Brian Lutz Music Director, Drum Instructor
Music Director, Brian Lutz, is a South-Florida recording and performing drum artist experienced in an array of different playing styles from Rock to Jazz to Brazilian Samba. Brian combines his 25 years of professional on-stage experience, global touring and studio recording expertise with the many versatile bands he plays with – whether the demand requires driving out fast, technical double-bass chops or playing brushes in a jazz small-group.
A graduate from the University of North Florida with a B.A. in Jazz Performance, Brian has mastered venues of all types - from cruise lines, to theme parks (Universal, Busch Gardens, Disney) to entertaining tens of thousands overseas with world-wide tour appearances as a former member of the U.S. Army Field Band; the U.S. Army's premier touring show band. Brian is constantly performing & touring with his band THE SHOP, playing many high-profile venues such as The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
In addition to his many performances, Brian is excited to bring his expertise to the North Palm Beach School of Rock Music. Brian's educational endeavors have led him to self-produce his own full-length 3-hour instructional DVD entitled "Practical Drumming with Brian Lutz" (available at www.amazon.com, www.brianlutz.com and at east coast George's Music stores). The DVD was filmed and recorded in legendary Studio A at Criteria Studios in Miami and took over 50 hours of studio time to produce.
Within months of the initial release of “Practical Drumming”, the DVD has already had spotlight features in MODERN DRUMMER and DRUMHEAD magazines — see more about Brian's DVD at www.brianlutz.com.
Mike Kerr Lead Guitar and Bass Instructor
As lead and bass guitar instructor, multi-instrumentalist Mike Kerr brings a lifetime love of music to The Paul Green School of Rock Music in North Palm Beach. Mike started playing guitar in middle school so he could "hang with the cooler kids at school." He has since moved on to learn the bass guitar, drums and is presently studying vocal, keyboards and woodwinds. He is truly a musical jack of all trades.
Mike's earliest influences include Neil Young and the Allman Brothers Band followed later by Joe Satriani, David Gilmour and Tom Morello. Currently you will find guitar master John Scofield and Andrew Bird in Mike's ipod.
Mike has played extensively over the last few years in the local music scene jamming with Clarence Clemons from the E Street Band and his own band, Happy Town. Mike can't wait to direct his first shows from Pink Floyd's "The Wall" to Ray Charles. He is an accomplished teacher who is thrilled to be a part of the School of Rock.
Yazmani Velazquez Vocals, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards and Drums
School of Rock Instructor, Yazmani Velazquez, has been heavily involved in the South Florida music scene over the past 9 year playing and singing in various cover and original bands. Yaz has studied both commercial and classical music at Florida Atlantic University where he obtained a wide range of experience and education in music performance, composition, theory, as well as music production and audio engineering.
Yaz is a fan of the timeless great music like Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles, but he is also an avid supporter of the current music scene which he feels “holds the key to the future of music.” This philosophy of integrating the past with the future encourages students to tap into their own creativity and explore new and original ideas using classic rock and roll as the guide. Let Yaz expand your music skills at the School of Rock, North Palm Beach.
Justin Hucker Guitar, Bass, and Drums Instructor
Justin Hucker grew up in Illinois, Oklahoma and Arizona. After school he traveled and lived in California, Montana, then finally moved to Florida about three years ago.
His sister gave him a guitar for his 15th birthday, showed him a bar chord, and said, "Have fun!" He self-taught himself how to play by mimicking songs on the radio. He started his first band about 4 months later. Since then, he’s been in some really fun bands like Prosthetix (goth-metal), Illeven (pop-metal?), Edwood No (Punk), and Strange V.D. (Punk/Grunge). Since then, he's been a solo artist, A View Askew. He has been featured in a local newspaper for A View Askew and was on Goldie's Garage on Channel 25 XM Satillite Radio.
Primarily an electric and acoustic guitar instructor, he learned other instruments to fill in the gaps when he wasn't performing in a band. Justin also teaches trumpet, French horn, bass, piano and drums.
Justin describes himself with a smile and says, “You can just put: Good kid, smells funny, likes music.” http://www.myspace.com/aviewaskewmusic.
Sarah Peak Music Instructor
Sarah Peak has been singing and playing the piano since the age of three. She started piano lessons in third grade and voice lessons at the age of 11. She has sung at many events such as a program in Washington DC for the president, college basketball, baseball, soccer and football games, minor league baseball games, school and church events, American Idol, FAU Idol and many more. She is currently in the studio working on some of her own material as well as writing for a producer. Sarah has also worked with children from infants to the age of 15 and teaches voice lessons to private students. She is majoring in Vocal Performance at Florida Atlantic University and is going into her third year.
Sarah's music influences include the classics such as The Temptations, Billy Joel, The Pretenders, The Beatles, Bob Marley, The Police, Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Sting, James Brown, Steely Dan and The Beach Boys. She also enjoys the newer sounds of Christina Aguilera, Nirvana, Fat Freddie's Drop, Incubus, Nickelback, Robin Thick, The Hush Sound and so many more.
Ryan Weidenfeld Drum Instructor
Ryan Weidenfeld studied percussion at Middle School and High School of the Arts. Ryan has a very serious focus and passion for drumming. He has toured most of the United States with the signed pop group "The Treasury." He has been playing for sixteen years and has much experience touring, recording, performing, and teaching. He has opened for national acts such as 3 Doors Down, No Doubt, Less than Jake, Live, and Default in the award winning local band "Prior Life". He enjoys listening and playing many styles of music. He has been a part of Floridas Music scene for 10 years.
Frank Axtell Guitar Instructor
With over two decades in the music industry, Frank Axtell is a renowned guitarist and composer who is a major contributor to the South Florida jazz/fusion/rock/blues scene. He performs with his own jazz ensemble, The Frank Axtell Quartet/Trio. He was chosen as a featured soloist at the Berks Jazz festival in Reading, PA. Frank toured extensively in the 80's and recorded at The Record Plant in the San Francisco Bay area. Frank attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has always taken his continuing course of musical evolution seriously, learning from prominent guitarists Vincent Bredice, Joseph Iodone, Joe Diorio, Scott Henderson, and Jack Wilkins. Frank has served on the faculty of Miami Dade Community College and The Academy of Fine Arts in West Palm Beach, Fl. More recently, he teaches guitar clinics and instructs guitar/electric bass/music theory at his studio, Digital Soundscapes, in West Palm Beach, FL. Frank's comprehensive body of recorded material includes original compositions in the jazz, rock, R&B, classical, world beat and smooth jazz veins. He is a sought after session guitarist because of his versatility and talent for producing and arranging.