Our Instructors
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
We are proud to offer a wide array of instructors, all with expertise in their chosen field of study.

Studio Manager & Piano Instructor
Jacob McDonald
With over 12 years of experience playing and 5 teaching, Jacob McDonald is an excellent musician and teacher. With a degree in Piano Performance from Chico State he can teach you anything you want to play.

Guitar Instructor
Tim Knight
Specializing in funk and jazz guitar, Timothy Knight has been playing guitar since he was 13 years old, with over a decade of experience playing around the north state. A graduate of CSU Chico Recording Arts Degree, Tim plays in a variety of bands around town.

Drum Instructor
Teddy Reese Villafranca
Teddy Reese is a musician from the Bay Area with over 20 years of drumming experience. Currently attending Chico State's Recording Arts Program (2023) he freelances around Chico both drumming and engineering for various Chico artists.

Piano & Voice Instructor
Alina Ramaniuk
Alina Ramaniuk started playing piano at the age of seven and trained classically for eight years. She has years of experience performing as a soloist and enjoys teaching others of all ages! Alina is currently studying for a B.A. in Psychology (spring 2023) and has a deep understanding and love for childhood education.

Drama & Voice Instructor
Acie "Twitch" Shiff
Enthralled with theater and music from a young age, Acie "Twitch" Schiff gravitated to the arts after seeing countless large musical productions in Hollywood. Twitch began training in drama at age seven and since then has lived a life of creating art and music and drama that communicates art through the human experience. They are currently working on a production company focusing on creating safe space shows and events, emphasizing on safety towards queer people like themself.

Drama & Guitar Instructor
Loki Miller
A second-generation artist, Loki Miller began acting at the age of six. He has since acted in over 60 plays and Musicals, Directed over 20 plays and musicals, written two original musicals and a one-act play which have all been produced locally. In 2021, He received an A.A. Degree in Acting from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. He has worked regionally as an actor with San Jose Stage Company and Pacific Repertory Theatre in Carmel, CA. He is also a musician. In 2017 he received the Chico Area Music Award (CAMMIE) for best local guitarist.

Bass Guitar Instructor
Benjamin Daw
Ben Daw's expertise in the Professional Audio Industry includes former work as an Audio Repair Technician at GrandMaster Recorders in Hollywood, CA and Lead Tech/General Manager for Alan Dickson at Aurora Audio. Ben now continues his professional career as the Pro Audio Dept Manager, In house Repair Tech, Audio Engineer, Bass Guitar Teacher, and Performer in a local band. As an Audio Service Technician Ben has had the honor to work with such industry legends as: Paul Fig , Dave Pensado, Dub Shakes,Ray Toro, Cameron Webb, Lemmy Killmeister, Bonnie Raitt, Jimmi Mayweather, Adam West, Weird AL Yankovic, Billy Preston, Dave Ferrerra, Edward Mendoza, as well as countless talented Artists and producers.

Guitar, Bass, Ukulele & Piano Instructor
Jennifer Herrera- Hernandez
Jennifer Herrera-Hernandez is a Chico State fourth year Music Education student. Teaching Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, and Piano. She is driven by empowering those around her and revealing the potential in each and every student. She is warm, inviting and accepting to those around her. She has an unending amount of passion for life, but her main purpose is to uplift the community in a world full of chaos through the language of music, and inspire them to use this tool to create a better future.

Drum Instructor
Michael "Mikey" Whittemore
Michael "Mikey" Whittemore is an experienced drummer who has toured the US, Canada and Europe working closely with record labels and managing bands. When he's not teaching at Kai, he can be found inspiring his class of middle school students at a local Montessori school.