Jeff teaches private lessons and group classes at his West Oakland Studio. He has taught jazz, blues, and rock for 30 years and currently maintains a busy performance schedule.
His students experience rapid improvement by focusing on the truly important basics and level appropriate material. He has a simple and unique method of fingerboard organization and loves teaching jazz improvisation and the art of playing over chord changes.

Jeff has taught clinics, classes, and private lessons at U.C. Berkeley, The Jazz School ,Bruce Forman’s Jazzmaster series, Jazz Camp West, Blue Bear Music School, and at numerous Jazz in the Schools programs around the Bay area.
Jeff is currently available to teach clinics covering all aspects of jazz guitar and jazz improvisation for all instruments.
Some present and former students:

Jeff is a terrific teacher. He has the knowledge, experience,
patience, and enthusiasm necessary to teach such a complicated craft. Not only that, he's a really nice person. I've already recommended him to friends. He is first class!!

--Stephen Morimoto San Francisco Police Officer

Jeff is quite remarkable with his intuitive skills as a guitar teacher. His ability to tune in to what enables a particular student to learn is invaluable and critical. He then proceeds to find ways to support, challenge, and inspire the student to gain access to the deepest levels of the art of guitar playing. Great with dynamically presenting the fundamentals!

--Lenzie Williams
Tai Chi instuctor

"Is today my Jam Session" my son excitedly asks! He just can't wait for his guitar lesson. Jeff's exceptional talent as a musician and his personality bring a fresh energy to every strum of my son's guitar. His natural ability to inspire my son to learn, play and keep motivated has been awesome.

--Jeffrey Hutchins
-Senior VP of a Commercial Real Estate Company

I began studying with Jeff Massanari when I was 19 years old At the time, I was basically a rock player who had taken lessons on and off throughout my life. I had a budding interest in playing jazz music, but was also looking for someone who could tie up my loose ends, had an open mind to other genres and who could help me develop into a complete musician. Jeff was instrumental in my development as a player and in exposing me to all the great jazz players, tunes and the information I would need in order to become proficient on the instrument regardless of style. In addition to jazz music we explored TV Themes, Country/ Bluegrass, Rock, Fusion, Classical Music or whatever was hip. Also, unlike a lot of teachers, you can actually go out and see him perform in various musical contexts. This was extremely helpful for me as it gave me a great glimpse into what it takes to play with other players. I studied with Jeff for 8 years. After ending my private studies with him, I also began teaching and actively performing. Studying with Jeff definitely showed me how high the bar is raised. I definitely feel that he helped me acquire the tools I needed to became a competent musician and professional and I will always consider him my musical mentor. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone wishing to completely explore the instrument.

-- George Adelson- guitarist/instructor