Music Villa 

I was born in the middle of the 1960's in Lewistown, the geographic center of Montana. I spent my formative years in Missoula where I first took up the guitar. After playing in local bands around Missoula, I moved to Boston where I attended the Berklee College of Music where I studied guitar and composition. I've lived and played music all over the country including New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle. I settled back in Bozeman in 2000 and have been teaching at Music Villa since 2009. I perform locally with the Bridger Creek Boys and the Coyote Gypsies. I was a top ten finalist in the national Flatpick Challenge in 2014. I enjoy all kinds of muisc including Rock, Blues, Bluegrass, and Jazz and really anything in-between. Some of my favorites include: Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Bryan Sutton, Tony Rice, Bill FrisellI and Django Reinhardt among many others. I mainly teach guitar, but I also teach Mandolin and Ukelele. I am happy to teach all ages and levels.

30 year veteran of opera, musical theatre, vocal competitions, and concerts shares practical vocal knowledge with all ages of aspiring singers in light opera, musical theater, rock and roll, and country. An understanding of how a solid breathing technique, intonation through solfege (do, re, mi, etc.), freedom from tension in the neck and tongue, and thoughtful preparation help students expand their personal growth and public performance opportunities. Whether you are a beginner, wanting to become a performer, or are a regularly performing professional, I would be happy to work with you on your musical journey.

I have been playing in as many bands as possible since the 6th grade. While I am a firm believer that there's nothing better than a solid E chord hammered out through a cranked amplifier, I also have a love of songwriting and have recorded a handful of albums of original material. After graduating from Montana State University with a degree in Music Technology, my band Gearhorse recorded our first EP by ourselves. I currently play in Bozeman as a solo act as well as with my rock band, The Dirty Dirty. I have found that guitar is not only a very therapeutic mode of expression, but a powerful tool of creativity. Most of all, it's just a whole lot of fun! I specialize in rock guitar, country, singer-songwriter music, blues and slide on both electric as well as acoustic. I also know my way around a bass guitar and a handful of other stringed instruments. Teaches: Guitar and Bass Style: Rock, Punk, Country, Blues, Slide Levels: Beginner to Intermediate Years Exp: 20+ Favorite Bands: Green Day, Nirvana, Dead Sara, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Tyler Childers, Paul Cauthen, Orville Peck, Boygenius

When I was in second grade I began playing drums. This quickly expanded into me playing guitar and writing songs. After high school I interned at Journey Church doing all things worship and tech, I was also going to lots of songwriting retreats at this point as well. This then led into a job at Revival Church where I was their Tech Director. Now I own my own production company called KnightTech. But after all of this my favorite thing to do is still play the drums. I currently play drums for Journey Church and a group called 406 United. Years of Exp: 14 years Favorite Bands: Gable Price and Friends, Yebba, ELEVATION RYTHM, UPPERROOM, Cory Asbury, Jordy Searcy, Zac Brown Band, Snarky Puppy

Jack de Tombe started learning piano at age four at the Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park, IL from Margaret Nichols. Jack would go on to complete his bachelors in piano performance at Idaho State University under the tutelage of Dr. Kori Bond. He has performed all around the world, most notably at the Borromeo Music Festival in Switzerland, and with the legendary Colorado wedding band Mass Hipsteria. He is proficient in many western styles, as well as with the bass, guitar, and organ. He likes to compose and produce his own music and collaborate with local artists. In Bozeman, Jack has played for the Ellen theatre, St James episcopal church, and is the pianist for 2 of the MSU choirs and several individual students.