About the Founder
The founder, Michele Kennedy, is a pianist and piano teacher who opened her studio in 2019. She moved to Denver from St. Louis, Missouri in 2017. She studied Piano Performance, Music Theory and Pedagogy at Missouri State University. While raising her twin sons, she taught, accompanied theater productions, composed music and performed in a seven-piece band for ten years.
Michele is the author of "Name the Note Workbook", a tool to help students remember where notes are located on the grand staff. By writing in the names of over 7000 notes in random, but sequential order. The workbook has proven to speed up the process of learning to read music.
Michele is a member of the National Music Teachers' Association and the Colorado Music Teachers' Association. She creates much of her students' curriculum and arrangements of music for her students and she is also in the process of developing a program for teaching piano to 4-6 year old students.
The school mascot is her dog Luther, a 1 year old Golden Doodle who greets students and then naps all day. When she isn't teaching, managing the academy or creating lesson plans, Michele most enjoys spending time with her 5 year old granddaughter and her 3 year old and 3 month old grandsons.
Piano/Vocal Instructor | Abby Skinner
Abby grew up in Denver. She is currently pursuing a double major in Voice and Piano Performance at Metro State. She has been teaching piano lessons since 2019 and she joined Denver Academy of Musical Arts in April 2023.
When she is not busy with her studies, Abby enjoys oil painting, making jewelry and attending music festivals.
Drum Instructor | Rich Carlson
Rich Carlson has been teaching drums since 1993. He is the author of a book for drum students called “Twisted Drums -A Dynamic Approach to Drumming Independence”. He has played in several successful bands over the years, performing 5 nights a week, and he has even opened for acts including Pat Benatar, Blue Oyster Cult, Great White and Bret Michaels of Poison.
Rich’s approach to teaching is non-intimidating and his objective is for each student to have fun while learning and improving their skills. Rich joined Denver Academy of Musical Arts in July 2024.
Guitar Instructor | Scott Askew
Scott began taking piano lessons at the age of seven. Inspired by his dad, who played the Scottish bagpipes, and his mother, who played oboe in high school. He took up saxophone in 5th grade, drums in 9th. Around that time, he fell in love with the guitar. Fast forward a few years, he began teaching guitar, bass guitar, and drums at Capital City Guitars in Olympia, WA after working as a DJ in radio and a nightclubs. In 1998, he released the CD “So It Happens” on his own label. In 2014, he graduated from St. Martin’s University in Lacey, WA, with a Masters in Teaching.
Violin Instructor | Eireen Margittai
Eireen has been studying and playing the violin for over a decade. She has won numerous competitions throughout Colorado and has transitioned towards teaching in the the last few years. Eireen’s approach to teaching is a highly individualized experience for each student taking into account strengths and weaknesses as well as student’s unique personalities.
Content Admin | DaeDae Rocha
DaeDae is a First-Generation graduate from the University of Denver, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Socio-Legal Studies, with minors in Nutrition, International Studies, and Writing Practices. She aspires to become a lawyer for the U.S. Army. On top of a background in woodwinds, DaeDae specializes in education that fosters social, emotional, and leadership development for students across Colorado.