Instructors

Keys to Life instructors are enthusiastic about music and sharing this passion with others. In part because of them, KTL is one of the best Portland music schools! All of our teachers go through a background check in addition to a thorough reference check! All Keys to Life Instructors perform on their instruments at the interview too.

Juan Narvaez

Piano, OMTA SYllabus Program

Juan Narvaez is a passionate musician and educator with great love for
classical music, jazz, and music from different cultures around the world. They
compose, arrange, and perform as a soloist and collaborator.

Education and Experience:

• Juan studied piano performance at the Alfred Cortot School in Paris, at Florida Atlantic University, and at Algoma University in Canada, the latter from which they graduated in 2016.

• They have more than ten years of experience teaching and performing classical music as well as accompanying instrumentalists, choirs, and singers. 

• Juan's students can expect to develop an appreciation and love for the piano and diverse styles of music while learning about music theory, history, and healthy technique.

• Juan started studying the guitar as a teenager playing Hispanic, bossanova, and classical music.

Laima Meurer

Piano, OMTA SYllabus Program

Laima Meurer is originally from Lithuania and takes a creative approach to motivating and inspiring her students during piano and beginning voice lessons. She also plays the accordion and ukulele.

Education and Experience:

• B.A. in Music Education from the Music Academy of Lithuanian and an M.A. in from the Academy of Physical Culture. 

• Decades of experience teaching music in a classroom setting and private piano lessons. 

• Taught music at the Community Center in Oakland, CA; Iron Horse Middle School in San Ramon, CA; and Golden Key Piano in Berkeley, CA.  

• Part of OMTA and is able to send her students through their Syllabus program if they’re interested.

Iantha Rimper

Piano, Violin, Guitar, Ukulele, cello, bass

Iantha (pronounced Yan-tah) is a kind, highly knowledgeable, and patient teacher. Both of her parents worked as professional musicians and as a mother she continues to make music a priority in her home.

Helping people develop their personal expression through music is where she thrives. She guides her students to find a deeper connection to the world and themselves through music.

Education and Experience:

• Iantha plays the piano, violin, guitar, bass, cello, and sings!

• B.M. in Music Performance Summa Cum Laude UC Santa Cruz, 2001.

• 20+ years experience teaching private and group lessons.

• Multi-sensory lessons including learning by ear.

• Bi-lingual in French and English.

Roomie Wood

piano, voice, ukulele

Roomie Wood is an experienced pianist and vocalist who moved to Portland in 2022. She graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2022 with a degree in Choral Music Education. There she sang in their top vocal ensemble, Shrine of the Ages Choir, under the direction of Dr. Edith Copley. She also accompanied her university’s Men's Chorus and various vocalist’s recitals. 

Philosophy and Experience:

• Roomie has years of experience teaching music lessons to students from age 4 through adulthood.

• Her lessons focus on clear, direct language that is easy for students to understand. She infuses lessons with patience and compassion.

• She works to build a student’s performing confidence and believes in every student’s potential.

• Created an EP of original music at 18 years old.

Kyle McInnis

Piano, Voice, Beginner Guitar & Ukulele, Saxophone, Clarinet

Kyle has a lifelong passion for music that started in elementary school with the clarinet, expanded to singing in high school choirs and playing in punk bands, and led to serious piano study in college. He has made it his goal to learn as much as possible about every instrument and genre possible.

As an educator, he is particularly enthusiastic about teaching music literacy and composition as a companion to technique and repertoire. Kyle wants to encourage students to not just perform music but to think and live in a musical way. As a composer and arranger, Kyle emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach balanced with the Western tradition. He aims to pass down this approach to his students.

Education and Experience:

• BA in Music Composition from Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA 

• In 2015 began teaching private music lessons off and on.

• Traveled to Austria to sing for the Classical Music Festival celebrating Franz Joseph Haydn

• Winner of the 2016 John W. Delodder Composition Competition

• Traveled to St. Lucia multiple times to study Steel Pan and Brazilian Percussion 

Rian Holmes

Piano, Guitar, Violin, ukulele

Music has been his passion since childhood and is his sole focus as a professional. Rian’s main focus as a teacher is to give his students the tools they need to teach themselves and explore their musical voice.

Education and Experience:

• Rian holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Composition and a Masters in the Arts of Teaching; with experience in teaching music at the college level, private instrument lessons, as well as in public schools (K-12). 

• His primary instruments are the violin and guitar but he’s also proficient on the drums, piano, bass, clarinet, ukulele, viola and singing.

• Rian has worked professionally as a composer, performer, and teacher for the past 17 years. From this experience, he’s gained perspectives in effective teaching practices, expanded his knowledge base and instructional skills immensely. 

Dylan McGown

Drums & percussion

Dylan grew up in a musical family that prized the performing arts. He explored musical theater and played multiple instruments before settling on drums, which he studied intensely starting in junior high. In high school, he involved himself in marching, concert, jazz, and pep bands. He also traveled to Europe with his high school band with the national ambassador of music program.

Education and Experience:

• Dylan’s taught private drum lessons for 9+ years, all ages.

• Graduated with an Associate of Arts from the Musicians Institute LA in 2011 in drums/percussion.

• Extensive touring and opening for major acts, headlining local shows 2005-2015.

• Specializes in teaching reading/writing drum music and overall drum set comprehension.

• Passionate about teaching a good understanding of rhythms and how to conceptualize technique/patterns into to real world drumming.

Bethany Martin

Voice & Beginning Piano

Bethany grew up in a musical family where singing was part of everyday life and choir was a must every Sunday. She was the first one in her family to take formal lessons and studied the clarinet from junior high through university. She began her vocal studies with some jazz lessons and then transitioned to Keys to Life in 2017 where she studied with Bronwyn for 3 years. She initially taught herself the piano with adult method books so she could help her children practice and found that she loved the instrument. Her experience as a classroom teacher and her love of learning make her an ideal teacher.

Education and Experience:

• B.A. in English from the University of Idaho and Masters in Teaching English from PSU.

• Homeschooled her two children from 3+ years, exceeding all state requirements.

• Taught ESL in Japan to people of all ages for several years.

• Applies her experience with Pilates to help voice students deepen their body awareness and breath control.

Ayla Stabile

Piano, guitar, COmposition

Ayla combines a high level of musical ability and creativity with a passion for teaching. They learned the piano and guitar as a child and added composition, drums, and production along the way. After college they worked as a live sound mixer and piano teacher plus they interned at Funnybone Records. They recently moved to Portland and are enjoying performing their original music around the city in addition to teaching again.

Education and Philosophy:

• Bachelor of Music in Electronic Media & the Arts (music emphasis) at Bard College, Massachusetts.

• Ayla has perfect pitch and enjoys learning by ear in addition to using notation.

• A caring teacher, Ayla loves helping students develop their creative side through improvisation.

Colin Rubelle

Piano, Guitar, ukulele

Colin is a multi-instrumentalist with years of teaching experience and a love classical, jazz, blues, and rock music. When he’s not singing to his baby, or working as a technician in a hospital ER, he’s working on original songs in his punk/dad rock band. While getting his degree in music education and studying classical guitar, he learned to inspire his students, track and record their progress, and manage small and large groups of all ages in an educational setting.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor of Music Education from University of Portland. Graduated on the Deans list!

• Taught at Ethos for 4 years and taught in his own private studio for 5 years.

• Sight sings music in Solfege; enjoys digital audio recording and editing.

• Plays the accordion and loves singing!

Sofía Nava

Guitar, Beginning PIano, Beginning VOice, CEllo

Sofía is a Venezuelan musician, singer, and songwriter. She was born in 2004 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and at just 19 years old, her passion has led her to pursue a career in the music industry, getting different awards and scholarships, and participating through mentorships and projects with different artists and organizations in the United States and Latin America.

Sofía was accepted at the advanced music school "Fundación Niño Zuliano" in her hometown, Maracaibo. A school that belongs to "El Sistema", a recognized Venezuelan organization for having trained great musicians and conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel. Right there, Sofía studied for 5 years, getting involved in guitar, cuatro, cello, and participating in youth and children's choirs and orchestras.

Education and Experience:

• Two time consecutive winner of song-writing contest in Maracaibo, Venezuela, 2018-2019.

• Taught lessons and classes at BackBeat Music Academy the summer of 2023.

• Winner of the award and scholarship "Beaverton Youth Arts Award 2023" in performing arts, offered by the City of Beaverton, Oregon.​

• Currently attending PCC studying music and sonic arts with the plan to attend a 4-year college for music.

• Selected as one of the 5 "Leading Ladies Connect TogetHER 2023" mentees: a mentorship sponsored by the Latin Recording Academy. Sofía is also a Latin Grammy Associate Member.

• Studied Private Lesson Practicum with KTL Founder Sara Duncan, fall 2023.

• You can read her full bio and credits here.

Charlie Oakes

drums & percussion

Charlie grew up near Washington, D.C. and moved to Portland in 2019 to pursue an undergraduate degree at Lewis & Clark College. He has been playing drums for over 15 years and has studied music with some of Portland’s finest musicians including Charlie Doggett, Alan Jones, and Dan Balmer.

Charlie currently drums with many different musical acts throughout the city. When he’s not playing music, Charlie is biking, exploring the local hiking trails, or trying out cool new restaurants. He is excited to share his joy and passion for drumming with others.

Education and Experience:

• BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Lewis & Clark College.

• Concurrently studied jazz and improvisation and utilizes these concepts in his teaching.

• Teaches drumming at other local music camps and band classes.

• Passionate about creating a fun, relaxed, and engaging learning environment for his students.

The KTL Faculty band is a fun way for KTL teachers to perform for the community and get to know one another better. It also sets a good example for the students and showcases the teachers’ talents in a way that helps the families appreciate and enjoy their skills even more. 

Performances

At formal recitals, the Faculty Band generally performs upbeat standards and pop hits. The KTL Faculty band also performs outside of KTL events at local fundraisers, farmers markets, and beyond. Some of their past repertoire includes: 

• “Happy,” by Pharell

• “Bei mir bist du schoen,” by the Andrews Sisters 

• “In my life,” by the Beatles

• “Why does the sun shine?” by They Might Be Giants