Meet Our Private Music Instructors

Proudly teaching students in Jackson Township & Massillon, OH

Lurae Lightner

Director / Piano Instructor

Lurae Lightner is a lifelong pianist and performer. Passionate about music education, she has taught all ages and levels for over 20 years and has maintained a private piano studio for the past 18 years. She graduated from Malone University in 2020, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music with piano emphasis. She also completed her Certificate in Piano Pedagogy in the Fall of 2017. She has studied piano performance, pedagogy and jazz composition with professors Yao Lu, Dr. Michael Benson, and Dr. Ballard. During her time at Malone, she was an active member in the music community, participating in both piano and jazz ensembles. She also instructed through the University’s music preparatory program. Currently, she is an active member of OMTA/MTNA and plans to continue her education in Piano Pedagogy and Jazz studies.

Ryan Smurthwaite

Guitar & Ukulele Instructor

Originally hailing from West Virginia, Ryan Smurthwaite graduated from West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in music technology and music performance. He studied under Pittsburgh-based guitarist Scott Elliott and Wheeling-based, Emmy award winning composer / producer /studio engineer Jamie Peck.

Studying guitar for well over a decade, Ryan has taught guitar on and off professionally for two years. Besides teaching, he works as a freelance producer and recording engineer, where he has written and recorded several releases under his name, as well as a co-writer with up and coming Ohio Valley country musician Joey Adams and multiple clients spanning across all genres of music. Ryan lives in Cuyahoga Falls with his wife and dog, and apart from music, he spends his free time cooking, playing retro video games and sneaker shopping.

Autumn Rane

Guitar, Voice, Piano, Bass & Strings Instructor

Lex Kohler

Percussion Instructor

Lex Kohler graduated from the University of Akron with Bachelor’s degrees in both Music Education and Percussion Performance, where she studied under Distinguished Professor of Percussion, Dr. Larry Snider, and Director of Bands, Dr. Galen Karriker. During her time at the University, she was involved with the co-educational student service society Tau Beta Sigma, in addition to being involved with the Ohio Collegiate Music Education Association.

With three years of teaching in Akron under her belt, she currently serves as the Middle School Band and Orchestra Director at Buchtel CLC. She also serves as the Drumline Instructor at Hudson High School where she brings eight years of experience.

Her teaching philosophy focuses on providing a quality music education through fundamental skills, differentiated learning, and individualized instruction. Lex enjoys playing professionally with the Cleveland Winds based out of Cleveland State University, under the direction of Dr. Birch Browning.

Ben French

Brass & Piano Instructor

Ben French is a professional trumpet and piano player and teacher. He graduated from The University of Akron in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. He has taught brass and piano lessons since 2017. He has performed with Not Quite Saints Dixieland Band, NorthEast Ohio Jazz Orchestra, and solo acts on trumpet. As well as, performing solo and group performances at many churches on piano. He has taught in public and private schools in music and has also taught adult music lessons.

Shane Adams

Trombone, Baritone & Tuba Instructor

Shane Adams is a trombonist and educator based in northeastern Ohio. He maintains an active private teaching studio and is happy to join the team at the Jackson Massillon School of Music. He has held low brass teaching positions throughout northeastern Ohio. A versatile musician, Shane is equally adept performing in jazz, classical, and chamber music. He regularly performs in multiple jazz ensembles and is a lead trombone player in the Ohio Community Trombone Choir. Shane believes it is important to bring music to the greater Akron community and has performed in a wide variety of venues including the Akron zoo, nursing homes, jazz clubs, churches, and performance halls across Ohio.

Shane is currently pursuing a degree in music education with a minor in jazz studies at the University of Akron. He studies under Dr. Lauren Rudzinskas and takes jazz lessons with Prof. Theron Brown. He aspires to share his love for music to surrounding communities and believes that music is for everyone regardless of their age or background.

Carmen Chick

Clarinet Instructor

Carmen Chick was born in Youngstown, Ohio and has always enjoyed performing. In the early years, Carmen was an avid thespian who enjoyed the thrill of stage performance. They continued to pursue their passion in clarinet performance while remaining majorly self taught. While attending high school, Carmen had the pleasure of studying under Willow Digiacomo. During this time, clarinet performance took center stage as Carmen began honing their skills in preparation for higher education. Carmen played with The Alliance Symphony Orchestra as well as playing principal clarinet with Canton Youth Symphony’s Advanced Orchestra. In 2020, Carmen studied at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music under Daniel McKelway of The Cleveland Orchestra before taking their skills and leaving college to pursue a freelance career. Currently, Carmen plays with the Tuscarawas Philharmonic and the Kent Stark Community Concert Band while working as a server at a locally owned restaurant chain. Carmen continues to further their career as a freelance clarinetist and educator in the Canton, Ohio area.

Kayli Munson

Saxophone & Flute Instructor

Kayli Munson is a music educator and instrumentalist from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. She is studying instrumental music education at Kent State University, with particular interest in woodwinds and educational philosophy. This fall, she is student teaching at Aurora City Schools and will graduate with her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in December. At Kent State, she was involved with honorary band service sorority Tau Beta Sigma and their chapter of Ohio Collegiate Music Education Association. With her primary instrument being saxophone, she has participated in wind bands, jazz bands, new music ensembles, chamber ensembles, and world music ensembles! Kayli is passionate about helping beginner and intermediate students alike, and she is excited to create a fun and safe learning environment for her students.

Shawna Hill

Voice, Piano & Strings Instructor

Shawna Hill graduated from Malone University in 2017 with her Bachelors of Science in Music Education, with a focus in voice studies. During her career, she has taught a variety of students of abilities and ages ranging from PK-adult. While her primary instrument is voice, she also teaches beginner/intermediate piano, and beginner strings & woodwind.

While most of her career has been teaching large groups as a music teacher, she also has years of experience teaching privately as well.

In addition to teaching, she also enjoys performing and is part of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus where she sings alto 1. On the side, she also volunteers with Hearts for Music (an orchestra for special needs).

She aims to create a positive space for learning and is passionate about watching those grow in their musicianship.

Michele Hartley

Piano Instructor

Michele loves teaching and sharing her passion for music with children, teens and adults. She began teaching piano lessons as a teen herself. Her special interest includes patiently working with beginner level students. A few of her students have pursued music further, with performances at Carnegie Hall at the age of six and majoring in performance at The Juilliard School of Music.

Michele is an elementary school counselor with Akron Public Schools. She earned her Master’s of Education Degree in School Counseling from Kent State University and her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education (K-8) from Bowling Green State University, with a minor in music education. She began her career teaching kindergarten, first and second grade for several years. She has been a school counselor (K-12) for the majority of her career in rural, suburban and inner city schools. During the summers she has been actively involved as a counselor with Girl Scouts, Camp Quality, American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Summer Conservatory and Johns Hopkins University- Center forTalented Youth in Hong Kong and California.

She enjoys teaching students how to discover the genre of music that fits well with who they are as individuals. Helping students to acquire life-long musical skills and an appreciation for the arts is beyond rewarding for her. Outside of teaching and counseling, Michele enjoys concerts, musicals, traveling, reading, playing piano, hiking, yoga, kayaking and biking. She is a retired professional clown, graduating from Ohio Clown School. Her favorite motto is “Every day is a gift with something new to discover”.

Quinn Mattern

Flute Instructor

Quinn is a graduate of the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance and Chemistry, where she was a student of George Pope. She is currently a Master of Music student at the University of Akron, studying with Kimberly Zaleski. At Baldwin Wallace, she was a member of the Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble and she now performs in Akron’s Wind Symphony, Orchestra, and Graduate Wind Quintet. She currently holds the Graduate Teaching Assistantship at Akron for Flute.

She believes in a positive and fun lesson atmosphere while keeping productivity, creating an enjoyable learning environment where students feel welcomed to grow. The most effective learning occurs when students are fully engaged in the process and feel comfortable in their learning space and she strives to create these conditions in her lessons.

Logan Gardiner

Percussion Instructor

Logan Gardiner is a dedicated percussionist and educator based in Northeastern Ohio. A recent graduate of The Ohio State University, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, with a focus on both concert and marching percussion. Logan has performed in a variety of venues, including a special recital in Mozart’s home in Vienna, Austria. Passionate about teaching, Logan strives to create strong and meaningful connections with each of his students, fostering both musical and personal growth.