piano

Alek Gayton

Alek Gayton

has been playing music for as long as he can remember. Learning music through his family's music collection and playing on his grandmother's piano. By the time he was old enough to play drums he had immersed himself in all things music, playing in ensembles at school and forming his first band in the 7th grade, playing shows in the local punk rock scene.

Since those early experiences he has been performing and recording professionally, earning his B.A in Music from Eastern Washington University and his M.M in Jazz and Improvised Music from the University of Washington.

Over the last decade Alek has performed locally and nationally with a wide variety of artists. His flexible playing style has led to a wide range of performance opportunities, including playing with Le Grotto, Delvon Lamar, The Bob Curnow Big Band, Ernie Watts, Mike Stern and the Seahawks Drumline. These opportunities have led to performances at notable events such as Monterey Jazz Festival's Next Generation, South by Southwest, The New Orleans Jazz Festival, MNF on ESPN and several US and West Coast tours. His drumming can be heard on the Erina song Home, which is featured on HBO’s Cherish the Day.

As an educator, Alek possesses the flexibility to teach to each individual student. Every student has different interests and goals. He believes in giving students the opportunity to explore and create on their instrument, while focusing on strong fundamentals. He additionally puts emphasis on learning songs and playing along with music, while learning about the history of the band or artist with his students. (Alek loves music history!)

INSTRUMENTS.

Drums (kit), Melodic Percussion, Digital Composition, Piano, Percussion, Audition/Performance Prep, Band Coaching

STYLES.

Soul, R&B, Jazz, Pop, Folk, Rock

REQUIREMENTS.

Students 7 and up — all skill levels & abilities welcome!

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TESTIMONIALS.

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Anna Dvorak

ANNa DVORAK

is a teacher of Voice, Piano, and Playground with Eclectic Music and also happens to be our Executive Director. Anna has been with Eclectic Music since 2018, you have probably received an email or ten from her. In addition to her work behind the scenes, she is appears frequently as a professional actor on the great stages of Atlanta. She is a graduate of the University of Florida where she received a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre.


Anna specializes in Musical Theatre voice and performance. She believes that healthy singing is beautiful singing. She works to cultivate an understanding of vocal anatomy and proper use. Anna also believes in the power of positivity and hard work. She encourages her students to be committed, engaged and informed musicians that lead with their passion for music. And that is where she loves to begin; their passion. “Joyful music learning and performance begins with whatever the student is enthusiastic about.” She loves to use teaching techniques that are silly. One of the best practices, she says, is to get the student out of their heads, to start having fun and learn to not take themselves too seriously.

INSTRUMENTS.

Voice, Playground, Piano, Audition Prep, Performance.

STYLES.

Musical Theatre, Pop, Jazz, Country.

REQUIREMENTS.

Students all ages & abilities welcome!

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Archie O'Neal

Archie 1.jpg

Archie o’neal

owns too many basses. How many basses can one person possibly need? One, sure; two, why not; but four? Such a bass hog! Save some for the fishes. And the worst part is that he also spends so much time playing and teaching drums/percussion, guitar, piano, mandolin, accordion, and clarinet that he can't even play his basses all the time. Think of all those beautiful instruments collecting dust while he fritters away his time on the other instruments. What a waste! But until Archie grows several more arms, that's just the way it's going to be. 

Archie grew up listening to the Beatles and still does, sometimes, but also gets down to Tigran Hamasyan, Fiona Apple, System of a Down, Michael Franks, Debussy, and much more. He has written, recorded, and produced many albums himself and with bands, and one of his favorite listener responses to his music is: "But... why?"

The most important thing to Archie as a teacher is that his students enjoy playing music and feel both comfortable and inspired to pursue any musical interests that catch their ears. He is a music theory nerd, so with students who are interested in the whys, he fosters discussions of how what they're playing now relates to what they've played before and music as a whole. With students who just love playing, he poses new challenges every lesson and tries to give some sense of direction in developing technique (while also sneaking a little theory in).

INSTRUMENTS.

Piano, accordion, mandolin, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, upright bass, electric bass, band coaching.

STYLES.

Rock, Jazz, Pop, Metal, Bluegrass, Funk, Folk

REQUIREMENTS.

Students of all abilities, ages 6 and up.

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TESTIMONIALS.

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Guy Strauss

Guy Strauss

has over 20 years of professional experience as a touring musician and session drummer for various major label and independent artists. He has been an educator for over 15 years, teaching private lessons as well as music classes at Academe Of The Oaks where he serves as the Music Department Chair. Guy shares his passion for music and his real world experience of being an active working musician with his students. Lessons focus on independence, technique, notation, rudiments, musicality and song based learning. 

As a performer Guy has appeared on film soundtracks and has played internationally opening for acts such as Elvis Costello, Muse, Cheap Trick, The Fray, The Wallflowers, The Cranberries, Blur and many others.

Guy holds an Associate of Arts Degree from Miami Dade Community College, and completed the certificate program at Drummers Collective in NYC. He has studied with many prominent drummers including Steve Rucker (University of Miami Professor , and Bee Gees drummer), Mike Clark (Herbie Hancock), Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith (Tonight Show Band).

Guy’s goal is for lessons to be fun, educational and practical. His students will learn about rhythm, counting, reading standard notation, technique, independence, time keeping skills, dynamics, feel, song form, ear training and general musicianship. We will explore these concepts through written exercises, rudiments, books, and of course by playing along to songs. Once the student has developed a solid foundation, the focus will shift to more of the students personal musical interests and goals.

INSTRUMENTS.

Drums, percussion, piano, music production and band coaching.

STYLES.

Rock, pop, funk, R&B, jazz, blues, and world music.

REQUIREMENTS.

Ages 7 and up, all skill levels.

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TESTIMONIALS.

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Hannah Lake

Hannah Lake

is an actor, singer, dancer and teaching artist who loves plants, yoga, and of course, music! She always strives to be kind and encouraging to every young artist - just as her very first piano teacher was to her. Hannah believes that hard work and a can-do attitude are more important than talent alone.

As a teacher, Hannah loves activating the imagination, especially when playing and working creatively with young students. She recognizes that children have a super power in exploring the world with reckless, joyful abandon! Hannah strives to incorporate that into her lessons in any way possible and aims to have her students smiling and giggling so that they feel empowered and open to learn (and keep learning)!

Aside from teaching and performing, Hannah loves to get creative in all forms, including painting, baking, cooking, and photography!


INSTRUMENTS.

Voice, Piano, Ukulele, Playground.

STYLES.

Musical Theatre, Pop, Country, Rock.

REQUIREMENTS.

Students all ages & abilities welcome!

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TESTIMONIALS.

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Hannah Marie Smith

Hannah marie Smith

(she/her) is a BFA Musical Theatre graduate from Reinhardt University and an alumnus of Horizon Theatre's AppCo program. She has been teaching voice to middle and high school students for six years and continues to perform in Atlanta, with recent credits including Beautiful (Aurora Theatre), Boys in the Buff (Out Front Theatre), Head Over Heels (Marietta Theatre Company), and Disaster (Onstage Atlanta). She has also performed in traveling concerts like Ladies of the 80s and She's a Rebel.

Hannah is a seasoned performer and educator with a passion for helping her students unlock their vocal superpowers! As a former "baby belter" and a pianist, she brings her own stage experience and teaching know-how to guide students through the tricky terrain of head voice and mix. Hannah is all about embracing individuality and finding that special connection to every song, making performances truly shine. She believes that a mix of hard work, imagination, creativity, and action is the secret recipe for any piano or voice student to hit all the right notes and achieve their dreams!

INSTRUMENTS.

Voice, Vocal Coaching, Audition Prep, Piano.

STYLES.

Pop/Rock, Jazz, 70's/80's Rock, Musical Theatre, Funk, Country, Classical.

REQUIREMENTS.

Students all ages & abilities welcome!

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Jennifer Hanna

Jennifer Hanna

Jennifer Hanna has been teaching voice and piano lessons for over 15 years.  She is an early childhood music specialist and has been a teacher at Eclectic Music since 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Millikin University and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Georgia State University. She continues to be an avid student and takes continued training in guitar, voice and advanced music education. Jennifer teaches music at St. James Preschool in Buckhead.  She also directs the Cherub Choir at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Buckhead, where she is also currently a staff singer.

Jennifer began studying piano at the age of 9, flute at age 11 and voice at the age of 13. As a child and teenager she enjoyed performing in recitals, musicals and choirs.  She sang in the Ohio All State Choir and played flute in the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra. While an undergraduate at Millikin University, Jennifer performed in operas, including Pirates of Penzance, Down in the Valley, Die Fledermaus, and The Marriage of Figaro. In 2005, she moved to Atlanta to complete her Master of Music Degree at Georgia State University.  She played the roles of Nicklausse in Offenbach’s Les Contes d’ Hoffmann and Harry in Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring at GSU.  She later professionally played the role of Mozart in the opera Wolfy at Theatre Decatur. Jennifer participated in the Harrower Opera Workshop at GSU and La Musica Lirica Opera Festival in Urbania, Italy, performing roles in opera scenes including Hansel and Gretel, Cosi fan Tutti, Louise, Alcina, Fastaff and The Mikado to name a few.  

Jennifer takes a holistic approach to teaching music. She believes the process of learning to sing or play an instrument helps students to develop important life skills such as improved work ethic, self-confidence, optimism, faith, interpersonal and communication skills, and leadership potential.  She keeps this in mind when working with each student.  Jennifer teaches piano and voice to both children and adults.   She teaches a variety of musical styles, including classical, pop, musical theater, rock, ragtime and jazz. 

 As a voice teacher, Jennifer focuses on building a strong technical foundation. Her goal is to help students to develop a strong, effortless, pleasing tone while communicating a meaningful thought, idea, or emotion. With her piano students, Jennifer strives to keep the learning process fun and rewarding. She continually uses new approaches depending on the unique interests and inherent gifts of the students. She often incorporates singing, rhythm sticks, bells, egg shakers, drums, ukulele and guitar in her lessons. Her goal is to help each student not only learn to read music, but also to play by ear and improvise. Jennifer encourages her piano students to sing, and her singers to play. Jennifer believes that just as playing an instrument makes us better singers, so does singing make us better instrumentalists!

INSTRUMENTS.

Piano, Voice, Flute, Playground.

STYLES.

Classical, Pop, Musical Theatre, Rock, Ragtime, Jazz.

REQUIREMENTS.

Students all ages & abilities welcome!

CONNECT.

TESTIMONIALS.

“She was such a warm, fun, flexible teacher. I think it was a perfect balance for age 5 of skills and fun. He left class with stronger music appreciation. I would definitely recommend Playground and Jennifer to anyone with kids PreK-1st grade.

- Halley, parent

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John O'Leary

John O’Leary

is a professional saxophonist and music educator with over 15 years of performing and teaching experience on piano, saxophone, clarinet, and flute. He received his Bachelors of Music from Florida State University and obtained his Masters of Music from the Manhattan School of Music both for jazz saxophone performance.

During his time at MSM, he studied directly under many jazz legends and was fortunate to perform in some of the biggest jazz clubs in New York City. Over the years, between playing on cruise ships for a year, and moving between NYC, Miami, and Atlanta, John has had a lot of amazing musical adventures: from teaching summers in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York, to playing lead alto for an international Broadway Tour, to holding a weekly Bossa Nova Brunch in South Beach Miami, and touring Canada with a NYC-based funk band. He’s got plenty of stories to tell, and more importantly, many life lessons to share!

As an educator, John is influenced by his work as a contemporary musician with conservatory training. Because of his education and varied performing experience, John puts the focus on practical, real-world techniques that are rooted in traditional methods. This way, you’re not only learning all the “classical” skills like reading music, analyzing theory, and technical mastery; you’ll also develop your ear so you can play without sheet music, you’ll learn about songwriting and improvisation so you can write your own music or jam with others, you’ll study current music styles/trends, so you can understand not only the foundations of music and how to play your instrument, but how to play music like today’s top performers, and how to have all the tools necessary to do anything you want musically!

INSTRUMENTS.

Band Coaching, Clarinet, Composition, Flute, Music Theory, Piano, Saxophone, Songwriting, Woodwinds, Audition/Performance Prep.

STYLES.

Jazz, Rock, Pop, Blues, Funk, R&B, Soul, Brazillian, Classical

REQUIREMENTS.

Students all ages & abilities welcome!

CONNECT.

TESTIMONIALS.

"His teaching style balances fun and productivity perfectly"

- Jessey

“‘John Woodwinds’ was a great mentor. He taught me a lot about saxophone, jazz performance, and theory."

- Louis

"He was fun, helpful, and renewed my interest in music"

- James

"John is an amazing teacher who has helped me hone in on my skills on tenor sax and build confidence in playing jazz music and improvising."

- Jess

"I loved working with John because he made me feel confident and excited about music and my passion for jazz"

- Rebecca

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Laura Benjamin

LAURA BENJAMIN

is a teacher of piano, voice, and guitar with Eclectic Music and has been involved in music education in various capacities for the past 15 years. She holds her undergraduate degree from Yale University with a major in history, but music has always been her passion; her most formative involvement in college was with her pop a cappella group Out of the Blue. Laura has taught piano, voice, and guitar lessons for many years, specializing in the intersection of singing and playing; many of her students are aspiring performers who learn to sing and accompany themselves. When not teaching young musicians, Laura spends her time raising her 4- and 6-year-old boys and playing music with her husband in their duo “LB Collective” or with their full band; she also enjoys running, biking and playing volleyball.

Laura tries to meet her students where they are at, so they can work together to figure out goals and strategies for attaining those goals. She really enjoys working with students who enjoy playing and singing, either piano or guitar. She is also willing to teach a chordal approach to instruments, especially for singers who really want to learn to accompany themselves effectively, although she will also try to throw in some solid music-reading and theory as well.

INSTRUMENTS.

Piano, Voice, Guitar, Band Coaching.

STYLES.

Singer/Songwriter, Pop/Rock, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Country, Beginner Classical.

REQUIREMENTS.

Students all ages & abilities welcome!

CONNECT.

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Rachel Ofotokun

Rachel Ofotokun

is a composer and pianist from Lilburn, Georgia. Rachel comes from a musical family and has been engaging with music and composition since age 6, starting with piano lessons and adding cello to the mix in middle school. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music composition and African studies from Emory University. Rachel enjoys classical, experimental, pop, jazz, gamelan, and afro-influenced music. 

Lessons with Rachel are incredibly flexible and goal-oriented. She focuses on building (and reaching) long and short-term goals based on a student's desires and working as a team to achieve them in the most fun way possible! Rachel believes music lessons should be an outlet and safe space where students can spend time pursuing something they want for themselves. As is our mission at Eclectic Music, Rachel works to decolonize the music classroom. 

Outside of the studio, you can find Rachel crocheting, tending to her plants, redecorating her apartment, and sipping tea. She looks forward to making empathic connections with her students!

INSTRUMENTS.

Piano, Playground, Cello, Songwriting, Compositon, Digital Composition, Music Production, Music Theory.

STYLES.

Classical, Experimental, Pop, Rock, Jazz.

REQUIREMENTS.

Students all ages & abilities welcome!

CONNECT.

TESTIMONIALS.

Coming Soon!

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Ruth Mehari

Ruth Mehari

is a teacher of strings, voice, piano and fun! She went to Reinhardt University where she studied Music Education (K-12) and Cello Performance. During her time there she also fell in love with theater performance and singing. You may see her playing in an orchestra, acting in a show, or sometimes both at the same time!

As a lifelong learner Ruth is dedicated to helping students discover the joys of learning something new. She is dedicated to creating a warm and encouraging environment for students to thrive in while adapting her teaching style to the needs of the individual in front of her. She values building rapport with her students in order to be able to know what lights their fire so she can guide them to their goals while fostering their love for making music.

INSTRUMENTS.

Piano, Ukulele, Bass (Upright), Guitar (Acoustic), Violin, Viola, Cello, Voice, Audition + Performance Prep

STYLES.

Classical, Opera, Musical Theatre, Pop, Jazz

REQUIREMENTS.

Students all ages & abilities welcome!

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Scotty Guenther

Scotty GUenther

is a musician artist based in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood of Atlanta. Growing up in Johns Creek, GA, Scotty took the stage at a young age, performing in plays, musicals, and music ensembles since he was 8 years old. He has spent the last 22 years honing his knowledge of music theory, music production, and collaboration, working on numerous projects for himself, other artists, and organizations. Scotty has a deep appreciation for each individual's artistic voice, and hopes to spread his love of music through teaching at Eclectic Music.

As a teacher, Scotty values connection with each student, discovering their "why" for taking lessons, and developing a plan that is enjoyable and informative. His goal is to teach fun, memorable lessons that help students gain the skills they need to create and participate in the music they are passionate about.

INSTRUMENTS.

Bass (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic + Electric), Composition, Music Production, Music Theory, Voice, Songwriting, Audition Prep, Drums, Mandolin, Piano, Ukulele.

STYLES.

Pop, blues, rock, soul, funk, musical theater, folk, classical, and experimental.

REQUIREMENTS.

Students all ages & abilities welcome!

CONNECT.

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Suzanne Stroup

Suzanne Stroup

is a graduate of Mercer University and an alum of Aurora Theatre's AppCo Company. She has been teaching at Eclectic Music, Aurora Theatre, MJCCA, Alliance Theatre and more for ten years now, and can also been seen performing and directing around town. When Suzanne isn't teaching or performing herself, she can be found in her house, trying to teach her cat Peggy how to sing musical theatre songs. So far, she has been unsuccessful.

Suzanne believes in process over product. If the process of learning isn't a fun experience for the student, the product won't shine. In her classes and lessons, she focuses on fundamentals, but never at the expense of fun.

INSTRUMENTS.

Audition/Performance Prep, Guitar (Acoustic), Piano, Playground, Songwriting, Ukulele, Vocal Coaching, Voice

STYLES.

Pop, Singer/Songwriter, Classical, Disney, Musical Theatre.

REQUIREMENTS.

Students all ages & abilities welcome!

CONNECT.

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Taryn Antrobus

Taryn Antrobus

joins us from Nashville by way of Cleveland. She has had a love for music from a very young age and grew up in an extremely musical environment. After studying Music Business & Entertainment Industry studies, Taryn fell in love with the art of songwriting and performance. She is actively releasing her own music and honing her craft on stage, in the studio, and in songwriting circles.

In her lessons, Taryn promotes a unique learning environment where she focuses on the student's individual needs for their musical development. She believes that teaching opens two avenues - one for the student to expand their mind and form an appreciation for music and one for the teacher to be reminded of why they fell in love with music in the first place. Taryn recognizes that there are equal opportunities for growth for her and her students, both working to recognize potential change in themselves. 

When she’s not performing, writing, or teaching, you can find Taryn experimenting in the kitchen, cozying up with a good book, or enjoying the outdoors. Taryn is excited to help her students nurture their creativity and pursue their natural passion!

INSTRUMENTS.

Guitar, Voice, Piano, Songwriting, Ukulele, Playground, Audition/Performance Coaching, Percussion, and Drums.

STYLES.

Pop, Indie, Singer/Songwriter, Folk, Rock, Americana, R&B, and Soul.

REQUIREMENTS.

Taryn works best with students age 7 and older!

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TESTIMONIALS.

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Tyler Parker

TYLER PARKER

(originally from Naperville, IL) is an experienced cellist and piano player whose musicianship led him to a full ride study at Florida State University. Tyler's teaching style focuses on the form and technique of the student.

Tyler believes that “music is constantly evolving with us. Therefore, we should evolve how we teach music”. In that spirit, he works with students to feel the music they are playing and expands to fit the needs and styles of each individual. 

Outside of the studio, you can find Tyler continuing his journey as a forever learner as a student of meditation and music engineering.

INSTRUMENTS.

Cello, Piano, Music Theory, Music Production, Digital Composition, and Audition/Performance Prep.

STYLES.

Classical and Modern Pop.

REQUIREMENTS.

Tyler accepts piano students of all levels and Intermediate cello students!

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TESTIMONIALS.

Coming soon!

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