Our Music Instructors

Beginning on accordion at age 4, then switching to guitar at age 11, (due to hearing the Beatles for the first time) and has been playing guitar ever since. Over the years he’s had the opportunity to study with great guitar players such as George Benson, Joe Pass, Charlie Byrd, and Andre Segovia. He has extensive education in music theory, arranging and orchestration, and has over 40 years of experience in teaching. He has written scores for TV and film and performed in many venues in and out of the country.
John’s playing style includes fingerstyle solo guitar, contemporary, classic rock, jazz, classical, Spanish, and many other types of music and songs requested by his students.
In addition to teaching guitar, John has extensive experience in producing music using today’s latest music software, using both midi, and audio recording. He has done literally 1000s of mixes of tracks including original music and backing tracks.
John performs music on a regular basis including many events where his students can come and enjoy watching him perform. He often invites students to come and play a song or two with him.
John has had “It’s All About Music” for 15 years now and is well established in the community. It’s located
conveniently in the community and has a very comfortable atmosphere for student and parents. It offers free high speed Wi-Fi, video games, comfortable couches, many other games and soft background music, while waiting for your lesson.

Website

One of Reno’s busiest professional musicians!

Joey was born in Oneida, KY and raised in Winchester, KY. and he has the accent to prove it. “I grew up singing in a very musical family. My mother sang alto, my dad sang bass, and he and two of my brothers were choir directors. My sister, B.G. (Betty Gene Hibbard) is an excellent piano player and without her help, I would’ve never figured out how to translate Dave Grusin’s piano instrumental, “Memphis Stomp” into guitar licks”

When he was in grade school, he started playing trombone in band only because, “we had one at the house”. After high school, Joey started taking banjo lessons while attending Milligan College, Tenn. On a basketball scholarship. After joining the 264th Army band in Hawaii as a trombone player, he met some country pickers at Schofield Barracks. He ended up performing at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. with the Army’s finest country band as a guitar/banjo player. Joey’s performed at the Grand Ol’ Opry had his music on Continental Airlines, performed with members of the Honolulu Symphony on Waikiki Beach and opened shows for Marty Robbins and Ronnie Milsap.

When you walk into a show where Joey Carmon is performing, you may hear a grand piano, a saxophone or trumpets and trombones, but you won’t see any of these. What you will see is Joey playing a guitar synthesizer. This synthesizer sounds so much like the real thing, you’ll be searching the stage for the other instruments! “I give credit to Earl Scruggs, Carl Jackson and Jerry Reed for my style of pickin’ guitar and banjo”

With 4 CDs to his credit. His latest endeavor is by far the most difficult and the most rewarding. “I started working on some Jerry Reed guitar instrumentals, which have taken me years to figure out.

Cindy Sabatini has been a professional vocalist and pianist in 6 different states. She’s been a performer, accompanist or musical director in over 50 musical theater productions. Cindy currently sings with 2 jazz bands, performs in local theater productions, and is Director of Worship and Music Ministries at Sparks United Methodist Church.

Facebook / Soundcloud / Twitter / Website

Tessa began playing the violin at eleven years old. Learning the violin quickly made her love for music grow and become a part of her life. She currently plays in an orchestra as well as the Sixteen Strings Quartet.

She aims to help others see playing the violin as enjoyable and satisfying as she does.

Hello, I am Ally! I am seventeen and currently a student at Reno High School. Violin has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I started studying classical violin when I was five years old, and from there, I haven't stopped. One of my favorite aspects of violin, and music in general, is playing with others. I have been a part of the Reno Youth Philharmonic for seven years, as concertmaster, section leader, and participant. I also enjoy playing Old-Time and Celtic fiddle. I started about five years ago and since then, I have been to and participated in many fiddle competitions, jigs, and performances. The genre of music is one of my favorites. Now, I am so excited to begin to share my love of the violin with others and hopefully find the same passion in another student!

Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Yavanna is a young and motivated classical violin and viola instructor. She started playing violin at 3 years old, started by her mom who plays professionally and her father who is a classical luthier. As a member of the Reno Phil’s youth program for ten years through elementary, middle and high school, she later received their scholarship award for many dedicated years of coaching and membership; having toured Carnegie, Davies, and Disney halls with them. Today, she studies with Ruth Lenz while double majoring in Classical Violin performance and Graphic Design at the University of Nevada Reno, on full scholarship under the Millennium grant. Her philosophy is that sharing music through teaching makes you a better performer, and music is a human instinct that deserves to be cultivated and appreciated no matter your musical level.

Bryan Jenkins is a highly accomplished drum teacher with a rich musical background spanning several decades. A distinguished member of the 1980 McDonald’s All-American High School Band, he further honed his craft as a member of the U.S. Army Band from 1981 to 1987. Also a graduate of the Naval School of Music, Bryan Jenkins has shared his expertise with countless students and has played professionally alongside numerous renowned artists throughout his career. His dedication to music education and performance continues to inspire up and coming drummers.

Mark began playing guitar when he was 14, studying flamenco and classical guitar from an elderly, British lady, while his father was stationed in England. Since this was during the Woodstock era, Mark’s passion for music extended beyond classical studies to include rock, folk and jazz.

Mark is a graduate of the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, CA and has played bass and guitar professionally for approximately 40 years. He currently plays for his church praise band and numerous musical theater productions throughout the Truckee and Reno/Sparks area.

“Music should be a fun and exciting experience!” And Mark strives to make that so with every student.

Travis is a professional music educator from the San Fernando Valley, just outside Los Angeles. He began teaching private saxophone lessons in high school and became a marching band coach after graduating. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education with an emphasis on Instrumental Music from California State University Northridge while

playing electric bass in the band Blue Velvet Drapes. After earning his BA, Travis moved to Seattle to become a middle school band and orchestra director while working towards his Master's Degree in Music Education at the University of Washington. While there, Travis focused his research on best practices for teaching popular music and taught private and group lessons. He moved to Reno to be closer to his family and is excited to enter the local music scene. He has extensive experience teaching students ages 5 to 70+ years old.

My name is Dale Reed and I've been playing guitar for over 4 years now! I specialize in teaching beginner guitar. I am currently a student and I enjoy a variety of music genres. I enjoy teaching all ages.

Joane “Jo” Usabiaga is a guitar and vocal instructor from Bilbao, Spain, currently studying at the University of Nevada, Reno. She began playing guitar at the age of twelve and has been singing for as long as she can remember. Jo has performed in a wide range of styles—including choral, musical theatre, pop, and jazz—and spent two seasons as the vocalist for the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Jo has experience working with young children, both in music instruction and in other settings. She teaches guitar and vocal students of all ages, and can teach lessons in English or Spanish.

Laura started playing guitar and piano as a preteen. Her true love was singing in and conducting choir. At 18, she traveled from her home on the Jersey Shore to California in pursuit of a career in music.

She studied music at Fresno State and Cal State Fullerton, earning degrees in Music Education and Composition. She taught Choir, Guitar, and General Music for over 40 years in California and Nevada, working with students in Elementary, Junior High, and High School.

While in California, Laura performed and traveled with the Orange County Master Chorale, conducted by the acclaimed William D. Hall.

She earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) after writing and directing a children’s play entitled “Rain Forest: The Musical.” Laura has also sung in and conducted many church choirs.

Laura retired after 21 years at Van Gorder Elementary School in Washoe County. She has been a member of the Reno Philharmonic Chorus for 15 years and currently serves as the Soprano Section Leader.

In her retirement, Laura teaches Choir and Guitar at a homeschool co-op, part-time General Music at Hidden Valley Elementary School, and offers private Piano, Voice, and Guitar lessons at It’s All About Music. She especially enjoys working with beginners in all areas of music.

In her “spare” time, Laura loves spending time with her six adult children and eleven grandchildren.

Salutations! My name is Michael
And I adore music more then anything!

I've been playing piano since age 5 and singing since age 7 and trumpet since age 12 I was immediately accepted to UNR on full scholarship where i studied everything from brass instruments to voice to piano, conducting, composition, theory and even standup and voice acting and thru the hard work I have degrees in music from UNR and have been teaching music professionally all ages and levels for 15 years now.

I've been in various bands at McQueen HS and UNR and beyond school from marching and concert bands, wind ensembles, jazz bands, orchestras, choir brass quintets jazz trios vocal groups barbershop quartets even played the lead in various shows with NV opera and other local theaters in hit shows. Ive had the good fortune of performing alot so I can pass on plenty of performance anxiety tips and tricks plus the knowledge to never need to be nervous I'm currently playing for sparks UMC church as well as reno improv regularly where I was taught by Laura hall herself from "Whose line is it Anyway?" And am even called upon to improvise nice music for church communion and even weddings BBQs and other events lol and im also lucky enough to be teaching at TMCC as one of the faculty as well.

I very much enjoy meeting new people and helping out any way I can with any music or performing goals I've also studied and performed lots of different genres from rock pop r&b hiphop to classical jazz movie and TV soundtracks Disney Broadway whether you like Mozart or Beethoven 90s bubblegum pop or Kpop, Disney princess or showstopping Broadway, even Beatles or Journey, Elton or Billy... done!
Now I wanna hear your musical background
Feel free to drop in for a jam sess. Let's rock

I have a BA in Music from Cal State University Northridge, major instrument Pipe Organ. I graduated in 1973, then went on the road with several top 40 bands. I toured with Helen Reddy in 1984/85. Have been living in Reno since 1997, playing with casino acts, orchestras, all sorts of clubs and concerts. Picture is from a concert at Laborfest at Idlewild Park, on September 1, 2025