Learn from Great Jazz Guitar Teachers

For over 33 years as a musician and 29 years as an educator for all grade levels and teachers alike, I have the experience of learning from my previous students and applying more efficient techniques to current and future ones. Much like my students, I work towards learning the most innovative techniques while foreseeing the trends of the future in music and education.

I have been playing guitar for over 30 years, and teaching for 28. Hailing from Santa Clara, CA, I was introduced to music and the arts at an early age. I was first introduced to music by my grandfather, who gave me multiple instruments to play. These instruments included mandolin, violin, harmonica, piano, drums, and guitar.

Chad has been teaching private guitar lessons for 7 years and performing performing for 12. Chad received his Bachelor's in Music Degree with an emphasis in guitar performance in 2023 from Utah Tech University, studying Jazz and solo acoustic guitar. He received the student of the semester award for the music department in the spring of 2023.

Ryan Hernandez began his musical training in Huntington Beach, California, guided by esteemed blues musician Walter Trout. Upon moving to New Jersey in 2010, Ryan was gradually exposed to the Tri-state jazz scene, becoming enamored with it. This passion led him to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's jazz program and the New Jersey Youth Jazz Orchestra.

"At just 22 years old, Francesca Simone (Simone being her middle name, which she goes by casually) is already proving herself to be a trailblazer. With her soulful shredding and laid back Los Angeles vibe, Simone has a style of sound all her own. When one of her viral performance videos caught the eye of Beyoncé’s music director for Coachella, Simone’s world exploded.

What started as a childhood fascination with the guitar grew into a lifelong pursuit of music. I picked up the bass in middle school and high school, but it wasn't until I found myself living in New York City that I began seriously studying and performing on the instrument — diving deep into jazz, blues, and funk and never looking back.

I’m a professional guitarist, arranger and composer from Argentina, with more than 15 years of experience teaching and performing in a wide variety of styles. I studied at CAEMSA (formerly Berklee Argentina), graduating in 2010 with a degree in Professional Guitar, and continued my education at the Universidad Nacional de las Artes (UNA), where I studied Composition and currently…

I am a professional guitarist with over 14 years of performance experience and 10 years of dedicated teaching. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Music and have built a career performing and educating across a wide range of musical settings, including touring bands, musical theatre productions, wedding and corporate bands, and teaching rock camps.

Hi, I am Mert Akyol, a professional musician and educator with over 15 years of guitar experience. I have a profound connection to music that completely transcends styles and genres. In fact, exploring and studying unfamiliar musical traditions from all over the world is my absolute passion.

I’ve been studying guitar privately for over 30 years and have taught professionally for more than 20. My teaching covers a wide range of styles—including jazz, pop, rock and blues—with a strong foundation in improvisation, music theory, and ear training.