Lessons

Anyone Can Learn Music!

It just takes a little patience and a great teacher.  KSM Music is honored to have Cache Valley’s finest instructors on a variety of instruments.  Lessons are held right here in our private teaching studios. Lesson times are Monday through Saturday during regular business hours.  They are generally a half-hour long, one day per week.

To find more information on individual teachers and rates, choose an instrument.

Guitar
Bass
Drums
Ukulele
Brass and Woodwinds/Orchestra
Other

Guitar

man playing guitar

Kelin Gibbons

Guitar/Bass
435-512-9077
$25 / Lesson
Call for Availability

Kelin Gibbons

Teaches all skill levels

Plays Classical, Jazz, Rock, Metal, Country and Bluegrass

Kelin has been performing for over 15 years, and has traveled across the country and abroad playing music. He has performed at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Abravenel Hall, The Way Out West Festival, and many more. He received a Bachelor’s degree from USU studying under Michael and Corey Christiansen. He has been teaching for ten years, including University Courses for Music Majors and non-Majors, and his own private studio. He plays in several groups on several instruments, and has been featured on many albums.

Bio
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Megan Simper

Guitar
801-815-2933
$30 / Lesson
$100 / Month
Call for Availability

Megan Simper

Megan Simper - Guitar, Music Theory, Songwriting, Production

$30/Lesson or $100/Month*

*Call for Availability and Details

Megan earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in Guitar Performance from Utah State University, studying under Mike Christiansen. She was awarded the Utah Artist Fellowship through the Utah Department of Arts and Museums in 2023, won WhySound’s Battle of the Bands with her folk music project “Hoodoo,” and other songwriting competitions.  Megan has performed at TEDxUSU, at Arts and Music Festivals across Utah, has written music for film and radio, and co-hosted the podcast “Hang Out With Musicians.”  She has produced for her solo album “Woven In” released in 2019, her band Mama LongLegs’ album “Time To Let You Go,” released in 2020, and various student/collaborative projects. She was a mentor for USU’s Music Therapy Songwriting Series in 2023 and served as Volunteer Coordinator for Targhee Music Camp from 2017-2020. 

 

Teaching ages 10 and up, Megan teaches guitar, music theory, songwriting, and production, specializing in fingerstyle guitar, blues, folk, and jazz.  She helps you to spark your interests by gaining fuller understanding of music, streamlining step-by-step processes, and helping you make real progress with encouragement and personally-catered teaching methods. She is passionate about helping students find their unique voice and realize their creative visions. 

 

Guitar/Theory Lessons: 30-60 min

Songwriting/Production Lessons: *60-90 min

 
 
Bio
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Alex Schneider

Guitar/Bass
801-577-9924
$25 / Lesson
Call for Availability

Alex Schneider

Alex Schneider is a guitarist from Northern Utah with extensive experience in a variety of genres and musical settings. He regularly performs and travels with “The Painted Roses” who he has recorded multiple albums with. He also is commonly seen collaborating with The Cache Theater Company, The Lyric Theater Company, and other local and regional bands and ensembles. He has also performed and toured with national act “The Nixons” across the country ranging in locations from Times Square to Oklahoma City. He is currently finishing a degree in Guitar Performance from Utah State University where he has studied with Nate Ostermiller and Corey Christiansen. He has also studied extensively with Nick Lee, guitarist of Long Island based rock band, Moon Tooth. He has an interest and understanding of an eclectic range of genres and styles ranging from Jazz, Rock, Country, and Blues. Alex is a passionate instructor. He directed and taught elementary to high school aged band classes with the Good Times School of Music where he also organized, coordinated, and taught at various week long summer camps of roughly one hundred students at a time. He has also been teaching privately for a number of years and has had students go on to be accepted into various collegiate music programs and perform and record albums of their own.

Bio
jon starn

Jon Starn

Guitar/Bass
703-332-9211
$25 / Lesson
Call for Availability

Jon Starn

Jon Starn plays and sings just about everywhere!  He teaches private and group lessons to an enthusiastic group of students. He is an artist, he writes, paints and performs. He is a great host of a many different events (Music Competitions, Open Mics, Concerts…etc.) He is the founder of Willow Tree Music School and is a co-founder of Good Times School of Rock.  “I’m taking my love of teaching to the next level by teaching to more and more students.” 

Bio
Lucas picture

Lucas Nivison

Guitar
435-799-1950
$25 / Lesson
Text for Availability

Lucas Nivison

Teaches beginner to intermediate

Ages 8+

Lucas Nivison picked up the guitar at 13, driven by his family's musical roots and an insatiable love for rock. Trained at the Good Times School of Rock and under various professional, performing musicians, he's honed his skills in rock, indie, metal, and overall lead playing.

Lucas makes learning guitar all about the student's passions. His personalized lessons ensure each young rocker gets exactly what they need to shred.

Currently rocking with Strawberry Jam and The Painted Roses (find them on Spotify and Apple Music), Lucas draws inspiration from guitarists like Synyster Gates, Brian May, David Gilmour, and Issei Noro. His knack for connecting with the younger crowd and tailoring his technique sets him apart.

Lucas strives to continue improve as a musician and progress in the musical world.

 
Bio

Bass

man playing guitar

Kelin Gibbons

Guitar/Bass
435-512-9077
$25 / Lesson
Call for Availability

Kelin Gibbons

Teaches all skill levels

Plays Classical, Jazz, Rock, Metal, Country and Bluegrass

Kelin has been performing for over 15 years, and has traveled across the country and abroad playing music. He has performed at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Abravenel Hall, The Way Out West Festival, and many more. He received a Bachelor’s degree from USU studying under Michael and Corey Christiansen. He has been teaching for ten years, including University Courses for Music Majors and non-Majors, and his own private studio. He plays in several groups on several instruments, and has been featured on many albums.

Bio
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Alex Schneider

Guitar/Bass
801-577-9924
$25 / Lesson
Call for Availability

Alex Schneider

Bio coming soon!

Bio
jon starn

Jon Starn

Guitar/Bass
703-332-9211
$25 / Lesson
Call for Availability

Jon Starn

Jon Starn plays and sings just about everywhere!  He teaches private and group lessons to an enthusiastic group of students. He is an artist, he writes, paints and performs. He is a great host of a many different events (Music Competitions, Open Mics, Concerts…etc.) He is the founder of Willow Tree Music School and is a co-founder of Good Times School of Rock.  “I’m taking my love of teaching to the next level by teaching to more and more students.” 

Bio

Drums

Emily Ashcroft

Emily Ashcroft

Drums
435-213-6496
Call for Rates
Mon - Fri 2pm - 9pm

Emily Ashcroft

Bio coming soon!

Bio
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Dan Fields

Drums
435-757-9252
Call for Rates
Call for Availability

Dan Fields

Bio coming soon!

Bio
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Ari Calles

Drums
435-740-1653
$20 / Lesson
Call for Availability

Arianna Calles

Ari started playing drums at the age of 13 and immediately fell in love with the instrument. She began taking lessons from Emily Densley, and saved her money from mowing lawns to buy her first drumset.

Continuing lessons with Emily, Ari began classes at Goodtimes School of Music. The school introduced her to musicians her age and taught her how to play in bands. Ari eventually moved on to intern at the music school, and realized her passion for teaching drums.

Since then, Ari has been taking private lessons from Dr. Nicholson at Utah State University. She is currently majoring in Music Performance and is excited for her future in music. Ari and other former School of Music participants started the local indie-rock band Strawberry Jam in 2021. She also plays in Sky Olson and the Valley, a Logan pop band. She has thoroughly enjoyed growing up in the local music scene, and is very excited to share her love for drums.

Bio
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Caleb Hays

Drums
206-919-3650
$25 / half hour
Call for Availability

Caleb Hays

Caleb began his musical journey in Maple Valley Washington at the age of 10; inspired by his older brother who brought a drum set into the household he grew up in, as well as exposing him to legendary drummers such as Dave Weckl and Danny Carey, Caleb quickly developed a connection with music. 

 

Caleb immersed himself in every musical opportunity growing up. Middle school through high school he was an active member in concert and jazz bands, developing his technique and musicality in drumline and Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra, & learned discipline and humility through 2 seasons with the Columbians Drum and Bugle Corps. 

 

Moving out to California and attending Musicians Institute was an important step for Caleb’s growth. The opportunity to study with masterful teachers and jam with people from different walks of life brought new lessons and opened him up to new perspectives that he still reflects on today. 

 

After graduating with an Associates Degree in drum performance, Caleb has continued to study all styles of music and surround himself with inspiring musicians. He has recently moved to Logan, Utah to expand his musical voice with the Psych-Fusion band Guava Tree. 

 

Caleb mission at KSM is to share the knowledge he has gathered and inspire others to walk their own narrow path, giving them the confidence to share their music with the world. 

Bio

Ukulele

man playing guitar

Kelin Gibbons

Ukulele
435-512-9077
$25 / Lesson
Call for Availability

Kelin Gibbons

Teaches all skill levels

Plays Classical, Jazz, Rock, Metal, Country and Bluegrass

Kelin has been performing for over 15 years, and has traveled across the country and abroad playing music. He has performed at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Abravenel Hall, The Way Out West Festival, and many more. He received a Bachelor’s degree from USU studying under Michael and Corey Christiansen. He has been teaching for ten years, including University Courses for Music Majors and non-Majors, and his own private studio. He plays in several groups on several instruments, and has been featured on many albums.

Bio
jon starn

Jon Starn

Ukulele
703-332-9211
$25 / Lesson
Call for Availability

Jon Starn

Jon Starn plays and sings just about everywhere!  He teaches private and group lessons to an enthusiastic group of students. He is an artist, he writes, paints and performs. He is a great host of a many different events (Music Competitions, Open Mics, Concerts…etc.) He is the founder of Willow Tree Music School and is a co-founder of Good Times School of Rock.  “I’m taking my love of teaching to the next level by teaching to more and more students.” 

Bio

ORCHESTRA

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Ruthie Phillips

Violin
ruth.aspen@gmail.com
$20 / Lesson
Email for Availability

Ruthie Phillips

Ruth Ferguson is a graduate of Utah State University with a major in Psychology and minor in Music. She has studied under Sylvia Pack, Bonnie Romkey, and Dr. Vincent Phelan. She has been a member of the Cache Valley Symphony (2023) and the USU Symphony Orchestra (2019-2020). Ruth also enjoyed many opportunities to play the violin in high school, including starring as The Fiddler in Desert Hills High School’s  2017 production of Fiddler on the Roof and participating in the DHHS Pit Orchestra (2016-2018). She has also presented recitals with her sister at the St. George Tabernacle and was a guest soloist for the Southern Utah Heritage Choir. Ruth loves teaching and working with kids. She had a studio of 10 students she taught while she attended high school, and has enjoyed teaching a handful of students over the past year here in Cache Valley.

Bio

Other

man playing guitar

Kelin Gibbons

Banjo/Mandolin
435-512-9077
$25 / Lesson
Call for Availability

Kelin Gibbons

Teaches all skill levels

Plays Classical, Jazz, Rock, Metal, Country and Bluegrass

Kelin has been performing for over 15 years, and has traveled across the country and abroad playing music. He has performed at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Abravenel Hall, The Way Out West Festival, and many more. He received a Bachelor’s degree from USU studying under Michael and Corey Christiansen. He has been teaching for ten years, including University Courses for Music Majors and non-Majors, and his own private studio. He plays in several groups on several instruments, and has been featured on many albums.

Bio
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Ben Gittins

Piano
615-487-2513
$25 / Lesson
Call for Availability

Ben Gittins

I have been teaching private lessons for over a decade, from teaching younger siblings, friends, and neighbors to percussion lessons at USU. Although many of my students are still young, I am already beginning to see them blossom, playing in many types and levels of ensembles, gigging, and even winning honor band positions. Some of my favorite teaching experiences were with a high school program called United Sound, where I spent three years teaching mentally disabled kids basic musical skills and helping them perform with the symphonic band. Last year I was brought on to teach the front ensemble and drumline for Mountain Crest’s Marching Band.
I have over fifteen years of piano experience in many different groups and genres. This includes piano concertos with band and orchestra (including competing in the upcoming USU concerto competition to play with the Symphony Orchestra), playing keys with pop and rock cover bands, and even jazz big bands (including competing in the New Orleans Loyola Jazz Festival). I also have extensive experience playing organ and piano in congregational settings. This depth of knowledge and experience allows me to help you in whatever interest your musical taste may be!
As far as training, I am currently working on a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance (Percussion emphasis). I have had over ten years of lessons and instruction, with half a dozen instructors (most significantly, Jim Riley and Dr. Jason Nicholson), in all styles of music. 
 
I have a strong belief in the value of enjoyable, effective practice, and believe that music can be both very enjoyable and rewarding, as well as challenging. I can't wait to meet you, and to help you succeed in this journey!
Bio
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Megan Simper

Songwriting/production
801-815-2933
$30 / Lesson
$100 / Month
Call for Availability