Emilio De Armas
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Emilio De Armas started playing bass when he was 12 years old to be part of his middle school band. After his mom gave him his first Red Hot Chili Peppers CD, Emilio couldn't put his bass down for more than a few hours just to sleep at night. He became a School of Rock student at the age of 13 and attended all through high school. During those years, he did every gig he could, including funk, jazz, rock, and anything in between.
Eventually, Emilio expanded on his passion for music and started learning drums and guitar. This gave him an understanding of how instruments work as a whole in a band setting and how each one has its own unique role to play. He regularly gigs with fellow School of Rock alumni in local bands.
Adriana Palma
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Adriana is one of our school's drum teachers at the School of Rock in Coconut Grove. Her passion for music began at an early age and she started taking drum lessons at 13, 25 years later she continued her musical journey. She pursued further education at Berklee College of Music, where she was mentored by John Blackwell (Prince, D'Angelo, Justin Timberlake) and earned a specialist degree in music business. She loves listening, rehearsing, playing live with her bands, teaching music of all different kinds, and specializing in alternative/rock n' roll genres. She believes in empowering her students through the art of drumming.
Diego Gamez
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Studio Coordinator
Diego Alejandro Gamez is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and educator with over a decade of experience in performance, songwriting, and music production. He began his musical journey at the age of seven on drums before expanding into guitar and production.
He has worked with major industry organizations including Sony Music Latin, where he served as a Studio Coordinator, gaining hands-on experience in professional recording environments and artist development. Beyond his work as a recording artist and producer, Diego is an active member of the Miami indie scene playing in acts such as Stillblue and ReInform, each exploring sound through a deeply collaborative and genre-fluid lens.
At School of Rock Coconut Grove, Diego is a Studio Coordinator and teaches guitar, bass guitar, and drums, emphasizing musicianship, creativity, and artistic authenticity. His teaching philosophy centers on helping students find their unique voice while grounding their craft in strong technical and compositional foundations.
Mitchell Mattox
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Born and raised in Arizona, Mitchell Mattox learned the joy of music from listening to Motown and classic rock on the radio- his favorite band and first concert being Rush in 2007. After playing the game Rock Band 2 for dozens of hours with his brother, Mitchell decided to try out the real thing by taking drum lessons from a seasoned local teacher, Clyde Score. School orchestras and jazz bands steered him in a new musical direction, exposing him to the music of Count Basie and Miles Davis among numerous others; he still loved punk and ska all the while. An experienced professional drummer and former Miami resident Chad Eisinger mentored Mitchell, teaching him and guiding him through college auditions. At the University of Miami, Mitchell filled his days and nights with as many playing opportunities as possible- from studio sessions to rehearsals and gigs. After graduating in the fall of 2019, Mitchell has been a teacher, touring drummer, session musician, music producer, and more. Based in South Miami, Mitchell has played on stages around the US, London, and Mexico.
Juan Araujo
Drum Teacher
Juan is a drum instructor at School of Rock Coconut Grove and has played drums since he was 13 years old when he got his first beginner drum set and began his journey into music. He started by studying music theory, basic drumming rudiments, and performance at an academy in Venezuela.
Juan later developed his skills through private lessons and self-study. In addition to drumming, he also has experience with percussion and a bit of saxophone. Over the years, he has been involved in two choirs—one focused on rock music and another specializing in Christmas and traditional songs.
A passionate listener of all types of music, Juan’s personal genre preferences vary, including rock, jazz, Latin, funk, and reggae. Currently, he is working on two personal music projects with friends—one exploring Brazilian music and the other focused on rock. With a deep understanding of music, Juan continues to expand his musical horizons while sharing his knowledge and love of music with others.
Dani Martell
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Dani is a versatile vocal and multi-instrumentalist instructor at School of Rock Coconut Grove, with over 15 years of experience in music. He has dedicated his career to studying, practicing, creating, writing, and recording all kinds of music. Trained in music theory and classical/jazz guitar at schools such as Art Musica and Ars Nova, he later pursued songwriting, composition, production, and performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston, obtaining his Bachelor’s degree.
During his time at Berklee, Dani earned scholarships from prestigious institutions like the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation, ASCAP, and Taco Bell. He also worked and performed alongside renowned artists, including Juanes, Sebastián Yatra, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Nicky Jam, and Tony Succar. In addition, he spent a year as the lead singer for The Standard, a Top 40 and rock band in Boston, gaining valuable live performance experience across multiple genres.
Now, as a music teacher at School of Rock Coconut Grove, Dani is passionate about inspiring the next generation of musicians. He brings his extensive experience as a performer, songwriter, and instrumentalist to help students develop their skills and confidence on stage.
Stefan Silva-Espino
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Stefan Silva-Espino is one of our guitar and bass guitar teachers at School of Rock Coconut Grove. At 22 years old, he has already been playing for over a decade, first picking up the guitar at age 12. During his high school years, he began sharpening his skills through lessons and countless hours of practice, which shaped his individual style and approach to music.
He has been performing for the past three years with his band, playing for audiences ranging from 20 people to over 1,000. In addition to performing, he also writes and creates music. His love for classical music and movie scores influences his style, giving his students a well-rounded understanding of music beyond rock.
Passionate about teaching, Stefan is determined to help students become rockstars—not just guitar or bass players.
Cliff Dobson
Drum Teacher
Cliff Dobson is a musician and educator working in Miami for the past four+ years. He has been playing drums for well over a decade and brings a number of influences and styles into his sound. Cliff has recorded on a number of tracks and full-length albums and teaches both privately and at School of Rock Coconut Grove, in addition to playing drums in indie-rock band Lawn. His philosophy surrounding music, creativity, and practice are fundamental to his view of the instrument and he makes sure to help each student get started (or continue) on their path towards musical freedom and expression.
Winsthon Wisky
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Winsthon is a music teacher at School of Rock Coconut Grove, specializing in guitar, bass, and ensemble performance. He is an active musician in the South Florida music scene and brings both academic training and real-world playing experience into every lesson. With years of experience performing, recording, and collaborating with other musicians, Winsthon is passionate about helping students grow as confident, expressive players.
Winsthon enjoys teaching a wide range of musical styles, including rock, alternative, R&B, pop, and contemporary music. He believes that music education should be both structured and inspiring, helping students develop discipline while staying connected to their creativity. Winsthon is dedicated to helping students at School of Rock Coconut Grove reach their musical goals and enjoy the process along the way.
Andres Gonzalez
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
A graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, Andres is a professional performing musician with years of experience across a wide range of genres including rock, jazz, and pop. His passion for both creating and teaching music shines through in every lesson, and he’s committed to helping students of all backgrounds grow as confident, expressive musicians. Andres Gonzalez is a drums, guitar, and bass guitar teacher at School of Rock Coconut Grove.