Laura Lee Crandall- Teacher/Owner
~Drums, Ukulele, & Rock Band Instructor

drum lesson

Laura Lee began studying piano at age 5 and continued until she switched to drums and percussion at age 11, much to her mother’s dismay.  But dismay turned to pride for Mom once Laura Lee started sounding good and went on to earn her degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.   Laura Lee has performed and taught in Kansas City for over 15 years.  She has a firm belief that every child should be issued a drum set upon birth. 😉

Laura Lee performs on drum set, hand drums, vibraphone, and orchestral percussion.  Currently, she is the drummer for Midnight Rodeo, a Kansas City country band. She has also performed with groups such as:

Marimba Sol De Chiapas
Kansas City Philharmonia
Alvin Ailey Dance Camp


 

Matt Crandall-Teacher/Owner
~Guitar, Bass, Saxophone, Ukulele & Rock Band Instructor

Matt Crandall began studying music at age 3 on the piano, before switching to saxophone at age 9.  He added guitar and bass to his repertoire at age 12, and played trombone through jr. high and high school.  He must have an innate love of collecting instruments, because he also studied flute and clarinet in college.  At KC Rock Band & Guitar, Matt teaches guitar, bass, ukulele, saxophone, flute, and clarinet.

Matt received his Bachelor’s  and Master’s in Music Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and is certified to teach K-12 instrumental and vocal music.  He has taught privately and in the public schools for over 15 years.  Currently, he teaches choir and guitar at Horizons High School, in the Shawnee Mission School District.

Matt currently performs as a soloist on guitar and saxophone, has been a member of the 312th Army band since 2001, and plays bass with Sycamore Grove.   He has also performed with groups around Kansas City such as:

guitar lesson kansas city

Lost Wax Jukeboxx Media
Iowa Street
Blackjackets
The Boulevard Big Band
Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Bar Band


Karren Schiele
~Piano & Voice Instructor

Karren Schiele


What Karren absolutely loves to do:  teach music in a way that is motivating and understandable.

Karren Schiele is a graduate from University of Missouri-Kansas City with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, and completed her Masters of Music and Worship Degree in 2019 .  She has over 20 years teaching experience.  Ms. Schiele is the Primary Staff Musician at Grace Baptist Church of Greater Kansas City.  She has a variety of outstanding abilities as a vocal coach, piano instructor, vocal seminar clinician, vocal arranger, accompanist for the Adult and Children’s choir, and small Choir Ensemble director.

She has worked with many musicians in the Kansas City area and had the opportunity to work with gospel legend, Karen Clark Sheard.  

Besides being an amazing professional, Karren is warm, fun, and a blast to be around!


Josh Talley
~Guitar & Bass Instructor

Josh Talley Kansas City Guitar Teacher

Josh Talley is a fun, energetic, and talented guitarist and teacher.  Josh’s goal for his students is to help make music a natural part of their lives to always enjoy and participate in. Josh is well versed in many genres, but his biggest influences are Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and pretty much anything from the 90s and early 2000s Emo.

Josh has been playing guitar and bass for over 20 years.  His musical experience began performing with his dad and brother in nightclubs during his high school years, before moving on to the underground band circuit in Arkansas and Oklahoma during college.  He has toured the country and abroad performing music as an adult and backed several Grammy nominated artists and songwriters, including David Leonard, songwriter Travis Meadows, and Cece Winans.


Valerie Wellington
~Piano Instructor

  Valerie Wellington piano teacherValerie is an amazing, versatile pianist!  She received her undergraduate degree in Piano Performance from Pelita Harapan Universtity in Indonesia, her Masters in Piano Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, and is now working on her doctorate in Piano Performance from UMKC.   She has been teaching piano for 9 years to all ages of students.  Valerie is a patient, kind teacher that is able to help her students communicate beautifully through music.


Bryson Thomas
~Guitar, Bass & Ukulele Instructor

Bryson Thomas is a musician from Wichita, recently relocated to Kansas City.    Bryson graduated from Fort Hays State University, where he focused on jazz and audio production.   He also has a deep love for experimental rock, funk, and pop music.   When not teaching, he performs with his own band as well as other artists in the Midwest. 

 


Patricia Eccles
~Piano Instructor

Patricia started playing the piano at an early age and was performing concertos and in competitions by the time she was a teen. She holds a B.A. in music from Fort Hays State University and an M.S. in education from the University of Kansas. She has been teaching music in elementary/middle schools and giving piano lessons for many years.
     “Music is a passion for me and I love to share it with others,” she says.

 


Ryan Sieh
~Voice Instructor

   Ryan Sieh voice teacher Kansas CityRyan sang his very first solo in church at age 4 and has been singing ever since.   He received his BA in Vocal Performance from North Central University in Minneapolis, MN.    Ryan specializes in teaching voice students preparing for choir concerts, all-state choir auditions, Solo and Ensemble contests, and auditions.   He likes to challenge his students so they can do  more than they realize they can!  
    He and his wife Kristina, have three boys and have been the Creative Arts Pastors at Evangel Church since 2002. Ryan’s duties at Evangel Church include, worship leader, band leader, choir conductor as we several other team leadership positions.      

Nick Baker
~Drum Instructor

   Nick Baker Kansas City Drum teacher

Nick Baker is an incredibly well-rounded drummer and experienced teacher.  He is currently working on his Doctorate in Percussion Performance at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Music Conservatory. 
   Before that, he received his Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the University of New Mexico, where he served as a T.A., coaching the marching band’s front ensemble, teaching the Percussion Methods class and private lessons.  
  Nick loves to teach rock, pop, jazz and Latin styles on drum set, and he also specializes in Marimba, vibraphone, and hand percussion.