Meet the Instructors
Music lessons should feel like the best 30 minutes of a kid's week, not another thing to dread on the family calendar. That's the whole reason Jonny Dolan founded Mountain City Music Co. in 2022, after 11 years of teaching music both as a full-time public-school classroom teacher (with thousands of K-12 students taught) and as a private instructor in homes across the Inland Empire. Jonny holds a Bachelor of Arts in Choral Music Education and a California teaching credential, and has performed as a studio guitarist in Los Angeles and a professional choir singer. He specializes in rock guitar but teaches across all styles.
Today MCMC's instructors offer in-home guitar lessons, beginner piano lessons, voice, and drum lessons across San Bernardino, Upland, La Verne, Claremont, Ontario, and surrounding cities. Every one of them is DOJ and FBI background-checked via LiveScan. We come to your living room so the only thing standing between your kid and their first real song is showing up.
Jonny Dolan
Jonny has taught music for eleven years, in public-school classrooms and privately at the same time. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Choral Music Education and a California teaching credential, and he has performed as a studio guitarist in Los Angeles and as a professional choir singer. At Serrano High School he built the guitar curriculum, launched the guitar classes, and served as the piano accompanist. He specializes in rock guitar but teaches across all styles, from folk and pop to jazz and classical.
Bryce Wilson
Bryce discovered his passion for guitar as a young child and spent years exploring classic rock and pop before finding his true love in acoustic guitar. Now channeling his enthusiasm into teaching, Bryce brings a unique perspective to music education through his dual expertise in both guitar and 3D animation at Victor Valley College. He's excited to share his wealth of knowledge and help students develop well-rounded musical skills.
Caitlynn Moen
Caitlynn is a passionate singer who fell in love with musical theatre in middle school and has been dedicated to her craft ever since. With four years of choir experience, AP Music Theory study, and current collegiate-level coursework, Caitlynn has earned multiple awards and a music scholarship. She's committed to helping her students succeed in whatever musical form speaks to them, drawing on her deep understanding of diverse genres and genuine love for the art.
Connor Hernandez
Connor is a lead metal guitarist inspired by neoclassical virtuosos like Yngwie Malmsteen, Chris Impellitteri, and Marty Friedman. He's passionate about mastering advanced techniques such as sweep arpeggios, economy picking, tapped arpeggios, and pedal point licks, while maintaining strong melody and expressiveness. His goal is to continually push the boundaries of what's possible on the guitar while honoring the influences that shaped his musical vision.
Frank Quiroz
Frank discovered his passion for music at age 12 and quickly developed a natural talent for creating and writing music. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Media Composition and now brings his deep understanding of music theory and composition to his teaching. Frank is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of musicians and sharing the knowledge and joy that music has given him.
Christopher Salinas
Christopher is an enthusiastic musician with a strong foundation in music theory and performance. His passion began in high school with AP Music Theory and piano studies, which led him to pursue music formally in college. As a music major immersed in advanced coursework, Christopher has developed strong performance and theoretical skills. He's committed to making music accessible and meaningful for his students, whether through theory, performance, or creative exploration.
Ray Valdez
Ray is a multi-instrumentalist with a bachelor's degree in History from UCLA, a minor in Ethnomusicology, and an associate degree in music from Citrus College. With over 20 years of playing experience, Ray teaches guitar, bass guitar, piano, drums, ukulele, and voice. He's also served as a worship leader and music director in several Los Angeles churches. When he's not teaching, Ray enjoys playing sports with his son, staying active at the gym, and spending time with his beloved wiener dog.
Giovanni Raimondo
Giovanni holds a bachelor's degree in Music from Cal Poly Pomona and has played piano since he was six years old, studying mostly jazz and pop. He teaches songwriting alongside playing, and builds the skills a student needs to improvise on their own. He sees music as one of the greatest forms of personal expression, and that is how he teaches it.
Arthur Chou
Arthur is a guitarist, performer, and educator with more than five years of teaching and live performance behind him. He graduated with High Honors from Musicians Institute, earning an Associate of Arts in Guitar Performance, and plays pop, rock, funk, R&B, blues, and fusion. He tailors each lesson to the student's own goals, building fundamentals, creativity, and confidence together. Music has always been a big part of his life, and teaching is how he shares the creativity and connection it brings.
Armando Salazar
Armando holds a Bachelor's in Music Education from CSUSB and has been teaching for six years, working with students from age 3 through adult, beginner to advanced. Armando started on electric guitar at 16, learning popular music from the '70s through the early 2000s, then went on to sing with the CSUSB Opera Theater and community ensembles including The Pass Choral, and to perform alongside Folklorico groups, at the National Orange Show grand opening, and with the Palomar College advanced choir. Every student learns a little differently, so Armando brings patience, empathy, and real joy for the work to finding the path that fits each one.
Riley Haus
Riley is a self-taught drummer with six years behind the kit, three of them as the drum set player in a jazz band, and is now in a fifth season of marching percussion, pursuing it professionally in and outside college. Riley also teaches the drumline and percussion at Serrano High School. The pull to teach came early: in high school, older players helped Riley fall in love with music, and Riley set out to be that same inspiration for other students.
Ready to meet your instructor?
Our instructors teach in-home guitar, piano, and voice lessons across the High Desert and Inland Empire. Book your free first lesson and we'll match you with the right teacher for your instrument and goals. If the match isn't working after that first lesson, we'll re-match you at no charge.
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