Mike
Music Director, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Mike is a multi-instrumentalist, session player, producer, recording engineer, and film composer. He currently plays keyboards in the Philly-based psychedelic rock band St. James & The Apostles.
He started playing piano at age 4 but didn't take music seriously until picking up guitar and bass at 9 years old. After taking guitar lessons for over a year at the original School of Rock, he also picked up the drums. After moving on to the music program at Archbishop Ryan High School, he rotated between instruments in different ensembles.
After high school, Mike ended up in the music program at Community College of Philadelphia, graduating with honors in 2010 with a double major in Music Theory and Sound Recording Technology. While there he sang as a tenor in the school choir and rotated between bass, drums, vibraphone, and percussion in the Jazz ensemble.
Soon after graduating, Mike formed St. James & The Apostles with his cousins, while also teaching one-on-one lessons on the side. The band has since released four albums and started their own recording studio, Green Rock Recorders, with the purpose of producing their own records, which soon blossomed into a fun side career as a sought-after production team. They were also awarded 2019's "Best Band" by Philadelphia Magazine.
Mark
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Mark started early in his life with music. At age 6, he was playing drums along to all his favorite albums. As a teen, he taught himself guitar along with bass, mandolin, and piano. After years of touring as a multi-instrumentalist, Mark took the knowledge he gained and focused it on teaching all the tricks, secrets, and fundamentals of music he has picked up over the years.
Mark has been influenced by many different genres and bands. Ranging from the classics like Pink Floyd, Genesis, and Yes to the more obscure acts like Magma, This Heat, and Talk Talk. He has taken his love for all things experimental and put that into over 20 original albums written, produced, and recorded by himself.
Laura
Vocal Teacher
Laura’s love for learning music started early when she spent time with her sister figuring out the different harmonies to Beatles tunes so they could perform “shows” for their parents. Growing up, Laura took classical music lessons training in singing Italian opera and playing the cello. Though she has a deep appreciation for the classics, it wasn’t until she picked up one of her dad's guitars that she began to experience the magic of learning to play songs that she felt truly connected to and the rewarding feeling of performing songs that speak to the soul. Laura enjoys a wide range of music, spanning from prog-rock to classic bluegrass. A few of Laura’s favorite artists are Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Radiohead, Hot Tuna, and Esperanza Spalding.
Over the years, Laura has written many of her own songs and worked on various projects as a session vocalist and guitarist. She spent three years performing as a vocalist in a Pink Floyd cover band (Think Pink Floyd), where her experience as a performer truly developed. She is currently learning the ropes of music production and is expanding her knowledge of audio recording, mixing, and engineering.
Dakota
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Dakota is a multi-instrumentalist and audio engineer from Plymouth Meeting, PA. His musical journey started at the age of 11 when he decided that he wanted to pick up guitar and drums. Video games such as Guitar Hero and Rockband really got him involved with music, but the plastic instruments were soon traded in for the real thing. Since then, Dakota has picked up other instruments such as bass, piano, and various smaller stringed instruments. Dakota currently holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology degree from Temple University, where he graduated in 2020. Dakota was trained in audio engineering, composition, conducting, and music theory. As a producer, his influences span a wide variety of genres and styles so that he can constantly take in new information and approaches to the craft. His primary influences include Tame Impala, Mac DeMarco, Dream Theater, Flume, Queen, John Mayer, and many others. He has performed and composed in various styles of music including rock, metal, R&B, funk, and psychedelia. Dakota has been a part of many different bands and projects over the years, but in June of 2019 he decided to take matters into his own hands and go solo. He has been releasing music independently since then, taking full control of the creative process. Dakota is excited for his future at the Fort Washington School of Rock, and looks forward to helping musicians blossom into their full potential.
Sammy
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Sammy is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter from Lake Charles, LA. His musical journey began at the age of 8 when he received his first drum set for Christmas and started taking lessons soon after. While listening to many artists including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Rush, he had the desire to be like those artists and perform on stage. After watching the Foo Fighters documentary, Back and Forth, he was inspired by Dave Grohl to start playing other instruments and taught himself to play guitar and bass. Throughout his middle school and high school years he participated in his local after school music program, Young Band Nation run by SWLA Studios, and had the opportunity to play shows in his local scene including landing a spot at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. When he turned 18 he moved to Boston, MA, where he was enrolled at Berklee College of Music under scholarship and graduated in Spring 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Professional Music with concentrations in Music In Special Education and Recording and Production for Musicians. Sammy has played around the Boston area with many bands and has toured across the northeast with emo-punk band, Villain of the War, as well as his own solo project, Chair Umpire. He now resides in Philadelphia, PA, still playing as well as helping put on DIY shows in the Philly scene. He also enjoys his time in the recording studio whether it’s playing or recording someone else. Sammy’s main goal in teaching is to show his true passion and love for music and how to have fun, especially seeing kids have that same passion that he had when he was young.
Dylan
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Dylan is a multi-instrumental musician and producer in the Philadelphia area. Having begun his musical journey at 8, Dylan maintained singing and playing guitar on stage throughout his childhood. He was heavily influenced by many artists including AC/DC, Sublime, Avenged Sevenfold, Queen, CSNY, Good Charlotte, the Doobie Brothers, Dream Theatre, Tom Petty, Paul Gilbert, Linkin Park, 50 Cent, Johnny Cash, and Bob Marley. He has played in various musical projects from rap, rock, reggae, country, metal, and bluegrass while expanding his instrumentation into drums, piano, bass, banjo, mandolin, and dobro.
Dylan's band, Hepner’s Rebellion, has performed at local venues and private events in the Philadelphia area since 2013. Dylan also operates a recording studio called Madhouse Records out of Delaware County, where he hosts jam sessions, open mics, rehearsals, and private lessons.
Dylan has a deep passion for all things musical and enjoys creating an environment for everyone to find harmony. He encourages each student to challenge themselves with an open ear and a positive attitude.
Stephen
Guitar Teacher
Stephen operates at the crossroads of creativity and education. Currently, he collaborates with many different musicians, writers, producers, and engineers of all styles of music. His versatile career spans roles as a live performer with bands like Beth Arnold Gilbert and Neisha Grace, a creative producer shaping the sounds of emerging talents, and a crafty engineer as well as a member of the Philadelphia Folk Fest Production staff. Beyond his impressive studio work, Stephen's musical footprint resonates on the airwaves, on streaming platforms, in commercials, and even on the theatrical stage. He has even contributed to reference tracks for well-known artists and graced the Red Carpet at the 57th Grammy Awards.
Complementing his creative career, Stephen brings 18 years of dedication to music education. With an associate's degree in Music from Montgomery County Community College and mentorship from various experts like Allen Krantz (Temple Univ.) in classical guitar and Ben O'Neill (U of Arts) in jazz guitar, Stephen offers a wealth of knowledge. His commitment to continuous growth, love for diverse musical styles, and vibrant teaching style make him an ideal mentor for students of all ages, embodying the perfect harmony between musical passion and pedagogical excellence.
Forrest
Bass Guitar Teacher
Music runs in Forrest’s veins. Since before he could walk he was listening to Teddy Pendergrast, Earth, Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Frank Sinatra. Forrest began his formal music education at the age of 6 with the violin (following the Suzuki method) which then turned to trumpet, and then the French horn until he finally found his voice in the upright/electric bass.
Playing the bass has taken Forrest down a journey of performing in orchestras, bands, and various musical groups, recording for studio musicians, writing his own music, and teaching others the powerhouse that the bass can be. Being classically trained by Philadelphia Orchestra’s very own Robert Kesselman, Forrest has been given the tools to perform in all musical settings and genres. He is happiest playing with his friends and colleagues and being the backbone of any group he finds himself in. He is excited to share his love of music with his students and provide them with the tools to find their own unique voice through music.
Bill
Drum Teacher
In the rhythmic tapestry of Bill's life, the beat began at the age of 6 with an unlikely inspiration: the uncontrollable Animal from the Muppet Show pounding away on the drums. From that moment, a passion
for percussion was ignited in Bill.
Bill embraced the world of music during his formative years in grade school. The allure of the drums beckoned, and Bill found a home in both the concert band and marching band, where the precision and power of percussion became second nature.
During high school and college, Bill honed his skills in local bands. The journey through local music scenes exposed him to diverse genres, fostering a versatile and dynamic musical style. The desire to create
original music led Bill and his bandmates to the studio, where they passionately recorded several original DIY EPs.
Bill’s primary influences are Foo Fighters, Fleetwood Mac, Soundgarden, Faith No More, and Tool.
Beyond the beats and rhythms, Bill remains a dedicated and humble artist, always seeking new ways to evolve and innovate within the realm of music. He currently plays in a local cover band, The Eighty
Six, and enjoys writing original music, and recording and editing his movie podcast. With each performance, Bill not only showcases proficiency but also an unwavering love for the art form that first captured his heart with the wild drumming antics of Animal.
From grade school percussionist to the local music scene, Bill’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and the transformative magic of music.
Max
Drum Teacher
Max is a Philadelphia-based drummer with over ten years of experience. Originally from Montgomery County, Max’s musical origins include attending summer camps at School of Rock Fort Washington. He graduated from the University of the Arts with a degree in jazz drum set performance. In addition to his jazz training, Max spent much of his time at UArts studying traditional Afro-Caribbean percussion and playing in the salsa ensemble.
Max is very active in Philadelphia’s indie music community, having performed and recorded with a long list of local rock/pop/folk projects including Vague Positivity, Maax Power, Black Opal, Silas Spooner, and many others. More recently, he has started performing free jazz and improvised avant-garde music as a soloist and in groups. Max draws from an eclectic mix of influences and inspirations, with some of his drumming idols being Glenn Kotche, Brian Chippendale, Milford Graves, and Max Roach.
Max is excited to be back at School of Rock as a teacher and hopes to guide his students into becoming lifelong musicians and music lovers.
Dan
Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Dan is a multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer, and game composer born in Philadelphia, PA, and based in Boston, MA. He plays Chapman stick, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, tenor saxophone, and drums.
Music has been a part of Dan's life since he was 4 years old. He was constantly switching between instruments, including piano, trombone, drums, and saxophone, before finding the bass guitar at age 15. From there, he became a student at School of Rock Fort Washington. In his four-year tenure as a student, he performed in 27 different shows and was selected to the AllStars program before graduating.
Dan now studies at Berklee College of Music with a dual major in Contemporary Writing & Production and Game & Interactive Media Scoring. In addition to teaching at School of Rock, he writes and engineers music for video games and performs with multiple bands in the Philadelphia and Boston areas.
Tyler
Guitar Teacher
Tyler is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer. He first picked up the guitar at the age of 9 and played in many bands throughout high school. Tyler is now a student at Berklee College of Music, studying contemporary writing and production.
Tyler has written, produced, and released many albums with several different bands in various styles. He has many different influences ranging from bands such as Meshuggah, Loathe, and Sleep Token, to Genesis, Porcupine Tree, and Quadeca, as well as many other artists.
Matthew
Drum Teacher
Matthew is a drummer and drum teacher from Philadelphia who is passionate about music for many reasons. Matt was inspired by his dad's wedding band who would practice on week nights in the living room. He is primarily a self-taught drummer involved in multiple music projects with experience playing live music.
Matt's musical inspirations include some of the rock and pop legends from the 1960s-1970s, and contemporary pop culture. He intends to create a safe, fun, learning environment for students and aspiring artists.
Emily
Studio Coordinator
Emily studied English and participated in the color guard with the marching band at West Chester University. She loves to spend her spare time reading and writing. She is a huge fan of Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Carole King, Metallica, and ABBA.