The quality of our teaching staff is second to none, from classically trained teachers with doctorate degrees to accomplished jazz and hip hop teachers, each one is warm, patient, and cares deeply about helping each student learn to play the music they desire. All of our teachers have college training and many have professional performance experience both nationally and internationally as well as being recording artists. Our teachers support the goals of each student with encouragement and appropriate pacing of instruction, while providing a broad and deep foundation in all styles of music, as well as sight reading, technique, music theory, improvisation, and composition. They know the perfect balance of having their students progress well while making each lesson interesting and exciting. Our teachers love what they do and dedicate themselves to guiding you to reach your musical goals.
Some of the prestigious institutions our teachers are graduates of are, Berklee College of Music, California State University at Northridge, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University, Charles University in Prague, and Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
Adrian Marcelo Garza Aburto, known professionally as Adrian Narro, is a cellist, multi-instrumentalist, media composer, post production editor, and recording engineer from Monterrey, Mexico. Adrian presently performs throughout the Los Angeles county, and operates his independent studio brand, Mythos Post Production. He is driven by a fervent passion for soundtracks, fiction and imaginative storytelling. Adrian's musical roots stem from classical, soundtrack and heavy music genres. As both performer and technician, Adrian aspires to further digital entertainment and live performing arts - both on stage and behind the scenes.
Adrian teaches string instruments, rock guitar, piano, marimba, vibraphone, composition and theory. He works with students age 3 - adult. He is an inutitive instructor who has a wonderful balanced style of working with his students of all ages -from preschool to adults.
Adam Schrubbe is a keyboardist and music producer from the Gulf Coast whose music is a unique blend of jazz, neo-soul, electronic, and classical.
He began his musical journey studying classical piano at age 10 and soon began exploring other styles, learning to improvise and write his own songs. He graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a degree in Popular and Commercial Music, and during his time in New Orleans he often performed his own original music in addition to working professionally in a variety of groups including praise bands and wedding bands.
Living in Los Angeles now, Adam seeks to inspire other musicians as both a creator and a teacher by passing on the knowledge he has acquired through experience.
Production classes in: Ableton Live
Elayna is a vocalist, songwriter, and musician with a background in pop and musical theatre.
After performing throughout her life in theatres, churches, coffee shops, a variety of other venues, she has focused her passion for music into teaching. Elayna has spent 4+ years working with choirs, individuals, and small groups enhancing vocal intonation, performance, and musicality.
Having fun, exploring ideas, and staying passionate about music remains the driving force in every lesson with Elayna.
Jacqueline began her violin studies at the Colburn School, where she trained through her primary and secondary school years. During high school, she performed for three seasons with the American Youth Symphony under the direction of Alexander Treger, participating in chamber music programs and competitions. At 16, Jacqueline won a concerto competition and performed the Bruch Violin Concerto with the Los Angeles Valley Symphony.
Jacqueline recently graduated with a degree in violin performance from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where she studied with Lorenz Gamma and Roberto Cani. While at CSUN, she received the Colburn Scholarship and made history as the first undergraduate in six years to serve as concertmaster of the CSUN Symphony.
Jacqueline also performs with the Palm Springs Symphony and the Topanga Symphony and has a wealth of knowledge about rehearsing and performing in an orchestra. She is a pro at helping violin students become orchestra stars!
In addition to her performance experience, Jacqueline has taught students of all ages and abilities, including differently abled learners. She has also successfully adapted to online teaching, maintaining an engaging virtual presence. Jacqueline’s teaching emphasizes technical development, musical expression, and fostering student confidence and enjoyment.
With a supportive and dedicated approach, she is committed to inspiring the next generation of violinists.
Emily Greene is an energetic, passionate Choral Music Educator from Alabama, specializing in voice across diverse genres like classical, country, rock, and pop. Additionally, she instructs students in piano and ukulele. Emily believes that music is for everyone and strives to equip her students with the resources to explore their musical interests, enabling them to integrate music into their daily lives.
Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Choral Music Education from the University of Alabama.
Soumya Nair is a multilingual singer/songwriter/performer from Mumbai, India. She is a disciple of both styles of Indian classical music (Hindustani & Carnatic) for over 14 years. Her singing and songwriting styles are deeply rooted in her years of training and exposure to Indian classical and Indian Film Music which also reflects in the other styles of ligh music she practices. Her genre repertoire include Indian classical, Semi-classical, Film music, Pop, Musical Theater, Indie and Fusion Music.
She is a graduate from Berklee College of Music with a specialization in Performance and Songwriting. She sings in languages such as Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, English, and French.
Audrey Gomes is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. She holds a B.A. in Music Industry Studies with an emphasis in Jazz Guitar from Cal State Northridge, graduating cum laude, where she performed in jazz combos. In addition, she earned an A.A. in Music from Moorpark College with classical guitar training. She is a recipient of multiple music scholarships.
Audrey has training in guitar, voice, and songwriting, along with recording experience, and has released original music. She performs live with her own band and works as a musician for other artists in the Los Angeles area, including opening for Anderson .Paak, Five for Fighting, and Philip Sayce.
As a teacher, Audrey emphasizes strong fundamentals in technique and musicianship while encouraging creativity and growth in each student.
Singer, pianist, and violinist Danielle Alexis Smith is from Los Angeles. She developed a strong passion for music at an early age and loved learning how to sing and play the piano and violin starting in her childhood. She participated in the MTAC Certificate of Merit Program in piano and violin. She played the violin in orchestral and chamber music settings and she enjoyed playing the piano, violin, and singing in recitals. She earned a BA degree in Music with Honors- Concentration in Performance from Stanford University and a MM in Voice Performance from Boston University. She has performed in many great settings, including singing Marcellina and Cherubino from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro at the Estates Theatre in Prague, Czech Republic, singing Dinah in Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, and performing with outstanding choirs. Danielle is honored to have received various music awards, including membership in the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society at Boston University and Music Departmental Honors at Stanford. Danielle loves performing and sharing her knowledge, passion, and skills through teaching. She enjoys teaching various musical styles and singing in different languages.
Will Henley-Dias is a music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and producer with over 10 years of teaching experience in private lessons, group classes, and university settings. He holds a B.A. in Music with a minor in Education from UC Santa Cruz.
As an active musician and producer, he performs regularly, works as a content creator, and has produced records featured by publications like NPR and BBC.
His music and teaching style emphasize developing overall musicianship skills that apply to any instrument, with a focus on ear training and music theory fundamentals, bringing a practical, real-world perspective into his work.
Production classes in: Ableton, Logic Pro, Pro Tools
Alexander Xhoja is a Los Angeles–based pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator who earned a full scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, where he studied under faculty mentorship beginning in high school. Classically trained from an early age, he is known for his versatility, technical command, and expressive approach across both jazz and classical traditions.
He has performed at venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Boston’s Agganis Arena for an audience of 7,500 people, the Regattabar Jazz Club, and The New School in New York City, as well as at jazz clubs, concert halls, and private venues throughout Los Angeles, Boston, and New York. His international performance experience also includes appearances in Spain and France.
Drawing from a repertoire that spans Ellington, Parker, and Coltrane to Latin jazz, classical music, and original composition, Alexander brings a broad and deeply personal perspective to his teaching. His approach emphasizes improvisation, listening, creativity, and individuality, helping students develop both strong musicianship and their own artistic voice. He aims to create an environment where students feel challenged, inspired, and encouraged to grow with confidence and curiosity.
Simon Blondell is a Los Angeles–based saxophonist and composer who has been playing music since the age of eight. He began with piano lessons before picking up the saxophone in fifth grade. Throughout junior high and high school, Simon played in jazz band, marching band, and concert band, earning the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award in 2020. After graduating, he attended Santa Barbara City College, where he studied with Jim Mooy and Andrew Martinez. During his time there, he was one of only two students selected to perform with the All-Pro Monday Madness Big Band. He also co-founded a jazz combo that performed regularly throughout Santa Barbara and appeared in an award-winning production of Romeo and Juliet.
In 2024, Simon transferred to CalArts, where he earned his BFA while studying saxophone performance and composition with Steve Lehman, Darek Oles, Vinny Golia, and David Roitstein. As a performer, Simon has shared the stage with artists including Dave Piltch, Vardan Ovsepian, Antonio Artese, and Brad Dutz. He also leads his own quartet, performing original compositions at venues throughout the Los Angeles area.
Chris began his piano studies at the age of nine, receiving guidance from his grandmother, Rosemary Carswell, a respected figure in the Southern California music teaching community. He firmly believes that the foundational skills and principles instilled by her continue to influence his approach to music and teaching today. Chris strives to pass on the same solid foundation he received to his own students. As he puts it, “I’ve made it a point to absorb as much as possible from every musical experience, and I find great joy and fulfillment in sharing my knowledge with others.”
His musical background encompasses a diverse range of performance and composition experiences. Chris has participated in numerous events, including the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) State Conventions, MTAC San Fernando West Valley Branch recitals, festivals, and competitions. Additionally, he was featured as a piano soloist in school performances annually from the 4th grade through his senior year of high school. Reflecting on his journey, he shares, “...getting to be a featured soloist was what opened the door to me being the classical-music-kid that got to play in the jazz bands, which was great because that’s what opened the door for me to start working as an accompanist for singers and solo instrumentalists from highschool and all throughout college, and all of it was a blast.”
In his downtime, Chris actively nurtures his musical abilities and passion by exploring a wide range of genres on the piano. He frequently arranges his favorite pop, rock, and jazz songs, studies jazz standards and piano techniques independently, maintains his technical proficiency, and continually seeks out new musical challenges to pursue.
Outside of his academic pursuits, Chris has accumulated a diverse range of professional experiences. Over the past ten years, he has taught piano, while also collaborating with various churches as a pianist, guitarist, and arranger. Additionally, Chris has had the privilege of performing with the Jaman Laws Group at UCLA and working in Japan as an accompanist and lyricist with Teichiku Records, becoming their first non-Japanese hire.
Reflecting on his career, Chris shares, “My musical knowledge has opened many doors and provided me with invaluable experiences. I feel truly fortunate to have these opportunities and take great joy in sharing the knowledge I've gained throughout my musical journey. I hope to inspire and support others in pursuing their own musical endeavors.”
Matt Captol started playing saxophone at age 11. He received his Associates degree from Pasadena City College, then transferred and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from Cal State University of Northridge. He is a regularly performing jazz saxophonist, who plays frequently around Los Angeles.
Taylor enjoys teaching all ages and loves cultivating a love and passion for music in all of his students. He has a warm spirit and inspiring teaching style. His main focus is teaching Jazz Saxophone, in which he holds his Bachelor's degree, but he also teaches piano, flute, clarinet, and music production.
Taylor Bailey is a jazz saxophonist, pianist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from San Diego, California. Bailey is a graduate of California State University of Northridge, under the study of the prolific performing and studio musician, Shai Golan. Bailey was a member of the CSUN Jazz A Big Band under the instruction of Tina Raymond, giving him the opportunity to have played with renowned performers such as Gordon Goodwin, Jon Hatamiya, Orinn Evans, Wayne Bergeron, Bill Holman, John Clayton, John Daversa and many more.
As a composer, producer, and mix engineer, Taylor has scored 4 short films and 3 video games. His mixing, composition, and other demo reels can be found at tabsoundandscore.com
Taylor started playing saxophone in his middle school concert band, continued through highschool and progressed rapidly, was the saxophone section leader for all but his first year of highschool and then became the drum major of the marching band his senior year. In 2017, Taylor won a scholarship to a summer jazz workshop where he met amazing players who really sparked a new love for jazz in his heart. A couple months later he joined The Young Lions Jazz Conservatory (YLJC) directed by Gilbert Castellanos, a very established jazz trumpeter who has released top chart albums! At YLJC, Taylor was able to study under more amazing musicians such as Joshua White, Charles McPherson, Christopher Hollyday, Rob Thorson, and more.
Taylor has been awarded multiple distinguishing awards: A Command Performance in the California State Solo and Ensemble Festival in 2016, The Semper Fidelis Award recognized by a marine corps representative in 2019, The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award in 2017, 2018, and 2019, The Herb Alpert Scholarship in 2020, 2021, 2022, and others scholarships and dean's list awards.
Rose Kreider is a Los Angeles based mezzo-soprano pursuing a career in operatic performance. Miss Kreider has performed roles including the Turnspit (Rusalka), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), and Jennie Hildebrand (Street Scene), as well as singing as a soloist in oratorio repertoire such as Mozart’s Requiem in D minor. She sings in the choir at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, CA, where she is the alto section leader. She is currently a student of Diane Ketchie at CalState Northridge, where she is a Bachelor of Music degree candidate in Vocal Performance. She previously earned an Associate of Arts degree in Music from El Camino College, where she studied with soprano Erin Wood.
Rose's classical training also translates well to those pursuing contemportary and pop styles of singing. She can help provide the fundamentals of good vocal health and training and translate this into a variety of singing styles, following the pursuits and goals of the student.
Mark Trejo found his musical footing In Los Angeles California, where he was
born and raised. Mark is a jazz Trumpeter and piano player that has experience playing in a
wide variety of music genres. From Pop and Salsa to Cumbias and Funk,
Mark has performed with many local groups around town like Roots and the
Barrio, LA Orchestra Nueva Revolución, Yari Moré, The AY Big Band, and Full
Clip. H
Having a foundation in Jazz and improvised music, Mark has also been a
part of various recording projects both student based and independent. Not
only has Mark performed in more public intimate settings, but has had the
opportunity to play at larger private events like the Tequila and Taco Festival
in Oxnard, the Play Boy Jazz Festival, and the The Autry Museum.
These wonderful opportunities have come to Mark through the hard work he
has put in to being apart of many larger ensembles like The Claremont
Young Musician’s Orchestra where he performed with guest conductor
Gustavo Dudamel, the LAUSD All-City Jazz Band where he played at the
Hollywood Bowl for the Playboy Jazz Festival and would later be called back
to assist again, as well as playing with the CSUN Jazz A Band where he
would play with artists like Wayne Bergeron, Orin Evans, Gordon Goodwin,
and John Daversa.
Mark graduated from CSUN Spring 2023 with a Bachelors of Music in
Trumpet performance in Jazz Studies. Mark currently is a freelance
musician, music educator, and Co-leads an Afro-Latin band of his own,
Dominguero. He loves teaching both piano and trumpet and is currently getting his teaching credential to share his love of music with students in the school system.
Will Feinberg is a new arrival to Los Angeles, and while he may be new in town, he's not at all new to the piano nor the classroom.
Finneas Moore enjoys a busy and versatile career as a violinist. Having studied with violin pedagogues Stephan Tieszen, Anton Miller and Asya Meshberg, the pupils of Mischa Mischakoff, Guila Bustabo and Dorothy Delay, he has performed with artists such as Usher, Alan Silvestri, Joe Lovano, Kenny Barron, Andrés Cepeda, Daymé Arocena, Tito Puente Jr, and the 8-Bit Big Band, as well as performing in Los Angeles ensembles such as the Redlands Symphony, Riverside Philharmonic, Angeles Symphony, and LAFCI studio orchestra. He graduated with a B.M. Summa Cum Laude from a full-tuition scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in 2023, where he frequently toured and soloed with the school’s top string ensembles, including the Berklee Contemporary Symphony and Berklee World Strings.
Production lessons in: Logic Pro (advanced levels), Cubase (intermediate levels), and Pro Tools (beginner levels)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOiWw_wAGC7iB2rki9RKdIA
Christopher "Chris" Kneisel "Mr. K" began cello studies in a public school instrumental music program at age 9. He studied for ten years with June Smith Parra (formerly the cellist in the Immaculate Heart College String Quartet). During this time, Chris played in the San Fernando Valley Youth Symphony, under the direction of the late, great Dr. Thomas Osborne. Mr. K. earned his AA degree in music from Los Angeles Valley College in 1976. Chris/Mr. K. then continued his cello studies for another six years with Nino Rosso (at that time, the Associate Principal cellist of the LA Philharmonic). Concurrently, Mr. K. earned his BA in Instrumental Music Education--along with a Ryan Single Subject Life Teaching Credential in Instrumental Music from the State of California. Mr. K. taught public school instrumental music, grades 3 through 9 for five years. From age 18 to the current time, Mr. K. has participated in the old Burbank Symphony and in the Burbank Philharmonic (which supplanted the older orchestra), both as a cellist and board member. Other orchestras have, at various times, include the Pasadena Community Orchestra and the Santa Maria Philharmonic. Currently, Mr. K. is involved with the Moorpark Symphony Orchestra, the Westlake Village Symphony, and the Burbank Philharmonic. He performs almost weekly in his local church.
Lyric coloratura soprano and Los Angeles native Megan Shoaf refuses to be defined by any one genre. After spending the first several years of her performance career as a belter singing roles such as Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, Sheila Franklin in Hair, Roxie Hart in Chicago, and Vivienne Kensington in Legally Blonde, Megan went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in classical voice performance from CSU Northridge in 2023 where she studied under Diane Ketchie. As an operatic soprano, she has performed major roles including The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute as well as Eurydice in Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld. She is also a regular cast member in Guild Opera Company’s elementary school outreach productions of Alice in Wonderland and Little Red Riding Hood, and performs with local groups such as Pacific Opera Project, The Conejo Players, The Other Reindeer Carolers and Source/Filter Music Collective.
After going viral on TikTok for singing Der Hölle Rache, the famous Queen of the Night aria, Megan has steadily built up a following and now boasts more than 230,000 followers and over 150 million total views across all platforms, a testament to her widespread appeal as an entertainer. She is primarily active on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram reels.
Megan is a passionate teacher who heavily invests in her students, and tailors her approach to each student’s individual needs. She specializes in both musical theatre and classical styles, and is comfortable working with pop, country, folk, rock, and many other genres. She seeks to provide all of her students with a wide range of tools they can pull from, and places a heavy emphasis on helping each singer develop a reliable mental map of their voice and body using physical sensation and check in points to demystify the process of singing. In addition to vocal technique, Megan also enjoys audition coaching and character work for her musical theatre students, and additionally offers intro piano lessons for beginners.
Music is, and will forever be at the center of my life. Music is what drives me forward. Music has given me an identity which has shown me how to express emotions and communicate to the world in ways I never could.
I have been playing music for the last 14 years. Having learned to play everything from the violin to the guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, drums as well as vocals, shows my love and dedication to many different styles of music. I have many years experience playing live shows as well as becoming an Audio engineer.
More importantly, what I get the most out of music is being able to share the joy and fulfillment music brings me to others and give them the tools to start their musical journey and give them the most of what music can bring to us all.
Mahsa Ghassemi started playing cello at the age of 12 and pursued a music degree, obtaining a diploma from the only official music school in Tehran, at the age of 18. During the same time she was performing with Bahman Symphony orchestra, The Iranian-Austrian Chamber Orchestra and also won the "Youngest Instrumentalist" competition in Iran at the age of 16. She also played with Tehran Symphony and the national Television & Radio orchestra. She has also recorded in several of Tehran well known studios for many movies and TV series all before the age of 18.
She decided to further enhance her musical technique and knowledge and got acceptance to the Komitas State Conservatory Masters program in Armenia and trained with internationally recognized cellist Maestro Zareh Sarkisian.
While studying she played in various symphonies and chamber ensembles including The Yerevan Philharmonic orchestra as her reward from the University for graduating with honours. She was one of a chosen few to play for world renowned cellist, Maestro Mstislav Rostropovich. she also played with Demis Roussos’s band while in Yerevan, Armenia.
After Completing her Master’s Degree in Yerevan, She moved back to Iran and became the Youngest teacher at The University of Art, faculty of music in Tehran at the age of 22. She was also a soloist with Tehran Symphony, Armenian Virtuosi string orhestra conducted by Loris Tcheknavorian and made many recordings before moving to Canada with well known iranian composers. While In Canada, she received her 2nd Masters degree in Cello Performance, Played with Toronto Philharmonia, Sudbury Symphony, Toronto sinfonietta and has been the Principal Cellist for the Koffler Chamber orchestra and the Helliconian Orchestra. She has also Played non-classical groups such as playing for an audience of 15000 with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Air Canada Centre. She has worked with many well known contemporary Iranian composers and performers such as Loris Tcheknavorian, Ahmad Pejman, Karen Homayunfar, Saeed Shanbezadeh, Habib Meftah Booshehri, Khachik Babayan, Iman Vaziri, and Babak Amini.
In 2013, she co-founded The Collide Project with composer and guitarist, Behnam Jahanbeiglou. The Collide Project has already produced and released their debut album and is on to second. she has also Manuscript and arranged Behnam Jahanbegolou’s cello parts in their first Catalogue for The Collide Project.
Since 2013, Mahsa has been active with margaritas string quartet, trio moonshine, The Sudbury symphony and The Guelph symphony performing many concerts and recitals as well as teaching in her private studio.
In March 2016, she was the guest performer with the Adaawe and singer Mamak Khadem in Long Beach, CA.
Rosana has over a decade of private piano instruction experience where she nurtures a love of music and fosters independence in her students. She is a firm believer that students can gain confidence and discover more about themselves through music.
As a collaborative pianist and soloist, Rosana is well known for her deep connection to music. Her collaborative partners know they are supported and never alone on stage, something Rosana tries to carry into every other collaboration in her life - whether teaching, performing, or working administratively.
Rosana is especially interested in discovering and bringing to the forefront music of lesser known composers, specifically from Mexico and other Latin American countries. Understanding that the world is ever-evolving and making room for voices outside of the “traditional Western canon,” Rosana strives to bring this awareness into her musical practice.
She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Pedagogy from California State University, Northridge and a Master of Music in Piano Performance with an emphasis in Collaborative Piano from Portland State University. Rosana’s former teachers include Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov, Dr. Ming Tsu, and Dr. Chuck Dillard. She worked closely with Dr. Gayle Kowalchyk while completing her B.M. in Piano Pedagogy at CSUN.
Vanessa Klaus began her classical piano studies at the age of five under the guidance of her grandmother, Rosemary Carswell, a distinguished member of the Music Teachers Association of California and former president of its branch. Through Mrs. Carswell’s studio, Vanessa participated in a variety of competitions and recitals, including the Certificate of Merit program, biannual studio recitals, contemporary festivals, sight-reading competitions, and the Guild program, among others. In addition to performance, she also pursued extensive studies in classical and jazz music theory.
Beyond her time with Mrs. Carswell, Vanessa expanded her musical horizons during her middle and high school years by engaging in a range of musical activities. She played oboe in the concert band, and contributed her skills to the jazz band as both a pianist and xylophonist. During this period, she also tutored her classmates in music theory and, as she grew older, began coaching her siblings’ students. Through countless hours of observing her siblings’ lessons, she gained invaluable insights into various teaching practices, techniques, and the nuances of classical piano instruction.
Currently, Vanessa's primary focus is on helping students discover their unique musical strengths and achieve their musical aspirations through individualized lessons. She draws upon her extensive experience from Mrs. Carswell’s studio, her siblings’ teaching environments, and her involvement in school-sponsored music programs. Her greatest fulfillment comes from actively contributing to the musical development and growth of her students. Vanessa believes that a great student becomes a great teacher, both inside and outside the classroom. She fosters an environment of encouragement, consistently recognizing and celebrating her students' individual talents and abilities. Ultimately, Vanessa aims to provide her students with the technical skills and repertoire they need to fully explore and enjoy their musical journey.
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
Jeremy Matticks is an avid performer and professional vocalist, with a passion for teaching. Originally from Springfield, Illinois, Jeremy started learning piano at the age of six, encouraged by his very musical family! He quickly showed an interest in performing, singing, and composing, and began writing his own music at a very young age!
He attended Berklee College of Music in 2010 as a Voice Principal, and earned a degree in Contemporary Writing and Music Production with an emphasis in Video Game Scoring. While there, he performed with several incredible vocal groups, including world-renowned a cappella group, Pitch Slapped, with whom he won Grand Prize in the 2010 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.
After graduating from Berklee in 2014, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue music full-time, and has been enjoying his musical life ever since! He started working in a couple music studios as a production assistant and then went to work on a few video games and films as a composer and sound designer.
As a professional vocalist, Jeremy currently performs with several incredible vocal ensembles, including Top Shelf Vocal, Jingle 5, Vox Harmonix, The Other Reindeer Carolers, and his own group Intermission, which he also directs. Jeremy also loves songwriting, arranging, and producing; working with several musicians and performers to record, mix, and collaborate.
As a teacher, Jeremy focuses on using a personalized lesson approach for each student. For vocal students, he pulls in elements of Complete Vocal Technique, Speech Level Singing, Alexander, Bel Canto, and Berklee Vocal Methods, and even teaches more advanced techniques such as sight-singing. For piano students, his favorite book series include Alfred and John Thompson’s, having grown up learning the Alfred Method. He also loves to incorporate music theory, chord theory, production, and songwriting for students with those interests.
Jeremy believes that at the heart of a musician is the soul of a story-teller, and making great music should be the foundation of any great music class. To all the new musicians out there, your voice is unique, your creations are valid, and your music is beautiful!
Production lessons in: Cubase, ProTools, Digital Performer, and GarageBand
Larissa grew up in Russia and graduated from Ulyanovsk Music College with a degree in Piano Education and Accompaniment. She has worked as a piano instructor for almost thirty year and throughout those years, she has also worked and volunteered as an accompanist for instrumentalists, vocalists, choirs, church functions and ballet classes.
Larissa enjoys teaching a variety of styles and can work wonderfully with beginners and students who want to enjoy playing a range of genres, yet can also teach up to the highest levels of classical piano performance.
For almost two decades her family resided in Alaska, enjoying its beauty, fresh air, wildreness and yes, salmon. After getting their Master's degrees, her daughters decided to pursue their careers in Log Angeles; therefore, encouraging Larissa to relocate to Los Angeles herself. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, watching films and attending cultural events.
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
The son and grandson of professional musicians and music teachers, Brian Rupp has been teaching guitar for over 20 years and playing for over 30 years. Initial music studies commenced with piano lessons at age 8, but Brian was subsequently "bitten by the rock bug" and began teaching himself guitar at age 11. After performing in the high school jazz band and with the heavy metal band Abraxas, Brian studied music at California State University, Northridge and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Classical Guitar Performance. Honors included winning the Randy Rhoads Memorial Scholarship Competition.
After graduation, Brian went on to perform solo classical guitar and classical guitar with ensemble in a wide variety of settings such as weddings, receptions, civic events and private engagements. Additional musical activities included gigging on electric and bass guitar in various original, cover and tribute bands in clubs, fairs, festivals and concert halls. He has appeared on Chinese television with Regina Cheng and The Diamond Band and Brazilian television as a performer at the memorial concert for the legendary Brazilian guitarist and composer Laurindo Almeida.
Currently, Brian has been performing solo classical guitar twice a month at The Californian, a convalescent home and rehab facility in Pasadena since 2011 under the auspices of Respect & Understanding, a non profit organization whose mission is healing through music.
In the realm of music education, Brian has taught thousands of private lessons on guitar, bass guitar and drums to a wide range of ages and levels and in a wide range of styles. He has also taught in the public domain as a volunteer assistant music teacher for the LAUSD and guest instructor at the elementary and middle school levels. Brian's objectives in lessons are for beginners to have a solid foundation in basic technique, rhythm, chords and melody playing, for intermediate level students to progress in the direction of music they want play and to supplement the advanced student's knowledge of technique, theory and expression. Brian's mission for his students and in his own musical endeavors is to play music one loves the best he/she can.
Background
My family has always been musically inclined. Back in Iran, my parents played in an orchestra recreationally, and when I was six years old, they invited me to learn music with them: my dad signed me up for piano lessons. I’ve performed at several recitals and competitions over my early musical education. When I was 9, I performed at my first recital, playing Golden Dreams by Javad Maroufi and Ode of Joy by Beethoven. At 15, I was the youngest performer at the National Federation Music Festival Competition at LAVC, playing Haydn’s Pastoral. I continued taking lessons and performing until I was 18, when I began studying CSUN, where I graduated from in 2016 with a double bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences and Music Education/Liberal Arts.
Since I graduated, I have taught piano for five years as a private music teacher. However, my musical education did not end at graduation. I continue to further my own skills through study, practice, and training. After all, a good teacher is also a good student. Currently, I'm a Doctoral student at Grand Canyon University in Arizona. I also keep my teaching skills up to date as well, by researching the best and latest teaching methods, and follow several resources to create well-structured and up-to-date lesson plans. My personal tastes in music include contemporary classical French pianist Richard Clayderman, Australian/British classical string quartet Bond, and Maksim Mrvica. I enjoy improvising songs, and entertaining friends and guests with my music.
Teaching Method
I specialize in teaching piano fundamentals, giving students the foundation they need to grow into advanced levels. I first emphasize development of my students’ technical skills through finger exercises. By developing physical mastery of playing the piano, they become second nature, and students can begin focusing on the more difficult theoretical aspects such as sight reading and ear training. As with all subjects, students respond best to differently to different methods of teaching, so I continually ask for feedback during the lesson, then adjusting the way I teach accordingly. I cater to specific student needs interests and keep lessons enjoyable by creating personalized lesson plans for my students and developing an appropriate curriculum, each utilizing a variety of books and teaching methods I find they respond best to.
A veteran singer, TV and film actor, Kim Yarbrough captivated TV audiences the world over during her splash as a finalist on Season 2 of NBC's "THE VOICE". Adam Levine & Christina Aguilera consistently pronounced her as a “Powerhouse” and "Force to be Reckoned With."
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Kim has enjoyed a dream career performing alongside legends and icons in music, film TV and stage in Los Angeles since the year 2000.
Kim is a classically trained vocalist and has over 20 years' professional experience singing in all styles from R&B to Pop, and from Broadway to Blues. Her post-secondary study and specialties are in the areas of voice, theater and violin performance & education. Kim has vocal coached several Disney and Nickelodeon child stars, and her students have also gone on to book leading roles in "Annie Get Your Gun", "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Cats" and "Les Mis". She she has also successfully coached students as budding song writers and recording artists.
A working professional singer for more than 2 decades, Kim has performed and toured throughout the United States and France. She continues to perform and sing for all types and sizes of audiences, whether on stage or in film.
She has been vocal coaching for over 25 years and believes in a 360 degree music education with her students. She not only teaches them to have a command of their vocal instrument and be excellent singers, but her instruction also covers music theory, phrasing, ear training, reading music, and performance practice. No matter the age range, handling themselves confidently and professionally in performances and auditions is what sets Kim's students apart.
Los Angeles Pianos For Sale
19301 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, Ca. 91356
(818) 343-7744
Conejo Valley Pianos For Sale
28501 Canwood St. Ste 3E
Agoura Hills, Ca. 91301
(818) 597-9970
MENU
