Our teachers rock
Teton Music School is proud of our roster of accomplished, professional teachers. In addition to being dedicated educators, they are also local, working musicians that perform regularly, both in the local area and beyond. They have a broad range of teaching styles that support every type of student, from beginner to the most advanced. In fact, many of their students have gone on to study music in college or have become professional musicians in their own right.
We want to build the most successful environment for our students, which means finding the right instruction style and personality match between student and teacher. Let us know what type of instructor experience helps you thrive, and we'll match you with the best.
Joe Rudd
Piano, Woodwinds, Music Production, Bands
Joe Rudd, a Wyoming native, is a multi-instrumentalist and music producer. He holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Studies and is a certified Apple professional, where he taught music production for 7 years. During that time, he helped lead a successful sound company in most of the top hotels in Hollywood and has worked with many leading studio musicians, producers, directors, and actors, including Jeff Goldblum, Stevie Wonder, and Justin Bieber. As a session musician Joe has worked with the late Nipsey Hussle, Larrance Dopson, and DJ Mustard.
Joe's trajectory growing up in Wyoming and working alongside some of the most famous music producers has inspired him to help others see their own potential. His goal is to share his unique experiences with the next generation of Wyoming music makers and to inspire their creativity.
Taylor Upton
Guitar, Bass, Bands
Taylor Upton is originally from Atlanta, GA and moved to Jackson in 2006. Taylor has been playing guitar for over 20 years and has always had a passion for performing. Since moving to Jackson, he has played hundreds of local and regional shows throughout the area. He is the co-founder, lead singer, and rhythm guitar player in Jackson’s premier live events band, Whiskey Mornin’.
Taylor has a true passion for music and is very excited to share this with his students at Teton Music School. He believes that by focusing on creativity and making music fun, anyone can learn to play an instrument.
So, let's make some music!
Melissa Elliott
Voice, Piano, Guitar, Songwriting, Bands, Choirs
Melissa is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. A Jackson Hole native, Melissa's first music experience was taking piano lessons with TMS Founder, Kyle Johnson, at age 7. With her musical foundation, she taught herself guitar and ukulele, began writing songs, and became active in choir and theater.
She has a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Denver. From learning how to scat solo at late-night jazz jams, leading an all-female acapella group to regional competitions, and playing mandolin on the rainy streets of Cork, Ireland in a busking swing band during her semester abroad, Melissa strives to embody the many (and often unconventional) elements of music-making, something she strives to inspire in her students.
Melissa moved back to Jackson in 2019, excited to reconnect with the JH music and arts community!
Clinton Weaver
Rock Band Prep, Piano, Guitar
Clinton has been involved in music teaching and learning for over a decade. Currently teaching music at Wilson Elementary, he has experience working with all ages - from newborns to those in their golden years - in schools and community organizations.
Clinton holds music education degrees from the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory and Eastman School of Music. He is an active Little Kids Rock teacher and earned additional certifications from the Gordon Institute for Music Learning. Clinton is a multi-instrumentalist with experience performing and gigging with a variety of ensembles and bands.
He strongly believes every person is a musician and is excited to join Teton Music School in expanding musical opportunities in the Jackson Hole community. When he's not teaching or playing, you will most likely find Clinton in the mountains or rivers.
Susan Jones
Guitar, Ukulele, Piano, Creative Aging
Susan Jones is a multi-instrumentalist and has been teaching private lessons in piano, guitar, and ukulele for the past 12 years.
She is a performer in several bands, and currently plays keyboard for Chanman Roots Band, a local 9-piece reggae ensemble. She started Music Together, LLC 15 years ago, a popular family music program for parents and children ages 0-5.
As a reliable and involved member of the community, Susan provides outreach for the library, teaches multi-generational music classes, and runs mobile music camps.
Read more about Susan's work during the pandemic here.
Lynnette Turner Parry
Voice, Music Together®
Lynnette Turner Parry is a professional singer, actress,
dancer and teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Utah State University and has studied with accomplished vocalists Allison Roddy and Kim Wood Sandusky.
Lynnette is an upbeat and energetic teacher who encourages her students to explore multiple styles of music and makes the learning process fun.
Her many performances span a huge range, playing Mabel in “Pirates of Penzance” at the Royal Theater and Megara in “Hercules: The Musical” on Disney cruise ships. Since moving to Jackson, Lynnette played Velma Kelly in the Riot Act production of “Chicago” and currently sings with the Jazz Foundation of Jackson Hole.
Ed Domer
Drums, Bands
Ed Domer has been a professional drummer and percussionist for over 35 years. He has toured and performed with The Letterman, The Drifters, and Jennifer Batten, among many others.
As a private teacher and clinician, Ed has taught thousands of students over the years. Many of his former students are now working professional musicians in the US and abroad. Ed also co-founded Jackson Hole Rock and Roll Camp, a one of a kind program, that was very popular and successful.
Ed continues to have a very busy gigging schedule. He plays 150-200 gigs a year with a number of bands, both local and beyond, while maintaining an active teaching schedule.
Tom Goicoechea
Board Certified Music Therapist, Piano
Tom's musical life brought him to Jackson Hole in September 2020 as a music therapist following years as a professional drummer .in New Orleans and Portland, OR. Tom completed his music therapy internship in the summer of 2020 at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT, Having earned three degrees in music over the years, Tom plays the drum set, percussion, piano, guitar, and other instruments. He has extensive history in performance, touring, and teaching, from individual lessons to college level courses.
Tom is passionate about teaching and performing music, especially the healing and well-being that music therapy can promote in communities, families, and individuals.
Click here to read about Tom's Music Therapy experiences during the pandemic, published in the Fall 2021 issue of Music Therapy Perspectives.
Vince Gutwein
Violin, Viola, Cello, After-School Strings
Vince is the Director of Strings at Jackson Hole High School and Jackson Hole Middle School. Vince teaches chamber, concert, and middle school orchestras and directs the Jackson Hole Youth Orchestra.
Vince received his Bachelor and Masters in Music Education from the University of Wyoming and is a National Board Certified Teacher. Vince studied cello with Barbara Thiem at UW and has held such positions as the Wyoming American String Teachers Association (ASTA) president, and the National Association for Music Education (NAFME) Orchestra Vice President and Jackson Hole Symphony Orchestra Director.
Vince has a vast performance background and enjoys performing and recording music with local musicians. Vince resides in Jackson and enjoys skiing/ snowboarding, backpacking, and fly fishing with his wife Shannon, son August and daughter Iris.
Clay Humphrey
Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, PIano, Mandolin, Banjo
Clay is a songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist born and raised in Jackson. His musical upbringing was rooted in the bluegrass and western traditions of the Bar J Chuckwagon, which his family ran for 44 years and on whose stage he performed.
He began playing guitar at 12, and has since added bass, mandolin, ukelele, banjo, piano, violin, and vocals. He participated in orchestra, band, choir, theater, and several extracurricular bands while at school in Jackson, and was a member of the University of Wyoming’s Singing Statesmen choir.
Clay believes that anyone can learn to make the music they love, and that with a solid understanding of theory and technique, the barriers between musical styles and expressions fall away.
Emma Bittner
After-School Strings
Emma Bittner began her cello studies at the age of 11 with Milwaukee Symphony cellist Laura Love. She quickly fell in love with the instrument, and decided to pursue a music education degree at the University of North Texas so that she could further that same love in her students. While at UNT, she studied cello with Professor Nikola Ruzevic, and pedagogy with Dr. Elizabeth Chappell. She also played under the batons of Clay Courturiaux and David Itkin. After graduating, Emma taught 5th-8th grade orchestra at Strickland Middle School in Denton, TX. Her orchestras regularly received Excellent and Superior ratings at competition
and her program had almost 250 students enrolled every year. In addition to her regular teaching load, Emma taught an after-school Mariachi Club that performed regularly in the Denton community. Emma joined the Jackson community in 2022 as the music teacher at Colter and Moran Elementary Schools. She looks forward to bringing the joy of music making to her students.
In her free time, Emma envoys
baking, hiking, playing Bach and
spending time with her two cats.
Collin Binko
Jazz Band
Collin is a performer and educator. He has worked as a public school music teacher in a variety of settings ranging from elementary to high school. He currently serves as the Jackson Hole Middle School Choir, Band and Guitar Director. He holds a Bachelors in Music Education with focus in Jazz Performance from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. An active performer, Collin was previously a member of Richie Coles Alto Madness Orchestra as well as an arranger and saxophonist for R&B singer Lyndsey Smith in addition to leading a variety of projects.
Collin strives to teach music to all ages by creating a safe and positive space so that all students can grow and find joy in making music.
Molly Moon Thorn
Guitar, Ukulele, Piano
Voice, Music Together®
A Wilson native, Molly Moon Thorn first honed her musical chops singing and dancing on Jackson Hole’s myriad stages. Blessed to have learned from so many local music and theatre legends, Molly ventured off to Sewanee, TN to earn a BFA in Theatre Arts and returned to the Tetons in 2003. A singer songwriter & multi-instrumentalist, Molly can be found on and off stage with Pet Raven, the Chanman Roots Band and Off Square Theatre. Ever grateful for all she’s learned from the Jackson Hole music scene, Molly is excited to share her love of music by offering Beginning Guitar and Ukulele lessons at Teton Music School.
Jeremy Perkins
Piano, Trumpet, Trombone
Dr. Jeremy Perkins holds a Doctor of Music (Florida State University, 2024), Masters of Music (Michigan State, 2021) and a Bachelor of Music (Kennesaw State University, 2019) and performed in wind ensembles, symphony orchestras, jazz bands, trumpet ensembles and chamber groups during his studies. He was a Quarterfinalist at th eNational Trumpet Competition and is a two-time recipient of the International Trumpet Guild Ryan Anthony Scholarship Competition.
Jeremy has toured internationally with the FSU Symphony Orchestra and had performed regularly with the Tallahassee Symphony, Georgia Symphony Orchestra and with churches, musical theaters, community orchestras and various chamber ensembles in teh Metro Atlanta, Mid-Michigan and Florida Big-Bend areas.
Laura Huckin
Cathedral Voices
Youth Choir
Laura's musical training began with classical piano at age 7. Under the tutelage of Margaret Witschard (Marylhurst University) and Connie Grabow (Lawrence Arts Academy) her proclivity for the performing arts was nurtured through amateur competitions including the Oregon Jr. Bach Festival, The Northwest Piano Teacher's Forum, and Laurence University's Arts Academy for talented youth. She has a Bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University.
A 20 year Wyoming resident, Laura has developed strong relationships with community organizations, local musicians, and creative leaders in Teton County. Laura is an accomplished pianist, accompanist, and seasoned musical director. She assumed the position of Artistic Director of Cathedral Voices in January 2009. In addition to choral conducting, Laura currently teaches general music (K-8th grade) in Swan Valley, Idaho, serves as Music Director at the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole, and is a proud mother of two youngsters. She enjoys gardening, traveling, and Chopin.
Jeff Kail
After-School Strings
Jeffrey Kail joined the Kansas City Symphony in 2006 and served as Principal Bass 2008-2021. Previously he was a member of the Iris Chamber Orchestra in Memphis, TN, and the Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland. Additionally, he has performed with the Atlanta Symphony, Nashville Symphony, and Alabama Symphony. He studied at Indiana University with Bruce Bransby and Lawrence Hurst. Other teachers include Ralph Jones, Jack Budrow, and Leigh Mesh. For six summers he was an orchestral fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Recently, Jeff has continued his relationship with the Verbier Festival and returns in the summers as member of the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra.
Amy Goicoechea
Piano
Amy began playing the piano in her youth, under the classical instruction of a Juilliard trained pianist. She performed solo recitals and continued taking private lessons throughout college from the principal pianist for the Dallas Symphony.
For the past thirty years, she has continued to play the piano recreationally and looks forward to teaching others to do the same.
Amber Mouton
Voice, Songwriting
Composition/Arranging French Horn
Amber is a vocalist, French horn player and upright bassist who developed her musical chops in New Orleans. She has performed on national and international stages as a bandleader and sideman since 2013. She is a songwriter, arranger, composer and recorded artist. Amber specializes in vocal instruction for individuals with diverse learning styles, students with high support needs and those who want to enhance vocal communication/ performance in their personal and/or professional lives. She is an experienced teacher of students of diverse backgrounds, inclusive of all ages and ability levels. She assists learners in connecting their values and goals to creative expression.
Amber studied French Horn Performance at the University of Denver and holds a Master's degree in Autism Studies and Applied Behavior Analysis with a certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders from Mary Baldwin University. She is the assistant director of the Jazz Foundation of Jackson Hole, where she is also a vocalist and French horn player.
Love Music?
Got Skills?
We'd love to meet you!
Teton Music School is always growing our community of music makers.
Send a note, your resume, and video of you performing and/or teaching to us at admin@tetonmusicschool.org.
