Music Lessons at Five Star Guitars

Andres Perez-Lete

Monday & Saturday

Specialties: Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Music Theory & Composition, Teaching All Ages

Styles: Pop, rock, metal, funk, blues

Background: Approaching a decade in musical experience, held many leadership/teaching positions in choirs and bands. Participated in multiple music internships, and has experience teaching guitar to people of all ages and diverse backgrounds.

Currently: Studying at Portland State University for a Bachelor’s degree in music education, and involved in multiple local music projects in the Portland Metro area.

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Brian Richey

Wednesday , Thursday , Friday & Sunday

Specialties: Electric, Acoustic, and Classical Guitar, Bass Guitar, Beginner Ukulele, Music Theory & Harmonic Analysis, Improvising, and Composition. Working with beginners to establish a solid musical foundation.

Styles: Rock, Metal, Blues, Jazz, Pop, Fusion, Fingerstyle, Slide/open tunings, and more

Background: Bachelor of Arts in Music from Portland State University; studied with Bryan Johanson and Dan Balmer. With over a decade of experience in private guitar instruction, Brian has performed and recorded with a variety artists in the greater Portland area including the West Side Singers, Kenny Polson, Dr. John Savage, Arjay, The Karlton Coffin Band, and many more.

Currently: Composing original works for his next project and recording with area musicians.

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Denyse Gallardo

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

Specialties: Classical Vocal & Piano Technique, Music Theory & Composition, Songwriting, Sight Reading, Sight Singing, Audition Preparation, Ear Training, Performance Coaching, Vocal Technique & Health

Styles: Pop, Rock, Classical, Musical Theater, R&B, Jazz, Indie Rock, Soul, Vocal & Piano Improvisation

Background: She has been playing and studying piano for more than 15 years and received formal training in vocal performance at the University of Portland. An experienced music educator and performer, Denyse has served as Music Director for a Young People’s Theatre Project summer production and previously as a Vocal & Keys Instructor at popular music lesson studio.

Her teaching approach is encouraging, personalized, and built around each student’s musical interests and goals. She loves helping students explore the music that inspires them while building strong technique, confidence, musicianship, and a genuine lifelong love of music.

Currently: Writing and producing her debut EP. Wish her luck!

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Mark Muusse

Sunday & Thursday

Specialties: Rudiments, Independent Coordination, Hand Technique, & Hand Percussion

Styles: Rock, Metal, Punk, Pop, Latin/Afro Cuban

Background: With over 20 years of personal dedication to the drums, Mark has instructed privately and professionally for 15 years, and has recorded professionally with a variety of businesses and artists such as Audix, Cloverdayle, Jim Brickman, and multiple local and touring bands. He works with both complete beginners and established drummers looking to elevate their knowledge, technique and passion. Starting with the complete basics, he builds from the ground up to establish proper technique, stick control, dynamics and vocabulary.

Currently: Performs in the Portland area with various Rock, Metal and Ska bands and creates original works in his own rock band, Grey Fiction.

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Ben Jones

Monday & Tuesday

Specialties: 4, 5, & 6 String Electric Bass Guitar

Styles: Funk, R&B, Soul, Rock, Blues

Background: In 30 years of professional playing, Ben has shared the stage and recorded with a long list of artists, including: The Neville Brothers, Jeff Lorber, Frank McComb, Peter White, Rick Braun, Paul Brown (Grammy Winner), Darren Rahn, Jennifer Batten, Patrick Lamb (Gino Vanelli), Tommy Thayer (KISS), Oregon Symphony, Noel Pointer (Grammy Winner), James Carter, BB King, Robert Cray, Phyllis Hyman, Delbert McClinton, Walter 'Wolfman' Washington, Bernard Allison, Chris Cain, Lloyd Jones, Curtis Salgado, Liv Warfield, Les McCann and David Pack (Ambrosia). Ben has taught at Five Star Guitars since 2015.

Currently: Performing in the Northwest. Sponsored artist for Kiesel Basses, Gallien-Krueger, Dunlop Strings, MXR Effects,1964 Ears In Ear Monitors, LM Straps, and GruvGear Accessories

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Geoff Metts

* Geoff's roster is currently full

Specialties: Guitar, Slide Guitar, Lap Steel, Ukulele, Songwriting, Composition & Theory

Styles: electric, steel string and nylon string acoustic, baritone and lap steel. Rock, blues, funk, soul, classical, folk, country, grunge, metal, pop, improvising, soloing, strumming, fundamentals, fingerpicking, solo guitar, applied theory, reading music for guitar, beginning through advanced slide

Background: Studied music at University of Idaho. Designed and taught beginner lesson course for U of I, Pullman, WA Parks & Rec and Hillsboro Parks & Rec/Camp Amp Program (2007-present). Extensive songwriting and recording experience. Lead singer/guitar player of Western Aerial. Geoff has taught at Five Star Guitars since 2001.

Currently: Performing in Ants In The Kitchen and MRC.

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Mack Robertson

* Mack's roster is currently full

Specialties: Electric, Acoustic, Classical, & Jazz Guitar, Ukulele, Bass Guitar, Music Theory, Composition & Arranging, Improvisation, Music Reading, Working with young beginners

Styles: Rock, Blues, Funk, Jazz, Classical, Fingerstyle, Country, Folk, Fusion, and more

Background: Studied classical guitar at Chapman University, as well as jazz guitar and improvisation at Portland State University. Designed and taught music theory courses for the Portland Youth Philharmonic. Mack is a former student of the Five Star Guitars lesson program and has been teaching at Five Star since 2011.

Currently: Performs in the Portland area as a solo jazz and fingerstyle guitarist.

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