My name is Matt Funamura. I am a graduate of Berklee College of Music, a working musician, and educator in the greater Bay Area, California. I teach trumpet, guitar, bass, and ukulele, employing a holistic approach that inspire my students to become well-rounded, educated, and creative musicians. I have well over a decade of experience as a teacher and have taught and mentored hundreds of musicians in the Bay Area alone. My teaching philosophy aims to instill in my students a deep understanding and passion for their craft while honoring its rich history, guiding them to find their place in the future of music. I offer instruction in myriad styles, ranging from classical (trumpet only) to jazz, blues, funk, rock, pop, and more.

I have had the privilege of performing with and studying under numerous musicians across various genres, including Angelique Kidjo, Ingrid Jensen, Tiger Okoshi, Isaac Delgado, Gamble & Huff, Salvador Santana, Joe Gilman, Charles Haynes, Dontae Winslow, Darren Barrett, Larry Harlow, Jeff Stout, Phil Wilson, David Newsam, Jerry Martini, and Victor Mendoza.
I work with students aged 6 to adult, spanning beginner to professional levels, welcoming students from all over the world to join me via Zoom. While proficient in playing many instruments and styles of music, my primary focuses are guitar and trumpet, driven by a passion for jazz and other highly improvised music. I view music as a form of language, capable of communicating emotions and ideas beyond the limitations of words.

 Approaching each student as an individual with their own influences and interests, I believe that music, with its wide and varied forms, represents the entirety of humanity in terms of culture, emotion, and self-expression. I emphasize the universal aspects of music in my lessons, prioritizing reading, writing, ear training, and theory to help students maximize their potential and unlock their individual personalities both on and off the stage.