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.
Gian Gavidia
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Gian Gavidia is a dedicated music teacher and aspiring jazz musician based in South Florida. With a strong foundation in guitar and drums, Gian is currently pursuing a degree in music education and jazz performance at Miami Dade College, further honing his skills and knowledge. He is also actively working toward a degree in audio technology, deepening his understanding of the technical aspects of music production and sound engineering.
As a previous alumnus of the Community Arts Program and with over five years of performance experience in diverse genres such as rock, jazz, and R&B, Gian has honed his craft as a versatile musician. He has had the opportunity to showcase his talents at prestigious venues like WDNA radio station, alongside the talented musicians of The Community Arts Program.
Gian's dedication to his craft, combined with his passion for teaching, makes him a valuable mentor and role model for aspiring musicians. He is excited to continue his journey as a music educator and to inspire the next generation of talented musicians.
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.
Joshua Czerwiec
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Joshua Czerwiec teaches guitar, keyboard, and vocals at the School of Rock in Coconut Grove. He has been playing music since the age of 12 and has studied at the University of Miami. Josh is passionate about spreading the joy of music through teaching and helping his students accomplish their goals to reach the next level!
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.
Nicole Spinelli
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Born and raised in Miami Beach, FL, Nicole Spinelli is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, teacher, and intern in music therapy. She has been practicing and pursuing music for over 18 years, beginning at the age of 4 with voice and piano, and later gravitating to clarinet and saxophone. At the age of 16, Nicole became the drum major of her high school. As a global musician, she has performed in places like Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Australia in the Sydney Opera House, Washington D.C. for Kennedy’s Centorium, Steinmetz Hall in Orlando, and the Adrienne Arsht Center for performances like Carmina Burana and musicals like In the Heights and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She loves listening, playing, and teaching music of all different kinds to all ages.