Instructor of Piano

Michelle began taking piano lessons when she was six years old. As a young adult she began teaching piano at Lo’eal Studio. She was on the dean’s list and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of St. Thomas. She enjoys performing as an accompanist to instrumentalists and vocalists while developing her own piano performance pieces. Prior to transitioning to the University of St. Thomas, Michelle received her Associates of Music degree at San Jacinto College. A scholarship student there as well, during her studies with Dr Zhung, she also played the keyboard as a jazz pianist for the Jazz Ensemble and served as a music theory tutor. Michelle is registered to teach piano curriculum from the Royal Conservatory of Music and prepares her students for Texas Federation of Music and All-State competitions. She is proud to have had students achieve All-State level and receive outstanding and superior ratings. Michelle is passionate about what she does: teaching music theory, offering diverse repertoire, establishing a foundation of good technique skills and practice habits, and most importantly, striving to bring out a love for the arts in each of her students.

Instructor of Saxophone and Piano

Ally is a Baylor University alumni with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She pursued her passion for music and saxophone throughout high school and university, competing and performing at UIL State competitions for her high school marching band, solo and ensemble contests, and the Wind Ensemble Festival. Ally studied advanced improvisation under the instruction of the jazz director at Baylor U where she performed with jazz combos, the Baylor U Wayne Fisher Jazz Ensemble, and the Baylor Golden Wave Marching Band. She has traveled to Lima and Cuzco, Peru to perform with the Baylor Jazz Ensemble Mission team and has been on several tours across the U.S. with one of her Houston bands. Since 2019, Ally has been performing and recording professionally with various bands in a variety of genres, including classical, jazz, funk, Latin, and reggae. Ally understands the importance of continually learning and performing, having taken saxophone lessons herself for 18 years. Her education and professional performance background have given her the resources and real life experiences to understand her students and tailor lessons to their individual needs.

Instructor of Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Voice and Piano

Valerie is an entertainer and multi-instrumentalist with experience in songwriting, improvisation, and vocal performance. She specializes in teaching music lessons for all levels of guitar along with bass guitar and piano. Valerie’s love of music began as a young child, mimicking TV tunes on her toy piano. She went on to teach herself basic guitar before coming to Texas School of Music for formal lessons and training. Currently, Valerie is a performing guitarist publicly, and is pursuing a degree in Business at Houston Community College. She plans to further her knowledge in music by studying internationally in London, UK for Music Business at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance. At only eighteen, Valerie has had the honor of learning from and working with world renowned artists and Houston Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Her passion for music is rooted in the abundance of diversity Houston’s music scene has to offer and she seeks to continue that legacy as a local musician and future business owner in the music industry.

Instructor of Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, and Piano

Noah is a multiple woodwinds performer, teacher, and improviser specializing in clarinet, flute, and saxophone with nearly nine years of performance and teaching experience. A native Texan, he received his Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance at Indiana University where he studied with Eli Eban, and his Master of Music from the University of Michigan where he studied with Daniel Gilbert, Chad Burrow, and Andrew Bishop. An active freelancer, Noah enjoys and has experience playing a variety of styles from classical to musical theater to jazz. He held the position of principal clarinetist in the Dearborn Symphony while pursuing his Master’s degree. During that time he also performed with the University Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Band, chamber ensembles, Creative Arts Improvisation Orchestra, and jazz ensembles. In his free time, Noah enjoys listening to jazz and being an amateur birdwatcher.

Instructor of Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Piano, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, and Tuba

Sal has been teaching in the Houston area since 2012. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Houston. Sal specializes in brass instruments and drums, however his passion for music has allowed him to learn and teach piano, saxophone, guitar and bass. Over the years, several of his students have qualified for TMEA Texas All-State Band. Sal is also an avid performer, having played across the country and internationally in Mexico and Spain. In his own words, “Part of my teaching philosophy is respecting the roots. Regardless of what instrument or genre you prefer, you must respect where it came from. As the saying goes, ‘How can you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been?’ A lot of musicians get ahead of themselves and want to ‘change the game,’ but I believe you must first respect the game, then master the game, then finally you can change the game.”

Instructor of Violin and Piano

Mr. Emmanuel teaches violin & piano for Texas School of Music. Hailing from California, Emmanuel is a teacher and performer specialized in violin. Emmanuel obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in music education from the University of Redlands, earning Summa Cum Laude. There, he taught in a variety of settings including public school, after school orchestras, as well as private lessons. An avid arranger, Emmanuel has arranged a variety of pieces to target the students’ interest and skill level, demonstrating a focus on adapting to the uniqueness of each individual student. Emmanuel believes in the individuality of each student, tailoring instruction to best suit student learning. 

Instructor of piano, guitar, bass, trumpet, ukulele, & French horn

Roscoe holds a bachelor's degree in music composition from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music and is a recipient of the Patrick S. Gilmore Award and Texas Music Teacher's Association Scholarship. He was a multiple-time finalist and winner of the National Federation of Music Clubs and Music Teachers National Association's composition contests. Roscoe has collaborated with and written for musicians including the Dorrington String Quartet, the Tales Ensemble, and most recently, the Grammy Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth. He currently plays piano and bass in the Rice Jazz Combo, performs and records keyboards with artists including Deniz Love and Shama the Human, is the bassist and front man of DFW-based band Pajama Party, plays trumpet in Latin-rock bands Los Skarnales and Ritmo Lokura, and played principal French horn for three years in the Campanile Symphony Orchestra at Rice University until 2022. Roscoe has been teaching music since 2017, having taught a wide range of students on piano, guitar, bass, horn, and trumpet, as well as in theory and composition. He has loved teaching since he began and his passion for making and sharing music with others has only grown since.

Instructor of Drums, Piano, and Guitar

Born into a very musical family, Chris got his start playing piano at eight and gravitated to the drum set soon after and has stayed busy practicing, gigging, and teaching ever since. A veteran of marching percussion and a graduate of both Texas State University and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston in Houston, Chris’ pursuit of music has spanned multiple genres including jazz, funk, rock, contemporary Christian, country, pop, metal, and numerous Latin styles. He exudes a passion for music in all of his lessons and loves sharing the immensely diverse benefits of a musical education with his students, young and old.

Instructor of Trombone and Piano

Originally from Katy, Texas, Mr. Jo completed his bachelor’s degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Jo has completed formal instruction in Trombone and Piano performance in his curriculum, and wishes to show young musicians how enjoyable playing music can be. Mr. Jo has performed across the country and in other nations, such as Switzerland and Mexico. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of fundamental techniques and concepts, while preserving the joy and magic of learning how to play music.

Instructor of guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo, recorder, clarinet, drums, & voice.

Ms. Jen aka Kjlland is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist with over three decades of musical experience. She began playing clarinet in the 6th grade and continued through high school, building a strong foundation in music early on. At 16, she took up guitar, and by 19, she was singing and developing her own musical voice. Over the years, Ms. Kjlland has cultivated a versatile and intuitive approach to music, combining technical skill with a deep understanding of expression and tone. Her teaching style is supportive, practical, and tailored to each student, whether they are just beginning or looking to expand their existing skills. She is passionate about helping students build confidence, develop their ear, and enjoy the process of learning music in a way that feels natural and engaging.