Music Teachers

Born and raised in the Seattle area, Kyle is a classically trained trumpet player and the lead vocalist of the acclaimed local Indie band, Apology Wars. He was born into a musical family and inspired to pursue music by his grandpa, who was a jazz music teacher in Kirkland for 40 years. Kyle started learning trumpet in 5th grade. In college, he played first trumpet in Western Washington University’s 2:00 Jazz Band under Chuck Israels of the Bill Evans trio, and graduated with a multidisciplinary studies degree with a focus in Music Theory and History. Since then, he has sung the national anthem at a Mariners game, performed and recorded with multiple bands, and noodled through Kurt Cobain’s amp while recording with legendary producer Jack Endino at Soundhouse studio. His music has been featured on radio stations KEXP, 107.7 The End, and KISW, and in musical publications such as American Songwriter and Ballard Vox.

As a teacher, Kyle aspires to reinforce his students’ creativity and curiosity in a non-judgmental space tailored to each student’s needs. As a neurodivergent person with ADHD and Tourette’s Syndrome (the twitchy kind, not the sweary kind), he has found music to be an unparalleled therapeutic tool, both for stress relief and a tool for creative expression. Kyle excels at teaching musical fundamentals, music theory, ear training techniques, sight reading, musical literacy, songwriting, lyric writing, and is skilled at diagnosing gaps in musical knowledge and technique.

Born in New York City to Jazz musicians, Dejha absorbed the intricate sounds surrounding her. Her earliest exposure to melody, feel and rhythm developed organically in the bohemian environments of NYC Jazz clubs, concert halls and in the comfort of her family’s lofts where her parents often had “house concerts” and her mother taught vocal jazz workshops regularly. She emulated the sounds of some of the greatest composers of classic, experimental and improvisational Jazz, eventually discovering and connecting with rock n roll and more contemporary popular music.

Dejha is a skilled songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist, but her most arresting talent is her remarkable voice, described as both raw and uplifting. Dejha plays bass, piano/keyboards, and guitar and has evolved her signature dynamic vocal style - capable of moving from a bold sensual growl to a warmer, delicate, soulful touch. She has amassed a sizable music catalog, fronted multiple bands, launched a music production company, toured extensively, and has appeared as a guest artist on many projects. Her style ranges from soul to rock, pop to R&B, Punk to New Wave, finding inspiration in artists spanning genres; most indelibly being her mother, Internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist and educator, Jay Clayton.

Dejha cut her teeth in the Seattle music scene performing in bands by age 15.  She went on to study at Cornish College of the Arts as a vocal Jazz major where she honed her craft as she established her presence as a musical tour de force in the Pacific Northwest rock scene of the 90s.

Being a yoga instructor in NYC for the past 7 years, Dejha has a deep background in mindful creativity, which is incorporated in her approach to teaching music. She aims to support her students in finding their own musical voice with a foundation in mindfulness and presence of heart.

Lauren was born and raised in the great Northwest and has taught clarinet, saxophone, and flute in the Seattle area for several years. A grad from the University of Washington she received a Master's in Music Education, where she studied education and conducting with Dr. Steven Morrison and Tim Salzman, and jazz saxophone with Greg Sinibaldi. She received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Central Washington University where she studied with Larry Gookin, Mark Lane, and Joseph Brooks.

Before going to UW, Lauren was hired by Seattle Public Schools and taught band and orchestra at Broadview-Thomson K-8 and then orchestra and choir at Whitman Middle School. Lauren maintains a busy schedule performing in semi-pro and professional bands around the area playing saxophone and clarinet.  

Originally hailing from the sprawling dairylands of Wisconsin, Zack is excited to share his love of music with students of all ages. Growing up in a musical family, he has played some type of instrument most of his life (piano, voice, trumpet, and pots and pans drum set), but most of his experience has been with piano (jazz, classical, pop) and guitar (fingerstyle acoustic, rock). Zack started piano and guitar around the age of 4 and has been performing music in some capacity for 20+ years (jazz ensembles, classical recitals, rock bands, choir).

Zack also has years of experience working as a music teacher and paraprofessional in public schools, and he is driven to work with all students on any goal they may have. His teaching style has been described by colleagues as student-centered, flexible, and engaging. He is curious about what inspires each student to explore music, and how to connect that inspiration into the skills needed for a student to thrive. Zack is currently studying Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Washington and has experience working with ages 4 and up.

Hello, my name is Hudson Steere. I am a Seattle-born college student pursuing a Music Industry degree at California State University of Northridge in LA. I am a vocalist, guitarist, and bassist in the pop-rock girl band THEM, which started in Mode itself years ago. I am super passionate about learning, writing, and performing music, and am looking to share my excitement and knowledge with future students!

Nenu is a vocal teacher from the East Coast where she majored in Music Performance. At the age of three, she was already writing songs and poetry. Her father was a writer from Egypt and would spend his days on the beach with a highlighter and a book. Nenu has always been a creative person… making art with anything available. She is a classically trained bassoonist, awarded with a full scholarship to The University Of New Hampshire. She played first chair in symphony but would spend the majority of her time listening to rock and pop music. When she sang The Brahms Requiem in University, she knew that the bassoon was no longer taking a front seat in her journey. Singing is where she was the happiest.

She spent some time in the UK where she focused her craft in singing, theater, writing and (likely) developing a passion for all things British. Nenu specializes in rock and pop and enjoys belting like a pop diva as well. She has played in bands in Seattle and also been behind the board mixing sound. She enjoys the expressive side of music and promotes the freedom to be yourself.

Matthew Crissey is a multi-instrumentalist and engineer from Kent with the bass being his primary instrument. He has always loved music, with one of his earliest memories plucking a guitar which he had assembled from a tissue box, paper towel tube, and a rubber band as a young child. Music would go on to become Matthew’s most fierce passion and primary focus in education. He first picked up the bass around 2012 and adopted it as his main instrument while continuing to explore interests in other instruments such as guitar and piano.

Later, Matthew would study music at the University of Washington, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Studies in 2022. He currently teaches and remains active as an on-call musician in the Puget Sound area, also exploring personal-creative endeavors from his home studio in Renton. There, he is in the late stages of production of a solo bass album featuring his writing, arranging, playing, recording and production techniques, and a few ensemble explorations, which he is excited to release. Matthew also can be found taking the stage with Seattle-based jazz-rock-pop group The Outtatowners.

Matthew’s teaching philosophy is one of holistic perspective; he believes that, while we train students to be instrumentalists, we first aspire to develop musicians, and before that, to cultivate artists. We as musicians strive to bring out our most creative selves, and that purpose should at no point be obscured by strict method or technique. Matthew’s approach is student-based, where the direction of instruction is determined by the interests and desires of the student.

Away from the studio and the stage, Matthew enjoys time spent practicing and competing as an amateur disc golfer, as well as more leisurely activities, such as playing old Pokemon games and hanging out with his cat Tiberius.

Spencer Johndrew is a multi-instrumentalist, recording engineer, and record label co-owner. Born and raised in Santa Cruz, California, he started his music journey playing guitar at the age of 9. After taking guitar lessons for a few years, he taught himself how to play bass, drums, piano, and ukulele before moving to Tacoma, Washington to attend college. It was there that he started playing in local bands and created an independent record label with his best friend (Youth Riot Records). In the years since graduating and moving to Seattle, Spencer has been lucky enough to tour the country (and Canada!) playing guitar and drums with his bands Hell Baby, Titanic 2, and Scorn Dog. Outside of his music career, he also has 6+ years of experience working in Seattle Public Schools, where he managed a variety of after-school enrichment programs for elementary and middle school students.

Spencer has a strong passion for learning and playing music, one that he gained from his guitar teacher as a child, and one that he hopes to be able to share with his students. This passion is based around the idea that playing music is something that should be thought of as a hobby, not an obligation. Music is something that feeds all of us and tapping into those feelings of joy and fun is a key focus for Spencer in his music lessons. Learning from every student’s unique musical preferences and tailoring his classes to those preferences is important in helping each of his students establish their own connection with playing music. Spencer aims to create a fun, easygoing environment where students feel comfortable and inspired to explore their own passion for music!

John has been playing the drums since 1999. He started out playing rock music in high school, and since then, he has played in various bands and open jam sessions in the Seattle area. One of his most memorable musical experiences was hosting community jam sessions in Tecate, México in 2016.

He is fluent in Spanish, which he studied at the University of Washington and the University of Salamanca in Spain, and taught for about five years at bilingual immersion schools in Seattle and Tacoma.

Some of John’s favorite musical genres are death metal, surf rock, and psychedelic cumbia. In addition to being a music educator, he is also a visual artist and enjoys painting murals and building sculptures.

Michelle Dodson is a young freelance musician and private music teacher specializing in cello performance. She performs and teaches a range of music genres spanning baroque, classical, jazz, and modern. She has played cello for 19 years.

She began her music degree at age 16 at University of Missouri St. Louis, and she transferred to DePaul University in Chicago after graduating high school, where she earned her liberal arts degree, a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in cello performance, and a minor in economics from the Driehaus College of Business. While living in Chicago, she taught at the Music for Kids non-profit project. She also performed with the Chicago Composers’ Orchestra, City Lights Orchestra, and the funk-fusion band Pyzow! for their debut album in 2018. She also worked closely with modern composers to world-premiere eight new pieces.

Upon moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2018, Michelle became involved in the recording industry, being a featured artist in soundtracks and recording two solo albums of baroque and modern music respectively. She currently performs in the Seattle area with Everett Philharmonic, various string quartets, and substitutes in a variety of ensembles. She is passionate about working with local artists to create multidisciplinary art events to make classical music accessible to more members of the community.

Michelle currently specializes in teaching piano and cello, emphasizing an understanding of music theory, interpreting musical ideas, and developing instrument technique to communicate the musical ideas. She, her dog, and her cat love to go on hikes or walk around town when she is not playing music!

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @michelledodson19 / Paypal michelledodson19@gmail.com / Cash App $connecttheDODS

Adrienne Selvy Mildon has taught piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, and French from her Vashon home studio since 2006. Prior to that, after completing Washington State teacher certification with endorsements in K-12 education and French, along with a BA degree in linguistics, she took recurring and long-term substitute teacher placements in elementary music and middle school French classrooms. While raising four daughters, Ms. Adrienne worked as an accompanist and wedding singer/pianist before developing her private teaching practice. She grew up playing three upright grands while her mother helped pioneer the Robert Pace piano method in the Pacific Northwest in the early 1970s, building a community of students from their home studio. This environment—and lots of private, partner, and group piano lessons from Mom—inspired a lifetime of accomplishment in the performing arts: in ensemble music, choirs, musical theater, and dance. Ms. Adrienne has written, arranged, and directed music for national video projects and local stage productions, for both children and adults. She sang soprano in the prestigious Seattle Symphony Chorale and in Seattle’s local treasure, Cantaré Vocal Ensemble. She is currently the resident pianist for Vashon Island’s historic Portage Philharmonic big band.

An experienced teacher of 18 years, I welcome all ages and levels. I draw on a solid classical foundation and decades of eclectic practical experience to stimulate and inspire your musical journey, whether you want to explore from a beginning level or whether you have a specific outcome in mind. Are you interested in the big picture, building a repertoire while mastering sight reading, theory, technique, ear training, and composition? Or perhaps you have a short-term need for coaching on a certain song or piece? For experienced students, do you want to improve your technique, or focus on a particular performance? Or maybe you want to explore 12-bar blues? Let’s look at your goals and tailor a curriculum.

“Teaching is my meaningful work. The humble joy of influencing a student’s journey is surpassed only by my gratitude for the privilege.”

-Adrienne Selvy Mildon

Although Neftali’s musical journey started on the guitar, they have spent most of their adult life branching out from strings and finding the musicality in many more sounds and art forms. Before finding their way behind the kit, Neftali developed a love for rhythm in middle school when they and their best friend at the time started teaching each other how to break dance. That led to building a crew in high school of kids all looking to express, to learn, and to find a safe space to be themselves through the arts.

On the stage, in the community, and in battles, Neftali started honing their skills as an MC and also as a teaching artist as the head of their high school hip-hop club. In breaking, every dancer is a teacher and everyone has something to share of their style and from their experiences. Neftali has carried this as one of their core principles as a teacher: any learner who is passionate and is ready to speak in their own voice and listen has something valuable to share with us all! Around the same time, Neftali started making beats, encouraging their friends to rap/sing on them, and taking music classes at school such as guitar and marching/concert band.

After high school, Neftali continued their education at Cornish College of the Arts where they received their BFA in Film Directing/Writing. After departing from dancing during college, Neftali started to find a place among some of the punk musicians in Seattle where being on the drums gave them a very natural outlet to fill the space that breaking created for them. Finally having a space to practice on acoustic kit, Neftali started jamming and playing with anyone who would take the time to with them. This eventually lead to them joining one of the bands they currently play in called The Molly Sour.

They have played with groups such as Hell Baby, OK Bucko, and singer/songwriters such as Ron Gallo. Neftali is excited to work with kids of all ages and helping them all find their voice to play through. Neftali believes that music is a great resource for finding and building community which is a great skill to develop through something we all love.

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @Neftali-Kirkland / Paypal NeftaliKirkland@gmail.com / Cash App $NeftaliKirkland

Beatrix Hauth is a talented musician and educator hailing from The Evergreen State College. With a deep passion for music, she has dedicated her life to creating and sharing her artistry with the world.

Her musical journey began when she embarked on a West coast tour with the band Arc Over Light in 2014, captivating audiences with her performances. Inspired by her experiences on the road, she decided to form her own band, Beatrix Sky, where she continues to push the boundaries of her creativity and connect with listeners through her unique sound.

Beyond her accomplishments as a performer, she also finds passion in teaching others. As a piano and voice teacher, she has been able to share her knowledge and expertise with aspiring musicians, nurturing their growth and helping them unlock their own talents.

Born and raised in Tacoma, WA, Mallory (she/her) started her musical journey playing violin for several years in her school orchestra. In middle school Mallory found the local music scene, discovering a love for punk, hardcore, and metal music. Her violin playing and early interest in singing led her to Cornish College of the Arts, where she completed coursework in musical theater.

Along with her instrumental background, Mallory is an experienced singer, audio engineer, producer and is currently studying audio production at North Seattle Community College. Mallory is an experienced karaoke DJ who creates a welcoming and supportive singing environment for every type of singer.

Mallory’s teaching style heavily depends on each individual student. Mallory believes anyone can play music, with the right approach. Mallory enjoys creating a safe and enriching environment for all students to learn and grow in. Teaching stage presence and confidence is one of her main goals as a teacher. Mallory is dedicated to helping students find joy and confidence through violin, voice, and piano lessons.

When she is not teaching, Mallory participates in the Seattle Womxns Music Producer Meetup group, and produces her own music. Along with her interest in music, Mallory also loves animals and traveling.

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @DJ_MALZOR

Kristen has worked in a teaching capacity in Wisconsin, California, and Washington, including teaching at the Keyboard Art School of Music in Wrightwood, CA. She was also a member of the Music Teachers’ Association of California while running her own home studio in San Diego. Kristen has been a clinician for multiple schools, helping students with both classical and jazz music. Kristen stands out as an instructor with her engaging and adaptable teaching. Her approach to lessons centers on the understanding of different learning styles—no two people are exactly the same, so no two lessons should be exactly the same.

Her time working with individuals with developmental disabilities cultivated her talent for teaching private lessons. She enhanced these emotional intelligence skills with mental health first aid classes. As a result, Kristen creates a kind, welcoming environment where students feel confident about their talents. Kristen earned her B.A. in Saxophone Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying with Richard Davis and Les Thimmig. While in Madison, Kristen organized her own jazz quartet, in addition to working with various big bands, dance bands, and jazz combos. She has performed with Wisconsin musicians such as Nick Moran, Paul Hastil, Dave Stoler, and the Bill Sargent Big Band. She has provided music for a variety of functions ranging from formal parties to festivals throughout the Midwest. She has also recorded for Madison's 89.9 WORT radio station. In California, Kristen recorded for America's Community Network with Empire Swing, as well as performed locally for festivals, private events, and musical theater.

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @khemke

Keira Hamalian was born and raised here in Seattle, Washington and has been surrounded by music since early childhood. Her passion for the arts led her to begin taking piano lessons at the age of 6 in West Seattle from Erin Rubin, now owner of Mode Music Studios and founder of Mode Music and Performing Arts (MMPA). She continued piano and voice lessons with Erin until she was 15 years old while taking advantage of performance opportunities at Mode sponsored community events, recitals, and their all-ages open mic at The Skylark next door. The creative foundation Erin and Keira built together allowed her to explore other musical mediums on her own such as songwriting, collaboration with local musicians, and independent instrument study. She recently participated in Seattle Theater Groups, 22nd annual More Music at the Moore program along side 14 other musicians where with the help of music mentors including Grammy award winning writer and producer, Mike Elizondo, they put on a showcase. Other performance achievements of hers include her participance at this years Northwest Folklife Festival. 

Her goal is to pass on the lessons that she’s learned from mentors of her own to aspiring students. She’s confident in her ability to create a learning environment where students can bloom into the best version of themselves, ensuring steady growth, both skillfully and personally. 

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @KeiraHamalian

Kelli Frances Corrado is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. Growing up in Chicago, she would sneak out during school nights to see hip hop shows and spend weekends with her Romani Czech grandmother learning prayer rituals. She has lived many lives before putting her heart in song: social worker, student, tap dancer, wanderer. This set a unique musical foundation giving voice to her spiritual beliefs and leading her to study voice, poetry, string arranging, ear training, beat making and producing. She received her first grant from The Grammy Foundation, who sponsored her first tour and has had her music featured in The Wire, Bandcamp Daily, BBC Radio 6 London and many more. She has released four albums. Her current album, Tuff Feathers was released on non-profit label Grimalkin Records. And recently wrote her first film score for documentary, The Last Act, out this fall.

Kelli has been a teaching artist for over 14 years, specializing in helping the beginner start. She started her teaching career at the Old Redmond Firehouse rock camps and it blossomed into a dedicated passion. Supporting her belief in the equity and accessibility of music and music lessons for everyone. She has taught for various schools and social justice organizations such as Willie Mae Rock Camp in Brooklyn and Delridge Neighborhood Developmental Association in Seattle. And is currently part of the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture Creative Advantage teaching roster. Her teaching philosophy is to create individualized lesson plans for each student based in theory, technique, ear training and student goals with an emphasis on creativity and personal empowerment. Kelli believes music is a language based on listening and personal expression. Whether you are 5 or 70 years old, she can help you.

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @KelliFrances-Corrado / Paypal kellifrancescorrado@gmail.com / Cash App $KelliFrancesCorrado

Cam Hancock has been playing drums since he could find a surface to bang on. He was fortunate to have a family that was both tolerant of noise and encouraging of musical discovery. By age 10 he began to attend rock music camp in Burlington, VT, and his interest was amplified. Though his formal education in drums dwindled soon after high school, his fervor for the drums only grew. Cam attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, and played in an incredibly loud college band there. He found a true passion in getting on the stage, whether it be in a basement or an auditorium, and playing music for others.

After college, he moved to Seattle and immediately began to form a band so he could play live. This band, The Whags, has played extensively in Seattle and has toured twice since its inception. They released their debut album this past April. He is also a member of local bands Coral Grief and Lightweight Champion and has played many of Seattle's storied venues such as the Tractor Tavern, The Crocodile, and the Sunset, and performed at festivals ranging from SXSW to Treefort Music Fest to Capitol Hill Block Party.

Cam hopes to instill some of this passion for playing in bands into his students and strives to provide a musical experience that differs from the traditional classroom. Understanding that there are all types of learners, his approach strikes a balance between learning the foundations and exploring the different, and fun, ways to build from the basics. He's excited to discover the methods that work for each student and to inspire a love for music that can last a lifetime. Aside from music Cam enjoys baking pies, growing tomatoes, and cruising around the city on his bike.

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @Cam-Hancock

Sofia is a songwriter, vocalist, guitar and bass player who has been playing in the local music scene for the past five years with their band Queen Chimera. Sofia is 1st gen Chilean-American born and raised in Seattle, and picked up guitar at 13 while deep in their emo phase. They started playing bass within the same year. A lot of Sofia’s music education was in contemporary genres like pop, metal, RnB, but they also learned how to play some Flamenco guitar at around age 16. They are currently working on their audio engineering production degree and also working in a Belltown recording studio.

Sofia started teaching when she was 15, and has always aspired to find a balance between learning songs that students feel passionate about, and instilling the fundamentals of music and theory, often through a song analysis or improvisational lens that keeps it interesting. Sofia values challenging students to try things outside of their comfort zones, and gaining musical versatility through different genres and musical styles.

When Sofia isn’t playing music, they can often be found roller skating at the rink, on trails and at skateparks.

Nimm Lefcourt is a classically trained vocalist who has been singing and training for 13 years. They graduated with a Bachelor's of Music in May 2021, and have experience singing various kinds of music. Half of their BA was done through the lens of musical theatre, where they performed in various musicals and recitals, and the other half of their BA was done with a focus on opera and modern classical composing. Now, alongside practicing opera, Nimm enjoys learning different renditions of video games and movie scores on the piano. They also enjoy writing music for tabletop role-playing games, and will often do custom themes and songs for various characters. Their interests outside of music are video games, animals, and crystals.

Nimm’s hope is to always help students enjoy music as much as they do, and make sure they are always excited to learn more. They always endeavor to strike a balance between learning music the student has an interest in, and focusing on the building blocks of music. Nimm is also always open to changing their teaching style based on the student’s needs, goals, and learning style.

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @Nimm-Lefcourt

Ricky Hoyos was born in Seattle, but moved to Naples, Florida at a young age. Ricky started playing music at the age of 14, inspired equally by Metallica and his cousin’s local band Vega Under Fire. Music education opened his mind to all different genres, with a particular emphasis on classic rock and metal, as he took drum and guitar lessons, joined his school drumline, and attended any music-based after school programs he could find.

After graduating high school, he sought any chance to perform around Naples, particularly as a guitarist. He played in cover bands, and worked as the lead guitarist at multiple churches. When he began teaching guitar and drums at the YMCA, he discovered that his passion for music extended to a passion for teaching music to others.

Ricky enjoys teaching basic theory, technique, songwriting, and tips and tricks he likes to do on his instrument. He strongly believes in the importance of keeping lessons engaging and fun, so that students are inspired to continue playing their instrument.

In 2018, Ricky moved back to Seattle to pursue his dream of being part of the historic local music scene. In 2019, he formed a band called Tio Nacho’s House, and the band released their first EP “Here’s to You” in 2022. He and the band play venues all around Seattle, and he’s so excited to fill his life with music through playing live, recording, and teaching the next generation of musicians here at Mode.

Andi grew up just outside of St. Louis, Missouri, where she was inspired to pursue music by the hip hop and R&B bursting from the city around her, by the film scores of the movies she pored over at home, and by the creativity of her family. After years of playing with a toy violin, at age 10 she joined her elementary school orchestra, and was gifted a real violin by her school. With a single mother and four older sisters, resources were stretched thin, and Andi will always be grateful for the opportunity this gift gave her to pursue her passion. In high school, Andi competed and performed in the Festival of Gold and MSHSAA District and State Music Festival on the violin, earning a handful of awards nearing her graduation.

After graduating high school, Andi received her BM in Violin Performance from Southeast Missouri State University. During college and after, Andi freelanced by arranging and performing music for concerts, weddings, engagements, parties, and banquets, and acted as a ringer for the Paducah Symphony Orchestra. She has also picked up several instruments along the way, including piano, guitar, viola, mandolin, ukulele, and voice. Music has taken Andi to some amazing places, like the 2013 Italian chamber music festival Festival Suoni D’Abruzzo, and the SEMO Concerto and Aria Competition, where she won the chance to perform as a soloist to a full audience with a full symphony accompanying her!

Andi has been teaching music lessons for over ten years. As a teacher, Andi’s technical background allows her to set her students up for success with a solid foundation in music theory. Andi’s teaching approach differs by student, as she knows that each student has their own unique talents and light to share with the world, and that they need more than a cookie cutter teaching approach to be successful. She always prioritizes keeping the student’s spark for music alive and thriving. In her free time, Andi loves to karaoke, thrift shop, roller skate, backpack, and paint with her boyfriend while they listen to their record collection together.

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @ridingswritings

Alyssa was interested in music from a young age. Her first piano lesson at age 10 sparked a unique and passionate interest in music that transformed into a deep appreciation for many more instruments including drums, guitar, sax, bass and harp. Alyssa earned a college music degree and a minor in audio recording from Finger Lakes Community College in upstate NY in 2009. While pursuing her music degree, Alyssa became Certified in Harp Music Therapy from Valley Hospital and the Robert Wood-Johnson University accredited program, Bedside Harp. Alyssa has performed with a number of bands, from 3-piece all-girl rock band ZEN, to Seattle punk band Bad Saint, to playing keyboards for a church rock band and bass for a 90’s rock cover band. She also performs harp at weddings, corporate and private events.

Alyssa has been teaching for over 20 years, from New York to Colorado to right here in Seattle. Her teaching style focuses on the fun and creative aspect of learning, including how to teach yourself so that learning just about anything, anytime, anywhere is possible. Alyssa herself plays best by ear and wants to give her students the opportunity to do the same, so she teaches her students to sing scales in their head so they can not just play music, but improvise and compose. Curriculum-wise, she uses a vast variety from Faber and Faber to Dozen a Day -- which are fun exercises in song form to practice the most popular piano techniques (chords, arpeggios, scales) -- and ranging in style from rock to pop to easy jazz and blues to classical. Funky is always a favorite as well for drummers! She believes in emphasizing fun, creativity, and confidence in her lessons, and is always excited to help a new student fall in love with their instrument!

Lonnie Williams grew up in Beaumont, Texas, where the recording of Cannonball Adderley on the jukebox at his family’s barbecue restaurant inspired him to take up the saxophone at a young age. Starting as an alto sax player in his school band, Lonnie practiced every day and eventually moved to Seattle where he was inspired and embraced by the city’s jazz scene. In the years since, he has played with such legends as Eddie Harris and Joe Henderson, and in venues all over the world. Considered a legend in the Pioneer Square jazz scene, Lonnie hasn’t let success get in the way of his calling to teach, which he has followed since he began tutoring other kids in his school band in junior high. He encourages his students to learn through his own mantra of “practice practice practice!” but also believes strongly that music should always be fun. He hopes to inspire his students to find as much joy in the saxophone as he has for so many years.

Jenny Ridout is an accomplished flutist and pianist and has spent the past decade performing and teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area and Houston. Jenny received her B.M. in flute performance from San Jose State University under the tutelage of Catherine Payne (San Francisco Symphony), and her M.M. in flute performance from the University of Houston studying with Aralee Dorough (Houston Symphony). While at San Jose State, Jenny acted as principal chair flute in the school's top ranking Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, and her senior recital was acclaimed by SJSU faculty as having been one of the "best student recitals ever held at the school." During her time at the University of Houston she acted as principal flute and solo piccolo with the Symphony Orchestra and performed with them at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Jenny has received instruction from and performed in master classes in the United States and Europe from a number of today's top flutists including Catherine Payne, Keith Underwood, Jim Walker, Christina Jennings, Leone Buyse, Robert Stallman, Carol Wincenc, Timothy Day, Sergio Pallotelli, Sooyun Kim, Ian Clarke, and Aralee Dorough.

Jenny has an undeniable passion for musical expression as well as music theory and enjoys passing this along to her students. She helps offer them the tools and direction needed so that they too may discover how they want to express themselves through music. Her students show improvement very quickly and are active participants in recitals, school band programs, youth orchestras, master classes and competitions. Lessons with Jenny are tailored to each student’s unique musical goals, as every student has different interests!

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @Jennifer-Ridout-1

Nik Singleton was born and raised in the Southwest, and has been singing since early childhood. She discovered her love for harmonies at a young age, and spent most of school singing in choir. When she graduated high school, she took her singing out of the classroom and onto the stage, playing in a multitude of bands over the past 15+ years. Specializing in harmony work, she also has many years of experience in the studio and as a session singer and producer.

She has worked with a wide range of projects across multiple genres, sung on many records and live streams, and appeared on season 13 of “The Voice.” She has over 15 years of performance experience, resulting in an abundance of practical application knowledge for live performance, both on stage and in the studio.

Her goal is to instill confidence and expand skill in her students, and encourage artist expression and joy. She aims to create a comfortable space for exploration of the voice, including expanding knowledge of vocal health practices. She has much knowledge to impart on the topics of harmony singing, stage presence, and wants to help you discover you own personal sound and confidence as a performer.

She loves the ocean, and is an avid surfer and scuba diver. She loves to cook, and is happiest when she’s connecting with and meeting new people.

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @NikSingleton / Paypal singnikkising@gmail.com

Jared's love of music began in elementary school, always jumping at the opportunity for a solo, or auditioning for honor choir. His interests shifted to drums and percussion in middle school, where he found a position in his church's youth group band for a few years. Jared transitioned back to choir in high school. He joined honor choir, all state choir, and spring musicals, and eventually found a love for songwriting, which led him to Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Jared was able to take private voice, guitar, and piano lessons, enhancing his abilities in both songwriting and playing parts in studio sessions.

In 2010, Jared graduated with a degree in Music Business, with an emphasis on Songwriting. He released his debut album, The Maiden Voyage, two years later. In 2014, Jared signed an independent publishing deal with Catch This Music. Between 2015 and 2020, he was performing between 100 to 150 tour dates a year, building towards dreams of owning his own studio and space. His newest releases include The Last Gemini in 2017 and This Week-Last Year in 2020.

Veronique was introduced to the piano at the age of 7. She was born and raised in Marseille, France. She was trained classically and attended her city conservatory from 11 to 17 years old. She moved to Seattle at age 22 as an Au Pair to become fluent in English.

Veronique eventually met her husband Chris Littlefield, a professional, local musician. She’s always been passionate about early childhood education and taught preschool for the last 20 years. As well as continuing to play the piano as an adult, she learned to play the ukulele and enjoys singing in French, English and Portuguese.

She is currently tutoring French to students of all ages and is passionate about teaching, connecting with her students, and finding ways to teach each student (young and old) in their best learning styles.

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @Veronique-Littlefield

Scott is a multi-instrumentalist with over 20 years of experience on drum set, mallet percussion, hand percussion, piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, and various percussion instruments. A native of Bremerton, Washington, he was exposed to music early in childhood, thus developing a deep familiarity with music from day one. After high school, his musical passion led him to Washington State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music: Percussion Performance with a Jazz Emphasis degree.

After a year teaching and performing in the countryside of central California, Scott returned to the Puget Sound to continue pursuing his career. He’s been an instructor for the Northwest Percussion Festival, a clinician at the Northwest Percussion Project, and a clinician for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Idaho. He has played throughout the northwest with The Gods Themselves, Purple Mane, Nowsterday, Halley Greg, and Trick Candles, as well as freelance work.

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @ScottLangdonMusic / Cash App $ScottLangdonMusic

Natalie is a Pacific Northwest Native who honed her crafts at Central Washington University where she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre. Natalie has also studied with The Actor's Movement Studio Conservatory in New York City.

Natalie has performed in award-winning theatres across the country, most notably, Village Theatre and Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre. More recently, she embarked on AIDA Cruises (Carnival), a German cruise line, where she performed 10 various shows, (some of which were in German and Italian) all over the world for 7 months. Natalie has also gone on tour in Bulgaria and Italy with Varna International in the iconic opera: Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute).

Natalie most recently released two original singles on all streaming platforms and is excited to help students with their own compositions if they have an interest in composing! Natalie learned to play the piano from her mother at a very young age and has taught and been around education for most of her life. Natalie’s teaching style is warm and inviting and allows for vulnerability. She is passionate about making a safe space for growth and development. “Let’s make mistakes and make it big! Sometimes there’s nothing scarier than baring your soul, but we can build a space together to create safety; that is my top priority for my students.”

Tip Your Teacher! Venmo @Natalie-Colvin / Paypal @NatColvin