Nicco Tyson

Specialties

I teach one on one or group lessons tailored to help you find your own music voice through playing the harmonica. The harmonica is the ultimate pocket portable musical companion. I can help you learn to make it sing.

In addition to harmonica, I also teach Guitar Lessons and specialize in guitar styles from Africa. I am especially versed in the guitar styles of Mali, where I spent a year studying and performing music. Contact me if you would like to learn the music of Ali Farka Toure, Habib Koite or Djelimady Tounkara.

I am also an active performing musician and guitarist in the Bay Area. I have created a unique blend of West African guitar traditions, Flamenco, Blues, Brazilian and Cuban music. Using a loop pedal I can sculpt a multilayered soundscape of guitar, percussion, harmonica and vocals. I am available for private and corporate events, weddings and parties.

You can hear my music and see videos of my performances on my website listed on this page.

History

Established in 2005.

For years I have enjoyed a fuller life experience from playing the harmonica. I have played with bands, with friends, with strangers and alone. From high mountain peaks in the Trinity Alps to the streets of San Francisco I have had a little bit of magic to share. Throughout my travels in Europe, South America and Africa the harmonica has allowed me to use music as a bridge over cultural and linguistic divides and deeply connect with people.

I have also greatly enjoyed my years as a harmonica teacher. I get to meet many different types of people (I have taught students from 5 years old all the way to 80 years old). It is a great source of pride and delight for me to watch students grow from novices to musicians and learn to express themselves in new ways though music.

Meet the Business Owner

Nicco T.

Business Owner

Nicco Tyson graduated from the University of the Pacific in 2009, combining courses from the School of International Studies, the Conservatory of Music, and study abroad in Mali and Brazil to receive a BA in international relations with a concentration in world music. From 2009 to 2010, he spent nine months in Mali, West Africa performing with the Mande Afrobeat group Malikan and starting Studio Nanou, a project to record underground music in Bamako. He has been performing and teaching guitar and harmonica for seven years, playing an eclectic mix of folk, samba, blues, funk, jazz, classical, reggae, rock and African styles.