Our Experienced Music Teachers
All of School of Rock San Rafael’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.
Heather Riley
Owner, General Manager
Born in England Heather grew up with a love of all things music. She was immersed in decades of British artists, sang The American Songbook at home, and performed vocals for a cover band. In the mid 80’s she attended a company conference in the US and discovered that in her northern California colleagues she had ‘found her tribe’. She has lived in the US since 1991, mostly in the north bay area, and is a dual citizen.
Heather has had many careers including as a sales executive for computer peripherals, property manager for a large REIT, project coordinator for HP products, co-owner of an insurance business, HR administrator, and certified massage therapist. All roads led her to School of Rock Santa Rosa which she helped open from the ground up. Here, while utilizing her extensive customer service and business administration experience, she discovered just how important music is to her, and just about everyone else it seemed. Heather fully fell in love with School of Rock when she joined the adult performance program as a vocalist and bass student. In 2021 she was able to realize her dream gig by establishing School of Rock San Rafael, serving Marin County. At some point, when the dust settles, she will start drums lessons and looks forward to the challenges and benefits, like increased memory and dexterity!
Michael Papenburg
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Michael is a Bay Area native with over 35 years of teaching and performing experience. He has performed and recorded with many local artists including The Jerry Hannan Band, Matadore, Matt Nathanson, Brittany Shane, Orange, Penelope Houston, Lilyvolt, The Mad Cattle Ensemble and Missile Harmony. He currently plays lead guitar for Petty Theft, a tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Michael specializes in rock, alternative, slide guitar, blues, funk, country and folk. His influences include Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Bill Frisell, Robin Guthrie, Daniel Ash, Mike Campbell and many others. He is a very patient teacher with students ranging from beginning to advanced players. His focus is on playing technique, chords, scales, music theory, musicianship, and transcriptions of songs and solos in either tablature or standard notation. Michael taught at School of Rock Santa Rosa for three years and led many performance and adult performance bands who succeeded under his patient direction and critical ear for detail. He is a Lead Instructor at School of Rock San Rafael.
Ella Keilt
Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Ella grew up in the north bay immersed in music through her family from the very start. Between vocal and guitar lessons, and listening to a new album each day before school she exposed herself to genres and eras of music that most of her peers were unaware of. Ella attended Artquest, a public school magnet program for the Visual and Performing Arts at Santa Rosa High School, where she also honed her visual artistic skills. In 2019, she joined the staff at School of Rock Santa Rosa where kids of all ages loved her teaching style and ability to connect. She also brought her energy and enthusiasm to group classes including Little Wing, Rookies, Summer Camps, Rock 101, and the Performance Program rehearsals. As a singer-songwriter, Ella combines her unique smokey voice with relatable and memorable lyrics. She is a Lead Instructor at School of Rock San Rafael.
Mauby
Studio Coordinator, Drum Teacher
Mauby (mao-bee) is from Washington, D.C. where he began studying music playing trombone in grade school. In high school, he learned to play drums, keyboard & guitar. At 15, his first concert was AC/DC at the Capital Centre where he learned that head banging for many hours is….difficult. As a drummer in DC bands playing metal, funk, rock, ska, and punk, he learned the basics of performance, live sound, promotion, and band management. After graduating high school, he taught drum lessons and studied music theory while interning at a prominent recording studio in Falls Church, VA. After moving to SF Mauby performed in clubs up-and-down the west coast as a professional DJ and drummer. Subsequently in Portland, OR he held a full-time DJ residency and co-hosted a weekly five hour radio show on KBOO 90.7 FM. Mauby also had a lengthy career in the hospitality industry. He worked in several areas of operations including general management, project development, HR and ultimately as the owner of a lounge in Los Altos, CA. Now he enjoys teaching and mentoring artists, helping them achieve their goals and aspirations. Being part of their journey is incredibly rewarding. In his free time Mauby enjoys exploring with his wife and dog, gardening, cooking, and archiving media.
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.