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.
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.
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.
Jason Gonzalez
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Jason Gonzalez was born in Puerto Padre, Cuba, and immigrated to Miami at five years old. Coming from a strong background of artists and musicians in his family, Jason grew an interest in the arts at an early age and started playing guitar at 13 years old when he received one for Christmas.
Jason took music classes in high-school where he learned to play the flute and euphonium, as well as picking up the bass guitar by the age of 15 and drums at the age of 16. During all of this, he went to a music program on Saturdays and started several student bands as well as accumulating recording equipment and building a home studio.
Jason enjoys all music genres. but finds most enjoyment playing, performing and recording. Psychedelic Rock, Avant-Garde, and any sort of experimental music. At School of Rock Coconut Grove, Jason teaches guitar, bass guitar, drums, and keyboard + piano, in addition to his role as a Show Director. He also plays in his own personal project where he sings, plays guitar, and writes and records the music
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.