Our Team.
Musician Makers is run by a small, dedicated team who strive to offer excellent customer service and the best music lessons in Nocatee and Ponte Vedra, Florida.
Austin founded Musician Makers in 2016 after years of teaching guitar on his own. He began learning guitar in middle school and started teaching at the age of 16.
Austin now has a total of 13 years of teaching experience. He also writes & produces music in his home studio & collaborates with other artists. His artist name is Austin Vernon and his music is on all major streaming platforms.
As well as teaching, Austin is also a worship director at his church, is a live musician for parties and events, and is a music producer with multiple published projects.
Grace is not only Austin's wife but also owns her own marketing agency, which comes in handy for Musician Makers.
Grace is the brains behind our brand, marketing, and community presence.
She is a Jacksonville native, born and raised, and loves being able to build new businesses in the city she grew up in.
When she isn't working, Grace is usually binge-watching a show, hanging with friends or spending time outdoors with Austin.
Nikki grew up in Jacksonville, FL and now lives in South Carolina with my husband, two dogs, and our cat.
Nikki answers all of our customer communications during lesson hours, and makes sure that this ship runs smoothly!
She loves Jesus, working out, and being outside in the sunshine. Nikki also loves the beach and the mountains.
Amber Sanders is a key part of our admin team. She grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, and moved to Jacksonville in 2018. She graduated from Salisbury University in 2012 with a Bachelors in Communications, and received a Masters in Business Administration from University of Maryland in 2017.
Amer played clarinet and saxophone throughout grade school and has a strong appreciation for all genres of music.
She and her husband have two sons, a four-year-old budding musician, and an almost 3-month-old future musician. She finds enjoyment in helping people and organizations be more organized, prioritized, and less stressed. Her philosophy centers around what role she can play in helping others find solutions.
"I'm excited to work with such an amazing team of musicians who are passionate about instilling a love of music in others."
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.
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
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.
Emily has been with Musician Makers for over a year now, and is beloved
by all her students.
Aiden Simonson
Piano & Vocal Teacher
Aiden first started playing piano in elementary school and has pursued it ever since. They have performed in recitals and had private lessons over the years.
It is very exciting for them to be able to share with other students the knowledge they have been graciously given.
Aiden's favorite way to apply their experience with piano is through worship music. They are currently a part of San Marco United Methodist’s worship team and it is a very fulfilling experience.
They have had experience teaching children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Aiden believes that the piano is a fun, versatile instrument that anyone can learn and pursue!
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.
Sarah Bryan
Piano Teacher
My name is Sarah Bryan, and I teach piano with Musician Makers!
I have my Associate of Arts degree from the University of West Florida, and I am currently studying for a bachelor's degree in music education and music performance at the University of North Florida.
I play the flute and piccolo full-time at school, but before my flute adventures began, I played piano all through grade school! Music is my biggest passion in life, and I want to share the joy that I have found with everyone! I put a lot of love into my studies and all I do, and it is important that I put that same love into my students as well!
In grade school, I entered several piano competitions in my hometown, and also participated in the National Piano Guild for 10 years, receiving a Paderewski medal. I competed in Solo and Ensemble at the district and state level on both flute and piano, and have received superior ratings on each.
I am proud of my career thus far, and I look forward to sharing my passion with students through
Musician Makers!
Teddy Transou
Guitar Teacher
My name is Teddy Transou and I am a guitarist from Tallahassee, FL. I was technically born in St. Louis, MO, but grew up in Tallahassee. I am the middle child to a younger sister and older brother (and soon to be uncle in March!!!) and have a 90 lb black lab mix named Appa.
I have played guitar since I can remember and have been producing and recording music now for about 2 years. When I’m not playing, teaching, or making music, I love playing and keeping up with all of the sports, especially hoops.
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.
Chelsea D'Amico
Piano & Vocal Teacher
Chelsea has been playing the piano for about 17 years. She was classically trained, and went to Douglas Anderson School of the Arts for classical piano/vocal music studies from 9-11th grade.
Her favorite thing about teaching is seeing the kids finally get that one thing they’ve been struggling to learn - or when they learn their song fully - and seeing the joy on their faces! Teaching brings me great joy as well. Chelsea is a valuable asset to the Musician Makers team.
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!"