Dustin
Music Director, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Dustin got his start in music at a young age. Growing up in a household with a family piano, he would spend many hours trying to learn the themes from his favorite movies and TV shows. He continued to dabble with music on the side until he eventually took up the bass guitar at the age of 13. Throughout middle and high school, he joined and performed with various bands around Atlanta and participated in different music programs at school.
In the latter years of high school, Dustin started picking up work as a freelance musician for various studios and artists around the Atlanta and Nashville areas. After graduating, Dustin joined The Silver Comet (aka, The Sagas) and had the opportunity to tour the continental U.S. and Canada on the 2012 Vans Warped Tour, as well as a DIY tour of the UK in 2014. That same year, he co-founded an independent record label (Wake Records) with The Sagas lead vocalist which operated until 2019.
In 2017, Dustin began working as an teacher at School of Rock Johns Creek where he taught bass guitar, guitar, and the Rock 101, Performance, and Adult Band programs. Over the next six years, he continued working as a freelance musician and teaching music at School of Rock. In summer 2023, Dustin accepted the position of Music Director at School of Rock Atlanta.
Now working with School of Rock Buckhead, Dustin continues to work as a freelance musician, and currently plays bass for several Atlanta-based acts (Arkose, HeyDreamer, Gus Glasser, Casual Cadenza, GAMMA STAR, The Pussywillows) and has played on 100+ records/singles including Skate Odyssey by Ghostface Killah (Wu-Tang Clan), released in 2024.
Christian
House Band Director, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Christian has been a gigging member of the Atlanta rock music scene since his days in high school playing with a grunge band at venues around the city. Having spent his childhood studying piano and saxophone, Christian found his true calling in rock n' roll music, teaching himself guitar and bass during his teenage years. He currently sings and plays rhythm guitar in the local jam band, Red Eye Orchestra.
A music technology enthusiast, Christian is also an experienced producer and audio engineer, working in Logic Pro X and Presonus Studio One. Christian's favorite band is Widespread Panic and when he's not teaching he's almost certainly writing songs and jamming.
Kevin
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Kevin has been playing music for over 25 years. His passion for music has led him to learn bass, drums, and acoustic and electric guitars. Kevin loves the history of rock’n roll, the power of a pop song, and the challenge of experimental music.
Kevin has toured the beautiful west coast of America with various bands. He has also had the privilege of recording and producing vinyl records for indie bands from that time.
Kevin’s strongest passion, however, is in helping others learn and embrace the wonderful gift of music and help them bring joy into their lives.
Keira
Vocal teacher
Keira, the ATL-raised visionary who is a vocalist with an old kindred spirit. From her sweet melodies of storytelling to her performance that can move a crowd, she is ready to debut to the world who 'Keira' really is. Her old-school ways derive from artists she listened to growing up, Jill Scott & Whitney Houston being two of them. At just 16, she started her musical journey with her first self-produced song, "Excuse Me." She followed the momentum of "Excuse Me" with her next single, "Rose Petals."
Soon after, she wanted to elevate her musicality by attending Berklee College of Music, graduating in 2022. At Berklee, she performed for artists such as Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake, & Lalah Hathaway. She also worked with Rob Lewis, the musical director for Christina Aguilera, and Ashley Rodriguez, who has worked with John Legend & Lana Del Rey. After graduating from Berklee in 2022, she went on her first national tour with TV Girl in 2023. She then went on to do her first international tour with TV Girl in 2024. She also performed at festivals such as Lollapalooza and Kilby Block Party. Now that she is back home, she is ready to be a part of the School of Rock community!
Tony
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Ukulele Teacher
Tony studied classical guitar at Valdosta State University. With over 20 years of experience playing in several bands under his belt, music is now his means of expressing himself, and he strives to help each student find their own way of expressing themselves through music.
Aaron
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Aaron is an Atlanta native steeped in the city's longstanding tradition of churning out inspiring art of all kinds. As a founding member of Starbenders, he maintains a busy touring schedule in addition to teaching at School of Rock in his off time.
Aaron brings real-world experience with a genuine love for music to students looking to hone their skills in the context of rock performance. His view is that rock n' roll isn't something you do; it's who you are.
Miaka
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Miaka started singing in choir from elementary school all the way through high school. She learned to play the clarinet throughout middle school and high school, where she decided to transform her talent and passion for music into a career of teaching in order to inspire others the same way her teachers inspired her. Miaka earned her Bachelor’s in Music Education at the University of Georgia, where she played in numerous ensembles such as the Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, the Redcoat Marching Band, and the Derbies Pep Band. Miaka hopes to instill a love and passion for music in everyone she teaches.
Derik
Drum Teacher
Derik Rinehart is a music educator specializing in drums and percussion. He has been playing for 47 years and teaching for 32. He has taught students ranging in age from 4 to 63. Derik has recorded and toured with various artists in various styles including blues (with Big Bill Morganfield, Muddy Water's son), metal (Cernunnos), R&B (Kenny Brazil), progressive rock (Cobweb Strange, Speechless), singer/songwriter (Lindsay Smith), as well as musicals, country, and even polka. Derik is currently playing in three bands and doing session work. While his main focus has been the drum set, he also teaches hand drumming, live performance, set up and tuning of the drum set, and writing and recording.
Will "Flash"
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Will "Flash" is a musician and actor who proudly represents Boston, MA. Flash is an experienced drummer and keyboardist who is skilled as an arranger, programmer, and music director. Upon graduating from the Boston Arts Academy in 2019, he continued his studies at the Berklee College of Music where he would go for the next three years studying music education.
Flash draws his musical knowledge from gospel, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, pop, rock, and anything else that catches his ear. His artistic outlook has always been to bring an emotional connection to whatever he finds himself working on.
DJ
Drum Teacher
DJ comes from a family of musicians and singers. His father was a singer and trumpet player and his mother was a violinist. DJ started singing when he was a small child and took an early interest in drums as a toddler. DJ started writing and recording music with his brothers at age 15. By the time he was 16, he knew he wanted to be a drummer in a band. DJ and his brothers started HTB (Hero The Band) in 2010 and haven’t looked back since!
Ben
Drums Teacher
Ben was raised in Atlanta and has been behind the kit since he was 13, chasing groove and precision with relentless passion. He has studied under some of the most innovative drummers in the game—Dave Elitch, Deantoni Parks, Matt Garstka, and JP Bouvet—and trained formally at the Atlanta Institute of Music.
With over seven years of teaching experience, numerous studio credits, and a deep love for pushing creative boundaries, Ben brings both technical mastery and real-world experience to every lesson at School of Rock Atlanta. He is currently touring as the drummer for the band Glimmers, blending chops and feel on stages across the country.