Music Lessons at Five Star Guitars

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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Brian Richey

Monday , 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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Dany Oakes

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday

Specialties: Songwriting, Composition

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

Background: Author of beginner guitar book series. Studied music at PSU. Extensive songwriting and recording experience. Performs with numerous local artists. Dany has taught guitar at Five Star Guitars since 1998.

Currently: Performs around the Northwest as singer and guitarist.

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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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Lee Alan Nolan

* Lee asks that masks be worn by both student and instructor during in-person lessons. Thanks so much for understanding!

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

Specialties: Piano, Vocal coaching, 5-string Banjo, Guitar, Theory & Composition

Styles: Piano & Voice: Classical and most other genres and levels Banjo: bluegrass finger-style Guitar: Beginner to intermediate pop & rock

Background: Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory; studied with Robert Helps, Peggy Salkind, and Mark Westcott; performed music tours of Switzerland, Germany, and Italy; has given premiére performances for San Francisco and the West Coast works by composers Robert Helps, David Del Tredici, William Susman, and many others. Has 30 years of experience teaching privately. Lee has taught at Five Star Guitars since 2018.

Currently: Arrived in Portland in 2018, and since then has taught, accompanied, musically coached, and performed organ and piano for church services. Additionally he is on Faculty as Professor of piano and theory studies, as well as on Staff as the choral accompanist at PCC Rock Creek.

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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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