Monica Zárate
Monica Zárate is a passionate piano teacher and performer based in Carmichael, CA. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from CSU Sacramento, where she also studied harpsichord and performed with the baroque ensemble Camerata Capistrano under the direction of Dr. Lorna Peters.
In addition to solo performance, Monica enjoys collaborating with vocalists and instrumentalists. She’s received specialized training in piano pedagogy and is a certified Harmony Road Music teacher. She is an active member of the Music Teachers’ Association of California and currently serves as Treasurer for the Sacramento County Branch.
Monica has been teaching piano for over 15 years, starting with private lessons before joining the faculty at Music Stream Center in Davis in 2012 where she taught group and private lessons for 5 years. From 2015 to 2017, she taught at Natomas School of Music, and since then, she has grown her own thriving studio in Carmichael, where she teaches over 40 students.
Alongside teaching, Monica is also a composer. She has studied composition with Joe Gilman and Stephen Blumberg, and finds joy in writing music that expresses emotion and connection. Her goal as a teacher is to help students discover their unique voice through music and to experience its beauty, discipline, and joy.
Outside of music, Monica enjoys hiking and exploring the great outdoors. One of her favorite places to visit in California is Yosemite National Park, where the beauty of nature inspires and refreshes her.
