Drum & Percussion Faculty
(Moraga only)
Alex Rutter
|
Alex is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter who loves nothing more than sharing his passion for music with others. He graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a Bachelor’s Degree in music, and since graduating has continued to sing in choir, write/produce his own songs, and play with others often. While at Saint Mary’s College, he participated in the jazz band, multiple student-led groups, and all three choirs. He also started learning to teach by tutoring students.
Alex has been playing guitar and drums since he was in elementary school and took to learning bass guitar in high school. Around this time he started writing his own songs and listening to a wide variety of musical genres to better understand how music exists not only in his life but in others' lives and in other parts of the world. He adores music theory and always loses himself talking about anything music-related. Alex believes that learning music should be about technique and theory as much as it should be about feeding your curious and creative mind. He always wishes to impart knowledge just as much as he hopes to inspire and expand one’s perspective on the world of music and what it can do for you. |
Jake Margulis-Kessel
|
Jake is excited to be a music instructor at Amabile and has been teaching and playing music for over 20 years. He teaches all levels and styles of guitar, voice, congas and percussion, songwriting, production, composition, and artist identity development/branding. He also teaches drum set, piano, ukulele and electric bass. Additionally, Jake enjoys leading band direction for developing musicians.
Jake has an M.A. in Music Composition and has been a music instructor with Bay Area music schools such as Village Music School, School of Rock San Ramon, COVA, Star Power Music, Art and Soul Music Studios, Hayward Music Center, and ALMA. He was also Music Program Director at Mission Hills Middle School in Union City for three years where he designed and taught all music program classes to grades Pre-K through 8. Prior to that, he was the guitar and percussion instructor at St. Paul's Episcopal School in Oakland. Jake began studying jazz guitar at age 14 and majored in jazz guitar as an undergrad. His primary teachers were Steve Erquiaga, Dave Creamer, and Jack Wilkins. Jake also studied AfroCuban percussion for many years under the instruction of Josh Jones, as well as with Maestro Regino Jimenez, Sandy Perez and in Cuba with Grupo AfroCuba de Matanzas and Daniel Rodriguez of Yoruba Andabo. He also studied traditional AfroCuban singing with Lazaro Galarraga and classical voice with Jane Sharp. Jake has performed or recorded with musicians such as Boots Riley, Kent Nagano, Ambrose Akinmusere, Thomas Pridgen, Dayna Stephens, Josh Jones, Michael Aaberg, and The Hogan Brothers. He has played at jazz festivals including Montreux, North Sea, Vienne and Umbria. Jake has also performed at venues such as Yoshi’s, Zellerbach Hall, Cleopatra's Needle and Small’s. He is also a songwriter, composer, and music producer. In his spare time, Jake enjoys writing comedy, reading, and the great outdoors. |
Jennifer Gapasin
|
Jennifer is a musician/actress based out of the SF Bay Area. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Sacramento State. She was choir director, piano accompanist and vocalist for St. Anthony Parish in Winters, St. Peter Catholic Church in Dixon and St. George Episcopal Church in Carmichael. She played drums and piano for Holy Spirit Church in Fairfield. Jennifer taught piano and voice at Natomas School of Music in Sacramento and Music Works in El Cerrito (now Rockin' Robbies). She taught preschool group music classes at Young World Preschool in Daly City and Gymboree Play & Music in San Francisco. She was drummer for the Beatles cover band, the Peptones, and she enjoys singing in many genres, including opera, jazz, funk and R&B.
In her own words: Music is a great outlet to express oneself and develop practical skills such as focus, listening, coordination and timing. There is nothing quite like music that combines fun, complexity and discipline all at once. I am happy to share that experience with others as a teacher and performer. |