Eric Sanders is a drummer and classical percussionist, originally from New York. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Penn State University and has over 30 years experience teaching drum lessons. A main drum instructor at the Atlanta Institute of Music for over a dozen years, Eric creates content for a college curriculum and runs the drum department for their online international school. He is also writing a snare drum book based on the rudiments. He’s been teaching, gigging, and recording in Atlanta since 1996 and has toured throughout the U.S. and overseas, working with numerous groups and artists that run the gamut of musical styles. Sanders toured the country with Col. Bruce Hampton and was the drummer for Puddles The Clown in the band Kingsized. He’s been the drummer in The Yeti Trio since 1998 and has released 2 solo percussion CDs of original compositions on his own label, Flam Five Records.

 Electric & Acoustic Guitar: rock, classical, finger style and songwriting

Eddie’s dedication to music and guitar has earned him a spot as a highly sought after guitarist and teacher in the Atlanta area. He has played guitar for over 38 years and has over 25 years’ experience teaching and performing. He holds a Bachelor of Music in classical guitar from Kennesaw State University where he studied with Mary Akerman and a Master of Music in classical guitar from the University of Texas at Austin where he was under the tutelage of Adam Holzman. He has performed for many of the guitar world’s finest musicians, including Roland Dyens, David Russell, Douglas Neidt, Ricardo Iznaola, Ricardo Cobo, Nigel North and Micheal Troster among others.

After returning to Atlanta from Austin, Eddie taught guitar at Reinhardt College, Georgia Perimeter College, as well as Emory University where his guitar courses for the extended learning center were in high demand. He is currently an Artist Affiliate at Agnes Scott College and although Eddie’s primary interests are in classical guitar and songwriting, he also plays rock guitar, flamenco and blues guitar.

In 2009 Eddie opened Guitar Decatur with the goal of personalizing private music instruction and currently lives in Decatur with his dogs Wolfie and Marley.

Piano & Keyboards

Nicholas Johns has a Bachelor of Music degree in organ and piano performance from Georgia State University where he was a University Scholar, played the piano with the GSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and sang with the University Singers. While at GSU, he studied organ with Sarah Martin and piano with Geoffrey Haydon, and was the recipient of the Tom Schneider Memorial Scholarship, the Atlanta AGO Scholarship, and the Atlanta Music Club Scholarship. Nick began his piano studies at the age of five with Martha Melton. Early on in his childhood he developed a curiosity for the pipe organ, and in high school began studying the organ with David Houston. He has conducted orchestras for the musicals Fiddler on the Roof, Hello Dolly, 1940′s Radio Hour, and Les Misérables.  He is a first prize winner of dozens of annual competitions such as the GMEA and GMTA All-State Piano and Chorus competitions, DMEA and DMTA piano competitions, the Margaret A. Guthman piano competition. He previously held the position as Director of Music and Liturgy at Good Shepherd Catholic Church and Organist and Assistant Director of Music at St. Brigid Catholic Church. He currently serves as Interim Organist/Choirmaster at Rock Spring Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.

Electric Guitar:

Hayden Donahoo is a young and upcoming guitarist from Raleigh, North Carolina with over 11 years of playing experience in a wide variety of genres, in everything from jazz, neo-classical shred, blues, pop and classic rock, to more modern styles of rock and progressive metal. While residing in Raleigh, Hayden, was enthusiastically involved as the guitarist in the traveling jazz ensemble at Heritage High School. Being involved in such a fun, enriching experience only made his love and dream of playing music strengthen and grow to much greater heights. Early on as a middle school student he started taking interest in more guitar-centric music, taking to players that were renowned for their advanced technique with rhythm and lead playing. Some of these influences included Mark Tremonti of Creed/Alter Bridge, John Petrucci of Dream Theater, Jason Richardson, Paul Gilbert and Rusty Cooley. Attempting to learn these styles of music sent him down a fun musical journey with its respective ups and downs. In the summers, he had a practice regimen that lasted up to six hours a day to gain proficiency in alternate picking, sweep picking, legato and tapping. These were among some of the advanced techniques he poured so much time into to further develop his playing. As music and guitar continued to play a prominent role in his life, he set off to Atlanta after graduating high school to attend The Atlanta Institute of Music and Media to further pursue his music dream. At AIMM he spent two years earning a degree studying music theory, guitar performance and audio engineering. Since then he has played in a touring corporate/formal event band throughout 2019, and is an active teacher and performer around the Atlanta area.

Electric Bass Guitar / Upright Bass Guitar

David is from Atlanta, GA and received a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz and Music performance from Georgia State University. During his academic residency at GSU, David sat 2nd chair in the University Symphonic Orchestra as well as the GSU Jazz Band. During this time he also played with various bands ranging from funk, jazz, rock, bluegrass, and jazz. 

David has been playing electric bass for 17 years and upright bass for seven. He prides himself on being a versatile and professional bass player that is ready for any musical situation. David has a wide range of experience playing music in a variety of settings including in the pit for Broadway Dreams, In The Heights and Serenbe’s Shenandoah.

Over the last five years, David’s goal as an instructor has always been to create a personalized experience for every student to ensure learning is accessible, but most importantly fun. David crafts each lesson to his student’s individual needs and through his attention to detail, positive reinforcement, and creative teaching David helps students grow and achieve their own musical mastery.

Piano & Violin

Tiffany Ryce graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree major in Music Education. Tiffany truly has a passion for teaching music. She is a certified music educator in the state of Georgia.  She teaches general music to 940 Kindergarten to 5^th students in Gwinnett County. Tiffany has over a decade experience teaching violin and piano lessons to ages 4 – senior citizens.

Tiffany’s favorite hobby is playing violin in community orchestras. She recently relocated from Jacksonville Florida where she played violin in the Civic orchestra of Jacksonville. Tiffany’s passion is bringing the joy of music to all students from diverse backgrounds and cultures. She herself is first generation American with her family residing from the Caribbean Island of Trinidad. Music is such a vital point in our daily lives and Tiffany’s goal is to bring the knowledge of creating our own music to all students. Music is not to be enjoyed only by listening, but by surprising ourselves with the creativity that’s dormant inside of us.  In Tiffany’s music class you’ll see students be challenged, meet their personal musical goals, play different genres of their choosing, learn theory, improvisation, ear training, and rhythms.