Grace Bunting Singing Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Grace Bunting is a graduating senior at St. Mary’s College of California where she will graduate with a BA in music (vocal performance) and a minor in English. Before School of Rock, Grace taught at Sacramento Theatre Company, Northern California School of the Arts, and privately. Grace has worked with and taught various musical styles, such as opera, musical theatre, pop, and jazz. As a pianist, Grace as accompanied herself and others as a member of worship teams for years. She is excited to part of such a fun community that fosters musicians and encourages everyone to express themselves through music.
Jeremy Fisch Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Jeremy Fisch is the owner of School of Rock Walnut Creek. Jeremy’s career in music was almost derailed in the third grade after his parents confiscated his violin due to his questionable ability and overly enthusiastic practice schedule (true story!). Jeremy got the last laugh though when he bought his first drumset at 16 and joined the nascent punk scene at the Gilman Street venue in Berkeley, CA, sharing the stage on several occasions with a newly formed band called Green Day. Jeremy has continued in bands ever since, playing drums, guitar and bass. You can hear his college ska band, the Lidds, and Oakland-based indie band, St Tropez, on Spotify.
Jessa Lamkin Singing Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Jessa is a singing and keyboard teacher at School of Rock Walnut Creek. In addition to enjoying teaching, she loves to sing and is a music major at Saint Mary’s college where she specializes in vocal performance. She loves listening to and performing many different styles of music! Jessa has years of experience studying music through choir, college courses, and private lessons. Enjoying many styles of music, her playlists are filled with modern rap and pop, as well as classic rock and jazz hits. She loves learning about music as well as teaching others. Performing and studying music at the collegiate level, she has advanced knowledge of music theory and performance technique and loves to learn new things along the way!
Joe Faria Guitar Teacher
Joe Faria is a guitar and group rehearsal instructor at School of Rock Walnut Creek as well as a working musician here in the Bay. Joe’s been playing guitar for 15 years and specializes in rock and blues, but is versatile and plays all kinds of music. Joe is also a drummer and bassist, which has helped him join various bands throughout the area performing cover songs and original music. Joe has 5 years of experience teaching guitar to children and adults. He loves teaching and strives to help every student improve their skills, while having fun and building a love for music.
Kyle Mendes Music Director, Guitar Teacher
Kyle teaches guitar at School of Rock Walnut Creek. A Walnut Creek native, he started learning guitar at the age of ten, and by the time he finished high school had taught students both in private and ensemble settings, and been the lead songwriter in bands spanning genres from punk, pop, heavy metal, spiritual, and bluegrass. Currently, Kyle performs as a one man band he calls, Inside of the Mountain. As both an instructor and perpetual student, he enjoys hearing new music, expanding and challenging the breadth of his skills, and sharing knowledge with other enthusiastic music lovers.
Lindsay Ford Singing Teacher
Lindsay Kathryn Ford holds a bachelor of arts degree from Saint Mary’s College of California (Moraga, CA) in performing arts with theatre and music emphases. She studied theatre at Fordham University in New York, Shakespeare’s Globe in London, and studied at Sophia University in Tokyo where she became conversant in Japanese. Additional training from Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill, CA) and Center Rep at the Lescher Center for the Arts (Walnut Creek, CA).
While at SMC, Lindsay performed as Emcee in Cabaret, Natasha in Three Sisters, Myrrhine in Lysistrada, and as Spirit of Love in Twelfth Night. She sang for four years in Saint Mary’s Chamber Singers and Glee Club, performance highlights including World Choir Games in Latvia and South Africa, Budapest International Choral Celebration, and a Carnegie Hall Invitational performance.
Lindsay has been studying Estill Voice Training under the tutelage of Kelly Fosdahl Burge - a certified Estill Master Trainer - for over five years.
Professionally, Lindsay performed with Greg Murai in their alternative pop duo Ophelia Wears White, and she sings with the jazz quartet Moodswing
Mirco Melcone Bass Guitar Teacher
Mirco Melone is a multi-faceted, multi-instrumental musician who loves to further his knowledge of the languages and forms of all music. He has collaborated as a musician and arranger in the studio with various Italian bands and songwriters, and divides his time between playing live and in the studio as well as teaching bass guitar and double bass and composing original music.
Mirco is a bass and double bass player and musical arranger from Bologna, Italy who currently lives in Alameda, California. Mirco began studying bass guitar at the age of fourteen in Imola, Italy with renowned teacher Pierluigi Mingotti. He initially played rock/classic rock, pop, and funk, but has since broadened his interests to include electronic and ethnic music as well as jazz and classical music. He has played in many tribute, cover, and local rock bands. He holds advanced degrees from Italy’s Classical Music Conservatory “Bruno Maderna”.
Currently in the Bay Area, he continues teaching bass/upright bass to a variety of students. He joined the band Tempest in 2018, a Celtic/progressive rock band with over 30 years of history and 17 records (www.tempestmusic.com). The band frequently tours around the United States and Europe, playing in clubs, theaters and prestigious festivals. He also continues to compose and arrange music, as well as play with various artists in the Bay Area.
Russ Wood Assistant Manager, Studio Coordinator
Russ has been playing in bands since he was 13 years old. He was heavily involved in the Bay Area DIY punk scene throughout his high school and college years, playing guitar and touring in The Blanks, The Nite Shades, Kill The Bats, and Koi. He moved to Salt Lake City, UT in 2016 after graduating from San José State University, where he continued his involvement in DIY punk: booking shows for national and international artists, and touring with his bands Slow No, Breakfast In Silence, Deep Romance, and Fountain View. He currently makes music as Eichlers, promoting and touring his new album My Checkered Future.