Meet our Teachers

Our teachers are talented musicians who love to teach. As your music instructor, they will show you everything from the basics to advanced techniques, teach you the songs you love, and cheer you on every step of the way.

GUITAR / BASS / UKULELE

Julian has been a working musician since his sophomore year at Santa Susana where he received a certification of excellence in Instrumental Music, the National Orchestra Award, the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, and the John Philip Sousa Band Award. Julian frequently performs throughout Ventura and LA County and received a Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship to California Lutheran University where he is currently studying Music Composition. In addition to performance experience on viola and cello, Julian plays upright bass, electric bass, and violin and majors in symphonic composition. Julian’s dedication to music shines through his teaching and allows students of any skill level to play with passion.

From the outset, Aaron’s unwavering passion for music was clear. Growing up in Whittier, California, he immersed himself in the local music scene, teaching himself guitar and drums at just 10 years old to join older kids in jam sessions. He later joined school orchestras, performing at prestigious venues like the Nixon Presidential Library and Kennedy Space Center. Today, Aaron actively participates in the music scene, as a dedicated member of the Fleetwood Mac tribute band Twisted Gypsy and various other original and cover projects. His teaching style combines meticulous guidance, motivational support, emphasis on technique and theory, and a genuine love for all music genres. His patience and attentiveness cater to students of all levels, from beginners to advanced musicians.

Dylan has been studying the guitar for a decade, and performing in ensembles of all genres for over half that time. He’s an alumni of Simi Valley’s own Santa Susana High School, having performed in their Jazz, Entertainment, and Orchestra ensembles. Dylan returns to Santa Susana High School to mentor the Jazz Ensemble as an artist in residence. Dylan’s current education includes the Moorpark College Applied Music Program, where he studied Classical Guitar and Jazz Ensemble Performance for the past two years. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Dylan was the recipient of the American Guitar Society’s Richard Denner Memorial Scholarship. Dylan is excited to meet and work with students of all levels and musical styles!

Stan Smith is a San Fernando Valley born and raised guitar player, songwriter, and teacher. A self-taught musician, he’s been playing guitar since the age of 8 and began teaching at 19. His love of guitar was encouraged by his uncles, a guitar teacher and a luthier, and as soon as he played his first notes, he knew that he had found his passion. Stan has played lead guitar with numerous bands, written many original songs, and taught privately, at music stores, and at schools. He is accomplished in many styles and teaches all ages and levels. His teaching style is relaxed and personalized, and centered around the music that moves each student. He enjoys sharing his years of experience and watching his students become confident and excited about their music, too.

DRUMS

Ken is a perennial student favorite, having taught drums in Simi Valley for 30 years. Ken studied with renowned drummer Ed Shaughnessy of the Tonight Show. He also published the instructional book ‘Advanced Stick Aerobics’, which was featured in Modern Drummer and is used by classic drum professor, Ed Soph. Ken has a long list of students who have gone on to professional music careers, and teaches varying styles from double bass, rock and country to jazz and funk. Generations of students love Ken for his sense of humor and love of music that comes through in his supportive teaching style.

PIANO / BRASS / WOODWINDS

Chrys has been a musician since childhood and currently works with several local bands and worship teams. He has been teaching music for more than 30 years, including 10 years running Berri’s Music in Simi Valley. He specializes in group piano classes for children as well as advanced keyboard, woodwinds and recording studio techniques. Receiving his education at California State University, Northridge, he is well versed in classical as well as popular performance, composition and theory. His fun and professional style of teaching helps students feel at ease as they progress toward their musical goals.

Abby Shanks has been singing and creating music for as long as she can remember, exhibiting an innate passion for music as a form of expression. She has been involved in choral programs since elementary school and has performed with over a dozen ensembles over the years. Abby received her Bachelor’s Degree in music from Concordia University Irvine, where she studied both classical and commercial styles for voice and piano. Her repertoire has spanned a variety of genres, including opera, musical theater, jazz, rock, pop, and country. She was featured in two of Concordia’s musical PBS Christmas Specials and spent her last semester in school studying the connections between music and personal well-being. As a teacher, Abby strives to focus on both the technical and emotional aspects of music-making to cultivate a lifelong connection with the craft.

Ethan, a Simi Valley native, as well as a Stage 1 Music student alumni himself, has played instruments all his life. He has had half a decade of experience performing in multiple vocal choir groups, playing as a keyboardist, guitarist, and vocalist in multiple rock bands, and performing in pit orchestras for theater musicals. Along with musicianship of piano and guitar, he also has credits for live and studio sound mixing, engineering, and design for multiple local bands and musical groups, and is a professional sound designer for musical theater shows, with Sound design and mixing credits on shows such as “1776”, “Elf – The Musical” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. Ethan loves showing his students the creative joy that music brings to everyone, and welcomes students of all ages to come and learn how much fun music can be.

VIOLIN / VIOLA / CELLO / UPRIGHT BASS

VOICE

Emmy and Telly award winning singer-songwriter Robbyn Kirmssé can be heard weekdays singing on ABC’S Rachel Ray Show and on Nickolodeon’s Danny Phantom as the singing voice of “Ember “. She toured the U.S. with ‪Joe Walsh‬ and the James Gang and is featured dueting with Steve Tyrell on the prestigious Society of Singer’s CD – Great voices, great songs” along with Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin. She’s recorded with Celine Dion and America and performed live with ‪Macy Gray‬, ‪Eric Clapton‬, Dr. John, Billy Preston‬, ‪Adam Levine‬, Slash and Stevie Wonder‬ to name a few. She is a member of MTAC (Music Teacher’s Association of California) and has been teaching voice, stage performance technique and songwriting to children and adults for over 20 years. She is delighted to be on staff teaching at Stage 1 Music!

Contact us to learn more about music lessons!

We can match you with a teacher and find a day and time that works for you.

Meet our Teachers

Our teachers are talented musicians who love to teach. As your music instructor, they will show you everything from the basics to advanced techniques, teach you the songs you love, and cheer you on every step of the way.

GUITAR / BASS / UKULELE

JULIAN PEREZ

AARON WITZL

DYLAN EMBRING

STAN SMITH

DRUMS

KEN COX

PIANO / BRASS / WOODWINDS

CHRYS BERRI

ABBY SHANKS

ETHAN STRUBBE

VIOLIN / VIOLA / CELLO / UPRIGHT BASS

JULIAN PEREZ

VOICE

ROBBYN KIRMSSÉ

ABBY SHANKS

Contact us to learn more about music lessons!

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