Meet Our Team
Musician Makers is run by a small, dedicated team who strive to offer excellent customer service and the best private music lessons experience in Nocatee and Ponte Vedra, Florida.
Austin Pillsbury
Founder, CEO, Guitar, Voice & Songwriting Instructor
Austin founded Musician Makers in 2016 after years of teaching guitar on his own. He now has a total of 13 years of teaching experience.
His passion is to infuse music education with fun and creativity, and encourages all of our students to make their own music.
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As well as teaching, Austin is also a live musician and plays all around Jacksonville on the weekends, a volunteer worship leader at his church, and a music producer with multiple published projects.
Grace Pillsbury
Marketing & Events, Customer Service
Grace is the brains behind our branding, marketing, events, and community presence.
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She also helps provide excellent customer service to our clients throughout the week and loves to help find solutions for our growing business.
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Grace has a B.S. in Communications & Public Relations from University of North Florida and has been a freelance marketer and brand consultant for the last 8 years.
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She is a Jacksonville native, born and raised, and is passionate about seeing small businesses thrive.
Carla Tappen
Studio Administrator
Carla is our lead administrator. She keeps our whole school running smoothly. We rely on her for excellent customer service, organizational skills and much more!
She is also a homeschool mom who loves to spend time with her son and being outdoors.
Her favorite pastimes are travel, paddle boarding, fishing, and anything to do with water.
She also enjoys live music by local musicians and you can find her on the beach any time of the year.
Nikki Jean
New Student Onboarding
Nikki has taken on multiple roles with Musician Makers over the years.
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When you sign up for lessons, she will be the one helping you find your teacher, your schedule, and helping you get logged into your portal.
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Nikki lives in S.C. with her husband, son, and many fur babies. She loves the outdoors, helping others and being a mom!
Meet Our Teachers
All of our teachers are passionate about inspiring a love for music in each of their students. We work together as a team to provide an effective and dynamic approach to curriculum and lesson planning. Our teachers all bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table, ranging from classical training to years
of live performances & songwriting.
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Every instructor is educated, trained and background-checked for full transparency.
Jacob Shearer
Guitar Teacher
Jacob has been playing guitar since 2005, and was trained classically for 8 years. Two of those years were at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts where he also studied music theory and piano. He has 10+ years of live performance experience and has been with Musician Makers for 4 years. He has experience teaching people of all ages, and believes that music should be fun!
Mike Pruitt
Piano & Voice Teacher, Instructor Manager
Mike has been studying piano for 10+ years. He has been with Musician Makers for 4 years and also works as the Director of Music for St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church. Mike has traveled around the country playing piano in multiple bands and in many worship communities! He has a gift for teaching and helping his students find their inner creativity.
"I love what I do, and can’t wait to share the gift of piano with everyone!"
Emily Stewart
Piano & Voice Teacher
Emily has been performing since she was very young, in ministry and academic settings. Although Emily’s primary instrument is voice, she is also experienced in playing piano and acoustic guitar.
Emily began her study of singing at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. She continued her studies at Florida State College at Jacksonville and Jacksonville University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She has also earned her Master’s degree in Music Performance at Lee University in Cleveland, TN.
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Emily has been with Musician Makers for over a year now, and is beloved
by all her students.
Bella D'Amico
Guitar + Piano Teacher
Bella started teaching herself guitar in 2016 and quickly fell in love with it. Attending a fine arts high school, she studied classical-style guitar and music theory for 4 years.
Bella has continued her music studies at the University of North Florida, majoring in Music Technology and Production. Bella's motivation for music comes from an eagerness to understand it and create her own.
Writing and producing music is Bella's favorite hobby. She plays guitar, bass, and piano in numerous bands outside of school.
Although Bella loves writing and producing as a creative outlet, she finds working with kids rewarding and hopes to teach elementary school music after graduation.
Guitar Teacher
Bradley Cox
I am a music performance major at the University of North Florida with 2 years of teaching experience. I began my teaching journey at a local music store in Venice, Florida, where I developed a passion for helping students learn guitar at all levels!
My teaching style is personalized to each student's interests and skill levels, ensuring a fun and engaging learning experience.
When I'm not teaching or studying, I enjoy jamming with friends and exploring Jacksonville's vibrant music scene. Music has the power to unite and inspire, and I love sharing that passion with my students.
Stavdny (Stav) Jean-Pierre
Piano Teacher
Stav is a versatile pianist and passionate music educator with nearly a decade of teaching experience.
Having studied classical piano in France under the guidance of Laurent Boukobza, an internationally renowned and competition-winning pianist, Stavdny has honed a foundation of technical excellence and artistic expression.
Stavdny’s musical versatility spans a variety of styles, including classical, jazz, gospel, pop, and contemporary genres, allowing him to connect with a diverse range of audiences and students.
As a dedicated instructor, he has taught students aged 4 to 70, adapting his teaching approach to meet their unique needs and goals. Whether teaching music theory, reading sheet music, or playing by ear, Stavdny inspires his students to develop confidence and creativity in their musical journey.
With a rich background as both a performer and an educator, Stavdny is committed to sharing the transformative power of music with learners of all ages.
Kaden Gaines
Guitar + Piano Teacher
My name is Kaden Gaines. I have extensive experience in the music industry, having worked at four different schools of music. I am a multi-instrumentalist, proficient in playing eight instruments, and I am also fluent in three languages.
My favorite genre of music is Bosa Nova, and I have a passion for sharing my love of music with others.
With a strong background in music education and a versatile skillset, I pride myself on being well-equipped to succeed in any music industry role, including teaching!
Dominik Guerriero
Guitar Teacher
My name’s Dominik and I’ve been a guitar player for 7 years now! I started on a cheap ukulele I got off the internet and taught myself daily for many years before seeking out lessons from a mentor. I then spent several years as a worship guitarist at Melody Church in Live Oak, Fl. playing as often as 5 days a week being the campus’ only guitar player!
While volunteering in church, I got into music production and picked up mixing front of house, as well as producing/mixing songs my church created/covered.
Now, I’m here at Musician Makers inspiring a new generation of creators and chasing a Bachelors of Music Production and Technology at the
University of North Florida.
Piano Teacher
Joshua King
I am a third-year music performance major with a focus on Jazz Studies, currently enrolled at Jacksonville University. Before moving to Jacksonville last summer, I taught as an independent teacher in my hometown of Ocala, Fl, during which I developed quite a passion for sharing my love of music through teaching.
I like to take a very practical approach to teaching, working with the student on the specific musical tools and techniques needed to reach their goals. Being self-taught for most of my musical journey, I also understand how important it is to be genuinely engaged and interested in the music you are learning to play. This is why I seek to foster an environment of discovery, curiosity, and enjoyment within the learning process.
My performance experience includes playing piano in jazz big band and small group ensembles throughout my time in college, as well as various gigs around my community. I also currently serve as a musician and singer for my church.
In my spare time I love exploring and being involved in the local jazz/music scene in Jax.
Kennedi Bingham
Piano, Guitar, and Ukulele teacher
Kennedi has always had a passion for music, starting from her desire to play piano and guitar as a child. She pursued music lessons in high school and developed a deep love for playing these instruments. Currently, she is in her third year at the University of North Florida, working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Music Technology and Production.
Kennedi's teaching experience includes working with kids and providing tutoring, making her adept at creating engaging and enjoyable lessons. Her background in customer service has honed her skills in customer relations and task management.
Her education includes relevant coursework in Sound Reinforcement, Music Production, Audio and Acoustics, and Digital Audio Production. She brings expertise in music theory, sound design, and audio production to her teaching, offering a well-rounded and enriching experience for her students.
In her free time, Kennedi enjoys setting up microphones, mixing, and mastering music. She is dedicated to inspiring a love for music in her students and helping them grow in their musical journey.
Jarvis Braswell
Guitar, Piano, Drums Teacher
Jarvis is a dedicated and accomplished music teacher with a passion for inspiring his students to reach their highest potential.
Music has been a part of Jarvis's life since his grandmother introduced him to it and he began playing for church. With piano and guitar as his main instruments, he has developed exceptional skills in time management, music theory, lesson planning, arranging music, group and individual instruction, and instructional strategies.
Jarvis graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, FL. He has studio teaching experience since 2021, where he has been teaching at Wind of Change Academy in Jacksonville.
In addition to his teaching experience, Jarvis has many years of experience playing live music and is highly respected in his community. His ability to effectively engage a wide range of students and to foster a positive learning environment, along with his commitment to his students and his passion for music, is evident in his teaching, making him a beloved teacher by all his students.
Chris Fairbanks
Guitar Teacher
Chris was initially trained in piano since age 6, he has been playing guitar since he was 12. Throughout his teens, Chris was in multiple church bands and even lead for his high school chapel band.
When he moved to Jacksonville in 2012, one of his first jobs was teaching guitar for an elementary after care program. He has been teaching with Musician Makers for over 3 years!
"I have a passion for teaching and love passing on knowledge to those who want to learn!"
Piano Teacher
Sherryl Cochran-Shaffer
Sherryl Cochran-Shaffer is an Army Veteran who has enjoyed playing piano from a very young age. She began accompanying in junior high school and prior to moving to Jacksonville in 2017, she was staff accompanist at Cowley College in Arkansas City, near her hometown of Wichita, Kansas.
She is currently playing solo piano performances, is one of the keyboardists for Parker's Lab Band, and a percussionist with the First Coast Pops Orchestra.
Tommy Strube
Bass, Drums, Guitar Teacher
My name is Tommy Strube. I've been playing bass for 11 years, drumset for 10, and guitar for 9. I've been in multiple bands—from my dad’s rock band, jazz
bands, and drum lines to my current punk rock band.
I played with my church band throughout my upbringing and still do when I visit home. I love music more than anything and cherish the opportunity to work for Musician Makers to help
share my gift with many others!