Voice
Eric Patti
guitar - Voice - Audio Engineering
Eric’s teaching and training philosophy is "Practice, patience, and perseverance" from both the instructor and the student. In teaching music, he understands that much of the student’s progress will occur outside of the lessons, and that consistency is key. Eric’s role is to instill confidence and technique within the session, guide students on what to practice, help combine his knowledge with their interests, and to provide students with the proper tools to flourish independently. Every student has different needs, and Eric believes in patience and understanding, providing an encouraging environment, and adapting to individual needs and learning speed.
Music has been at the core of Eric’s life since a young age. Throughout grade school and college, he has participated in state-winning choirs, attended South Carolina’s All-State chorus, and continued his education in vocal training and music theory. Combined with almost 20 years of guitar, Eric has focused on songwriting and song structure, and wishes to help students find their own voice and style of writing, if they so desire. Eric earned his bachelor’s degree in the Recording Arts at Full Sail University, and has since woven his work history with session studio work, live events, indie films, designed and built 3 separate recording and mixing environments, served for a year as the house engineer for the High Desert Music Hall in Redmond, and worked alongside 2 radio stations, including Central Oregon’s very own KJIV 96.5 for their Cascade Radio Hour tour.
Eric understands that once a musician finds their voice and style, having the tools to share their hard work with their loved ones, and beyond, is instrumental (pun fully intended). Whether a musician wishes to utilize these services or learn themselves how to record, mix, and/or set up their own live event, Eric is excited to be a part of it in any way he can.
Rob Rose
Guitar - Ukulele - Voice
Ever since Rob got his first guitar when he was 8 years old, a baby blue Stratocaster, his passion for music has remained. In his formal education, he would become involved in choir and band, learning many of the fundamentals of music along the way. He’s worked with vocal coaches such as Aria Johnson, a coach on NBC’s The Voice; as well as local celebrities like Jack Ely, the lead singer and guitarist of The Kingsmen.
Influenced by such legends as Carlos Santana, B.B. King, and Corey Taylor, he began combining the two passions, focusing on becoming a singer/songwriter. Rob has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for several rock, bluegrass, and folk bands such as: No Re-Entry, Big Leagues and Small Dreams, Crucial Tonix, and The Groovers and Shakers; he has recorded several singles and one EP to date.
As a Marine Corps veteran, Rob is no stranger to hard work and dedication. In his service, he would serve as honor guard to several high profile events such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, President Obama’s Inauguration, and a member of the firing parties responsible for the 21 gun salute in funeral processions. He would later become a Scout for 1st LAR in Camp Pendleton.
During this time, he would teach music lessons to wounded warriors with traumatic and life changing injuries and their families; providing a safe and encouraging environment for them to connect and spend time together in a learning environment.
He has worked in the music industry here in Bend, for the past few years as a stagehand, audio crew, and operations manager. Rob has a B.A in communication from Oregon State University and is currently working towards a teaching license and furthering his music studies. Rob has worked with organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and The Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
As an academic, he believes the joy in learning is that it enables teaching; what good is knowledge if the benefit is for you alone?
Susan Sheets
piano - voice
Susan is a native Oregonian growing up in Keizer, near Salem. She began singing and playing the piano at a very young age, and participated in school and church choirs, competing ensembles and soloing, pageant contestant, featured soloist and acting in drama/musical productions. She went on to study music education in college. While attending college and after graduation she was a musician for hire performing at various events and a choral director at a local church. Susan has over 30 years of experience in music education, and directing choral and drama productions in schools, colleges and churches to all ages across the country. She has taught private voice and piano lessons since 1990, operating a piano lesson school with an average of 45 students, ages 3-70 in Oregon, Washington, California, Pennsylvania and Missouri. She loves playing and teaching improvisation because of the freedom to create and play more decorative in style. She has developed her own curriculum for teaching the chord and improv method. Her philosophy of teaching piano is to establish a solid musical foundation, but to also allow students to be creative and make their own music. Susan communicates the musical concepts in an easy relaxed and fun way. “I have found that if a student, no matter what age, can play the songs they love, see progress and be creative in the process, they will be more motivated to learn and develop their skills and play for a life time”.
Susan and her husband Dwight are empty nesters and recently moved to Sisters to be near their project of restoring the historic CCC built Santiam Pass Ski Lodge on Santiam Pass. They have three grown sons and two grandkids.
Mary Kellogg
piano - voice - guitar
Mary was born into a musical family who expressed creativity through the piano, organ, harmonica, guitar, and singing. It is second nature for her to encourage her students to bring forth their innate abilities and confidence that might not be acknowledged in traditional school settings or academic programs. Accessing areas of natural inclination that each student is drawn to can help build a strong foundation of musical skills that often springboard unique interests and goals.
It was an exciting time in Sacramento when Mary was studying jazz and classical music performance and theory at American River College and Sacramento State University. Jazz vocal and instrumental programs were taking root and expanding exponentially with the expertise of internationally renowned choir director Perla Warren and world-class pianist Dr. Joe Gilman. Mary moved to Bend in 2012 and decided to further her studies in music composition and performance. She recently attained a Bachelor Degree at Eastern Oregon University where she graduated with Summa Cum Laude Honors.
Highlights of her career include a USO Military Tour of Alaska with a country/bluegrass band based in San Francisco; featured performances in the Artist in the Schools program through the California Arts Council; Choir Director of the Children’s Conservatory of Music in Roseville, California; active leader and soloist of a professional quality church band in Bend; and seven years of solo performances at a venue in the Old Sacramento downtown tourist district.
Mary teaches beginning, intermediate, and advanced piano. Her vocal instruction emphasizes techniques which support a full and lifted tone. For jazz vocal, phrasing is highlighted in singing both lyrics and scat syllables. Guitar teaching focuses on strong rhythm and can be combined with singing and playing favorite songs in the student’s vocal key. She has been teaching for over twenty years with a special heart-felt intent of bringing out the innate best in each student.
Alex Bakkom
piano - voice - ukulele
Alex is a recent Oregon State graduate with her masters in music education. Her love for singing started at an early age and has developed through various choirs, musicals, and operas. In high school she took leadership roles in her choir that received first place at the OSAA Choir State Championship. She also was musical director for her A Cappella group, arranging music, teaching harmonies, and cultivating a productive and fun environment. Alex's time at Oregon State shaped her philosophy; everyone is capable of achieving musical abilities with the right individualized instruction and positive space to learn in. Her primary job is at North Star Elementary School where she will teach music and art starting this fall. She looks forward to expanding her scope of teaching and working with students of all ages through private voice and piano lessons. She hopes to uplift and inspire students to freely express themselves and find their voice, making meaningful connections to music.