Meet Our Instructors

Guitarfish instructors are hand-selected by our education experts from the best in the greater Portland area. Not only are they all experienced in performance, they have all studied music at a collegiate level and have educational backgrounds as well. Each music teacher is staff, helping us provide a stable environment for students to learn the instrument they choose. They are also a key component in developing and refining our teaching methodology, providing first-hand experience of how well our techniques work and helping us constantly improve. Come into a Studiostore location to learn more about our teaching staff and lesson programs.

• Bachelor of Music at Berklee College of Music
• Master’s Degree in Education from Portland State University
• Over 10 years of experience teaching guitar, bass, and ukulele to a wide variety of students
• Currently performs in several Portland-based bands, including a jazz big-band, a rock band, and a ukulele ensemble
• His teaching combines a diverse range of music with solid technical training
• In addition to teaching at Guitarfish, Justin is also a substitute music teacher in the Beaverton, West-Linn, and Lake Oswego school districts

Click here to see a brief lesson from Justin.

• Born in Portland, Oregon
• Studied Contemporary Vocal Performance at University of Oregon
• Trained in sight-singing and ear training
• Currently sings with several Portland-area groups
• 2011 American Idol Contestant
• Her teaching combines her passion for all types of music with specialization in contemporary, jazz and rock vocals
• Dream musician to play/sing with: Diana Krall

• Born in Albuquerque, NM, Raised in St. Helens, OR
• Studied Music Theory at Portland State University
• Over 4 years experience instructing
• Currently writing/recording a solo album
• Loves to compose music
• Favorite band: Nevermore
• Dream musician to play with: Jason Becker & Marty Friedman

• Born in Warren, Michigan
• Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music in Songwriting with a concentration in Drum-Set Performance
• All-State Percussionist in high school
• Over 10 years experience teaching drum lessons
• Worked on Holland America Cruise Line as a show-band drummer for 3 years
• Favorite band: The Beatles
• Dream musician to play with: Beck

• Born in Chicago, Illinois, raised and went to college in Iowa
• Suzuki instructed since age 5, attended Preucil School of Music in Iowa City, Iowa from age 11-18
• Attended the University of Iowa to study Piano Performance with Dr. Ksenia Nosikova. Graduated with honors in 2010
• Studied Alexander Technique and the Lister-Sink Method
• 9 Years of teaching experience. Well versed in music theory, ear training and proper technique
• Enjoys teaching spin and yoga classes, baking, learning spanish, middle eastern and salsa dancing
• Favorite band: Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, D’Angelo, Chopin, Willie Colon
• Dream musician to play with: Ray Charles

• Born and raised in Portland, OR
• Bachelor of Music from Portland State University
• Master’s of Music from Portland State University
• Studied piano with Darlene Cusick and Lisa Marsh
• Organist at St. Henry in Gresham
• Enjoys soccer, basketball, and playing with his son Matthew
• Favorite band: Pink Floyd
• Dream musician to play with: Johann Sebastian Bach

• Born in Minneapolis, MN / Raised in San Luis Obispo, CA
• Degree in Jazz Performance from Portland State University
• 2 years experience teaching
• Enjoys Reading, Cycling, Soccer, and catching live music
• Current projects include La La Land, Weather Machine, Adam Sweeney, Megafauna
• Favorite bands (at the moment): Brian Blade Fellowship, The Band, and The Meters
• Dream musician to play with: Bill Frisell, Dave Douglas, and Stevie Wonder

• Born and raised in Portland, OR
• Degree in Jazz Guitar Performance University of Oregon
• Graduate studies at Portland state
• Studied under Don Latarski, and Steve Owen, Jerry Hahn and Darrell Grant
• 20 years experience teaching jazz, rock, blues, and acoustic guitar
• Played both rock and jazz professionally
• Well versed in music theory, songwriting and arranging. Loves to focus on proper technique
• Dream musician to play with: Pat Metheny and Stevie Ray Vaughan

• Born and raised in Portland, OR
• Degree in Music Composition from Portland State University
• Enjoys going to the zoo
• Played at South by Southwest and currently is recording an instrumental album
• Dream musician to play with: Thelonious Monk