Claire Armstrong
Owner, General Manager
Claire brings her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for music education to the Eagle Rock community as the proud owner and operator of School of Rock Eagle Rock.
A longtime NELA resident and mother to her own little kiddo, Claire has deep roots in the neighborhood and is thrilled to bring world-class music education to the community she calls home.
Coming from a family of musicians, Claire's love for music runs deep. She dabbles in playing guitar & bass (among other instruments), and understands firsthand the joy and confidence that comes from making music with others and putting on shows. With a unique background in developing music education apps for renowned brands like Fender and DW Drums, Claire combines her tech expertise with her musical experience to create an innovative learning environment.
Claire believes in the transformative power of performance-based music education and is passionate about helping Eagle Rock students build confidence, develop musical skills, and rock out on stage. Her commitment to both business excellence and child safety ensures that every student has the support they need to succeed. When she's not busy running the school, Claire enjoys hiking, reading, sewing, vegetarian cooking, video games, and playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends in the vibrant Eagle Rock community.
Her favorite part of this journey? Watching students discover that they truly do rock and seeing the joy that music brings to their lives!
Tim Hancock
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Tim has more than 18 years of experience in music education, teaching guitar, songwriting, and band to students from elementary through high school. Before moving to the U.S., he spent ten years teaching in schools across the UK, delivering small-group instrumental lessons, whole-class music programs, rock band, and composition. He later became a team leader, supporting and training a large team of music educators while helping develop curriculum and teaching strategies.
In 2019, Tim joined Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, where he helped develop Fender Play’s educational curriculum and supported programs reaching thousands of students and teachers. He continues to work as a music education curriculum developer alongside his teaching, with a focus on making music lessons practical, creative, and engaging.
As a professional musician, Tim has toured extensively and recorded albums with his band Brontide, alongside session and recording work with other artists. He brings that real-world performance experience into his teaching, helping students at School of Rock Eagle Rock develop the skills and confidence to play music with others and perform.
Sara Herrschaft
Studio Coordinator
Sara is a lifelong music lover, singer, and performer who also loves helping make things happen behind the scenes, whether it's organizing performances and events or coordinating lessons. As a former School of Rock student herself, Sara discovered her passion for the creative community at an early age.
She graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Vocal Performance. Since then, she has studied and worked alongside notable musicians including Johnaye Kendrick of säje, Artistic Director Dr. John Sutton, and Maestro Ludwig Wicki. Sara is also the Communications Director and an Alto 1 with the Pasadena-based choir voices/LA, where she has performed at renowned venues including Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Peacock Theater.
She’s thrilled to return to School of Rock Eagle Rock and experience a full-circle moment by helping foster the same sense of inspiration and creative community that she experienced there many years ago.
Brad Babinski
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Brad Babinski is a Los Angeles-based bassist, guitarist, and guitar tech, born and raised in Southern California. He has performed, recorded, and toured internationally with both original groups and established artists. With over two decades of teaching experience, Brad is excited to share his musical expertise with the next generation of rock superstars at School of Rock Eagle Rock.
Lucas Tammariello
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Lucas Tammariello is a guitar, bass guitar, and drum teacher at School of Rock Eagle Rock. Using his background as a folk musician and audio engineer, Lucas brings both technical expertise and creative energy into every lesson. He is committed to not only helping students grow into skilled performers, but also guiding them to cultivate a lifelong love for and devotion to music. Students will begin to discover their unique musical voice right from the get-go and find that the joy of making music with others is the greatest lesson of all.
Scout Gillett
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Scout Gillett has been immersed in music and performance since childhood. Raised in the Kansas City music community, Scout began performing at age five and developed a deep appreciation for creativity, collaboration, and the confidence that comes from artistic expression.
After moving to Brooklyn in 2017, Scout formed the band Shadow Year, pursued a solo project, and completed nearly 15 national tours and two international tours. Scout has also managed a music event program, organized sold-out David Bowie tribute concerts, performed for an audience of 1,500 at a Prince tribute, and studied voice with acclaimed vocalist Dana Calitri.
Scout brings extensive performance experience, strong leadership skills, and an enthusiastic, professional approach to teaching. At School of Rock Eagle Rock, Scout is excited to help young musicians develop their talents, express themselves, and discover confidence and community through music.
Matan Birnbaum
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Matan is a keyboardist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer with experience in live performance and recording. After spending his teenage years playing in bands and creating original music in Northern Colorado, he moved to Los Angeles to study Music Production at Occidental College.
Since then, Matan has performed, toured, and produced music with a variety of projects. Most recently, he played keys with Marinero during a run of shows opening for La Luz. He is especially interested in how arrangement, tone, improvisation, and production shape a song.
As a teacher, Matan encourages students at School of Rock Eagle Rock to experiment, collaborate, and develop their own musical identities. He strives to make lessons creative, practical, and connected to the music each student cares about.
N8 Hassan
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
N8 (Nate) Hassan is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist specializing in drums, percussion, music education, and production. N8 came from a musical family and grew up with rock n 'roll. He was inspired by Animal from the Muppets and his mother, who was a singer/blues harp powerhouse in a rock cover band.
Under the instruction and guidance of band Director Frank Williams, N8 performed in the high school marching band and Jazz Band, and toured nationally with Spirit of Atlanta Drum Corps. He then went on to study with Alice Cooper drummer Glen Sobel at M.I. In Hollywood PIT program in 2010, and most recently acquired an AA in Recording Arts at Glendale Community College.
In the last 15 years, N8 has had the honor of touring and recording worldwide with many eclectic bands off broadway acts. Most notably, Blue Man Group, Burn The Floor, Street Drum Corps, and bands Christian Death, Red Elvises, and Outernational. Off the road, N8 has had the honor and privilege of sharing his musical knowledge with students of all ages at School of Rock communities in Manhattan as well as the greater LA area. He is thrilled to be a part of School of Rock Eagle Rock and can’t wait to help students achieve their musical goals and aspirations! Rock on!
Jake Schweitzer
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Jake is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and producer who earned a BA from Columbia College Chicago with a focus in instrumental performance, songwriting, and music production. Since then, he's built a career around bringing songs from their earliest sparks to fully finished productions.
He's written and released three albums of original material, worked as a musician and producer for theater companies and recording artists, and has composed and produced music for film.
Jake has over five years of teaching experience with students ranging from total beginners to working industry professionals. Whatever a School of Rock Eagle Rock students' experience level or goals are, he's excited to help them grow.