(530) 894-2526

Meet the Instructors

Sid Lewis

Founder and Director, Instructor

  • Instruments Taught: Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Bass, Drums, Dorbro, Voice
  • Years of Teaching Experience: 20+ Years

Sid Lewis founded the Chico School of Rock in 2000, and has since delivered over 15,000 music lessons, hundreds of children’s concerts, and has allowed countless children to realize their musical dreams. He developed the Lewis Method that makes the school’s curriculum unique and enjoyable, and handles all the enrollment of new students when he’s not rocking out with his students. He also runs the music seminar www.jamming101.com, and directs the recording and booking department of the Chico School of Rock. His personal motto is “music is only as good as it feels”.

David Silva

Certified Instructor

  • Instruments Taught: Guitar, Keyboards, Voice
  • Years of Teaching Experience: 20+ Years
  • Vendor for South Sutter Charter School
  • C.O.R.E instructor Butte Charter Schools

David Silva has been playing music and teaching in Chico for the last 10 years, and has graced many local bands, including MB&D and Crazygrass (whom with he still plays guitar). His warm and patient approach makes learning easy, and he welcomes new students on guitar, keyboards and voice.

Dyami Achene

Certified Instructor

  • Instruments Taught: Drum /kit, Congas/Bongos. Ethnic Percussion, Rhythm Theory
  • Years of Teaching Experience: 20+ Years

Dyami Achene is a master drummer and percussionist who has studied here and abroad learning the musical styles of various cultures. He is equally at home teaching rock n roll drum kit as he is hand drumming and ethnic percussion. Drum students will be taught the right technique and theory as a solid foundation, and then all the way up to advanced rock, jazz, blues, reggae and fusion styles.

Katie Barrett

Certified Instructor

  • Instruments Taught: Drums, Piano, Guitar, Ukulele
  • Years of Teaching Experience: 6+ Years

Katie loves teaching just as much as she loves performing and writing music. She studied percussion and music composition at Chico State. She has experience in many different ensembles- jazz bands, symphonic bands, drum lines, worship teams, and even recorded a CD in a rockin’ all girls alternative/pop rock band from Chico. Whether on drums, piano, guitar, or ukulele, Katie makes each lesson unique and fun through her enthusiasm and passion for music

Johnny Lombardo

Certified Instructor

  • Instruments Taught: Acoustic, Electric and upright basses
  • Years of Teaching Experience: 20+ Years

Johnny 4 Lombardo has been teaching and performing Upright, electric, and acoustic bass for twenty years. Performs regularly with The Chris Schadt Band, Crazygrass, Low Flying Birds, and funk/jazz/fusion band HUSH. 2008 Cammie  award winner for the category for bassist of the Year. Johnny teaches advanced and beginning upright/ electric bass of all musical styles as well as “jam” techniques that will surely help you along your musical journey.

Ethan Swett

Certified Instructor

  • Instruments Taught: Guitar, Bass, Drums, Violin, Mandolin, Cello, Music Production/Recording
  • Years of Teaching Experience: 5+ Years

Ethan Swett has been performing and producing music for 20 years. He is currently guitarist for the Chico group, “Hush,” and has played in many projects, styles spanning from metal, rock, jazz and funk.

Ethan is well versed in sound recording and engineering and he can teach a variety of instruments, and is a blast to work with!

WANTED

Certified Voice Instructor

  • Instruments Taught: xxxx
  • Years of Teaching Experience: xxxx
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