Our Teachers

John Durbin

Owner & Instructor 

John has an extensive background in learning and teaching musical instruments.       He specializes in piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, drums, saxophone and clarinet.  John  has  been teaching music in the South Bay and Palos Verdes Peninsula area for over 30 years. He attended Pepperdine University under a full music scholarship and    holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education.  In addition to his teaching career, 
John is the leader of two successful  bands, “All Nite Express” (Top 40 & Classic Rock) and “The Fabulous Chevelles” (50’s & 60’s music).   His groups have    entertained crowds on board cruise ships, at major hotel chains, restaurants,             and casinos throughout Southern California and Nevada.  They have shared the       stage with Aretha Franklin; Paul Revere & the Raiders; Blood, Sweat & Tears; 
Chubby  Checker; and Dick Dale.  They are invited back year after year to 
entertain at various corporate events throughout Los Angeles, school award ceremonies, debutante balls, cotillions, graduation galas and car shows.  

Christine

Piano, Violin & Viola Instructor 

Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Christine is a classically trained musician with a talent for musical improv on the violin, a flare for Mozart on the piano and a love of teaching. Her music education began at age 7 with piano lessons. And by age 10, she had persuaded her parents to allow her to study violin as well. Christine is an all-around musician with over 14 years of private instruction on both instruments and experience performing in orchestras, ensemble groups, and as a solo artist. As a violinist, she has performed as Co-Concertmaster of the Colorado College Chamber Orchestra, played five concert seasons with the Catalina Chamber Orchestra, and as solo fiddle player in the musical Quilters for the Arizona Repertory Theatre. More recently, Christine has performed and recorded with indie band MAGs Element in Pasadena, creating her own solo arrangements. Christine has an M.A. in Theater Education from the University of Arizona. And in addition to teaching music lessons, Christine has enjoyed teaching creative drama classes as an afterschool teacher with Woodcraft Rangers and as a summer camp instructor.  But what Christine loves most is teaching piano and violin. She loves sharing the joy of music with students of all ages and skill levels, helping to bring out their highest potential with her patient approach. She helps her students build a strong foundation in the classical tradition while also encouraging them to explore various contemporary styles, from jazz to modern. She strives to make music lessons creative and fun, while covering all the basics of music theory, proper technique, note reading, and musicality. Christine teaches beginning to advanced piano, violin and viola.

Stacey

Voice & Piano Instructor

Stacey is a Jazz singer and pianist who combines natural talent, professional skill, and intelligence into a powerful and diverse sound. Educated at Humber College for Jazz Performance, she was mentored by world-class musicians like Shannon Gunn, and won the Thomas Kohoe vocal jazz award. As a musician in Seoul, Stacey translated her skills into impressive professional achievements. As a member of the vocal jazz group Hi-Singers, she collaborated on singles, albums, and live performances. As the bandleader of the fusion group Fahrenheit, she produced two mini-albums. As a vocal coach for the Korean indie label 9th Street Records, she nurtured talent and directed recordings. Through all those professional engagements, she cultivated an independent voice as a singer-songwriter, composer and arranger, culminating in a wide range of creations. In Los Angeles, Stacey composes for film and TV and does session vocal work. Throughout, she has taught and mentored a diversity of talent, and continues to teach with empathy and skill. Stacey specializes in vocal techniques and improvisation at all professional levels, music theory, stage performance, and piano in the beginner and intermediate range to all age groups.

Special Note for Vocal Instruction: Due to warm-up and amount of information covered, minimum lesson time is 45 minutes. 

Liana

Piano and Voice Instructor

Ms. Liana is a Gundo resident who has been surrounded by music her entire life. Having started choir and piano at age 6, she began diving into different music ensembles in high school including marching band, color guard, choir, and symphonic string. Through the string program, she helped elementary students as a section leader in beginner strings after school. She continued her music journey and received an A.A. at El Camino College. During that time she interned at South Bay Children’s Choir under Diane Simons and helped developing voices. After El Camino, she transferred to Cal State University of Long Beach where she received a Bachelor of Music in Performance with an emphasis in Opera. Discovering a passion for music and the arts, she has years of experience in ballet, acting, band, symphony, choir, solo singing, color guard, and a season with DCI through Gold Drum Corps. Her primary focus, however, is opera and musical theater. She has played roles including Marsinah from Kismet and Euridice from Orpheus in the Underworld along with scenes as Cunegonde from Candide and Adele from Die Fledermaus. She has won several scholarships and competitions through solo voice. Her notable achievements include singing at Carnegie Hall, singing with Music Academy of the West, and receiving the Daily Breeze Making a Difference Award. 

Liana teaches beginning to advanced lessons to students of all ages.     

Special Note for Vocal Instruction: Due to warm-up and amount of information covered, minimum lesson time is 45 minutes. 

Raquel

Piano Instructor

Raquel has been playing piano for almost ten years. Her love for music began at age 12, when she started taking singing classes, singing in her church choir, and even played guitar for a few years. When she began to take piano lessons, she realized how well classical music resonated with her. She joined the Applied Music Program at El Camino College and later discovered her joy for teaching. Raquel obtained her Associate’s in Music with Honors from El Camino College, where she studied under Dr. Polli Chambers-Salazar. Raquel also received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education Summa Cum Laude, studying under Dr. Zachary Deak at California State University of Los Angeles.  She is excited to continue to pursue music education and enjoys sharing her passion of music. Raquel teaches beginning to advanced piano to students of all ages. 

Mary

Piano, Voice, Uke, Guitar Instructor

Mary was born and raised in San Jose, California. From a very young age, music has always held a strong impact on her life. She began learning to play multiple instruments such as the guitar, ukulele and piano which led her to start writing music and play coffee shop performances throughout high school. With all the instruments she plays, Mary specializes in voice and performance. Mary currently studies vocal performance at California State Northridge and is enjoying her third year participating in opera productions and multiple ensembles on campus. She has been studying piano and music theory since the age of fourteen. Teaching music has always been a passion of hers. She loves to teach to help inspire, mentor and lead future musicians. Mary hopes to inspire the same love and admiration for music for her students at Music On Main.

Special Note for Vocal Instruction: Due to warm-up and amount of information covered, minimum lesson time is 45 minutes. 

Kaylee

Piano, Guitar, Uke  & Voice Instructor

Kaylee is a classically trained lyric soprano.  Her favorite genres to sing are classic rock, opera and jazz.  Songwriting is another emphasis of hers, and she often writes original works that are in style of rock.  Kaylee loves to sign and to play piano, guitar and ukulele.   Teaching is how she shares her love of music with the next generation.  When she is not teaching or playing music, you can find her dancing ballet or reading a classic novel in nature.  Kaylee specializes in vocal techniques and improvisation at all  levels, and piano in the beginner and intermediate range to all age groups.

Special Note for Vocal Instruction: Due to warm-up and amount of information covered, minimum lesson time is 45 minutes. 

Hajung

Piano Instructor 

Growing up in South Korea, Hajung began playing classical piano at the age of eight. In 2014, she studied music at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Then in 2018, she was awarded a World Tour Scholarship to enter Berklee College of Music where she later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance and Jazz Composition. During her studies at Berklee, she received “Pianist/Composer” Award, “Gil Evans” Award, and was listed on the Dean’s List multiple times. Hajung enjoys teaching music and she is always inspired to share music with her students. Her focus is to help students to build strong music fundamentals and be able to freely express themselves through music. Hajung teaches beginning to advanced piano to students of all ages.

Jasmine

Violin & Piano Instructor​

Ms. Jasmine is a professional violinist and music teacher/coach based in Orange County. She received her Bachelor’s in Music Performance at the Bob Cole Conservatory in California State University, Long Beach in 2014, where she studied with Linda Rose. She also studied with Elizabeth Baker, past director of the Taos Music School and LA Phil First Violinist. She currently receives coaching from Stacy Wetzel, a first violinist in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Jasmine performed as a soloist in the Glendale Youth Orchestra in 2010, in the Bob Cole Conservatory Showcase Concert in 2014, and in various recitals, operas, musicals, and concerts. She has also played for a group of 20,000 people at the Urbana Missions Conference in 2015 in St. Louis, Missouri. She enjoys being a chamber/orchestra musician and is part of the American Youth Symphony based in UCLA, and the La Mirada Symphony Orchestra. Jasmine is also an MTAC-certified music teacher for beginner piano and violin and a strings coach for Laguna Hills High School, Millikan High School, and Hughes Middle School. Currently in her 9th year of teaching, she enjoys teaches students of all ages around Los Angeles and Orange County. 

Brenda

Voice & Piano Instructor

Brenda is a soprano vocalist and pianist from the South Bay. She has been singing her whole life. She specializes in musical theater and opera; however, she is also well versed in other genres such as jazz, pop, and R&B. Brenda is currently working on obtaining her BA in music performance. She has trained in multiple countries including the US, Mexico, Italy and Colombia. Brenda is experienced in singing in English, Italian, Spanish, German, and French. She has performed in theaters such as Carnegie Hall and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Teaching has always been just as much of a passion for Brenda as performing. She has been teaching students professionally for over three years and has taught various students ranging in age from 5 through adults. She firmly believes everyone has a voice and it’s never too late to sing! Brenda teaches beginning to intermediate piano and advanced vocal coaching.

Special Note for Vocal Instruction: Due to warm-up and amount of information covered, minimum lesson time is 45 minutes. 

Ding

Piano Instructor​

Born in China, Ding has been studying piano since the age of 4. A piano performance major in his senior year, he is a recipient of a Cole Scholarship and a Keyboard Foundation Scholarship. Ding is a student of Dr. Shun-Lin Chou,and has previously studied with Professor Manami Kawamura in Pasadena City College. He has performed under numerous capacities, including solo, collaborative, and various chamber ensembles. He was also a member of the PCC orchestra. In 2017, he won exceptional awards including PCC Concerto Competition, first place in Bertrand’s Old Town Music Award for Piano Performance Scholarship Competition, Franklin Tzeng Piano Award for Excellence in Music Studies, and the Collaborative Piano Award in Honor of Betty Dandy for Excellence in Music Studies. Ding has a passion for chamber music and other ensembles, he attended the 2019 Credo Music summer festival in Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio for further chamber music study. In his first year studying in CSULB, he was chosen to perform in the Conservatory showcase, Piano showcase, and later joined numerous other music performances. He has been awarded  in the Beverly August Piano Competitions, also a prize winner for the CAPMT competition and MTNA competition. He has also been active as a piano accompanist and played for many University degree recitals, and helped many advanced to top conservatories. Ding teaches beginning to advance piano to students of all ages.

India

Violin Instructor

Ms. India began playing violin at age seven and played in the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony. She credits her mother as her musical inspiration and first learned how to play the violin from her, before learning from a series of excellent teachers. In more recent years, India has played in several weddings, open mic nights, and was part of the city of Santa Cruz’s First Friday performances.  In addition to playing the violin, India has coached and played tennis for over fifteen years. She has a bachelors degree in global economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and has volunteered as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters for a number of years. In her free time, India enjoys exploring Los Angeles, playing tennis, and playing and teaching the violin to students of all ages.