Rock Garage offers both online and in-person individual lessons for guitar, bass, drums, ukulele, mandolin, banjo, and vocals. Check out the bios of our awesome instructors.
Preston Nash has been playing drums for nearly 40 years. His touring and recording credits include Dope (Sony Records), Primer 55 (Island Records), Society 1 (Earache Records) among many others. He's played all over America, Canada and parts of Europe, on stages including CBGB's, Carnegie Hall, the Montreux Jazz Festival and Sun Devil Stadium.
As an educator, Preston's been teaching music since the early 1990's, privately as well as at the high school and collegiate level. In 2011 he started the award-winning Ash Rock Program at Sam Ash Music, and in 2020 co-founded the Rock Garage music lesson and rock band program, based out of Indianapolis IN. He has earned 3 degrees in music, including a Masters Degree in Music Theory/Composition from Montclair State University in NJ.
Preston is endorsed by Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drum Heads and ProMark sticks. He is currently playing with Gasoline Chaser, and is a high-demand free lance drummer in the Indianapolis area.
John Frye has been teaching for 25 years and playing guitar for 36 years. He is well versed in all styles of music and has an extensive knowledge of music theory as well.
Having a wide range of musical influences spanning many different genres and styles, John's biggest guitar influences are Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Randy Rhoads, Jimmy Page, Steve Lukather, Michael Landau and Scott Henderson.
John believes the most important aspect of teaching and playing is to simply have fun and enjoy playing the music you love.
John is also an active performer, primarily playing shows all over the Midwest region.
Amanda Tewell, Soprano, is a native of Indiana holding a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance. Amanda engages audiences and fellow artists during performances with her passion and confidence her versatility in vocal range and genres, along with her dedication to her continuing training and experience.
In college, she enhanced her skills with dance and linguistics. She completed courses in German and Languages for Singers with French, Italian and Latin allowing her solo repertoire to flourish. Amanda was a member of The Indiana Southeast University Concert Choir and has performed in classical concert settings, cabarets with Carmel Community Players, operas and pop concerts with the Indiana University Southeast, as well as singing with the Orchestra at Indiana University Southeast and their brass band.
Amanda’s hard work at her university resulted in invitations for two consecutive years to preform solos at the Indiana University Southeast commencement ceremony, by the Music Department Coordinator and was invited to perform at the Chancellor’s Installation to sing the National Anthem and the school’s Alma Mater solo. After these performances, the school invited her to perform solo and group song at the Chancellor’s Medallion Dinner with her Acapella Club. Her reputation and abilities became well known throughout her college years and she was personally sought out and invited to sing a solo for a senior student’s composition, “Fantasy on an American Folk Hymn” with the Indiana University Concert and Brass Band.
Amanda not only pursues her passion, she advocated and supported others to pursue music and voice education as well. She took the initiative to create a curriculum and support services within the Indiana University Southeast Music Department allowing accommodations for students who have dyslexia in their music education. She also enjoys volunteering her talent with different military and veteran groups.
Amanda embraces opportunities to learn and master different and new genres of music and further strengthen her already vast vocal range and versatility. She is experienced as a solo artist as an Ash Rock member since November 2018 and is continuing to enjoy rocking out on stage!
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” -Plato
Eric Jones has been playing drums for over 40 years, and has played with over 200 bands! He has toured across the USA and has played in Europe. His credits include playing for Lindsay Lohan (Casablanca Records/Universal Records) and has worked in the studio or live with many established artists such as Steve Lukather, Trev Lukather, Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Snoop Dog, and many others. Eric has been in MTV hit videos, live MTV and TV performances, and has performed stadium concerts.
Eric is a graduate of the Percussion Institute of Technology at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. He has been teaching privately for 25 years, and has taught at 2 academies in Los Angeles, as well as IRC Music, Sam Ash, and Rock Garage in Indianapolis. Eric also plays and teaches 5-string bluegrass banjo, Logic Pro classes, recording classes, and operates the recording studio at Rock Garage.
Eric plays Ludwig drums, Zildjian Cymbals,
Remo drumheads, Vater sticks, and Gibson banjos.
Cassandra is an Indianapolis-based singer/ songwriter with over ten years of teaching and pedagogical experience. Trained in classic, contemporary, and musical theatre, she has since explored all genres of vocal styles. She is also an active performer and recording artist. When asked about her teaching philosophy, she says:
"Whether you want to sing back up, be a font-of-band rock star, or just become a better musician - getting to know your voice is so important! Unlike other musical lessons, singing is your internal instrument. We will learn to identify the different "tools" you have in your voice during lessons, recognize that feeling, and use it to approach any song you want to learn. Along the way, I will make sure you gain confidence and embrace your unique voice! I can't wait to work with you!”
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