If you want to be the next Pete Townsend or Buddy Guy; Dylan, Slash or Metheny; West Side Music Academy can help you hit the right chords.
Live out a fantasy, begin a career in entertainment or just learn for the pure enjoyment of making music and playing your favorite songs. We can match your interest and learning style with one of our seasoned guitar instructors.
Matthew Benham
Teacher
Instruments: Guitar, Bass.
Students: Beginner to Advanced.
Styles:Rock, Blues, and Jazz with an emphasis in Folk and Fingerstyle
Preferred pronouns: he/him
At age six, Matt’s life changed forever the moment he first saw Bon Jovi on MTV. Richie Sambora’s stadium size guitar playing was a gateway for Matt to discover Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Jimi Hendrix and countless other bands and guitar heroes. Matt specializes in rock, blues and jazz guitar; he has 15 years of recording and performing experience within the Seattle music community. Matt has played with several groups and artists including Argo, Black Swedes, Flat 5, A Breakthrough in Field Studies, Hand of the Hills, The Nom Noms, Jjjacob Jjjames and Joe Gregory. His music has appeared on MTV’s The Real World, and has been downloaded in more than 100 countries. Matt has been playing for 25 years; he has 10 years of experience teaching a variety of styles to students of all ages.
On Matt’s Stereo:
I usually listen to jazz, Avant-pop and some classical. David Bowie, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Jim Hall and Sonny Sharrock are a few of my favorites.
Favorite Gig:
One of my favorite gigs was playing in an ensemble of four guitars and viola for Andrew Smith's composition Topology at the Good Shepherd Chapel for the Wayward Music series in 2014. The piece is composed for just intonation and running time was close to an hour. The guitars droned on with odd meters and tunings, while the viola traveled around the room, improvising as the sounds shifted underneath. It was a great experience to be a part of a performance that combined elements of new music and free improvisation in such a wonderful, acoustically rich setting.
Why Matt Loves West Side Music Academy:
Some of my favorite memories are from the Beginning Rock Band and Advanced Rock Band performances during the summer camp weeks. Seeing the students fearlessly performing on stage to the delight of their friends and family is one of the great joys a music teacher can have in his or her career. I'm so proud of all the students who are brave enough to perform in front of an audience in this way!
Matt Moore- Online Only
Teacher
Students: Saxophone (baritone, tenor, alto), clarinet, flute, drums, guitar, piano, ukulele, and beginning bass - Online Only
Styles: Jazz, Rock, Classical
Preferred pronouns: he/him
Matt Moore is from Austin, Texas. He picked up guitar at the age of 7. In middle school, he began with the saxophone. During high school, Matt learned piano and drums. Through college, he learned to play the clarinet and flute as well as perfected the rest of his instruments. Matt graduated cum laude from the University of North Texas at the Music School with a B.A. in Jazz Studies. From then, he has performed in many professional bands and formed his own groups, such as Circling Drones. Matt has a lot of experience in all the instruments he teaches.
Matt likes to combine what the students wants to learn with his knowledge of that particular style of music. He likes to integrate music theory lessons as well as teaching to read and write. Matt gives homework to allow the students to practice on their own at home. Most importantly, he wants the student(s) to enjoy learning everything they can about music.
Everett Sarono
Teacher
Instruments: Guitar and Ukulele.
Students: All ages.
Styles: Jazz, Rock, Funk, Reggae, Hawaiian, Contemporary.
Preferred pronouns: he/him
Everett Sarono is an active working guitarist and bassist with more than 25 years of experience playing in rock, jazz, funk, reggae, Hawaiian and contemporary bands across the Puget Sound. At the age of twelve he saw his first rock concert and was convinced that there was nothing cooler than rocking the guitar onstage. As he mastered his craft, he gravitated towards jazz and studying with notable musicians including Brian Kirk, Erik Hansen, Chris Spencer, Milo Peterson and Gene Ess (of the renowned Rashied Ali Quintet). Everett constantly strives to improve as a musician and teacher. His teaching style provides a fun and supportive learning experience while encouraging students to develop their own unique musical voice. In his spare time Everett enjoys taking his pet goldfish scuba diving at Alki Beach.
On Everett’s Stereo:
Anything and everything; if it moves me in some way regardless of the style I appreciate it. Some of the older cats would include Mississippi John Hurt, James Brown, Hank Williams, The Rolling Stones, Waylon Jennings, The Grateful Dead and John Coltrane. On the newer tip I enjoy Kendrick Lamar, The Alabama Shakes and Chet Faker.
Favorite Gig:
I once hired out as a stage musician for a musical. That was really cool to be a part of. Playing Folk Life was also a really memorable gig.
Why Everett Loves West Side Music Academy:
I really get a kick out of when students achieve a goal or acquire a new skill on their instrument. I also love to learn from my students, whether it’s a new artist/song that I hadn't heard before or learning their unique approach to music.