Kevin Chess
Music Instructor

• Guitar (Beginner-Advanced)

• Drums (Beginner-Advanced)

• Bass (Beginner-Intermediate)

• Piano (Beginner-Intermediate)

• Vocals (Beginner-Intermediate)

• Availability: Remote and in person lessons available at $65/hr and $35/half hr with a discount when you enroll in auto pay.

Multi-instrumentalist, Kevin Chess, has been playing music since he was 13 and spent the last 12 years playing professionally. He grew up in San Diego with both parents being musicians; his mother a classically trained pianist and his father a professional guitarist, pianist, singer and songwriter.

In college, Kevin majored in music, studying Composition, Theory, Classical, Jazz and Rock guitar, Singing, Bass, Drums, Hand Percussion, Digital Music Production and Piano. He's played professionally in various different styles and bands including Classical ensembles, Jazz, Funk, Country, Metal, Punk Rock and Reggae. In addition to being a teacher and studio musician, he composes and records his own music in between playing music all over San Diego with multiple bands, groups and artists.

Today, he is one of Rock and Roll San Diego’s best teachers, with an easy-going teaching style that’s perfect for guitarists, drummers, singers and pianists, from beginners to advanced.

Astra Kelly
Music Instructor

• Vocals (Beginner-Advanced)

• Piano (Beginner-Advanced)

• Availability: Offering online lessons only. Lessons available at $65hr and $35/half hr with a discount when you enroll in auto pay.

Astra Kelly is one of Rock and Roll San Diego’s top vocal instructors, with a lifetime of experience and skills honed through both live performance and session work. Kelly is a highly respected songwriter with ten albums and multiple national tours to her credit, as well as several San Diego Music Award nominations, most recently in 2021. With a range from folk to rock, soul to jazz and much more in between, Astra Kelly can help guide your vocal talents to the next level. She teaches voice, songwriting, piano and guitar and loves supporting new artists and songwriters by helping them tap into their true creative potential.

Verdell Smith
Music Instructor

• Bass (Beginner-Intermediate)

• Guitar (Beginner-Intermediate)

• Drums (Beginner-Intermediate)

• Vocals (Beginner-Intermediate)

• Piano (Beginner-Intermediate)

• Trumpet (Beginner-Intermediate)

If you’re interested in learning Funk, Soul, Jazz, or Rock, Verdell Smith is the perfect choice. Currently playing guitar and singing with So Cal favorites, Soul Ablaze, Smith has had an eclectic career ever since he was first hooked on music in 1987 with the release of Guns N’ Roses’ first album. He toured with the Army Soldier Show as a singer during his time in the military and then went on to study opera, music composition, and recording at Mesa College. Today, Smith has put all that experience into helping musicians take their craft to the next level, becoming an instructor at Rock and Roll San Diego in 2017. 

Kristina Bennett
Music Instructor

• Vocals (Beginner-Advanced)

• Guitar (Beginner-Intermediate)

• Ukulele (Beginner-Intermediate)

Kristina Bennett is a Professional Vocal Instructor, Guitar Teacher, Musician, Songwriter, Sound Healer and Practitioner based in California. She has been singing and performing for over 30 years, and has been working with clients privately for 10+ years.

Trained at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Kristina studied Music Business & Music Therapy, with her main instrumental focus being on Voice. She also earned her certificate in Sound, Voice, & Music Healing, at the California Institute of Integral Studies in June 2014.

Today, Kristina offers a range of classes, specializing in vocals, but also available for studies in guitar, ukulele, songwriting and music theory.

Mark Langford
Founder/Music Instructor

• Guitar (Intermediate-Advanced)

• Bass (Intermediate-Advanced)

• Availability Tuesday - Thursday at $75/hr, $40/half hour 

Mark Langford performs Classical, Flamenco, Acoustic Classic Rock, Rock & Roll and brings a lifetime of experience in music to Rock and Roll San Diego. Langford is an acclaimed guitarist with a diverse discography. Today he’s best known as a classical and flamenco specialist who has played for presidents and corporations, as well as opening for Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble and the Eagles upcoming 2023 Tour. He’s also spent years performing with regional favorites such as hard rockers, Bible Black (80’s) and indie combo, Danse Macabre (90’s). Meanwhile engineering live performances for numerous artists, notably a long stint with California based show band, The Mar Dels.

Mark started studying Classical Guitar in 1989 and has studied with World renowned Classical guitarists Eliott Fisk, Flavio Cucchi, Celin and Lito Romero. He started studying and performing Flamenco Guitar around 1998 and since has studied with great Flamenco guitarists Juan Serrano, Manolo Sanlucar, Gerardo Nunez, Manolo Franko, Paco Serrano and Jose Antonio Rodriguez. Mark has mastered an extensive repertoire of Spanish Classical guitar masterpieces and all forms of Flamenco.

As Executive Director and Founder of Rock and Roll San Diego, Langford’s knowledge has helped create a true asset for musicians, offering recording, rehearsals, equipment rentals, repairs, lessons and much more, and in the process making the facilities an essential part of the area’s music community.

Daniel Hendrick
Vocal Instructor

• Vocal Lessons (Beginner - Advanced)

• Availability: In person lessons offered the last weekend of every month at $120/hr.
  Remote lessons can be requested for other days at the same rate. 

International Opera Singer, Daniel Hendrick, is now available for vocal lessons at Rock & Roll San Diego and online via Facetime, Zoom, etc. Daniel is a pioneer in cutting edge vocal techniques that he has developed over 40 years as a professional opera singer. Vocalists around the globe have benefitted from Daniel’s unique insights into developing the voice. Daniel specializes in Rock, Pop, Country, Classical, Opera and other advances singing forms.