Chris Novak

Musician - Pianist - Vocalist 

8:45PM TO CLOSE

Chris Novak is one of the most innovative private music instructors and producers in the greater Bay and Peninsula region. His 36 years of performance, recording and teaching experience are all integrated into the piano and music education you will receive. Having worked with students between the ages of 5 and 85, he has developed a unique style of teaching that emphasizes individual artistic, technical and personality traits. In addition to teaching, Chris is developing a Music Theory Curriculum book and workshop with intentions of worldwide production.

Trained by husband-and-wife Juilliard graduate concert pianists Francis Veri and Michael Jamanis, Chris was introduced to a whole new world of technical expertise. He took his excitement and talents to the real-world stages, pursuing performance opportunities in Funk, R&B, Country, Jazz and Blues bands both locally and around the nation. He landed a job as chief programmer for Sybersound Records between 1995 and 2000 where he honed his studio and production chops. Since then, he has been recording, producing and performing in Atlanta, Long Island, Manhattan, Central Pennsylvania, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and, on Carnival Cruise lines in front of 80,000 world-wide as one of their star, solo piano bar performers. He spent May 2012 – May 2013 with Maryland-based, up-and-coming country star Richie Fields (www.richiefields.com), as they travel throughout Nashville and the Mid-Atlantic in anticipation of a September 15, 2022 nationally released CD. Before relocating to SanMateo, CA in June 2013 (where he now holds house-gigs at both The Swinging Door in San Mateo and Lefty O'Doul's in San Francisco) he did a 10-day funk, soul and R&B stint with The Michel Jons band (http://www.eastcoastentertainment.com/artist/michel-jons-band).

The combination of these experiences helps to make Chris' teaching fun, intense and adaptable to the needs of each student while still managing to maintain the technical integrity required to play an instrument well. Courses are available in Technique, beginner-to-intermediate Classical, Blues, Jazz, Music Theory, New Age, Improvisation, Arranging, Ear-Training, Composition and Sight Reading. The courses are designed to accommodate all levels, from beginner to advances. College-level tutoring is also available, as well as professional-level artistic enhancement for students who already have experience and want to refine their art.