yoga Matt | Matthew Pinck
Music Director, Band Teacher, Producer & Local Goad
Matt, fondly known as "Yoga Matt" on stage, has collectively studied music since the age of five and has been teaching in Santa Cruz County since 1998. Among his arsenal of music expertise are: guitar, vocals, composition, piano, electric bass and drums. His vast formal training has taken place in top schools, such as UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, and Cabrillo College, eventually earning his Bachelors in Jazz Guitar from Skidmore College in New York. Over the years, Matt has gained much professional experience performing in Jazz and Rock bands, as well as performing solo. Matt takes a unique and creative approach to teaching that engages students to bring out their best, learning theory as well as valuable performance techniques.
Sarah Newman
Piano, Voice, Harp, Saxophone, Clarinet, Recorder & Band Instructor
Sarah has been playing saxophone for well over fifteen years and has been teaching for Be Natural Music since 2013. She studied music at UCSC, earning a Bachelors in Community Studies with a minor in Jazz. Sarah has a special talent for working with young children, developing special rhythm exercises and games, making learning music fun. Everyone adores Sarah! Sarah teaches Saxophone, vocals, piano and Harp. Sarah also specializes in song-writing. Her creativity helps young children come up with lyrics and melodies all on their own! She guides her students through basic song-writing technique, while encouraging their creativity. *Sarah is also a Certified Sound Therapist
Andrea Urzua
Guitar, Bass & Band Instructor (Bilingual English & Spanish)
Andrea loves listening to all kinds of music but she specifically likes to play metal and rock. She teaches students riffs and solos by Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Metallica, Pantera, Slipknot, Polyphia, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink Floyd & Boston. When it comes to teaching, Andrea's philosophy is to teach techniques so the student knows their instrument, teach basic theory to implement creativity, as well as simply having fun by teaching songs that the student loves!
Malakai Lawton
Guitar, Bass, Piano, Voice & Beg. Ukulele Instructor
Malakai has been playing guitar for 9 years and enjoys writing and performing original songs as well as performing with several local bands and being a radio DJ on KBCZ 89.3 FM Boulder Creek Community Radio! He enjoys discovering new music, however, he spends most of his time listening to classic rock and folk-rock. When he’s not playing guitar he enjoys playing other instruments such as piano, violin, and trombone; Malakai also enjoys hiking in the redwoods and looking after his Siberian Husky, Koda.
Logan Newkirk
Social Media & Marketing
Logan has dedicated much of his life to music, starting with a long period of classical piano & theory education, then transitioning to more jazz and improvisation focused lessons. He walked into Be Natural one day to pick his brother up from a sax lesson and pretty soon after was the keyboardist for the Funk-Jazz band FUZZ. He now works as the Real Rock Band Coordinator and loves listening to the bands practice & perform! He spends most of his free time listening to or making music on his piano, guitar, harmonicas, or theremin. He’s got a solo album out on spotify (under the name Logan & the Redwoods) and is always working on the next big creative project. He also loves writing, creating art, and being in nature!
Chris Soriano
Guitar, Bass & Ukulele Instructor
Musician, Music Educator, Artist and Luthier Chris Soriano has been studying and playing music for over 20 years. He graduated from the University of North Florida with an Art degree in 2003. Using his knowledge and skills acquired as an Art student, he started building/designing guitars shortly after graduating and eventually ran a stringed instrument repair shop part time in Florida. After working as a part time Luthier and a full time commercial sign maker for over 10 years, he went back to UNF to study in the Music Technology program for three years to pursue a music related career. He worked as a full time music instructor and musician playing guitar/bass in various local Jazz, Blues and Latin bands in Northeast Florida. Chris moved to Santa Cruz, California in 2019 and currently teaches Guitar, Bass & Ukulele where students learn Basic Music Theory, Rock, Latin and Jazz Improvisation. He also works at The Santa Cruz Guitar Company and plays gigs regularly around the Santa Cruz area.
Barbara Martin
Drums & Percussion & Piano Instructor (Bilingual English & Spanish)
Drummer and Multi-Percussionist Barbara Martin is originally from Guantanamo City, Cuba. She went to Vocational School of the Arts in Guantanamo, then Professional School of the Arts in Santa Clara, and eventually attending the University of the Arts in Havana, Cuba as a Percussion Major. During her studies, she had the opportunity to perform with the Harvard Symphony Orchestra and was also the lead percussionist and Timpanist in The Santa Clara Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band for more than 9 years. She has played with various bands in Cuba playing popular and traditional music of Cuba like Rason, Ella's Son, Elizabeth and Razones, Cadencia, and Alter Ego. She eventually taught percussion at the schools that she went to as a student. In 2012, she relocated to Doha, Qatar to play nightly as a percussionist and lead vocalist at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel for four years. Upon arriving in the United States, she took on the Drummer and Lead Vocal positions in several bands performing in different genres-Jazz, Latin, Pop and Rock in bands like Catch the Groove, The Integral Latin Band, Barbara, and the Boys, Bomba Jazz, Barbara Martin Group, Alma Rumbera Band, Modern Groove Experience Big Band, Martin/Soriano Duo, and various solo projects. She teaches voice and piano but is a specialist in percussion. Her primary instrument is Latin Percussion-Timbales, Congas, Bongos, Cajon Flamenco and Minor Percussion. Her formal Classical training makes her equally adapted to teaching and performing with the Vibraphone, Marimba, Xylophone, and Timpani. She focuses on making music learning a fun and engaging endeavor where students get to learn their favorite music, as well as get some introductions to new and exciting instruments and music genres that they may not be familiar with. Students will also learn Basic Theory, reading music notation, performance techniques, and making the best out of every performance situation.
Jen Oberti
Operational Manager
Bringing our community together to make music education alive and available to anyone who wants to learn.
Avery Jeanneret
RRB Coordinator & Recruiting | Drum Instructor
Avery is the drummer for 2 local bands in Santa Cruz and spends most of her free time creating original beats, restoring vintage hardware, and jamming with friends. While studying to earn her B.A. in Environmental Studies at UCSC, she purchased an electronic kit and learned drums at the same time. She began by playing every song in Nirvana's discography to build up precision and speed on the kit. She went on to teach herself more complex techniques inspired by bands like System of a Down, Radiohead, Pierce the Veil, Tool, and The Police. Now, Avery writes Grunge, Midwest Emo, Indie, and Nu-Metal originals with her bands and teaches beginner drums at Be Natural Music. She also works as the Real Rock Band Coordinator and loves to watch (and occasionally play alongside) all 14 different student bands in the program at practice!
Lupe, the all-around musical kitty!