Founded in San Francisco in 1971, Blue Bear School of Music has trained over 20,000 students in voice, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, bass, drums, horns, songwriting, bands and ensembles. Blue Bear currently has more than 1,700 members enrolled in small group classes and private or semi-private lessons with programming focused on Americana, Rock, Jazz, and Roots. Blue Bear also offers nu
merous music programs for disadvantaged youth throughout the year, in collaboration with community partners such as GLIDE and the Bayview YMCA. Originally founded as "Blue Bear Waltzes School of Genuine Music" in the summer of 1971 by a rock band called Wolfgang & Strauss, Blue Bear was initially run by a co-operative of teachers and students. In 1978, operations moved from the original storefront on Ocean Avenue to Fort Mason Center in San Francisco's Marina District. Blue Bear's current Board of Trustees include co-founder and Board President Steve Savage, and well-known singer/songwriter Bonnie Hayes. Some of Blue Bear's notable sponsors include Blackalicious, Charles Brown, Cake, Don Was, Tracy Chapman, Les Claypool, The Doobie Brothers, Green Day, John Lee Ho**er, Metallica, Rancid, Carlos Santana and The Donnas. At Blue Bear, we believe that playing music changes lives!
