David Cook
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
David Cook is a guitar and piano teacher at School of Rock Walnut Creek. David has been playing guitar for eight years and piano for ten. Additionally, he is working though his last couple of semesters at Diablo Valley College as a Music Industry Studies major. When he’s not studying or teaching you can find him playing drums, lead guitar, and singing in two Bay Area bands, Clover and Liquid Bliss. The styles that he enjoys playing the most are jazz, funk, rock, and blues. David also specializes in producing, audio engineering, and composing for film and games as well as doing live sound. David’s passion for music runs deep and he constantly seeks to improve himself as a musician in any way he can. This passion and knowledge is not limited to him however, he is excited to share anything he can to help others enjoy music as much as he does!
Ian Halter
Drum Teacher
Ian has been playing in Bay Area rock bands for all of his adult life. He fell in love with drumming as a teenager when he would go to his friend's house and play on his kit. He loves all different kinds of music, specializing in post-hardcore, metal, progressive rock, jazz fusion, and punk. Drumming is Ian's favorite thing to do and he loves sharing his passion with others. He loves being creative on the kit and inspiring others to do the same.
Jake DeRieux
Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Jake DeRieux is a drum teacher at School of Rock Walnut Creek. He graduated from California Baptist University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. He has been playing drums since he was 10 years old and has years of experience playing many different genres of music including rock, jazz, funk, orchestral, choral, symphonic, and marching. Jake is passionate about getting others interested and involved in music, allowing people to express themselves through sound.
Jeremy Fisch
Owner, Drum Teacher
Jeremy Fisch is the owner of School of Rock Walnut Creek. Jeremy’s career in music was almost derailed in the third grade after his parents confiscated his violin due to his questionable ability and overly enthusiastic practice schedule (true story!). Jeremy got the last laugh though when he bought his first drumset at 16 and joined the nascent punk scene at the Gilman Street venue in Berkeley, CA, sharing the stage on several occasions with a newly formed band called Green Day.
Jeremy has continued in bands ever since, playing drums, guitar, and bass. You can hear his college ska band, the Lidds, and Oakland-based indie band, St Tropez, on Spotify.
Joe Faria
Guitar Teacher
Joe Faria is a guitar and group rehearsal instructor at School of Rock Walnut Creek as well as a working musician here in the Bay. Joe’s been playing guitar for 15 years and specializes in rock and blues, but is versatile and plays all kinds of music. Joe is also a drummer and bassist, which has helped him join various bands throughout the area performing cover songs and original music. Joe has 5 years of experience teaching guitar to children and adults. He loves teaching and strives to help every student improve their skills, while having fun and building a love for music.
Kyle Mendes
Music Director, Guitar Teacher
Kyle teaches guitar at School of Rock Walnut Creek. A Walnut Creek native, he started learning guitar at the age of ten, and by the time he finished high school had taught students both in private and ensemble settings, and been the lead songwriter in bands spanning genres from punk, pop, heavy metal, spiritual, and bluegrass. Currently, Kyle performs as a one man band he calls, Inside of the Mountain. As both an instructor and perpetual student, he enjoys hearing new music, expanding and challenging the breadth of his skills, and sharing knowledge with other enthusiastic music lovers.
Russ Wood
General Manager
Russ has been playing in bands since he was 13 years old. He was heavily involved in the Bay Area DIY punk scene throughout his high school and college years, playing guitar and touring with The Blanks, The Nite Shades, Kill The Bats, and Koi.
Russ moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 2016 after graduating from San José State University, where he continued his involvement in DIY punk by booking shows for national and international artists, and touring with his bands Slow No, Breakfast In Silence, Deep Romance, and Fountain View.
Russ currently makes music as Eichlers, promoting and touring his new album My Checkered Future.
Shaquan Robinson
Guitar Teacher
Shaquan Robinson teaches guitar at School of Rock in Walnut Creek, California. Born and raised in San Francisco, Shaquan started playing guitar as a teenager. His big guitar influences were Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Eddie Hazel, and Wes Montgomery. As his interest in music grew, he decided to pursue a degree in jazz at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Mixing with other musicians, Shaq gained an appreciation for blues, funk, jazz fusion, and more. He earned his degree in May of 2017 and has now been teaching at School of Rock since mid-2022. Shaq is the source for all the cool chords none of us rockers have ever heard of before, and both our staff and students are big beneficiaries of having him here.
Jeremy Zacca
Bass Guitar Teacher
Bay Area native Jeremy Zacca teaches bass at School of Rock Walnut Creek. Jeremy got his start in music in the third grade when he began learning clarinet, guitar, and drums. He went on to study bass under his mentor, 3-time Grammy award winner Justin Raines. Jeremy is a professional bassist and recording artist and a true groove maestro. His passion for sharing all things bass with his students is infectious.
Jitszy Little
Drum Teacher
Jitszy is a School of Rock graduate and former AllStar from San Diego who teaches drums at School of Rock Walnut Creek. She is a drummer first but knows her way around the guitar, bass, and keyboards. Jitszy holds a degree in Music Composition from San Francisco State University, where her music and orchestrations have been performed by a wide variety of ensembles. Jitszy is interested in all forms of musical expression and exploration and is an active performer and composer of avant-garde, experimental music. Her chamber music has been published under her name and she currently performs solo works of electronic noise music under her moniker, The US Mint.
Jackson Bengtsson
Vocal Teacher
Jackson Bengtsson is a vocal instructor at School of Rock Walnut Creek. He is a producer, recording artist, and front person for the metalcore band Designer Disguise.
Starting with pots, pans, and his baby voice on the kitchen floor, Jackson became a musician shortly after birth. He picked up piano in the second grade and began choir and guitar in the seventh grade. He is particularly proud of having played the Beast in his high school production of Beauty and the Beast, a role that informs his performance style to this day.
Jackson's vocal experience ranges from musical theater, pop, a cappella, and choir, all the way to his current gig with Designer Disguise. He is passionate about sharing the magic of music with his students.
Jackson received a bachelor's degree in Music with a minor in Music Technology from Western Washington University.