About
Welcome to Yellow Bird Music, a place where creativity and the
joy of music come together to inspire young hearts and minds.
Yellow Bird Music
Meet Alex Adams, the heart and soul behind Yellow Bird Music! A passionate music teacher with a deep love for children and creativity, Alex has been inspiring young musicians in Santa Barbara for many years. Alongside her husband, Mondo, she founded Yellow Bird Music in 2002 to share the joy of music with families in the community.
With a B.A. in Music and Drama from UCSB, Alex is not just an educator but also an active vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. Her greatest joy comes from watching children discover and grow through music—a journey she’s honored to guide.
In 2010, Alex took her passion a step further by creating her own curriculum, complete with original music and themed sessions. Every child at Yellow Bird Music receives their own CD and instrument to keep the music going at home!
When she's not teaching, Alex enjoys making music with her two wonderful children, Mateo and Amae, who are regulars at Yellow Bird Music and share their parents' love for music.
Musical Experiences for All Ages
From early childhood music classes to specialized programs like musical theater and private instrument lessons, we create an engaging environment where young musicians can explore, learn, and grow.
Meet Our Teachers!
-
Alexandra Ader (Aly)
My name is Aly, and I graduated from UCSB in 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Communication and a Minor in Music. Music has been my passion since childhood, and it is a privilege to share this gift with others. I specialize in teaching voice, songwriting, guitar, and piano, and I love helping children explore and develop their unique talents to create music.
-
Gail Campanella
An experienced performer and credentialed teacher with a BA in Music and Orff-Schulwerk certification, Gail loves working with children. She has taught accordion in public schools for many years and is very active with the Music Van, eager to share her love of music with you and your children.
-
Sophia Pelosi
A singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from San Francisco, Sophia's passion for music started with singing and expanded to self-taught guitar and ukulele. Co-founder of the band Magnetize, she collaborates with musicians like fellow instructor Victoria Larson. Sophia inspires students to explore creativity, develop essential skills, and find their unique style in a supportive environment.
-
Victoria Larson (Tori)
Eager to guide you or your child on their musical journey, Victoria plays bass and sings in the local band Magnetize, while also studying nursing at SBCC. Passionate, encouraging, and patient, she excels in teaching all age groups and musical levels.
-
Mimi Chen
Mimi has a passion for learning. As a child, she studied both piano and violin at Juilliard, performing with the Pre-College Orchestra and singing in the Children’s Choir. As a pianist, she had the distinction of playing several concerts at Lincoln Center and also performed at Steinway Hall. In her spare time, she learned to play the guitar. Her academic journey took her to Princeton University for her undergraduate studies, followed by a Master's from Columbia University. Living in NYC, she discovered dance and studied at the extension department at Alvin Ailey, and when she moved to SF, she studied at the Jose Limon School. She has fun teaching and is a big peace advocate through her radio show Peace Love and Saturdays which airs Saturday mornings at KCSN in Los Angeles (shh, she does pre-record her show).
