Meet our highly qualified 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 16 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. Her high school teacher Diane Koutsulis trained her to accept nothing less than excellence and led their group to perform at the prestigious international midwest band and orchestra clinic. Pam has trained under such legends as Frederick Fennell, Jerry Junkin, Jung Ho Pak, Gary Green, Frank Ticheli, Frank Wickes, John Whitwell, Greg Hanson, Shannon Kitelinger, Jay Rees, Mallory Thompson and Julie Giroux! 

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 Diego!

Diego Garcia is a violist, composer, and music educator who earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from San Diego State University. Diego also holds a teaching credential in music from SDSU, and has served as an instrumental music coach/assistant director at Hilltop High School in Chula Vista. Diego has experience in teaching instrumental ensembles including orchestra, band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, and mariachi. He has trained under master jazz and mariachi educators.

As an educator, Diego’s philosophy comes from a place of promoting growth in students. He believes it is a teacher’s responsibility to teach people first, then musicians. Music has an ability to reach people regardless of prior experience, background, and Diego believes music is the great equalizer that can allow for students to develop interpersonal communication skills, as well as valuable social skills that apply in real-world situations. As a teacher, Diego is a friendly and relatable presence who wants to see students be successful in the classroom. He places a heavy emphasis on fundamentals and comprehension so that students have a foundation for their long-term learning, be it on one instrument or multiple. Diego greatly enjoys the performance aspect of music teaching, as it allows for students to understand and appreciate the hard work and dedication that they have put into their learning in one meaningful moment surrounded by those closest to them. An openness to learn new styles/genres of music and an appreciation for such is something that Diego aims to foster in students.

Outside of teaching, Diego is a performer and composer and has been active in the San Diego music scene. He has performed with the San Diego Youth Symphony, SDSU Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, SDSU Mariachi Azteca, as well as with the SDSU Concert Band and University Chorus. Diego’s original works and arrangements have been performed by ensembles in the Sweetwater and San Diego Unified School Districts, as well as the SDSU Symphony Orchestra. His students have been involved in local music programs such as SDYS, Sweetwater and San Diego Unified Honor Ensembles, and Cornerstone Percussion. 

Meet Claudia!

Claudia is a cellist and a music educator with a background in humanities and pedagogy. As a child, Claudia had the privilege of being in a diverse range of music education settings, ranging from summer camps to youth orchestras and anywhere in between. It was through connecting with their peers through music and artistry that Claudia found their creative voice and fell in love with music. Their goal is to give back to their community through fostering childrens' creative freedom and expression through music. They have experience with both private lessons and group music classes. Before teaching music, Claudia was a preschool and kindergarten teacher. Claudia has a diverse range of creative and performance experience.  They have played in more traditional classical settings including North Coast Symphony in San Diego, and also have experience performing with local bands and singer-songwriters. In 2023 Claudia was an organizer of a multi-media art show focusing on diversity and inclusion in the San Diego art and music community.  In their free time they love to spend time in nature and practice their cello.

Meet Al!

Al Barnes is a professional acoustic musician in San Diego. Originally from small town MN, Al got a guitar when he was 14, taught himself how to play, formed a band with his buddies and performed on the 2005 Warped Tour! 

Fast forward!

Al now plays popular covers and originals all around San Diego with his acoustic guitar. During the week, Al teaches music to kids and adults. Catch him live or take some lessons! And don’t forget…baseball cards for kids at every Al Barnes show!