Meet our incredible teaching team! Group & Private Lessons!

Meet Pam, Founder and Teacher!

Pam Miller is a passionate CA Credentialed Music Teacher, who earned her Masters Degree in Wind Conducting from San Diego State University. She holds Bachelors Degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from The University of Arizona. Pam is a festival adjudicator and clinician with Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association. She has 17 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 Hernandez 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 Jennifer!

Jennifer Neal has been playing the violin for over 30 years and teaching private violin lessons since 2018. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with minors in Psychology and Spanish, and has spent more than 20 years working with children in a variety of educational settings.

Jennifer is passionate about helping students discover the joy and lifelong benefits of music. Her teaching combines the Suzuki Method with the pedagogical techniques of Mimi Zweig, while thoughtfully adapting lessons to               each student's individual interests,           goals and learning style.

Jennifer believes that learning the violin develops both the body and the mind. She fosters a supportive environment built on trust, mutual respect, and encouragement, helping each student build on their 

strengths, gain confidence, and celebrate progress every step of the way.

Meet Or!

Or Kadishson is a Southern California–based pianist, music educator, and award-nominated composer whose work spans film, television, and contemporary concert music. Her professional credits include projects associated with leading international production companies and television networks, including Paramount, TeenNick, KAN 11, Keshet 12, Reshet 13, HOT, and her work has received award nominations and finalist recognition in both screen and concert music.

Or holds a Master of Music in Media Composition and a Bachelor of Music in Multidisciplinary Composition from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, graduating with honors and a GPA of 97.5. She is also a graduate of the Jazz Department at Ironi Alef High School for the Arts in Tel Aviv, where she completed her full jazz piano recital with highest distinction.

Or has taught piano since 2019, working with students at different stages of their musical development in classical, jazz, and contemporary styles. Her lessons combine strong technical and musical foundations with an individualized approach shaped around each student’s interests, abilities, and goals. In addition to piano performance, Or incorporates music theory, harmony, ear training, improvisation, and creative exploration into her teaching, helping students understand how music works rather than simply learning to play the correct notes. Her professional background as a composer, arranger, and orchestrator also enables her to support students interested in composition, songwriting, arranging, and music production. Or strives to create lessons that are structured, encouraging, and engaging, giving each student the tools and confidence to develop an independent, creative, and lasting connection with music.

Before relocating to California, Or taught private piano lessons to children at an established music studio in Tel Aviv and developed long-term relationships with private students. From 2021 to 2022, she served as a teaching assistant at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance,

where she taught Jazz Harmony at the Keyboard to undergraduate composition students.

Meet Greg!

Greg Ramirez Jr. is a San Diego–based drummer and music instructor with nine years of playing and gigging experience. An active performer, Greg has experience across a variety of styles including rock, funk, blues, Afro-Cuban, and norteño music.

Greg especially enjoys working with absolute beginners and intermediate students. His lessons focus on building strong fundamentals through reading drum notation, rudiments, grooves, coordination, timing, technique, and overall musicianship. He combines these fundamentals with songs and styles that each student enjoys, helping make lessons engaging, practical, and personally meaningful.

Greg is patient, warm, encouraging, and committed to meeting students where they are. His goal is to help students build confidence behind the drum set, develop into well-rounded musicians, and most importantly, enjoy making music.

Meet Angel!

 Angel Ivan Salas, a San Diego native that has been playing guitar since 2006. Angel began his journey learning on his own punk, rock and metal music. He soon began to gain interest in classical guitar, which he 

studied at  San Diego State University!

Being classically and “metallically” trained, Angel has found ways to gauge interest for his students in their instrument and their desired genre/ style of music. 

Angel has been teaching since 2016 and his main focus has always been to find ways to make the student feel achieved and welcomed in their musical progress. 

Meet Francesca

Miller Music Academy is excited to partner with BugByte Studios, the award-winning online vocal coaching and artist development studio founded by Francesca Valle, to expand our voice program with additional instructors and educational resources.

Francesca is a vocalist, producer, educator, and creative strategist who has spent more than three decades performing and nearly three decades helping singers discover what their voices are capable of. She founded BugByte Studios on a simple belief: singing is your birthright.Whether a student dreams of performing on stage, recording original music, or simply singing with greater confidence, every voice deserves to be developed with skill, encouragement, and joy.

Known for her ability to blend strong vocal technique with creativity and practical musicianship, Francesca has guided beginners, hobbyists, working musicians, recording artists, and lifelong learners through every stage of their musical journey. Her approach goes beyond vocal exercises, helping students build confidence, artistic identity, and the tools to become independent, expressive musicians.

Today, Francesca leads the educational vision of BugByte Studios, where a collaborative team of experienced instructors shares a common philosophy while bringing their own unique specialties to students. Through this partnership, Miller Music Academy students have access to the expertise, curriculum, and collaborative teaching approach that have made BugByte Studios a trusted home for singers across the country.

Meet Suzanne!

With a lifelong love of music and a passion for helping students discover their own musical voice, Miss Suzanne has been teaching piano and music since 2015. She works with students of all ages and experience levels, offering private lessons, small-group instruction, and engaging parent-and-child music experiences.

Beyond weekly lessons, Miss Suzanne has experience creating and leading music programs, including piano summer camps, weekly music playdates, student recitals, and community performances. She has also worked with students preparing for performance opportunities through Concert Performance Team programs, helping them develop confidence, musicality, and strong performance skills.

Miss Suzanne believes that learning piano should be fun, encouraging, and personalized to each student. Her goal is to create a positive environment where students feel comfortable making mistakes, celebrating their progress, and developing a genuine love for music. She understands that every child learns differently and draws on her educational background to adapt lessons to each student’s individual needs, personality, and learning style.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Mild/Moderate Special Education, along with certifications in Early Childhood Education and TESOL (ESL). This background has given her a strong understanding of child development, different learning styles, and how to make learning engaging and accessible.

Music has been part of Miss Suzanne’s life since she began piano lessons at age six. She continued her formal piano studies for ten years and participated in NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association), performing before a panel of judges and receiving formal performance evaluations.

Whether a student is taking piano lessons for the first time, working toward a performance, or simply looking for a creative outlet, Miss Suzanne strives to make every lesson an experience that builds confidence, creativity, musical skills, and a lifelong appreciation for music.