Meet the Instructors

Sid Lewis

Sid LewisFounder 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”.

Brett Johnsen

Certified Instructor, Assistant Director

  • Instruments Taught: Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboards
  • Years of Teaching Experience: 15+ years

Brett Johnsen has been touring and educating for over a decade in the Northernn California area, and has been in many influential bands including Tribute to Jerry, Jester, Magic Theater, Oblio and recently the Chico supergroup Audiotherapy, which has been touring and packing dance floors for the last five years. He has been playing music for 21 years, and is the chief instructor at the Chico School of Rock. Besides teaching at the school, he directs the CSOR recording and rehearsal program.

David Silva

David SilvaCertified Instructor

  • Instruments Taught: Guitar, Keyboards, Voice
  • Years of Teaching Experience: 20+ Years

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

Dyami AcheneCertified 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.

Chris Henderson

Certified Instructor

  • Instruments Taught: Electric and upright basses, all styles, finger and pick, slap-pop, 4 and 5 string
  • Years of Teaching Experience: 20+ Years

Chris Henderson is one of the more sought after bass players in the north State, playing in many bands including his own Cammie Award winning Electric Circus band. He is versatile in every style from jazz to funk, country to rock, and has taken many students to higher levels.


Hap Hathaway

`Certified Instructor

  • Instruments Taught: DJ and mixing, Hip-hop Cultural history, Beat Production and Recording
  • Years of Teaching Experience: 20+ Years

Instructor Hap Hathaway (aka Jason Romer) is a local icon in the hip hop and DJ scene, and can be seen performing with his band the Resonators when he’s not pumping the beat at various venues all across the state.

He brings a full series of classes teaching the art and practice of DJ mixing, scratching, Hip-hop Cultural history, Beat Production, Recording and Freestyling. both private and group classes are provided here at the Chico School of Rock, and all Turntables and all equipment is provided!