Local with Lisa: Magnolia Music School

Magnolia Music School is a creative home for young musicians right here in Oakland. I can’t wait for you to meet the owner, Kat.

Kat White always dreamed of creating a collaborative space where kids could grow as musicians together

Kat: I have always wanted to run a music school, and I knew I wanted to do that, but I couldn’t see what it would look like until recently. I just needed to grow, and it was time to take a big leap. A big step.

That big step happened in September when Kat turned her dream into reality and opened Magnolia Music School on Grand Avenue in Oakland.

Kat: I really wanted to have a designated space where my students could come together, learn from each other, support each other and have a musical home.

Magnolia Music School is exactly that, a safe, joyful place where kids can discover their own unique musical voices and build confidence through music. 

Kat: It’s definitely expression over perfection, welcoming, joyful and fun and learning how to express your true self through music. We’re not a school of rock, and we’re not a classical music program, so we’re doing a lot of music that kids really want to play and sing.

Kat grew up doing musical theatre, singing in the backseat of her parents’ car and later performing in bands, including one with her husband. 

Kat: I’ve taught myself a lot and learned a lot from friends and mentors along the way. I think that allows me to be a different kind of teacher because I’m able to offer a certain kind of flexibility in how people learn. Traditional sheet music never clicked for me. It does for some people, so this allows me to be a bit more adaptive to more learning styles.

Magnolia now offers private lessons, group lessons and age group choirs, and it’s quickly growing.

Kat: We’ve had an incredible amount of community support from donations and people helping get out the word. People seem really excited to have us here. It has been really surreal, and I have been eating, sleeping, and breathing Magnolia school for several months now, and I’m feeling so happy and proud.

And for Kat, watching young musicians find their voice is the very best part of the journey.

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Who should I interview next for Local with Lisa? If you have a suggestion, I’d like to hear it! Or if you’d like to talk about real estate and want to know your home’s current market value, I’m happy to provide you with a complimentary assessment. Get in touch!