Piano - Vocal
Band - Strings
guitar - bass - drums - ukulele - MANDOLIN
Tory Edwards-Ludders - ONLINE LESSONS or Litchfield Park area
Guitar/Bass/Drums/Mandolin
Strings Violin/Viola
asha bjork
CONTACT ASHA FOR LESSONS!
Offering lessons in the Mesa/Gilbert area
Instruments Taught: Trumpet/Piano
Year at AMA: 2024
Bio: Asha grew up in the Mesa area. Coming from a musical family, she began playing piano at 5 years old and picked up the trumpet at 10. While in grade school, she performed with multiple youth ensembles in the Valley such as the Youth Symphony of the Southwest and the Valley Jazz Cooperative. She also has experience playing with various types of school ensembles, ranging from marching band in high school to the latin jazz combo she participates in at Mesa Community College. She is currently finishing her Associate's degree in Biological Sciences at MCC and will be a Jazz Performance major starting this fall. In her free time, Asha likes to learn about video game lore and arrange music to play with her friends. She also loves going out to jazz clubs to listen to live music.
Charles Watson
CONTACT CHARLES FOR LESSONS!!
480-406-1241
Offering lessons in the Gilbert/Chandler/Mesa area
Instruments Taught: Guitar/Bass/Drums
Year at AMA: 2004
Bio:
Charles Watson is an American born a composer and international recording artist. Charles Watson has been performing guitar and music since the age of eight and has continued to perform at various functions such as fall rock concerts restaurants weddings events and local functions.
As teacher Charles Watson has over 25 years experience in teaching music and inspiring kids to continue with their education and performance of music.
Charles teaches multiple instruments such as drums, bass, piano, vocals and also specializes in songwriting and composition for multiple genres of music.
Charles Watson also specializes in classical guitar and hybrids between classical compositions and modern music.
His lessons incorporate music theory in a easy understandable way to open up a whole new world of music to students and by understanding their instrument and others they will have a well rounded education and how to approach songwriting and forming a band.
Brandon Wilhelmsen
CONTACT BRANDON FOR LESSONS!
Web: brandon-wilhelmsen.mymusicstaff.com
Offering lessons in Mesa area
Instruments taught: Piano/Violin/Viola/Organ and many more!
Year at AMA: 2023
Education/Background: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Extended Biography:
From the time he was a boy, Brandon has had a passion for music. He has played piano and violin throughout his entire musical career. He studied piano with Brandon Stewart and violin with Peggy Wheelwright and Ruth Giauque, playing in multiple high school and collegiate symphony orchestras. Brandon studied organ with Dr. Kimberly Marshall (ASU) in high school, Dr. Daniel Kerr (BYU-Idaho), and Dr. Don Cook (BYU) in college. He has had opportunities to perform across the Western United States and Northern Germany. Brandon also participated in the American Guild of Organists National Young Artists Competition in 2019 for the Eastern Idaho Chapter, winning 2nd place.
Brandon is also a singer and has performed with multiple choirs, including Millennial Choirs and Orchestra, Brigham Young University-Idaho Collegiate Singers, and Brigham Young University Men’s Chorus. Brandon also studied opera and has performed with the Brigham Young University-Idaho and Brigham Young University Operas. In 2022, Brandon toured with the BYU Men’s Chorus to the Baltic States. His vocal mentors include Elizabeth Coleman, David Olsen, Barbara Allen, and Shea Owens.
When Brandon is not busy teaching, he likes to compose music or learn about cooking, science, and medicine. He loves learning new instruments like the cello, bassoon, flute, clarinet, guitar, and percussion. He also enjoys ballroom dance, time in nature, and travel.
daniel morissett
CONTACT DANIEL FOR LESSONS!
Offering lessons in Tempe area
Instruments taught: Sax/Clarinet/Flute/Piano
Children's Music
Year at AMA: 2023
Education/Background: Arizona State University, Bachelor of Music Performance, Jazz
Extended Biography:
Danny Morissett is a versatile saxophonist, flutist, and clarinetist. On any given day, you might run into him performing around the Greater Phoenix area in jazz, R&B, funk, and rock bands. His accolades include headlining at The Nash as part of the club’s Emerging Artist series, as well as performing with The Phoenix Symphony and The Tucson Symphony. Danny loves introducing children and their families to the joy of creating music; as an instructor for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s award-winning WeBop program at Phoenix Conservatory of Music, he regularly works with kids ages eight months through seven years old. Thanks to his experience as a math and music theory tutor, Danny recognizes that every student needs a safe space to learn at their own pace. In his free time, he enjoys reading, running, and watching Netflix shows!
Carissa henderson
CONTACT CARISSA FOR LESSONS!!
mymusicboxsubscription@yahoo.com
Offering lessons in Chandler at East Valley School of Music
Instruments Taught: Drums
Year at AMA: 2023
Kaarin Safsten
CONTACT KAARIN FOR LESSONS!!
Facebook: Joyful Music Studio
Offering lessons in Mesa Gilbert and Chandler area
Instruments taught: Vocal/Piano
Years Experience: 20+ years
Year at AMA: 2010
Education/Background: Ms. Safsten holds a Master of Music (Voice) and Performance Diploma in Professional Opera Studies from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Music Performance and Pedagogy (Voice) from Brigham Young University
Something no one knows about ME: I collect teacups and love to host tea parties for my young nieces.
Extended biography: Kaarin Safsten has taught voice lessons for 20+ years. She currently is teaching music courses and voice lessons at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in addition to teaching at Arizona Music Academy and maintains a private studio in Mesa. Ms. Safsten has sung several operatic roles, including Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte), Marie (Wozzeck) and Electra (Idomeneo). She has also sung, recorded, and toured the United States as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She is an active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and served as secretary in the local Valley of the Sun NATS Chapter for two years (2008-2010).
Leilani rogers
CONTACT LEILANI FOR LESSONS!
Offering lessons in Chandler and Gilbert area
Instruments taught: Strings/Piano
Years Experience: 12+ years
Year at AMA: 2022
Education/Background: Arizona State University
Something no one knows about ME:
Extended biography:
Leilani Rogers is a music educator and performer native to Arizona. She began playing viola in 5th grade and continued to further her music career in college. Leilani graduated cum laude from Arizona State University with her degree in Viola Performance. While at ASU, she was able to take several music education classes to help further her teaching skills. Leilani was also a part of the Arizona State University Symphony Orchestra and studied under Nancy Buck during her time at ASU. Her teaching is primarily through the Suzuki method for strings and focuses on building technique and keeping the student engaged and interested in music. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and practicing the viola!
Matt witter
CONTACT MATT FOR LESSONS!
Offering lessons in the Casa Grande and Gilbert/Chandler area
Instruments taught: Piano
Years Experience: 15+
Year at AMA: 2016
Background:
Matthew began playing the piano at age 7 and had a few different teachers into middle school. In 6th grade while living in Pensacola, FL, he began receiving instruction from a college music professor, Bob Sherwood, and studied under him partway into his college years. During these years with Mr. Sherwood, he competed in yearly Sonata contests, Concerto contests, and Theory/Performance competitions. One of his highlights from this time was winning a competition to perform the Warsaw Concerto with the PJC/UWF Wind Ensemble. While in high school, he also received training in sacred music and has been involved in church music in various capacities for many years. He started teaching piano in the mid-nineties in North Carolina. More recently he taught in the Phoenix West Valley from 2009 – 2015, during which time he gave private lessons to more than 30 students.
Molly Bass
CONTACT MOLLY FOR LESSONS!
Offering lessons in the Tempe area
Instruments Taught: Piano/Voice
Years Experience: 10+ years
Employed at AMA: 2018
Education/Background: Molly Bass holds degrees in Piano Performance and Pedagogy and Vocal Music Education from Bemidji State University and is currently licensed in K-12 Vocal and Classroom Music from Minnesota.
Something no one knows about ME: I love old books and can spend hours perusing in libraries or bookstores.
Extended Biography: Molly Bass has extensive experience working with students of all ages, having begun teaching music lessons while in high school and accompanying high school choirs. She has taught piano and voice lessons, played at several churches, and accompanied numerous soloists and large groups over the past ten years. She has also been a volunteer camp counselor and teacher at Bemidji Musicamp in Bemidji, MN since 2014. Along with these, Molly has experience substitute teaching in public schools back in Minnesota. Molly has performed the roles of Pamina, The Magic Flute, and Peep-Bo, The Mikado, while at Bemidji State University and was a soloist in several Opera Night Galas. She continues to push her own education by participating in programs like L’Opportunita, vocal intensive training program in MN 2018, observing master teachers such as David Jones, vocal teacher training seminar in MN 2017, and working as a vocal coach with the Summer Vocal Institute for high school students, in MN 2018. She loves teaching students of all ages and backgrounds and finds great joy when they experience success in whatever they do.
skully Lawrence
CONTACT SKULLY FOR LESSONS!!
602-614-3512
Offering lessons in Chandler/Gilbert and at Blackbird Music in Queen Creek.
Instruments taught: Guitar/Bass/Ukulele/Mandolin/Drums
Years Experience: 35 years
Year at AMA: 2008
Education/Background: Professional tour experience
Something no one knows about ME: My name is Scott
Extended Biography: Skully Lawrence is a native of Sierra Vista, AZ and moved to Norwich, England at age 21 to play with an American childhood friend and 3 British lads in a band named “Allied Forces”. After much touring and efforts to launch the band he returned to Phoenix, AZ. Within a couple of years he joined up with Lurch Killz (original bass player for Sacred Reich). As a follow up stint he released several epics with Alowicious Toole together with The Flotsam & Jetsam guitar player, Mark Simpson and another local metal outfit called Blind Rage. Skully has played bass for the AK Corral, with Eric A.K., and Ed Carlson, from Flotsam & Jetsam, Scott Goodwine of S.I.L., Tory Edwards, a local fiddle phenom, and Rob Kippart of the Rush tribute band Freewill.
Stephanie Pack
CONTACT STEPHANIE FOR LESSONS!
Offering lessons in Chandler and Gilbert area
Instruments taught: Woodwinds/Brass/Strings/Piano/Scottish
Years Experience: 20+ years
Year at AMA: 2021
Education/Background: Associates in fine arts and Bachelors in Music Performance with an emphasis in Flute from Colorado State University
Something no one knows about ME: Stephanie LOVES video games! When She isn’t playing music she is playing video games and streaming to Twitch
Extended Biography:
Stephanie started playing piano when she was 4 years old. When she got to middle school, she chose to do Flute in band and Violin in Orchestra. After a year, she switched to string bass and continued with Flute in band. Stephanie was fascinated by the complexity and differences between all the instruments in both band and orchestra so she started learning them all. From then on, whenever she came across an instrument she didn’t know, she strived to learn it. Stephanie is currently part of 3 performing ensembles. She plays flute in a flute/guitar duo where they play at private business events and weddings. She plays Bagpipes in Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band where she performs at highland games and competes across the midwestern states and occasionally in Scotland. Stephanie also plays in a Celtic punk/folk/rock band where she plays Bagpipes, Flute, Piccolo, Violin, Bass Guitar, Concertina, Harmonica and spoons.
Sandra Pauliuk
CONTACT SANDRA FOR LESSONS!
Sandra offers lessons in the Chandler area and is also teaching at Blackbird Music, Queen Creek. Please reach out to her for availability.
Instruments taught: Strings/Piano
Years Experience: 25+ years
Year at AMA: 2024
Bio: Sandra has had a lifelong passion for music, having started the piano at age five, and then the violin at age nine. As a young musician, she performed in school and city youth orchestras, then went on to earn a Bachelor of Musical Arts in Music Education from the University of Western Ontario. She has performed as a member of several orchestras in Ontario, Canada, and upon arriving in Arizona in 2003 joined the Scottsdale Symphony. Currently, she is a member of the Chandler Symphony Orchestra. Sandra enjoys sharing her passion for music by assisting students in developing a solid technical foundation, from which they can grow their own personal musical expression.
Tory Edwards - online lessons or Litchfield Park area
CONTACT TORY FOR LESSONS!
Currently offers lessons in the Litchfield Park area
Instruments taught: Guitar/Bass/Drums/Mandolin
Strings - Violin, Viola, Cello
Years Experience: Lots
Years at AMA: 2010
Education/Background: Phoenix colleges. 20years experience; studied Classical violin with Dr. Max Mandel, Phoenix Orchestra and Dr. Veronda, Phoenix College.
Something no one knows about ME: Tory is a Disney Freak! He celebrates his birthday with Disneyland every July 17th!
Extended Biography: Tory plays a wide variety of music from jazz to rock to country, has recorded with various artists, and has appeared in concert locally and thought the United States. He frequently plays in venues in Arizona, California, and Nevada. He played the House of Blues in Hollywood and Las Vegas. Additionally Tory has played in concert and recorded with 80's rock band Flotsam and Jetsam, played with various country western groups; AK Corral, the Danny Griego Band, Surefire and a Rush tribute band. He has worked with Tanya Tucker, opened for musicians George Straight, Chris Ladoux,, and Michael Schenker.
Tory is a versatile musician who is a classically trained violinist and is also accomplished on the viola, guitar, bass, mandolin, piano, and drums.
