Music Lessons and Teachers

Chicago Music Store has a large staff of excellent, friendly teachers ready to help you reach your musical goals, and have fun doing it. And most of our teachers give the first two lessons for free, so you can be sure about it. You’ll find instructors for the following instruments:

GUITAR, BASS, FOLK STRINGS

Damon Barnaby

Guitar, music theory, improvisation

Damon has been teaching guitar for twenty-five years. He also regularly performs around town in a variety of settings and has been recording and writing professionally since the late 80’s. Damon studied at the University of Idaho and welcomes students of all ages.

520-307-6898 | damonbarnaby@cox.net

Kim Philip Bloom

Guitar

As a classical guitarist, Kim maintains a tremendous passion for teaching. Having earned a Bachelor of Music in guitar performance from The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Kim has taught and performed in California, Mexico, Minnesota, Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands, and has attended and participated in many master classes by world acclaimed guitarists. He is a patient and personable teacher, a disciplined classical musician, who teaches repertoire, technique, interpretation, theory and has edited over 80 works for solo classical guitar. Scores of students, at all levels and ages, beginning to advanced, have benefited from his teaching. It is an honor for Kim to pass on the knowledge from the teachers before him. 30 plus years teaching experience.

612-386-3164 | Kim.Bloom25@gmail.com

Rich Brennion

Acoustic & electric guitar, pedal steel, lap steel, dobro, banjo, mandolin

Rich is a professional musician with over 30 years of playing experience in a myriad number of musical styles. Eight years ago Rich began accepting students in order to pass along the extensive knowledge he gained throughout his career, with a focus of shortening the learning curve for aspiring musicians. With an emphasis on the physical aspects of playing being the fastest way to learn, students from eight to eighty have come to appreciate his caring and patient teaching style.

(520) 661-5682 | rbrennion@cox.net

Ryan David Green

Guitar

Ryan has toured and performed with Jason Mraz, Matt Nathanson, Train, Lifehouse, and many others. He has a degree from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, and has worked as a visiting artist teaching guitar to children in the OMA (Opening Minds Through The Arts) program. He teaches guitar to students of all ages and skill levels. Note: This teacher does not participate in our Two Free Lesson program.

J.P. Thom-Gronachan

Guitar, Ukulele, Accordion, Banjo

J.P believes the primary benefit of private lessons is that you get just what you need at the pace that is best for you. He has more than 25 years of experience at breaking down music practicum and music theory into bite-size pieces for any student, whether that student is 8 years old or 80. Although J.P earned a B.A. in music from Arizona State University, his focus and background is in the non-conventional or ethno musicological fields such as folk strings and free reed areas.

520-682-6201 | www.themusicmaker.com

Josh Thomas

Voice, Guitar and Trumpet

Josh Thomas is a multi instrumentalist and songwriter originally from Prescott, Arizona. He teaches voice, trumpet, bass, and guitar. After one year at NAU in Flagstaff, he moved to Boston and studied at Berklee College of Music for a few years. For the last twenty years, he lived in the Pacific Northwest, first Seattle and then Portland. In Portland, he taught at the School of Rock for ten years. As well as having written hundreds of songs , he has performed thousands of times, having performed with or opened for some the best music artists in the world, such as Vulfpeck, Thundercat, Kamasi Washington, Battles, Medeski Martin & Wood, badbadnotgood, Marc Ribot, Bernard Purdie, Monophonics, Earth, Tortoise, and many more.

Ryan Dustan

Electric Bass

Ryan hails from Washington State and has been playing bass for 23 years and studied under renowned Northwest jazz musician, Jay Mabin. He has been teaching since 2008 with a focus on technique, theory, and genre diversity. Ryan has played and recorded with numerous musicians and bands in the greater Seattle/Tacoma area as well as Tucson since relocating in 2012. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

253-301-9729 | ryandustan@yahoo.com

VIOLIN

Bridget Keating

Violin, viola, voice, guitar

Bridget is a classically trained musician having studied at the Boston Conservatory. She holds an M. Ed degree from the University of Phoenix. In addition to being a singer/songwriter, Bridget has performed in a variety of musical styles: classical, pop and mariachi to name a few. She has shared a stage with Linda Ronstadt, Mariachi Vargas, and Rainer. She is also a member of the Tucson Professional Music Teachers Association. Bridget’s teaching style is relaxed, fun and tailored to you and/or your child’s favorite music.

520-396-8000 | bridgetr2002@aol.com

Mariah McCammond

Violin, Viola, Cello

Mariah McCammond picked up her first instrument, the violin, at the age of 9. Coming from a strong classical background, with private instruction from some of Tucson’s best, including Anna Gendler of the Moscow Conservatory of Music; she now pursues her passions for both American and European folk music. Performing regularly in a wide variety of groups and settings. Her teaching style focuses on old world classical foundations with heavy emphasis on music theory and ear training. “I believe that every student has a different path to success and it is a great joy for me to nurture each individual’s gifts in order to help them discover that path.” Mariah has been teaching violin since 2010.

PIANO

Bev Phelps

Piano

Bev has a combined forty years of teaching and playing experience. She is Vice President of The Tucson Professional Music Teachers Association. Professional affiliations include National Federation of Music Clubs and Arizona Federation of Music Clubs. Her curriculum focuses on note reading, theory, ear training and piano performance. Welcoming students of all ages, beginning to early advanced.

(612) 991-7601

BRASS AND WOODWINDS

Andrew Braden

Clarinet

Andrew Braden has been in the Tucson Symphony for 30 years. He taught in TUSD for 10 years at Lynn-Urquides elementary school. He has taught private lessons for 30 years. Beginners and adults and everything in-between. Braden has had countless students in high school regional and all-state band. In 2020 all four clarinetists in the Tucson Philharmonic Youth Orchestra were Andy’s students. He also loves teaching beginning adult clarinet students who fill up the adult only New Horizons band. Braden, during the pandemic, has taught on Zoom.

Ben Tucker

All brasswind instruments

Ben Tucker has been teaching private students since 1986 and playing trumpet professionally since 1983. A former French horn and baritone player as well, he has taught all brass instruments at all levels from beginning through college and focuses on the unique needs and abilities of each student, no matter what the skill level. With degrees from The University of Arizona, Indiana University, and The University of Toledo, “Dr. Ben” has taught at Pima Community College, The University of Arizona, and Western New Mexico University, where he was Associate Professor and Director of Brass and Jazz Studies.

Joshua Schanie

All brasswind instruments

Joshua Schanie recently moved to Tucson from Hamilton, OH, and recently finished his degree in Music Performance- Trombone at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. At Miami, Joshua was involved in several ensembles including but not limited to the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Trombone Choir, Jazz Ensemble, and Marching Band. He was also blessed with the opportunity to march with two drum bugle corps within the DCI circuit: Blue Stars (2018) and Boston Crusaders (2019). This is where Joshua’s passion for higher education in the marching arts began. He began teaching marching band in 2017 at his alma mater, Hamilton High School. While there the group experienced unprecedented success receiving a Superior rating at OMEA State Finals for the first time while also winning their highest placement at Bands of America Grand National Championships. Joshua also became the director of the school’s first Indoor Winds group which competed in the MEPA Circuit and placed first at their last competition in 2020 and 2021! Joshua has been teaching brass lessons since 2018 and has taught beginning to advanced students on all brass instruments, so lessons are available at any level! His other activities include walking his dog, finding new paths to hike, and playing his favorite video game, Pokémon!.

Patty Jenkins

Flute

Patty has been teaching in one music in one form or another for over 25 years. While studying for a Bachelor of Music in Music Education Arizona State University, she began teaching private flute students. Since then, she has continued to work with flutes, also band, Orff instruments, and handbells; with children, youth and adults from coast to coast (and even on Guam). She has taught band and beginning band, and also formed and directed a community band. Patty is new to Tucson, and looking forward to playing locally. She was previously a member of Fiesta Flutes in San Antonio.

pajenk119@hotmail.com | 210-834-8416