Who We Are
We believe that the most important aspect of music education is fostering a life long love of music and learning. We teach students to have a better understanding of how they learn so they can be better self-teachers and life-long learners and lovers of music.
Ashley Oakley
Dr. Oakley has been teaching privately for 20 years and curates a studio environment that encourages questions, exploration, and independent discovery. Through personalized lesson plans tailored to each student, Dr. Oakley helps students set their own goals and enjoy the process of learning challenging concepts.
Ashley spent her undergraduate years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she was the recipient of numerous awards including two UCARE (undergraduate creative activities and research experience) Grants. She earned her Masters and Doctorate in piano performance from Arizona State University, where she served as a teaching assistant, faculty associate, and Bösendorfer competitions producer.
After completing her degrees, Ashley was awarded a postdoc fellowship from the Tureck Bach Research Institute and has performed with a wide array of local and international artists including Crossing 32nd Street, I Solisti de Perugia, Ask Not, Parameters, Oh My Ears!, Maki Namekawa, and Philip Glass. In addition to teaching privately, she is also an advocate for community music experiences and enjoys teaching in the music humanities department at Paradise Valley Community College and writing grants for various organizations.
Focusing her research on baroque and minimalist improvisation, Ashley has traveled all over the world to perform with various orchestras and research specialized techniques. Data compiled while studying in Austria, Italy, Israel, and South Africa, has greatly influenced her own teaching and ultimately led to the publication of Gestures, a series of compositions focused on developing musical expression while retaining technical accessibility. Ashley specializes in mentoring students with all abilities and discovering each student’s unique learning style. She believes that music is a critical component of our culture and should be accessible to and enjoyed by everyone.
Keith Kelly
Woodwind specialist and San Francisco Bay Area native Keith Kelly helps students learn how to organize and process information while exploring and expanding their musical tastes and understanding. With 25 years of private and collegiate teaching experience, he has mentored hundreds of students and dozens of small and large group ensembles all over the Southwest.
Dr. Kelly holds a BM in Performance and a BM in Music Education from the Conservatory of Music at University of the Pacific, and a MM and DMA in Music Education (Jazz Studies) from Arizona State University. He has toured with the Eels, Darlene Love, The Scorpion Decides, and Under the Streetlamp, and performed with a wide variety of musical ensembles including The Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, CONDER/dance company, Boxhead Ensemble, Crossing 32nd St., Phoenix Symphony, Natalie Cole, Maynard Ferguson, The Temptations, Glen Campbell, and Diana Schuur.
As a recording artist, he can be heard on records by Califone, the Eels, Dispatch, The Scorpion Decides, Static Announcements, Max Knouse, Casey Hurt, Sweetbleeders, and CooBeeCoo. Edgetone Records has also released several of Kelly's instrumental/jazz/improvised recordings, including work with Ask Not, Running From Bears, and Slender Loris. His original horn arrangements were also featured in “The Unfortunates” which debuted at ACT’s The Strand Theater in San Francisco in 2016.
Keith’s research focuses on jazz ensemble and improvisation pedagogy, jazz education in undergraduate teacher preparation programs, gender and music participation, and the early history of public school jazz education. He has presented his research at conferences for CMEA, AzMEA, NIME, and JEN.
Dr. Kelly has taught at San Joaquin Delta College, University of the Pacific, Boston University, Arizona State University, and was Assistant Professor/Coordinator of Jazz Studies at California State University, Stanislaus. Currently, he is the Coordinator of Music Humanities and Performance at Paradise Valley Community College. He is also a PhD dissertation supervisor for Boston University and an Andreas Eastman Saxophone Artist/Endorser.
Some of our Stories…
“When I met Ashley Oakley, I was going through treatment for cancer. I was looking for a great teacher for my son, and she has turned out to be compassionate yet with high standards that have challenged him as an artist and creative thinker. She has also turned out to be a life-giving teacher for me. Once I got through treatments, I decided to resume lessons after over thirty years. I’m a different kind of student than my son, but Ashley has given me a window into art at the same time that she has deeply improved my skills.” - G.J.
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“My daughter has been studying with Keith for the last three years and I have seen her progress and grow to love playing her instrument. Practicing is no longer this thing for her to get through, because he taught her how to enjoy the process of learning and discovery. I’m so glad she has been able to study with him.” -P.R.
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“I took piano lessons for about five years with a desire to expand my list of talents and skills. I was always an athletic kid who participated in many sports, but I started to become interested in music and wished to play an instrument. Ashley provided me with the greatest experience; she was always extremely helpful and constantly motivated me to do my best. Her lessons enhanced my performance skills, my memorization skills, my ability to focus, and most importantly my ability to push through difficult challenges.” -A.P.
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“Keith has been my teacher and mentor for more than ten years. When I started studying with him in college I was immediately challenged in more ways than I thought possible. He doesn’t “teach you music” - he teaches you how to listen, and how to make your own musical choices. Having a true understanding of the music and tradition that has come before helps inform my decisions about whatever I’m working on at the time, and give me confidence.” -W.G.
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“Ashley has been giving our daughter piano lessons since she was 3 (for the last 5 years) and our son since he was 4 (for the last 2 years). We have loved the way she works with our children and has helped them develop a love of music. She is very patient and good at having them develop strong basic skills. It is amazing to see their progress over the years. Piano is a wonderful way to enrich their minds. We highly recommend her lessons.” - A.G.
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“I studied with Keith for an intense year before I submitted my college auditions recordings. I was a good player, but I had no idea how to audition or what kind of repertoire to choose. Keith challenged me to have reasons for everything. What music did I love to play and why? It helped me decide my music major path and job goals. Because of Keith’s help I was able to submit great recordings and I was accepted to my top three picks.” -D.H.
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“I am an adult student and am living proof you can teach an old dog new tricks. I started playing the piano when I was five and took lessons through my teenage years. Four years ago, I decided to re-invest in lessons. Because of Ashley’s guidance, I am fundamentally a different pianist. I have learned that there is more to playing the piano than playing the right notes at the right time. I now understand the notes and rhythm are vehicles to making music. I have learned to make my own musical decisions to make the piece mine. I recommend Ashley’s studio without reservation, to students young and old.” - R.S.
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“Keith has worked with both of my bands numerous times over the last five years. He has the ability to engage and excite whoever he is working with and my students have learned so much. He focuses on connecting the ear to the notes on the page and teaches students to find their own solutions.” -M.V.
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“I have studied piano since I was very young and have continued through adulthood. I really enjoy studying with Ashley. She has an excellent ear and really knows how to convey her thoughts verbally. She hears things that I would have missed and helps maximize a piece. She relates very well to both children and adult students and is incredibly supportive.” -A.K
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