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

Instruments

piano, flute, sax, clarinet

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Wednesday
• Waipahu on Monday, Saturday, and Sunday

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.

Instruments

voice, guitar, ukulele, and piano

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Wahiawa on Thursday
• Waipahu on Wednesday and Saturday

Instrument

drums

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

piano and voice

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Thursday
• Waipahu on Friday

Instrument

drums

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Wahiawa on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
• Waipahu on Friday

Bio

Christian has been playing drums for the past 8 years. He first started when he was 12 years old, under the instruction of Chuck and Justin James. He participated in the band program throughout middle school and continued on at Moanalua High School, where he performed with the Jazz Band and Marching Band. He also had the honor of performing in the Hawaii High School Select Jazz Band for 2 years. His current work includes performing with Jeff James in their band called T.T.Y.M.

Instrument

piano

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Saturday
• Waipahu on Friday

Instruments

guitar and bass

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Waipahu on Tuesday and Saturday

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.

Instruments

guitar, bass, ukulele, and piano

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Sunday
• Waipahu on Friday

Instrument

trumpet

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Tuesday

Instruments

drums, trumpet, voice, piano, guitar, bass, and ukulele

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday

Bio

James started playing music from a very young age. First, he picked up the piano, and has been playing for the past 15 years. Then, he picked up the trumpet, and has been playing that for the past 10 years. He picked up the guitar, bass, ukulele and drums all at once and has played those for the past 8 years. Finally, in 2006 he was a tenor vocalist in the Honors Choir for the DoDDEA in Europe, and furthered his vocal training at Leeward Community College, under the instruction of Marylin Kim (2008-2009). He is currently studying at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, working on his Bachelors of Music in Composition. While working on his Bachelors, he also participates in the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Annual Choir Concerts, Annual Solo Singing Performances, and the Composer's Symposium, which takes place twice a year.

Instruments

drums, guitar, bass, and ukulele

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Friday
• Waipahu on Saturday

Bio

Born and raised in Hawaii, Jeffrey James 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 day. 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.

Instruments

guitar, bass, ukulele, and voice

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Wednesday

Instruments

guitar, voice, and ukulele

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Wednesday and Saturday
• Waipahu on Monday

Instrument

violin

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Wednesday and Saturday

Instrument

drums

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday

Bio

Mark has a diverse musical background that includes drums, percussion, keyboard percussion, some piano, guitar, bass, and ukulele. However, his primary concentration is drum and percussion. He's been drumming since 1996, taking lessons at Seattle Drum School, under the instruction Steve Smith. He played big band jazz all through middle school and his junior and senior years of high school. In college he played big band, and graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with his Bachelor's in Classical Percussion Performance. His current work includes being the musical director at Jazz Minds Art & Cafe in Honolulu, and a participant in the Diamond Head Theater pit orchestra. Mark is also the band leader for the R&B/ Neo-Soul group called The Bentos, the drummer for the Alternative Rock group called Mantra, and the drummer for the Modern Jazz group called Jazz Story.

Instrument

violin

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Waipahu on Sunday

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

piano, guitar, and ukulele

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Friday
• Waipahu on Tuesday and Wednesday

Bio

An accomplished jazz pianist and guitarist, Monty has been performing around Northern California since 1985. He is also a graduate of 2 music programs earning degrees in jazz studies for piano and guitar, studying with world class performers such as Smith Dobson Sr., Joe Gilman, and Royal Hartigan. Recently moving to Oahu from Sacramento, he shares his experience with local music students and performs as opportunities arise. As a band leader Monty has directed many musically successful projects, most notably Exiles On Main Street, a tribute to the Rolling Stones featuring the sound and instrumentation of the iconic group today. As a sideman he has worked with many talented and up and coming artists in many musical styles and genres.

Instruments

piano and voice

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Thursday and Sunday
• Waipahu on Tuesday and Saturday

Bio

Natalie has been musically inclined from a very young age. She’s been singing on stage since the age of 5, and has been on and off the piano since the 5th grade. Throughout high school she had Classical vocal training under the instruction of Marilyn Kim (since 2000). She also participated as a soprano vocalist in her high school’s Honor Choir (1999-2003). In 2009 Natalie received her Associates of Arts with an emphasis in music, from Leeward Community College. She is currently under the instruction of Dr. Maya Hoover, working on her Bachelor’s in Music at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has participated in the Hawaii Opera Theater’s chorus for 4 seasons, and though most of her training has been Classical, her range of genres extend to Rhythm & Blues, Pop, Jazz, Country, Reggae, and Musical Theater. She has done local performances as Dorothy in Wizard of Oz (2001), Rizzo in Grease (2005), Joanne in RENT (2010), and had spots in local performances of Damn Yankees, Sweeney Todd, Bugadoon, and Oklahoma. Her most current performance will be in Spring Awakening at the Manoa Valley Theater.

Instruments

guitar and voice

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Saturday
• Waipahu on Sunday

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

violin

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Thursday
• Wahiawa on Saturday
• Waipahu on Sunday

Bio

Music has been apart of Renee's life from a very early age. She started out playing the ukulele when she was 5-years-old, then switched to the piano when she was about 7-years-old. It wasn't until she was in 6th grade that she found her true love: the violin. She played violin in the Mililani Middle School orchestra program, and then in high school with the Mililani String Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. In high school, she also picked up the drums, under the instruction of Chuck James, and became a member of the Drumline in the Mililani High School Marching Band. Renee was also a violinist and choir member in the St. John Catholic Church Choir and Ensemble for 4 years. In college, Renee continued playing as a violinist in the University of Hawaii at Manoa Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Henry Miyamura, and performed in the annual winter and spring concerts at the Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu. Since graduating in May 2011 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with her Bachelors in English, Renee currently works full-time at the Chuck James Music Studio, and occasionally does performances in duets and trios at various private events.

Instruments

guitar and bass

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Monday
• Wahiawa on Saturday

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.

Instruments

guitar, ukulele, bass, and drums

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Sunday
• Waipahu on Wednesday

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.

Instrument

drums

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Stadium Mall on Saturday
• Waipahu on Sunday and Saturday

Bio

Musical performance has always been apart of Whitney's life, whether it was for school, or just for fun. He first started off playing the piano when he was 4-years-old, but as he got older he developed a love for drums and has been playing for the past 12 years. He graduated from the Los Angeles Music Academy in 2007 with a certificate in drumming and percussion, where he had the honor of studying under Ralph Humphrey, Joe Pocaro, Tony Inzalaco, Aaron Serphaty, Mike Shapiro, Dave Byer, and other world renown musicians. However, he always kept his first teachers at heart, which were Chuck, Jerome, and Justin James. Whitney's current work includes Polynesian drumming for Tahitian dancing, Brazilian percussion for Capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian martial art/ dance), and performing at gigs around Honolulu with his reggae band Red Eye & I.

Instruments

percussion/mallets and piano

Schedule (See the whole Studio schedule)

• Waipahu on Friday