Jacob Odell

Teaches guitar, bass guitar and ukulele

Jacob is a master of the Jazz idiom. Having graduated from Berklee college of music, he keeps very busy playing jazz all over the central coast. His approach to teaching is simple: “Allow students to learn the music that they enjoy listening to.” His philosophy (and ours) is that if learning music is FUN for the student, then practicing the instrument is easy and non-laborious. He will also supplement this with formal guitar techniques which encourage the student to reach their full musical potential. For videos of Jacobs work click here. www.JacobOdell.com

Jaxon Vach

Teaches guitar, piano, drums, bass guitar and ukulele

He has been playing music for over 20 years and has been teaching for over 10 years. While attending the University of Maryland he took 4 years of music classes ranging from music theory, orchestration, pedagogy of guitar, and singing performance. He has toured nationally with his various bands, playing dates on Warped Tour as well as opening for notable musicians. Currently, he plays with GhostMonster a local alternative rock duo with Nataly Lola, performing at wineries, hotels and restaurants all along the central coast.

Raised in a family of teachers (his mom teaches math and his dad teaches history) Jason is a natural teacher, possessing patience and understanding while still maintaining a fun environment. From teaching countless students of all ages, he has always found a way to tap into their interests musically and is always surprised from what he can learn from his students. He has taught everything from old country, jazz theory, pop music and even Russian ska-punk..

Gary Wooten

Teaches guitar

Gary is a guitar player’s guitar player by all forms of the phrase.  Having begun taking lessons at age five and teaching at age sixteen, he has spent his life learning and sharing the wonders of music with students of all ages.

Professionally, Gary has performed over 4,000 concerts, performing onstage with international artists such as Lee Ann Womack, Dierks Bentley, and Miranda Lambert.  Playing legendary venues such as The Grand Ole Opry, professional sports stadiums, and major music festivals.

Talia Ortega

Teaches vocals saxophone piano

TALIA ORTEGA is a multi-instrumentalist (flute, saxophone, vocals), dancer, and perpetual student. She has performed at Carnegie Hall and alongside great jazz musicians such as Dave Douglas, Wayne Bergeron, Donny McCaslin, Randy Brecker, Ada Rovatti, and Grammy Award winner Louie Ortega. Born and raised in San Luis Obispo, her studies at Cuesta College, Cal Poly, and the Central Coast Jazz Institute have helped her become an active and versatile working professional in the local music and dance communities. During her Cal Poly career, Talia was a vocalist and featured improviser with the Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble and Cal Poly Jazz Ensemble as well as first flute in the Cal Poly Symphony. Talia is a former winner of the SLO Jazz Federation’s Young Jazz Scholarship and a winner of the Cal Poly Symphony’s annual concerto competition. Talia realizes that both music and education are boundless and she is excited to continue to learn, grow, teach, and play!

Chris Liukkoman

Teaches piano

I am a dedicated musician with a passion for exploring the diverse realms of music. Over the past decade, my musical journey has been centered around the piano, serving as my primary instrument. However, my musical repertoire extends beyond the piano, encompassing drums, bass, and guitar.

My teaching journey began approximately five years ago when I took on the role of instructing piano and drums.  My musical expertise spans both jazz and classical genres, with a particular fondness for the timeless compositions of Bach and Chopin, as well as the innovative works of Bud Powell and Thelonius Monk. Currently immersed in my third semester with Cuesta’s jazz combos, I am constantly refining my skills and expanding my musical horizons.

In my musical philosophy, I emphasize the significance of the voice as the key to unlocking our musical imagination. I firmly believe that a comprehensive understanding of music involves exploring all its facets. Through my teaching, performing, and songwriting endeavors, I strive to inspire others to embark on their musical journey and become well-rounded musicians.