Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii Music Lessons at Chuck James Music Studio

Instruments

piano, flute, sax, clarinet

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

Stadium Mall on Wednesdays
Waipahu on Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays

Bio

Aaron Aranita has been a professional working musician for over 25 years. He has worked as a sideman and leader throughout the U.S. and Japan backing up some of the top names in the business, Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Natalie Cole, the Temptations, and Boy Katindig just to name a few. But that is only one aspect of his musicianship. He started in music young, playing the clarinet then switching to bass in high school, went back to playing woodwinds in college, and then picking up keyboards along the way. He honed his craft in colleges such as Leeward Community College near his hometown of Waipahu, Hawaii and Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, California, and at dedicated establishments of musical learning such as the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. The Berklee School of Music was where Aaron decided to reach out even more and really learn from the best teachers available, Joe Viola for saxophone, Greg Hopkins, Phil Wilson and Andy Jaffe for arranging and composition. Evidently, he learned his lessons well because the people at Berklee to nominated him to the Dean’s List in 1980. Now, as an accomplished musician, he composes both music and lyrics, owns and runs his own commercial studio, Sugartown Records, where he produces and records his own and other artists’ albums, and even serves as musical director for the annual Great Hawaiian Jazz Blowout. He is also a well sought after accompanist among Hawaii’s finest.

Instrument

drums

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

Wahiawa on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays
Waipahu on Sundays

Instructor & Part-time Receptionist

Instrument

violion

Instrument

guitar, bass, ukulele, piano

Instrument

guitar, bass, ukulele, voice

Instruments

guitar, voice

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

Stadium Mall on Saturdays
Waipahu on Sundays

Bio

Hawaii-born (Hilo) Rachel Gonzales is the complete singer-musician. She began performance at age 4 (e.g., singing, ukulele, hula); continued her musical growth during intermediate and high school years (e.g., clarinet, guitar, and more singing); graduated with a Bachelor of Music (studied classical singing) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and has been performing professionally to date. Her formal study and professional experience (e.g., clubs, concerts, recording/studio work) provides much knowledge to share with students. Each student is given his/her own unique lesson plan, because no two students are the same. Her role as instructor is to bring out the best of each student at their own pace and talents and nurture their passion and interest in music. Rachel performs weekly as a soloist (vocal/guitar) at the Ilima award-winning Duc’s Bistro in Chinatown and covers a wide range of styles from contemporary, jazz, folk, blues, Broadway, Latin, and originals. She and jazz pianist Les Peetz have been featured jazz artists at the Hawaii Public Radio Atherton Studio, the Doris Duke Theatre (Honolulu Art Academy) and Ward’s Rafters Sunday Jazz. She has toured Washington (e.g., Seattle, Spokane) with Mr. Peetz and has performed in both the Hawaii Jazz Festivals and Jazz Blowouts in Honolulu, and the 14th duMaurier Jazz Festival of Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). Rachel, in a review of her CD “Live at the Atherton” by John Berger of the Star-Bulletin, was called “the best unknown jazz singer in Honolulu.” Referring to her versatility and musicianship, he added that no one else here was doing what she does. She has performed with various artists in Hawaii and the mainland that include Les Peetz, Betty Loo Taylor, Chuck James, Nueva Vida, the Honolulu Symphony, Martin Nivera, Jeff Linsky, James Ingram, Bob Albanese, Abe Weinstein, Russell Malone, Kealii Reichel, Michael Paulo, Loyal Garner, the Krush, and many more.

Instrument

piano

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

Stadium Mall on Tuesdays and Saturdays
Waipahu on Wednesdays, Fridays

Instruments

drums, guitar, bass, ukulele

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

Stadium Mall on Fridays
Waipahu on Saturdays

Bio

Born and raised in Hawaii, Jeffrey James, 19, is a well-rounded musician always looking for a new challenge musically. He is a proficient Drumset, Percussion, Bass, Guitar, Mallet percussion player that has been playing for numerous years even before his intermediate school days. Currently, Jeffrey James attends Hawaii Pacific University on a 100% music scholarship, and participates in various groups on the island, playing reggae, jazz, latin, R&B, and rock.

Instrument

violin

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

Stadium Mall on Wednesdays
Waipahu on Sundays

Bio

Having been exposed to the violin at an early age Megan expressed a desire to play the violin before she was two years old. Starting private lessons at the age of three, Megan continued her classical training for seventeen years. Megan’s interest in music expanded during her middle and high school years where she played the violin, cello, oboe and percussion in the school orchestras, bands and marching band. She was the Mililani High School Marching Band Drumline Front Ensemble Captain in 2005 and Drumline Co-Captain in 2006. Megan is in her second year as Advisor to the Mililani High School Drumline Front Ensemble (mallets). Additionally, she has performed with several string quartets at weddings, parties, and grand openings in Honolulu and recently, at a convention in Las Vegas. Megan is a 2007 graduate of Mililani High School and is currently attending Hawaii Pacific University on a full orchestra scholarship.

Instruments

guitar, bass

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

Wahiawa on Saturdays
Stadium Mall on Mondays

Bio

Guitarist, songwriter, and teacher Roshan Kumar has played in Jazz, Blues, Big Band, Latin, Free Form, Rock, Country, New Age and Show Groups in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Hawaii and Japan. Roshan has B.A. in Music Theory & Composition from the University of Minnesota his postgraduate studies at Grove Music School, L.A.- and studied jazz with Howard Roberts, founder of G.I.T. Musician’s Institute, Hollywood. A few of his accomplishments are; Featured in premier performance of Hawaii TV show First Edition, Composed and played guitar for ” Tuesday ” film score – lead film in Filmex Animation Festival, Winner of the Hawaii KPOI SUPERJAM Contest – performance at Blaisdell Arena with – Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Jeff Baxter of the Doobie Brothers, John Entwistle & Simon Phillips of the Who, and Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, has written over 150 compositions copywritten in diverse styles, has compositions and guitar playing featured on International and Hawaii television and radio, and has co-founded recording company Cosmic Cat Music.

Bio

Originally from Santa Cruz, CA, Barry Leaman studied music at the University of Oregon and received a Masters Degree in Music from the New England Conservatory of Music. He moved to Hawaii to take on the position of Music Director for the American Hawaii Cruise Lines and has recorded with numerous musicians in Calfornia, the Boston area, and Hawaii. His musical influence is broad with performances in classical, 20th century, Broadway, rock, pop, jazz, and rhythm & blues. A performer and private teacher for more than thirty years, he shares practical experience and refined technique with students of all levels.

Instruments

guitar, ukulele, bass, drums

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

Stadium Mall on Sundays
Waipahu on Wednesdays

Bio

Guitar and bass instructor Shay learned to play music at 8 years old and never stopped since. His first instrument was the clarinet and from there learned to play every band instrument. Later he took orcestrah and learned to play the upright double bass. From this he switched to electric bass which is his main and favorite instrument. Marching was not an issue because in the Kamehameha marching band he was jamming on the sidelines in the pit. From here he was given a full music scholarship to attend Hawaii Pacific University and play his bass. Now currently in 4 bands he has fun gigging and doing what he loves best, playing music.

Staff/Receptionist

Instrument

piano, voice

Instruments

guitar, bass

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

Waipahu on Tuesday, Saturdays

Bio

David Yamasaki studied ethnomusicology at the University of Washington, Seattle, and guitar at Berklee College of Music, Boston, before receiving a BA and MA from California State University, Hayward. He has recorded with Tito Puente, Sheila E., Pete Escovedo Orchestra, John Santos and the Machete Ensemble, Deems, and Nikita Germaine and has performed in music videos and film including Bill Cosby’s Leonard, Part Six. Additional performances include Lou Rawls, Louie Bellson, Dianne Schuur, Eddie Fisher, Faye Carol, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Forty Niner Band, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, Wayne Wallace and Rhythm and Rhyme, and Fred Berry as well as accompaniment for Frederica Von Stade. He has written scores for two PBS productions and charts for Ramsey Lewis. Since moving to Honolulu he has performed with several local artists including, Keahi Conjugation, The New Jass Quartet, DeShannon Higa and The Groove Improv Artists, Rock and Soul Band, PBS Big Band, and Amber Ricci. CDs and a listing of current public performances are available at: yamasongs.com