Ukulele

Chris Weatherbie

Guitar, Bass, Piano, Ukulele

Works with

Ages 6 - 18

Shines with

Beginners

Not currently accepting new students

What is your musical background?

I got really into piano and guitar my senior year of high school. I just wanted to play along to some of my favorite songs on the radio. I don't think I became competent in guitar until my freshman year of college. I never went to school for it, but I took classes at Pima. I'm mostly self-taught. I’ve been in bands, what I really enjoyed about playing in a band was the sense of community, how we all came together. Even though we had different influences and interests, and we were able to come together and just play music, and just kind of groove along to the things that we came up with. I write music, I write a lot of poetry. It’s a lot of alt rock, pop punk.

How long have you been teaching? Why do you teach music?

I’ve been teaching for about two years, most consistently here at the Fretboard. Before that, I mostly taught informally, working with some of my friends. I've substituted in music classes, I’m a sub for a few different districts. I have a bachelors in elementary education. I’m studying to be certified as a teacher in the Tucson Unified School District - I want to be a music teacher.

My favorite thing about teaching is just getting people interested in music and learning more about it, understanding a little bit more of the craftsmanship behind it. And just being able to appreciate your favorite songs on a deeper level. It's really cool seeing people get excited playing music. Like, I actually did that! That's really cool.

What are your students like? Who do you work best with?

My youngest students are around seven. I work with high school age students, too, mainly beginners.

What do you want your students to take away from their time with you?

That music can be applied to their life outside of just learning – and that it can come from stuff they really enjoy. I teach students the Mario song, I have certain students who just want to play songs from video games. And I guess just that music is a really great thing, and it's a way to build communication and community.

What is a favorite musical memory?

There was one band I was in and everyone just played everything. No one was assigned to lead singer, no one was assigned to lead guitarist or whatever. We just played whatever we wanted, and we all had a really good time. That’s one thing I really like about music, you can build community and you can understand. And you can get other influences and discover new things.

Dominick Lalli

Guitar, Bass,

Audio Engineering, Rock Band

Works with

Age 6 to 18

Adults

Shines with

Age 12 to 18

What is your musical background?

I started out messing around with synthesizers and electronic music, because that’s what my dad had always done. He’d been a DJ. I got into playing acoustic guitar in 5th grade. In middle school I started playing bass with the orchestra band. That was where I learned to read music, and learned a good amount of my music theory. Around that same time I started my first band and played with them. All throughout high school, my main focus was on building bands and trying to find a band that I could write music with.

How long have you been teaching? Why do you teach music?

I taught informally for about 7 years, since I started my first band. It was just my friends and I was the only person who played, so I had to teach all of them. In high school I was usually the top guitar player in my classes, and the teacher would have me tutor the other kids. I’ve been teaching here for 2 years. Teaching music really empowers people. It's just a good skill to have and it's fun. It’s the thing that I enjoy most in my life, so being able to teach somebody else who might enjoy it just as much is really cool.

How would you describe your teaching style and methods?

I wouldn't say that I have a definitive way that I like to teach, because I’ve seen how everyone learns so differently. I try to see what each person responds best to and go from there. I take so many different approaches, it really just depends on the person. For instance, sometimes I’ll use Google Classroom and show things on the screen. But there are a lot of people that don't like that. Some people I’m talking through things, showing them on my guitar. Sometimes we're doing songs they wouldn't think that you could play on guitar, like electronic songs or weirdly instrumented songs. Those I'll figure it out, so I can teach it to them. It really depends on the person.

For practice, again, I think a lot comes down to the person - the age, the amount of free time. In general, I’d say the minimum would be 10 to 15 minutes a week. But if you're really trying to make strides, then probably more like at least 10 to 15 minutes a day.

What are your students like? Who do you work best with?

My students are all so different. I have two adult students, and the rest range from 6 to 18. How young you can be to start with guitar depends on the person. Some kids are really good with their hands and really good with understanding directions. I've never had any issues with teaching someone older than 9 or 10.

What do you want your students to take away from their time with you?

At the end of the day, it's all about just enjoying it, no matter your skill level. Just having fun with the process. I feel like with anything, if you're not enjoying it, then there's not really a point to doing it. So, to not approach it with too serious of an attitude.

What is a favorite musical memory?

When I was in middle school, they used to go around all the middle schools and pick out the best kids from the honors bands. We got to go to Cienega and play with the high school band twice a week for a few weeks, and eventually we got to play at the halftime show at one of the football games. Being in middle school and getting to do that was a really amazing experience.

What can students and parents expect during the first few lessons?

For someone who's never had any experience with the instrument, the first lesson will be more of an introduction to the instrument and its parts, what physically makes up a guitar. From there, I’ll figure out what music they like. I’ll experiment with different teaching styles to see what they respond best to, so I can find what’s going to be most helpful to them in the long run. Some kids like to have their parents sit in on the first couple lessons. Once they warm up, even the shy ones, they’re ready to learn one on one.

Sam Sierra-Feldman

Piano, Voice, Ukulele

Works with

All ages

Shines with

Younger students & groups

What is your musical background?

I began studying piano at age 3, and started singing in choirs at age 7. I first worked as a church musician at age 15, and have never stopped! Over the past 15 years I have taught children’s choirs, youth musical theater, K-8 general music, and private lessons. It is my passion to use music as a primary tool for building community and helping kids find their own passion and confidence.

How long have you been teaching? Why do you teach music?

I have been teaching for 12 years. I teach music in order to enrich my community. The best thing for society is for students to become well-rounded, confident, and joyful citizens who care deeply for their community and everyone in it. Music is a universally human phenomenon that binds us together organically.

What are your students like? Who do you work best with?

I love to work with students of all ages who are curious and creative. My students develop a goal-oriented growth mindset and will find fulfillment in working hard to achieve their goals!

What do you want your students to take away from their time with you?

Above all else, my students will know that they are loved, respected, and powerful — they each possess the power to impact their community with joy, love, and care. Music is only one tool through which we can do this, and through which we can make sure each child knows their own capacity to uplift those around them just as they themselves will be uplifted through our lessons.