Our Instructors
Gabe Hall-Rodrigues and Jamie Maschler
Jamie Maschler holds her Bachelors in Music performance from Cornish College of the Arts where she studied under many amazing professors including Jovino Santos Neto, Chuck Deardorf, Julian Priester, and Murl Allen Sanders. Gabriel Hall-Rodrigues holds a Bachelors in Music Therapy and a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from Arizona State University where he studied under Mike Kocour and Sam Pilafian. Both have toured the United States extensively with various projects and performed at accordion festivals throughout the country. Jamie and Gabe also perform with Foleada, Seattle’s premier forró ensemble and recipient of the Jack Straw Artist Grant in 2023. They are set to release their debut album in July 16th, 2024.
Jeff Lockhart
Jeff Lockhart is a recognized leader skilled in performing arts and nonprofit organization advancement strategies, music industry business and education, business development and management, and creative ingenuity/brand management. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Northwest University (Kirkland, WA) . Currently he serves as the Executive Director of Kirkland Performance Center (KPC) the Seattle/Eastside region’s premiere intimate performance venue. During his tenure he has succeeded in implementing programming, funding, and operational revitalization strategies positioning KPC as the leading venue for the performing arts throughout the Eastside region of Seattle. Prior to KPC he founded and spearheaded Creatio (music industry business and recording arts program) at Northwest University(NU) in Kirkland, WA. Through Creatio he developed and launched 2 fully accredited B.A. degrees (B.A. Music Business and B.F.A. Recording Arts Technology), as well as implementing industry standard commercial recording studios. Jeff is also an active gigging/touring drummer and founded and currently leads music performance/artist management/event production collective Live Vinyl Productions LLC .
Mike Mattingly
Mike has over 30 years experience as a professional instructor and even longer as a performer.
His field of expertise is comprised of Rock, Jazz, Blues, Country and Classical and his ability to accentuate the principles of music in a fun environment is showcased through the longevity and success of his career and that of his students.
Beginning guitar lessons at age eleven in Richland, WA, Mike has continued his studies throughout his entire career. He is an accomplished guitarist that has shared the stage with the likes of Joe Williams, Jon Hendricks, Taylor Hawkins, Roger Daltry, Alan White, Maroon 5, Trevor Rabin, Gwen Stefani, just to name a few.
He currently performs with the band, Herding Cats, which he co-founded over 18 years ago as well as an instrumental electric trio called Ecstasy In Numbers which features many of his own compositions. Although Mike is also a professional guitarist, his true passion is teaching! Mike’s student age range is from 6-86 years old and he is thrilled to be able to share his techniques, experience and knowledge with all of them!
Emily Persha
Emily is a songwriter, vocalist, pianist, and music educator in the greater Seattle area. She strives to craft songs that are catchy, introspective, and melodically interesting with influences such as Brandi Carlile and First Aid Kit. She received her degree in Music Education from the University of Washington and previously worked as an elementary music teacher in Redmond, a choir teacher at St. James Cathedral, and an accompanist for the Bellevue Girl Choir. Emily teaches private lessons in piano, voice, and songwriting and loves working with students of all ages and experiences! Aside from teaching she is an active performer in the community and has recently performed on iconic Seattle stages like The Tractor Tavern and The Royal Room.
Emily is the Social Media Manager for The Seattle Bushwick Book Club. She is passionate about Bushwick’s mission to deliver literature, music, and songwriting to the Seattle community while building the next generation of songwriters.
Aaron Sternke
Aaron Sternke is a versatile musician and producer known for his eclectic and tasteful blend of electronic music and live instrumentation. Getting his start in Nashville, his album credits include offerings from Vince Gill, Amy Grant, The Classic Crime, Mandisa, Halley Greg, and many others. Aaron brings a unique and dynamic perspective to his productions, creating immersive sonic landscapes that captivate audiences worldwide.
Wes Weddell
For the past two decades, Wes Weddell has worked multiple shifts in the engine room of Seattle’s roots music scene as frontman, sideman, writer, teacher, and community-builder. “Always heartfelt and well-constructed” (Seattle Weekly), listeners have come to expect Weddell’s regionally rooted songs to “speak for themselves” (No Depression). Along the way he has continued to teach a variety of instruments and styles across generations, helping hundreds find the joy of playing and singing with others.