Matt Bailey
General Manager, House Band Director
Matt Bailey is a north Bay Area musician with a Bachelor's of Arts in Music Composition and Technology from Sonoma State University. With a passion for teaching and educating young minds, he has worked as a music teacher since he was 18 years old and as a summer camp counselor and administrator for the last eight years. Matt began playing drums at a young age but did not find a serious dedication for it until he began to play with his friends. At age 15 he began going to local music shows, which sparked an enthusiasm for local music and art. Having discovered the music scene in Santa Rosa, as soon as he was old enough, he got his driver's license and went to every local show he could, regardless of the music genre. At age 16 Matt started performing in the Santa Rosa area, eventually becoming so immersed in the local music scene that to this day he lives at a house show venue. Matt began his career as a musician by playing drums and then moved on to learn guitar, piano and vocals. Matt is passionate about music and his students and is constantly working to grow as a teacher and musician. He is a guitar teacher, drum teacher and piano teacher at School of Rock Santa Rosa.
Ava Stubblefield
Vocal Teacher, Studio Coordinator
Ava Stubblefield grew up in our local Sonoma County and has been singing since the age of 4. She started off writing poetry and singing her poems to her synchronized swimming team which she was on for 9 years. She joined school of rock as a student in 2019 and sang in our house band performing gigs around Sonoma County. After graduating out of our program she has been working as a studio coordinator and vocal teacher at School of Rock Santa Rosa. She is heavily influenced by musicals, especially Rocky Horror Picture Show. She worked for the sixth street playhouse performing there for four years. As a teacher, Ava would like to cultivate a respect and appreciation for all styles of musical performance to ensure her students can find or create their own musical voice or style.
Rodrigo Alarcon
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher, Piano Teacher
Rodrigo Alarcon is a North Bay musician with a B.M. in Music Education from Sonoma State University. He has been playing music since age 11, when he first joined his school orchestra as a cello player. Back then loud rock music was all the rage. He was immediately drawn to the sound of distorted electric guitars and started playing guitar too.
While in college for music, he began playing guitar, singing, and writing for the band Nice World. Alongside bandmates Matt Bailey and Austin Missner, he went on to record and mix the first few Nice World records that they currently perform live. Rodrigo also plays guitar in the very loud mathcore band Suplex.
As a music teacher, Rodrigo strives to both teach students the musicianship skills that today’s bands demand, and to empower students with the tools they need to make the music they’re interested in. He is a guitar teacher, bass, and piano teacher at School of Rock Santa Rosa.
Rhyne Erde
Drum Teacher
Rhyne Erde has been playing, studying, and recording music for over 20 years. He started with a love for rock-and-roll music then pursued a major in Jazz at SRJC. He studied under drum masters Chuck Brown (who taught the drummers from Frank Zappa & Santana) and Pete Magadini (drummer for Diana Ross). His style incorporates different genres of music ranging from rock, country, jazz, blues, funk and everything in between. He has performed and recorded with legendary musicians such as, Grammy award winner Sam Bush, Tom Constanten (The Grateful Dead), Greg Errico (Sly and the Family Stone), and Lester Chambers (The Chambers Brothers). Some of his more recent projects have been Electric Tumbleweed, One Grass Two Grass, Eric Long, The Highway Poets, The Jugtown Pirates, and The Space Orchestra. Rhyne is passionate about sharing his love and knowledge of music with the next generation of rockers!
Ian Andrew
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher, Keyboard teacher
Ian Andrew has been interested in music since he can remember and began his musical adventures by taking piano lessons as a child. After losing interest in piano he took up playing guitar around 12 years old. Ian attended Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) and studied music theory, sight reading/musicianship and jazz/rock/pop theory writing for big band. He performed in the SRJC jazz band and jazz combos. Ian has toured and performed in the Pacific Northwest and western United States, where highlights included opening up for Napalm Death at the Regency Theater in San Francisco and performing at the famous Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. Ian attended Sonoma State University (SSU) and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's of Music in Jazz Studies. He studied voice at SRJC and SSU and performed with SSU Chamber Singers. Ian has performed at Weill Hall, Cotati Accordion Festival and also private events with the SSU Jazz Ensembles and Jazz Band. He enjoys all styles of music and is interested in helping students express themselves and find their voice through music. Ian believes that the practice of music is a lifelong pursuit and improves one's quality of life and ability to connect with others. He is currently working on a self titled release, teaching himself Ableton, live performances and recently finished recording for his metal bands' second album. Outside of School of Rock he enjoys hiking, exercise, reading, cooking, and working on music in various styles.
Mike Saliani
Guitar Teacher, Drums Teacher
Mike Saliani teaches guitar and drums. He plays gigs with his band the Mike Saliani Band all around Sonoma County. His music is loud and rockin' and Mike has a talent for bringing out the best in all the musicians he plays with. His warm inviting demeanor helps the musicians he performs with and the students he teaches to feel comfortable and play their heart out. He directs and co-directs seasonal shows at Santa Rosa School of Rock. Mike started teaching music in 2011 in Mill Valley, Ca. He was the music director at School of Rock Santa Rosa in 2019. He has performed and recorded his music with many amazing artists professionally in the Bay Area since 2001.
Gregory Bailey
Drums Teacher
After picking up his first pair of drum sticks at the age of eight years old, our drum instructor Gregory Bailey has not put them down since. Growing throughout the years, Gregory was always eager to start bands with his friends and be seen performing. Even if it meant wearing a silly outfit for his high school’s marching band. However, a few years into his high school career, he realized he didn’t have the same post high school plans as his peers. Quickly earning his GED, he exited school at 17 and moved down to Los Angeles to attend music college for a bachelors degree in performing arts. Two years into his education, he finally started gaining recognition as not only a proficient musician, but a very energetic performer as well. Within a year, he was regularly playing shows in the local LA music scene and traveling on short leg tours with artists and bands that wanted his spirited playing on their tracks. After being a freelance musician for awhile, Gregory became creatively unsatisfied and decided to drop out of music school with an associate’s degree. With the encouragement of one of his best friends and fellow School of Rock instructor Atreyu Hanonhano, Gregory moved back to his hometown in Sonoma County to teach at School of Rock and start a band with his friends. To this day, he finds it very ironic he left school twice to play music, only to end up becoming a teacher himself at only 22 years of age.
Cameron Croft
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Cameron Croft grew up in Santa Rosa and was inspired to pick up guitar while on long drives with his father blasting Guns N’ Roses, ACDC, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Started playing drums in marching band and drumline in middle school and later jazz band in high school. He started playing in rock bands with fellow school of rock employee Atreyu Hanohano. He picked up his main instrument, guitar, when he was ten Some of his biggest inspirations are John Frusiante from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimi Henrix and Jimi Page. He also likes to cook and draw in his free time. His goal is to inspire his students to play and practice guitar.
Alex Bryceson
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Alex has been a guitar player for over 15 years and is also skilled in vocals, bass, and drums. He has played with a few bands throughout his career and has learned what it takes to get on a stage and make an impression!
Whether you want to improve your skills in an instrument you play or want to try out something new, Alex can put you on the fast track to learning a skill that will last you a lifetime. Music is his passion and he hopes he can make it yours!
Sophia Kandler
Vocal Teacher
Sophia Kandler knew she was going to be a singer when she was 4 years old and saw Kelly Clarkson on American Idol. She told her parents, “I’m going to be a loud singer,” and she has been working towards her goal ever since then. She is a Sonoma County native, born and raised.
Sophia went to School of Rock Santa Rosa as a student, and when she graduated from our program and high school, she went off to cosmetology school. After a year there she is now back in Sonoma County working with us as our amazing vocal instructor.
Sophia currently performs with bands around Sonoma County at farmers markets, in town squares, and in venues such as the Phoenix Theater. She has one of the most emotive styles of performing and often closes her eyes and immerses herself in her song.
As a teacher, Sophia hopes to help her students feel safe and comfortable while singing and while on stage. Some of her biggest inspirations are Miley Cyrus, Adele, and of course, Kelly Clarkson.