Meet our teaching team

Meet Pam, Founder and Teacher!

Pam Miller is a passionate CA Credentialed Music Teacher, who earned her Masters Degree in Music Conducting from San Diego State University. She holds Bachelors Degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from The University of Arizona. Pam has 15 years of teaching experience with students ages 4-adults. Pam connects with kids easily and has a natural gift for being intuitive about students learning styles. 

As a teacher, Pam cares first about her students as human beings. The power of music to create empathy, connection and respect for diverse cultures drives Pam's vision for MMA. Building good rapport with students and families is extremely important to Pam and she loves when parents join the class with their students. She is quick paced, outgoing, silly but also very serious about students learning their fundamentals and songs effectively. Pam's favorite aspect of teaching is planning exciting performances and educational experiences for her students.  Pam was inspired to become a music educator after studying under various masters in the field as a member and ensemble manager of the World Youth Wind Ensemble at Michigan's esteemed Interlochen Arts Camp.

Pam’s students, including several past Innovations Academy and The Learning Choice Academy students, can be found in honor bands and orchestras all over San Diego County and have gotten accepted to many universities and conservatories to study music over the years.
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Meet Brooks!

Brooks is a double bassist, music educator, and music innovator. Although he holds two degrees in classical performance, Brooks tends to veer towards a variety of genres; having regularly performed with a folk band, various jazz ensembles, a rock band, a tango group, a hip-hop orchestra, pits for musicals, and their own solo sets combining double bass with guitar, voice, and loop pedal. 

As an educator, Brooks maintains his belief that music should be accessible to all, and learning should be individually designed for each student. While working for a non-profit youth orchestra program called MYCincinnati, Brooks has developed various programs and projects to break the norm of what classical youth orchestra is “supposed” to be ; such as a project in which music students wrote and arranged their own accompaniments to poems written by fellow youth. Brooks has formed musical groups to perform at protests, been involved in several benefit concerts, and worked for several years as a band coach and Youth Programming Coordinator for the nonprofit Girls Rock Cincinnati which serves girls and transgender youth.  Brooks believes that music is a powerful force that can be used to build community, fight oppression, and expand one’s personal sense of self, and Brooks is destined to incorporate this belief into his career as a performer and educator. 

Since initiating his conservatory studies as an undergraduate in 2015, Brooks has performed under the baton of maestros Aik Khai Pung and Mark Gibson, traveled to the Czech Republic on a scholarship to perform with the Prague Summer Nights Festival, and collaborated with organizations such as Concert:Nova, ArtsWave, WavePool, WordPlay, Girls Rock Cincinnati, and the Fringe Festival. In CCM’s Philharmonia Orchestra, Brooks was awarded the position of principal double bassist in 2021, and performed the famous Mahler Symphony 1 double bass solo. 

Brooks’ bass skills are featured on various recording projects with musicians like Ric Hordinsky, Elsa Kennedy, and Jack . 
Brooks’ career focuses on the use of music as a tool for activism, having donated performances to several activist causes and benefits over the years. Brooks co-founded the Youth Poetic Performance Collaboration, a project sponsored by MYCincinnati and WordPlay, in which youth poets and musicians join forces to craft performance pieces focused on activism causes. Brooks ultimately aspires to use music as a tool to dismantle systems of oppression.

Meet JK!

With nearly 30 years of experience, I bring a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to teaching. My love for music runs deep, and I’m equally devoted to passing that enthusiasm on to my students.

My teaching philosophy centers on nurturing the innate curiosity and excitement that children have for music. I thrive on seeing that spark of interest in young learners and am committed to fanning that flame, helping each student develop their unique musical voice. When I’m not involved in music making, you can find me hiking one of my favorite mountains in San Diego or taking a motorcycle ride along the coast!

I offer a supportive and engaging environment that fosters growth and creativity. Join me to explore the world of stringed instruments and let your musical journey begin!

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Meet Cassie!

Cassie O'Hanlon is a passionate flute teacher recently relocated from Indiana to San Diego, who is dedicated to making classical music education engaging and meaningful. She emphasizes mental health, mindfulness, and personal growth alongside musical development. Cassie attended the prestigious music program at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). She has studied under renowned flutists and educators such as Dr. Caroline Ulrich, Dr. Deborah Egequist, and Denise Reimenschnieder. Beyond teaching, Cassie enjoys baking, loves dogs, and loves all things Halloween. 

Cassie's students have gone on to become passionate musicians and hardworking academics. They have taken auditions at the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Fort Wayne Youth Symphony, studied abroad in Japan, and earned awards in music from their local bands and statewide organizations such as the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA). 

Cassie is deeply committed to connecting with her students and ensuring that music remains a lifelong, healthy outlet for them. She focuses not only on building musical skills but also on fostering life skills such as confidence, resilience, and empathy. Cassie works hard to prevent burnout, striving to help her students feel positive about their music-making for years to come.

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