Brent Deacon - Guitar & Bass Instruction

Brent comes to us from Broken Arrow, OK and has been playing for fourteen years. His musical influences include John Petrucci, Pat Martino, Scott Henderson, Allan Holdsworth, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Brent graduated from Northeastern State University with a degree in Music Education. His studies include a Music Summer Performance Program at Berklee College of Music and North Texas Jazz Festival outstanding musicianship certificate. Brent also trained under Henry Johnson, Pat Kelley, and Randy Wimer.

Aside from teaching at the John Michael's Music Academy, Brent is an Associate Professor of Guitar at Tulsa Community College. Currently he is writing a book entitled Fundamental Concepts for the Advancing Guitarist and plays with the Jazz Band Primal Swing at jazz festivals and clubs.

Brent enjoys playing and teaching all types of music including Jazz, Classical, Fusion, Funk and Rock. The main goal Brent has for teaching his students is to make it fun and enjoyable.

Bradley Spears - Guitar & Bass Instruction

Bradley Spears comes to us from Coweta, OK and has been playing guitar for fourteen years. Bradley has many musical influences including Coweta High School Band Director - Tim Brandt, Matt Giovinette - his first guitar teacher, Frank Zappa and "100's of recorded musicians and composers." Bradley is a graduate from Northeastern State University with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. He was the First recipient of the Joe Davis Jacob Farinelli Memorial Jazz Scholarship. Academically he acquired Academic Achievement Awards for both the spring of 2005 and 2006. Bradley was also a member of Northeastern State University's Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, and Orchestra.

Bradley's original compositions, Hour of the Pearl, Appointment in Milano, The Point and Global Citizen, have been recorded by the NSU Jazz Program. He has also performed for many theatre productions including, Grease, High School Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, and South Pacific. Bradley is also a member of the River City Players Band and currently performs with the quartet Mother's Favorites for private engagements.

Bradley enjoys an eclectic mix of music including jazz, blues, rock & solo guitar primarily focusing on jazz and other forms of improvised music.

Bradley believes that a nonjudgmental awareness is most important when teaching. Learning to play a musical instrument is challenging and feels it is best to meet that challenge with an awareness of sight, sound, feeling, and knowledge. Bradley believes that there are no ugly or bad sounds. Only humans apply these values to sound. He wants his students not think of their sound as good or bad but to become aware of the subtle changes sound can make.

Greg Breeding - Percussion Instructor

Greg Breeding is here from Heavener, Oklahoma. Greg recently received his diploma from Northeastern State University with a Music Degree, emphasizing Jazz Studies. Greg has played with legendary artists such as Andy Narrell, Peter Erskine and Mike Mainer. He has also performed with legendary rockers Jay Falkner and Kodey Tony of South 40.

Greg's musical influences come from multiple genres including Vinnie Paul, Levon Helm, Chad Smith, and Louis Bellson. He enjoys playing from a variety of music consisting of: Rock, Metal, Blues and Jazz.

Greg's most important concept when teaching is to have fun and be able to adapt to the situation.

Gerad Breeding - Bass/Guitar Instructor

Gerad has been playing bass for eleven years and comes to us from Heavener, Oklahoma. This past December Gerad completed his music degree at Northeastern State University. Gerad has great onstage experience playing in Musicals including Clue and Big and has also performed with the River City Players.

Gerad has been influenced by Jason Newsted and Clifford Lee Burton of Metallica as well as Les Claypool and David Gilmour. His taste in music follows his influence and includes Rock, Metal and Progressive Music.

Gerad believes that being a well-rounded teacher makes his students better going forward. He feels that being able to teach a variety of styles and broaden the student's technique is foremost important.