At Rockdale, our teachers are the heart and soul of our music community. Each instructor brings a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to helping students of all ages and skill levels achieve their musical goals.
Our teachers are excellent motivators and work patiently with students of all ages and skill levels on music of the student’s choosing.
Our instructors are excellent motivators who will inspire you to learn, grow, and reach your full potential.
They work patiently with students, tailoring lessons to individual needs and musical interests.
Choose the music you love! Our teachers create a fun and supportive learning environment where you can explore any genre.
Each instructor brings a unique set of skills and knowledge, ensuring you receive top-quality music instruction.
Browse our teacher bios below! You’ll find information about their musical background, teaching style, and areas of expertise. We’re confident you’ll find the perfect instructor to guide you on your musical journey.
Still have questions? Contact Rockdale Music today! We’re happy to help you find the right teacher and get you started on your musical journey.
Jared is the owner and manager at Rockdale and teaches Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboard, Rock Band, Songwriting and Recording at the studio. Jared has a passion for passing on the knowledge from years of honing his craft to musicians of all ages and skill levels.
From your five year old aspiring Rock Star, to retirees looking to fulfill a life-long dream of playing an instrument; all of Jared’s lessons are catered to each budding musician’s wants and needs. New concepts are presented using songs of your choosing. Learn what you love, and you’ll love to learn! If you want to play your favorite songs a lot faster than you think, then get ready to Rock with Rockdale!
Rob is a graduate of Berklee College of Music for Guitar Performance and offers private lessons for guitar, bass, and trumpet at Rockdale. Lately, we have overheard a few of his students referring to Rob as their “cool teacher”.
In Rob’s own words “I think I’m a fun teacher, but I don’t think it’s because I’m all that “cool”… it’s because I teach “cool” stuff! I see the same musical merit in a beginning guitar player learning to read the melody of ‘Hot Cross Buns’ as there is in learning to dial up distortion and play ‘Smoke on the Water’ authentically, which must be why they think I’m cool!”
Rob teaches practically all styles of music and have a passion for all approaches of playing; you’ll never be bored! So whether you want to learn how to play ‘Hot Cross Buns’, 12-bar blues, rock out playing Led Zeppelin, master tapping, sweeping, or alternate picking, relax and strum some chords or play finger-style on an acoustic; he would love to show you how! Learning how to fine tune a guitar amp is an art unto itself; Rob will show you how to get the most out of whatever equipment you have, and how to dial in that gear to get the same tone as your favorite players.
It doesn’t matter if you are 6 or 60, Rob understands the needs of students of different ages and aspirations. All of Rob’s lessons are tailored to meet these interests and passions, but also push students in a direction where they can feel confident they are equipped with the knowledge and ability to succeed no matter the musical situation. The long-term goal for all of his students is to present the bigger picture of how all music and styles are closely related. He strives to ensure every student has these basic skills of musicianship: a sense of rhythm, time, and knowledge of theory, but also proper technique, form, and posture on that specific instrument.
Liam is a graduate of West Chester University where he studied Music Composition, Music Production, Music History, classical guitar and piano. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at West Chester University where he studies production, composition, and jazz guitar.
Liam has been playing guitar since the age of 7, when he started his first private lessons. During middle school and high school, Liam focused primarily on a style focused in rock music and was able to frequently participate in rock performances.
Since graduating from West Chester University, he has performed in many concerts and recitals with multiple ensembles, performing many different genres of music such as classical, jazz, rock, and funk. With help from studying guitar, piano, and composition, he has come to
appreciate all different kinds of music that influence his style today.
Liam currently teaches private lessons in piano, guitar, bass, music theory and composition and is ecstatic to teach the next generation of rock stars.
Anna graduated from West Chester University in 2024 with a degree in Studio Arts. While that might not seem related to music, it is! By the end of her undergraduate studies, she began making sculptures based on the songs that she wrote. She has been playing piano and writing songs since the age of 7. Classically trained in Piano for over 15 years, she will ensure you are on your way to success…whatever that might mean to you!
Anna began her teaching journey recently and she fell in love with it right away. She teaches piano, vocals, ukulele, and songwriting. She is compassionate, caring, and fun-loving. She teaches students of all ages and skill levels and prioritizes the needs of the students above all else.
As for her music career, Anna recently released her first single and is on her journey to learn more about music production and recording. Her artist name is Aniusha and she cannot wait to see where her music takes her.
Tierney began taking piano lessons at 7 years old and has been playing ever since. She has a bachelor’s degree in music theory and composition from SUNY New Paltz and recently went back to school to get a master’s degree in social work. She has been teaching private piano, violin, music theory, and songwriting lessons for over 10 years to students ages 4 to 80.
Throughout the Hudson Valley and now Philadelphia, Tierney has performed her original songs as a solo artist, and also in a variety of musical groups and styles including rock, classical, jazz, folk, and experimental.
Tierney believes that each person has a personal relationship with music and she creates a safe, patient, and fun learning environment in her lessons so that each person can develop into whatever musical abilities that interest them! She enjoys seeing students’ self-esteem grow as they learn a skill that they will have for a lifetime.
Brian Bruce is a drum set, bass, and keyboard instructor, gigging musician, songwriter and producer. He’s been a fixture in the northern Delaware and Philadelphia music scenes since before he could drive himself to his own gigs. (Thanks Mom!) He attended Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington, DE, and went on to study jazz performance at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Brian has recorded and toured extensively in the past with indie acts Fiancé and Mean Lady, both of whom have performed at the Firefly music festival in Dover, DE, as well as major cities around the U.S. and in Europe. He is currently a member of Philadelphia noise rock quartet Tangled Up and punk rock outfit Eyebawl. When he’s not playing heavy rock n’ roll, you can hear him lending his services to Wilmington rockabilly legends The Bullets, or backing Bruce Anthony and Sam Nobles jazz/funk duo.
Brian brings an array of knowledge gained from academic musical experiences, and real world gigging and recording to his lessons. He focuses on taking the basic building blocks of music, like rudiments and scales, and applying them to performance in a way that makes rigid musical exercises come alive. He believes the most important thing to be gained from the study of music is the connections made with fellow musicians.
Zach moved to Boston, Mass. in 2006 where he attended the world renowned Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, he studied with teachers Bob Tamagni and John Ramsay.
Finishing his degree in Jazz Performance at Moravian College in 2012, Zach studied drum set with Byron Landham, Gary Rissmiller, and Joe Bergamini; educator, author, and Senior Drum Editor for Hudson Music Publishing, Inc.
In 2019, Zach completed his Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies at Temple University where he studied with Rodney Green and Pat Bianchi.
Zach, now based in Philadelphia, has experience playing in a wide range of styles from musical theater to heavy metal and has toured semi-nationally. He has been a professional educator since graduating Moravian College, developing a unique style of teaching that draws from his experience as both a lifelong student and performer.
He is now the artist and lecturer for the drum set students at Moravian University.
Ashley is a graduate of New York University’s Steinhardt School of Music and Performing Arts Professions with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance (Music Theatre). As an actress, Ashley has performed in regional theaters up and down the East Coast, including Flat Rock Playhouse, The Media Theatre, Depot Theatre, and Sharon Playhouse. Her favorite theater credits include: Side Show, Les Miserables, and Shout! The Mod Musical. She is a current member of AEA (Actor’s Equity Association). In NYC, she has appeared in concerts and cabarets at notable venues including the Laurie Beechman Theatre and Feinstein’s 54 Below.
A lover of pop music and Jazz, Ashley currently performs in acoustic duos and as a soloist with her keyboard at local live music venues, wineries, breweries, and private events around the Greater Philadelphia area. From Ella Fitzgerald to Taylor Swift, Ashley covers music of popular genres with a soulful sensibility that moves and delights audiences of all ages.
Ashley taught private voice on Zoom during the pandemic and is looking forward to joining Rockdale Music as a vocal coach! Her goals are to help students improve their vocal range with proper technique, inspire them to develop their unique rockstar persona so that they can embody their fullest potential on stage, and empower them to feel as confident as possible in their voice as musical performers.
Ben is a guitarist, recording engineer, and songwriter from Garnet Valley, PA. With guitar being his primary instrument, Ben also plays a variety of instruments, including bass, drums, ukulele, piano, and vocals. Having a personal connection to Rockdale, Ben was once a student at the studio joining his first Rock Band group over 15 years ago! After being a student of Rockdale, he became a camp counselor during the summers, helping assist and lead the Rock Camps that the school provides. He graduated with a BA from Temple University studying Music Technology.
Ben has played in several musical groups, ranging in genres including alternative, pop, rock, metal, and jazz. In addition to playing music, he is also an audio engineer, recording and mixing many different projects, including the Garnet Valley High School choir, Garnet Valley High School Performing Arts Association, Temple University’s CPCA Backstage Pass Podcast, and many musical artists including his own music. Through these experiences, he has learned that there is always something new in music, which keeps the experience of listening and playing fresh, entertaining, and fun!
Ben currently teaches lessons for guitar, drums, and recording and can’t wait to be able to share why music is super important to you!