Our Experienced Music Teachers
All of School of Rock Goodyear’s music teachers are experienced musicians devoted to helping students attain musical proficiency. Our instructors guide students one-on-one to personalize learning, inspire confidence and build social skills.
Adam Toerpe
Drum Teacher
Adam began his musical career when he started taking piano lessons as a 5-year-old. He moved onto the guitar at the age of 8 and then finally made the move to drums at age 10 and has been playing in bands since he was 12 years old.
Adam has been on stages all around the West Valley including the Lakeside Music Festival in Estrella Mountain Ranch when he was just 13 years old. In high school, he was in the marching band and participated in percussion ensemble competitions all over Arizona. All of these musical experiences have brought Adam to the decision to make music his career.
Adam is currently a student at ASU in the Popular Music Program. When he is not on stage with his band, he’s jamming with multiple other bands all over the valley on drums and bass.
Alex Ridgeway
Drum Teacher
Alex started playing drums at 7 years old, beginning with formal lessons in a small town in Idaho. He has played hundreds of live shows throughout the United States, most notably on multiple tours. Alex has also performed on many studio recordings, both in bands of his own and as a session drummer for artists throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Since relocating to Arizona, Alex has continued his music career and can be seen playing with local bands around the valley, including his full-time spot as a member of a local alternative rock band.
Ally Riehle
Vocal Teacher, Performance Group Co-Director, Rock 101 Teacher
Ally has been singing for as long as she can remember and has always been passionate about expressing herself through music. She was in every talent show, competition, and performance in school, which helped her build confidence on and off stage.
Ally has performed at churches and open mics with friends, and she gigs regularly with her Chicago Blues band. She aspires to inspire through vocals which help to convey things that words when spoken simply cannot.
Derek Anzalone
Keyboards + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Derek is a music lover at heart. He started playing the piano at 11 years old and hasn't stopped since, now with over a decade of piano skills under his belt.
In high school, Derek sang with the Excelsis choir and spent seven years rocking it out in the concert band. Derek isn't just about playing though—he's also a songwriter who creates tunes that connect with his experiences and emotions. Music is his world, and he's here to share the joy of it with everyone.
John Morris
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Performance Group Co-Director, Rock 101 Teacher
John Morris is a guitarist for a local indie rock band and is a dynamic music producer specializing in rock, R&B, and pop music. John has been a part of the music scene in Phoenix for over a decade. From operating a recording and rehearsal studio in DTPHX’s historic arts district to producing music for local artists, John stays sharp on guitar, bass, keys, drums, and voice to be ready for any project that comes his way. John’s uniquely broad experience with all elements of music performance lends an invaluable perspective that he provides to his students and colleagues alike.
Rachel Prigge
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Rachel has been playing the piano since she was 4 years old. She began writing and arranging music shortly after learning to play, with primarily classical training and an emphasis on composition. In high school, Rachel participated in competitions, placing first in the national piano AACS competition both as a freshman and sophomore. She continued her formal education with a minor in music composition and has performed vocals and piano with a touring group.
Since beginning her adventure on the keys, Rachel helped teach her four younger siblings piano and music fundamentals. Teaching has helped her harness her love for music and keep the rhythm alive through sharing and collaborating—the ‘aha!’ moment in her students is everything to Rachel.
Sarah Carter
Studio Coordinator
Sarah is a Goodyear, Arizona native with 20 years of experience making people smile from the front desk. She is excited to be a part of the School of Rock Goodyear/Litchfield team and is dedicated to supporting the growth and development of every student's musical journey.
Mike Toerpe
Owner, General Manager
Mike grew up playing the drums and developed a passion for music at a young age. He started taking drum lessons at the age of 10. By the time he was in high school, he found himself in the marching band and playing in rock bands.
While in college, Mike taught drums privately and played in many different bands. In 1993, he worked with students and their friends by putting together a band, the same way School of Rock does today. Mike toured with his band in the late '90s and played and recorded with other bands when he was not on the road. In early 2000, he started an entertainment company in Chicago where he managed his band and others. During this time, he was also gigging and acted as the booking agent for his band and other musical entertainment for private events.
Mike moved his family to Goodyear, AZ in 2012 and continued performing in Chicago for three more years. Once Mike’s kids were old enough, he put them into a band and had them play at school functions and music festivals, all around the Goodyear area. When Mike's kids went off to college in 2020, he started to miss the music business and being around kids. This was the perfect time to get back to his passion, as well as giving back to his community.
Mike opened School of Rock in Goodyear to help facilitate the way music changes children’s lives, the same way it has changed his kids' lives and his own. Music performance is an integral part of the art and music world. School of Rock is poised to make the education of our future musicians easier, so life can be full of music.
School of Rock is where music and learning come together
For over twenty years, our amazing instructors have transformed hundreds of thousands of students across the world into skilled musicians. Become a musician at School of Rock.