 2009, he received the People’s Choice Award in KDFC’s Classical Star Search. His competition experience includes the Zeiter Competition, East Bay Music Festival, Ross McKee Piano Competition, and the United States Open Music Competition, among others.

In addition to his solo work, Austin is a dedicated chamber musician. He has attended esteemed chamber music programs such as California Summer Music and Summer Music West. His piano duo was selected to perform at the Peggy and Malkin Festival at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He has also performed in masterclasses for distinguished artists including Pascal Nemirovski, Stephan Möller, Frank Weins, Anne Louise Turgeon, Edward Turgeon, Elizabeth Bergmann, and Marcel Bergmann.

Austin is also a passionate piano instructor, dedicated to mentoring students of all ages and skill levels. He emphasizes both technical proficiency and artistic expression, helping students develop a deep appreciation for music.

Beyond his performance and teaching career, Austin has served as an accompanist for youth violinists and choirs, including the Cantabella Children’s Chorus. He is also deeply committed to community outreach, regularly volunteering his talents at festivals, veterans' residences, and senior living communities.

ART TEACHER

Skye is an artist and visual storyteller with a deep passion for illustration, painting, and watercolor. Their work is rooted in the belief that visual storytelling has the power to connect people and bridge cultural differences in a meaningful way.

Through a variety of mediums, Skye brings imagination to life, creating art that invites others into a narrative and allows them to become part of something larger than themselves. They believe art is a universal language—one that helps people understand one another beyond words and fosters a deeper sense of connection.

Skye’s approach to teaching focuses on cultivating creativity, encouraging personal expression, and helping students develop both technical skill and confidence across multiple artistic styles and mediums.

GUITAR TEACHER

Tyler Craig is a guitarist and music educator based in Livermore, California. Beginning his musical journey at age 12, he studied electric guitar before focusing on classical guitar through high school and college.

He has performed extensively in ensembles, orchestras, and as a solo classical guitarist, and has toured throughout California with the band Crowned In Chains. His musicianship has earned him first place in three classical guitar competitions, and he continues to perform.

Tyler holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in Finance from California State University, East Bay. He has been teaching private guitar lessons since age 17, crafting personalized instruction that is both engaging and intentional, with a focus on developing each student’s skill, creativity, and lasting passion for music.

PIANO TEACHER

Tim Combs specializes in piano lessons for beginner and intermediate students. He has over 12 years of teaching experience, including private piano instruction, elementary band and orchestra, middle school band and orchestra, and elementary general music classes. In addition to his work at LFA, he currently teaches full time in Dublin as an elementary general music teacher. He has been playing piano since the age of 8 and completed the Certificate of Merit program through the Music Teachers’ Association of California as a senior in high school. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from CSU Fullerton in Orange County.

A Bay Area native, Tim lives in Livermore with his wife, Kaylyn, and their cat, Gus. Outside of teaching, he enjoys running, reading, and good food.

In his lessons, Tim strives to build a strong musical foundation, with a particular emphasis on technique and music reading. He is passionate about finding the best approach to help each student reach their goals and grow in confidence and skill. Having worked with hundreds of students, he understands that each learner is unique. He looks forward to meeting new students and beginning a meaningful musical journey together.

PIANO AND VOICE TEACHER

Noah Woll is a pianist, vocalist, and music educator who has been immersed in music since the age of 7. Through years of piano and voice lessons, he discovered a passion for musical theater, going on to spend nine years performing in a variety of productions and refining his skills as a musician, singer, and performer.

He has studied under accomplished instructors including Claire Yarrington, Matthew Liebowitz, and Kelly Burge. These mentors helped shape his musical growth and deepen his understanding of artistry and performance. Noah also earned a Piano Pedagogy Certificate from Las Positas College, continuing to develop his teaching methods and musical knowledge.

Noah’s teaching philosophy centers on the belief that learning music and enjoying music should go hand in hand. He strives to help each student discover their unique interests, using engaging repertoire and thoughtful instruction to grow both skill and passion.

He creates a positive, encouraging, and motivating learning environment, preparing students not only for personal growth but also for opportunities such as competitions and ABRSM examinations.

Mark Stoebe began playing guitar in 1977. Ten years later, he began teaching guitar and has loved it ever since. In addition to teaching and performing, Mark managed the Music & Arts Center in Springfield, Virginia. During this time, he continued to receive encouragement and instruction from other excellent teachers, and he attended college-level music theory classes. This expanded his knowledge and strengthened his ability to teach.

In 1990, he moved to the Bay Area and continued teaching privately. He has also taught group lessons at Our Savior Lutheran School in Livermore and for the Dublin Parks and Recreation Department. Mark has been a member of the Trinity Church worship team as a guitarist since 1998. He also frequently plays in bands and is an avid songwriter. Mark has recorded three CDs consisting entirely of his original songs.

Mark is enthusiastic, patient, and very encouraging. Beginners will learn the fundamentals of playing guitar, including chords, scales, strumming, picking, and note reading. As students progress, they can also learn music theory, ear training, advanced chord inversions, and songwriting if desired. Mark can help students learn a variety of styles, including pop, rock, contemporary Christian, blues, and country. He also has several references from past and current students.