MusicAlley Teachers

Reiko Israel

Owner / Piano

Ms. Reiko’s lifelong goal is to create a school where students attend with joy and excitement in engaging in music studies and performances. In 2009 she and her husband Ben started MusicAlley, and it has been a place where students have numerous opportunities to study both performing and fine arts according to their individual goals.

Being a dedicated piano teacher for thirty years, Ms. Reiko appreciates individual students’ interests and purposes; she constantly strives to develop different kinds of teaching styles and approaches to better suit student needs. She strongly believes that any student, regardless of capability, should receive an equal opportunity of studying music.

Her passion for teaching and dedication to students are especially shown in working with students with special needs, which she considers the most fruitful and rewarding experience in her teaching career. Ms. Reiko’s wish is all her students will forever cherish music.

Building strong foundations in Japan, Ms. Reiko completed her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at Cal State Fullerton under the instruction of Argentinian pianist Eduardo Delgado. In addition to being a devoted music teacher, she is also an accomplished accompanist and collaborative pianist.

Debbie Perez

Piano

Debbie Perez is a passionate and dedicated musician. She enjoys listening to various types of music, such as classical, pop, musical theater, and more. She has an Associate’s Degree in Arts with an emphasis in Music from Mt. San Antonio College and is currently preparing to pursue a career in Music Therapy. She has participated in Mt. San Antonio’s music ensembles, including the guitar ensemble, as a pianist in chamber music, and as a soprano in the concert choir.

When she teaches a student, she hopes to pass on the same passion she feels for music and to provide the best musical foundation she can offer. This includes teaching basic fundamental skills and techniques, training their musical ear, and preparing them to play the songs they wish to learn. She thinks outside the box to ensure each student has a solid understanding of what is being taught and enjoys the learning process.

Richard Kang

Piano / Guitar / Bass / Ukulele / Music Production

Richard began his journey on the guitar with classical studies, focusing on the foundations and fundamentals. Before he encountered Jazz, he experimented with many different genres and styles, like country, rock, pop, fingerstyle, and bluegrass. While in school he also spent time learning about recording techniques and sound design.

Richard spends most of his time composing and teaching. He streams music production once a week going through his process of songwriting and sound design. He teaches guitar, piano, ukulele, and bass guitar at different levels.

Joshua Jones

Piano / Voice / Guitar / Bass / Drums / Music Production

Joshua began his musical career at an early age, starring in musicals and choir performances beginning at 4 years old, also beginning piano at that time. He then progressed to playing drums and performing with adult jazz bands through middle and high school, winning state awards for his drumming.

Discovering Eddie Van Halen in middle school, Joshua went on to form an original rock band, Menace, as the guitarist, lead singer, and principal songwriter. Opening for such acts as Peter Frampton and Randy Hansen, Menace won many battle of the bands, Joshua also winning numerous guitar competitions.

In his early 20’s, Joshua began teaching drums, piano, guitar, bass, and vocals and discovered his love of sharing his knowledge and experience, helping future generations to grow musically. He was then asked to portray Paul McCartney in a Beatles tribute, having only 30 days to learn to play bass left-handed. Since then, he has performed with many of the top Beatles tributes in the world such as The Fab Four and 1964, as well as performing all over Europe, the Mediterranean, and even Russia. He was also the Paul McCartney in the Beatles show at Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas Strip for 5 years.

Joshua has a degree in chemistry and is also a certified medical assistant. He currently has many tributes, performing as Elton John, Billy Joel, Sting in The Police Academy, Brian Wilson in Surf’s Up, Micky Dolenz in The Monkee Men, and Paul McCartney in the Wings tribute Band on the Run.

Josh Silva

Guitar / Bass

Graduating from California State University, Fullerton, Josh studied both English, Radio, TV, and Film. At University he spent much of his time studying audio recording and sound production. Josh has spent over 5 years in the education field, teaching both in a classroom environment, as well as private, one on one tutoring with students.

Understanding that each person has their individual way of learning, Josh patiently works with students and guides them to take the necessary steps to learn. He teaches fretboard navigation and music theory so that students can be more than just a jukebox who plays other people’s songs, but instead be able to understand what is going on in those songs, improvise, and eventually write their own songs. His passion for learning and music will make students’ lessons interesting, fun, and exciting.

Stephen Ramirez

Drums

At the age of 7, Stephen started playing drums which has completely consumed his life. The dedication and passion he has for this instrument has allowed him to obtain a successful career as a musician and teacher. Stephen has played for many bands and traveled to various countries to perform. Stephen has studied a variety of styles of drumming and he is consistently learning new things that allow him to grow and develop more technique.

Stephen taught his first student at the age of 16 and has been teaching consistently since the age of 22. Today, Stephen plays for several bands of different styles, travels and performs in other states and countries. He also does recording session work while teaching students of all ages as his main career.

Nico Vasquez

Drums

For fifteen years, Nico Vasquez has studied the art of drumming and music. Having played in school big bands, orchestras, and drum lines, he developed his musicianship through education and a variety of musical contexts. Nico plays and teaches a range of styles including rock, jazz, hip hop, classical, soloing, and Latin. He earned an Associates degree in Art and Human Expression at Fullerton College and is on his way to earning his BM in Jazz and Commercial Music from Cal State Fullerton.

Nico performs in numerous groups weekly, ranging from jazz trios, original singer songwriters music, fun, and explosive rock and pop music, and everything in between. Nico has performed at the music festivals Camp Flognaw and Soulection at the Shrine in Los Angeles.

He has also performed on one of NPR’s Tiny Desk performances and has recorded drums from numerous projects. Learning music is such a unique process that teaches students a plethora of skills; reading music, learning and exploring different genres, the history of music, cooperating with other players, and ear training.

Nico’s goal is to share his love of music with everyone around him and encourage people of all ages to listen and to play it!

Andrea Martinez

Voice / Dance / Acting / Musical Theater

If you wanted to tell the story of Andrea Esperanza Martinez, you’d have to do it with a musical. Or an opera. Or one really good ballad. That’s because she lives a life of music. Even the way she says her name sounds like a song.

Born into a musical family, Andrea’s early influences ranged from The Beatles and No Doubt to Broadway musicals and mariachi. In her early teens her father started a family band which started her career as a working singer. In school she took advantage of every opportunity to sing whether it be jazz band, choir or musicals. She completed her education at the prestigious AMDA (College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts) in Los Angeles, where she honed her singing, acting, and dancing skills.

After graduating, she was immediately cast into an original musical, Norman’s Ark, directed by Peter Scheider (producer of Toy Story). Andrea has been featured in several television shows on VHI, TruTV, Estrella TV, and Telemundo, and has had acting roles in films, music videos, and commercials.

Andrea has shared the stage with many notable all-star performers and musicians such as Biz Markie, Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray), DJ Richard Blade, Gunnar Nelson (Nelson), Thomas Anders (Modern Talking), Tony Snow (Dramarama), and Vince Neil (Motley Crue), to name a few.

Her most recent adventure has been joining the World’s Greatest Tribute to No Doubt and Gwen Stefani, No Duh. Joining No Duh has been a full circle moment for Andrea’s career, as she had been performing No Doubt songs with her family band since she was a young girl. Andrea has traveled extensively throughout the US, performing shows with No Duh. Andrea has many exciting ventures always in progress!

Angelle King

Voice / Dance / Acting / Musical Theater

Angelle has been passionate about music and dance for many years and began performing at a young age. She was a member of the Citrus Singers of Citrus College and traveled throughout China, Germany, New York, and the Philippines, in addition to performing in numerous musicals, where she danced, sang, and acted.

Angelle continued her music studies and graduated from Berklee School of music where she received her BA in Interdisciplinary Music Studies with an emphasis on business and performance. She was also an active member of the Kanye West Sunday Service choir and traveled immensely.

Angelle looks forward to teaching children the craft that she loves and continuing her career as an entertainer.

Daryuish Kashayar

Violin

Daryuish first started learning music on the piano at the age of three. Though he enjoyed it, he was drawn to the violin and began studying the instrument classically a few years later at the age of seven and has continued to this day.

Though mostly classically trained, Daryuish has experimented with loop pedals and other electronic techniques which eventually led to an exploration of music production and sound design, while maintaining the more typical classical violin training as well.

Daryuish has been a part of many school orchestras and is currently studying violin performance at California State University, Fullerton, and is a part of their symphony orchestra.

Jonathan Kang

Digital Art (Virtual Lessons Also Available)

Jonathan Kang focuses his craft in the art of concept/sequential design. Ever since he first watched cartoons and read comics, he had an interest in world building and visual storytelling. He took classes on concept/entertainment art at Fullerton College taught by artists working in the animation industry. That was all he needed to continue his journey as a designer. He sought out other entertainment industry professionals working in animation and live-action for tv, films, and games. He works with digital and traditional mediums, including Photoshop, pen & ink and gouache paints.

Ilani Umel

Art / Creative Writing

Art

Ilani Umel is an art teacher who helps kids unearth their unique creativity. After studying Creative Writing and Animation at USC, she held a variety of creative jobs including: worldbuilding for film under Alex McDowell (RDI), animating for games, writing for global ad agencies, designing/illustrating popular products, and much more.

Her creative talents are endless but united by a singular purpose: to create immersive worlds and stories. As such, Ilani not only teaches art but creativity as well. She aims to help children not only develop technical skills in their mediums of choice, but also encourages them to think outside the box. It is Ilani’s hope that all her students gain the confidence to joyfully create on AND off the canvas!

Creative Writing

After graduating from USC in English Creative Writing, Ilani worked as a world-builder at 5D Global Studio (now called Experimental Design) under Alex McDowell, RDI and helped produce fictional worlds for film and major companies. After that she worked as a 3D animator/creative video editor before finding her footing in creative marketing. She was a copywriter, brand consultant, and creative strategist writing and directing digital advertising campaigns for small and big brands alike. There she learned how telling the story of a brand is similar to telling a fictional story!

Ilani realized her passion for teaching and self-expression after taking a leap of faith and leaving her 5+ career in creative marketing. She is passionate about helping her students tap into their own unique creativity and providing them the tools to express themselves.

Amaya Torres

Art

Amaya is an artist who specializes in character design and visual development. She graduated with a Bachelors degree in Entertainment Arts/Animation at Cal State University, Fullerton. Since Amaya was young she has had a passion for art and even had her art displayed in the Las Vegas mayor’s office, and has received several scholarships for Art.

Amaya works in a variety of mediums both digital and traditional. Amaya has been taught by and worked with professionals who have worked on films like Beauty and the Beast, Wreck it Ralph, and more. She has volunteered with local soccer clubs and elementary school, giving her extensive experience with teaching and caring for children of all ages.