Teaching Staff
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Terry
Allen |
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Tim
Allen (Bass) |
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Rick Alegria (Percussion) http://www.rsamusic.com Rick is a graduate of the Dick Grove School of Music in los Angeles and has studied with drum masters Dave Garibaldi, George Marsh, Dick Carlo, and Bill Noraki. He has performed and recorded with Bo Diddley, Maria Muldaur, Asleep At The Wheel, Commander Cody, and the jazz-fusion group Real Time. He currently works with singer-songwriter Paul Williams. Rick teaches pop, rock, Latin, country, and jazz styles, He also conducts classes and workshops on shuffle styles, rhythm themes, embellishments, locking down grooves, song form and drum balance. |
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Jim Bruno (Voice) Jim is a well-known vocal instructor, music innovator, performer, the founder of SMI and creator of music programs for adults and children. Jim's knowledge in the areas of holistic/alternative medicine contributes to the development of the complete vocalist. Jim teaches rock, jazz, blues, pop, world beat, R & B, and funk styles with emphasis on ear training, recording techniques, emotional delivery and live stage performance. |
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Reggie Coates (guitar) Reggie Coates offers over 35 years of music experience as an educator, artist, worship leader and motivational speaker. His emphasis is teaching church musicians. Each lesson is tailored to you specifically! You will have fun and be challenged whether you want to learn guitar, voice, music theory, songwriting, worship leading, bass guitar, concert artistry, band dynamics or any combination. Reggie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and a Teaching Credential in Music Education from San Jose State University. He is currently the Worship & Arts Ministry Pastor with Creekside Community Church in Alamo. He has taught music in public and private schools, elementary through college. He is the Executive Director of Heartfelt Music Ministry (see http://heartfeltmusic.org), and is the Moderator for the Christian Fellowship Discussion Forum at www.guitarnotes.com. He has 12 recordings with his most recent entitled "Here to Worship". He has led music and workshops at conferences such as Spirit West Coast, NAMM Show, Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center, and the Christian Artists Music Seminars in Europe and the United States. “Reggie Coates provides an atmosphere for young and old guitarists to be around other musicians, receive encouragement to be the best they can be, and experience their potential as musicians. He encourages an atmosphere of anticipation and fun while each guitar player senses his significance as a musician.” Phil Keaggy, Concert and Recording Artist |
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Dave
Coldren (Keyboards) Dave has been playing professionally for 30 years. He currently plays and sings with two working bands (Mack the Knife and Tuxedo Park). Additionally, he has been playing piano and singing at his church in Willow Glen for 20 years. Dave believes in a balanced approach between reading music and playing by ear. Students will learn theory, technique, and chord progressions - which are the underlying structure music. Styles taught are rock, blues, pop, and country. A great goal for a student is to be able to pick up a fake book and play any song - whether performing for a crowd or getting a group of friends to sing songs they know. Piano should be fun! |
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Jeremy
Epp
(Guitar)Hello
Everyone, to those that are well versed in music to those who are picking
up a guitar for the first time, if you have made it to this site and
my bio, WELCOME. I am a well know guitarist in the Nor-Cal metal music
scene. I have spent most of my life studying and playing guitar, driven
by classic rock, heavy metal, and modern rock. Inspired by Randy Rhoads
and Van Halen, I began playing guitar in the late 80's. I quickly developed
the passion, discipline and the sheer will to be the best musician I
can be, since then, I have never looked back. I have been teaching at
Showcase Music Institute since 2002 and have been actively performing
live with ‘The Venting Machine’ since 1998. Recently, I have
embarked on a new music project with the legendary metal drummer, Paul
Bostaph (Testament/Slayer/Exodus) and Dan Nelson (Anthrax) so stay tuned
for this up and coming metal band!
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John
Epp (Guitar and Bass) John Epp shares insights of teaching guitar to kids 6-12 years old.
Now available, the "Nebulae" CD. Stop in to Guitar Showcase for your copy or contact John at johnepp@sbcglobal.net.
Now available, the "Forward" CD. For info
or purchase click here; |
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Damien
Gonzalez (Percussion - Drumsets, Hand Drumming) Damien has been involved in music for over 30 years, focusing on drums and percussion for the last 25. In 1996 he received a Bay Area Music Award as a member of local band Squeeze the Dog. He has shared the stage with various artists including, Train, Everclear, Tower of Power, Deep Blue Something, Firefall, WAR, Linda Perry, A Flock of Seagulls, Primitive Radio Gods, and Smashmouth. He has studied with Mike Curotto, Terry Carlton, Ron Bender, and Norm Taylor as well as assorted workshops at Rhythm Fusion in Santa Cruz, Lenny White, Marc Egan, Tony Levin, Sheila E, Teri Lynn Carrington, and Buddy Rich. He is currently playing drums with the Vinny Johnson Band and bass with Barrelfish as well as drumming for various top40 bands in the Bay Area. Damien teaches all aspects of drumming while having fun focusing on rhythmic theory, song structure, style selection, reading and writing, studio and live performance techniques, and expressing oneself creatively through the drumset. |
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Ry
Kihn (guitar) Ry Kihn has over 20 years of performing and teaching experience on guitar. He specializes in a wide range of styles including rock, blues, jazz, classical, country, and metal. After studying privately with Joe Satriani while still in high school, Ry went on to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, eventually graduating from California Institute of the Arts with a BFA in Jazz Guitar Studies. While at CalArts, he had the opportunity to work with a diverse group of world class teachers including Charlie Haden, Larry Koonse, and Miroslav Tadic. Ry has performed with major artists including Eddie Money, Joe Satriani, Billy Idol, Greg Kihn, Mike Reno, Jimi Jameson, and Bobby Kimball. He is also regular guest on his dad’s KFOX morning show, where he jams with musical guests often. Ry is experienced working with students of all levels and ages. Lessons can focus on basic to advanced lead guitar and improvising, chords and rhythm, sight reading, music theory, and learning your favorite songs with accurate note for note transcriptions. |
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Joyce
Kuo
(Guitar & Piano) Youthful and energetic, Joyce is passionate about music and teaching. She began studying classical piano and violin at age 5, and eventually went on to receive her teaching certification from the Guildhall School of Music in London. She has also studied jazz guitar with Rick Vandivier. Although her roots are classical, her influences include a broad range of artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Eric Johnson, Jeff Beck, and Brian May, as well as Frederic Chopin and many others. For the past decade, Joyce has been actively involved in recording and performing guitar, keyboard, drum set, and violin professionally in a variety of styles (rock, pop, reggae, hip-hop, classical, and jazz) with diverse groups. Joyce highlights the importance of preparation and performance, and encourages students to share their music in public. She integrates the joy of reading standard notation and learning the fundamentals of music theory into her lessons. She also teaches students the value of proper technique, ear training, and improvisation. |
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Christopher
O’Hara
(Guitar) "I think a good teacher needs to possess not only
a great love for the content, but also a love for the process of helping
others engage that material. Learning an instrument can be difficult,
however, through one-on-one instruction I can effectively communicate
difficult concepts, provide instant feedback, and inspire students to
reach their goals."
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Russ Pettit (Guitar) Russ Pettit has 28 years of experience playing guitar. He performs throughout California in various bands and with numerous styles of music including: Top 40, Blues, Jazz, Instrumental Fusion and original Rock. Russ studied music at Los Medanos College and continued his musical education by studying under Joe Satriani, Doug Doppler and Brian Pardo from The Jazz School in Berkeley, CA. During his 19 years of teaching guitar, Russ has worked with students as young as 5 years old through adults. Russ teaches all levels, individuals and groups.
To hear
Russ' music, watch videos and read reviews of his work, please go to
www.russpettit.com.
Russ is currently playing with Rcubed (R3), which is an Instrumental
Progressive Fusion Band. Hear them at www.reverbnation.com/rcubedr3
. Russ has
a self-published book called Heavy Metal Mechanics. It focuses on Metal
rhythm guitar playing. To contact Russ, please go to www.ruspettit@yahoo.com |
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Regi
Rockinelli (Keyboards) |
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Ken
Schroeder (Guitar) Ken holds a B.A. degree in classical guitar & composition, and an M.A. in composition and has been teaching guitar privately and at SMI for over 15 years. Ken has toured with blues legend Albert King and has also professionally performed blues, jazz and classical music throughout the Bay Area. Ken teaches classical, jazz, blues, rock to all levels with emphasis on theory and composition. Ken considers it his role as a teacher to help his students define and successfully attain their musical goals. |
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Chris
Sears
(Percussion Instructor - Drum Set / Hand Percussion / Marching) |
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Rick Silvestri (guitar, electric bass, upright bass, electronic media) is a longtime and sought-after guitar and bass instructor in San Jose with nearly fifteen years’ worth of teaching experience, and over twenty years of live music performance experience. Rick teaches all levels of guitar, upright and electric bass. He specializes in jazz, blues, and rock, and he uses that background to teach and perform all styles of music. Rick has extensive experience with Propellerhead Software’s Reason, Record, and ReCycle programs, having written MIDI sequences for their sample series – most recently for their Electric Bass ReFill. He has performed live instrumental and DJ sets with Ableton Live, and is also eager to share his knowledge of recording programs, including Avid’s Pro Tools and Apple’s Logic Pro. Rick has been teaching full-time since 1997. He has performed with several premier Northern California jazz, rock, and blues bands as well as in local orchestras. Please visit www.ricksilvestri.com for more details. Rick holds a Bachelor of Arts from Santa Clara University
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3090
So. Bascom Ave. San Jose, CA. 95124 ~ 408-377-5864 |
