Jared Goodpaster (Goodie)
Co-founder/ Education Director/ Teacher/ Professional Musician/ Cool Dude
After traveling the world teaching English in NYC an Czech Republic, Jared Goodpaster settled down in Boise, Idaho and earned his Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. Promptly after finishing his graduate degree, Jared put his education to good use and created the curriculum for Boise Rock School. Jared has played in bands The Veltexans, Halos of Mojo and Hillfolk Noir (with whom he played SXSW in 2012!). He currently plays lead guitar in The Ravenna Colt. Jared brought hipster back from the Czech!
Ryan Peck (Rye Bread)
Co-founder/ Managing Director/ Teacher/ Adjunct Professor/ and Stuff
Ryan’s musical history consists of writing a lot of songs on piano and guitar. Ryan has shared the stage with Ben Harper, Aqualung, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Reckless Kelly, Josh Ritter, Asleep at the Wheel, Marc Ford, Jerry Joseph, Leon Mobley and, most awesomely, Jared Goodpaster. In his spare time, Ryan teaches Biology at Boise State University (he used to teach 5th graders in the Bay Area), runs a concert series/ NPR radio show titled “Music from Stanley,” and tries to teach his dog Molly not to eat his socks. Ryan is 1/2 of the band Edmond Dantès with BRS teacher Andrew Stensaas. Ryan also really likes chocolate and hot sauce.
Jessica Burlile (Jex)
Teacher/ Piano Master/ DMB Lover/ Marathoner/ Cookie Eater
Jessica has been an instructor at the Boise Rock School since 2010 and has a BA degree in Music from Boise State. You might find her running a marathon or writing music in her free time, or at a Dave Matthews concert over Labor Day weekend. She started playing piano at age 7 and picked up a few more instruments over the years (violin, guitar, drums, saxophone, flute, mellophone…etc). If she won the lottery she would write a letter asking Jimmy Page to come to Boise, hire an Iron Chef to cook for her every day and still work at Boise Rock School.
Andrew Stensaas (Andy)
Instructor/ Husband/ Singer Extraordinaire/ Rebel Rouser
At age 3, he began playing pots and pans on the kitchen floor. Later, in his adult life, Andrew started singing – spending nine years in Portland performing with various bands before moving back to his hometown here in Boise. He now plays in the duo Edmond Dantès with Ryan Peck. He is proficient in vocals, piano, guitar, percussion and being awesome.
Sarah Jareczek (Jazz)
Teacher/ Administration/ Joker
Sarah is a life-long piano student who also plays a mean guitar. When not at rock school she can be found cruising around the country watching live music and being awesome. She’s also a big fan of organization and hipster jokes.
Douglas Cameron (DC)
Teacher/ Professional Musician/ Yoga Master
Doug began his musical career minutes after seeing Def Leppard on TV when he was about 3 years old. Since then he has toured the nation with his band Stranger Neighbor and as a solo artist.
Dan Keck (Dan the Man)
Teacher/ Professional Musician/ Recording Engineer/ Husband/ Father/ Radical Dude
Dan spent the latter half of the 2000′s touring the United States in a 15 passenger van playing tunes he wrote as the frontman of the band Bank. Now happily married, Dan has settled into working on his craft of songwriting and recording in his home studio out in Nampa while raising his expanding family. With a new love of teaching, Dan is excited to be a part of the Boise Rock School team!
Louis McFarland (Louie)
Teacher/ Professional Musician/ Mr. Drums
Louis can make anything sound musical. From an empty coffee can to a Ludwig kit – Louis has the “goods.” Louis plays with a number of Boise projects including Bill Coffey and His Cash Money Cousins, New Transit and Gizzard Stone. In his spare time Louis attends Boise State University and collects vinyl!
Thomas Paul (TP)
Teacher/ Professional Musician/ Boy Wonder (he can play anything)
Composer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Thomas Paul has been with Boise Rock School since the beginning. He is adept in a diverse range of genres including swing, funk, country, bluegrass, lounge jazz, blues, psychedelia and bedroom folk. Cellar Notes recently dubbed him “one of the premier performers in the Northwest.” Paul has often shared the stage with notables Curtis Stigers, Ned Evett, Nick Jaina, Jonah Shue, JD Kindle and several other Northwest luminaries as well as a number of music giants such as John Hammond and Teddy Thompson. Michael Deeds of the Idaho Statesman Paul has “been in more Boise bands than any sane musician should, and he plays essentially any instrument with strings or keys plopped in front of him.”
Jesse Claus (Santa)
Teacher/ Music Major/ Master Choir Singer/ Motorcycle Expert
Jesse Claus, is a music education student (almost finished!) at BSU. Riding motorcycles is his hobby; teaching, his passion. He rocks out to anything from Elliott Smith to Led Zeppelin to the Ray Brown Trio. Between long walks on the beach and star-gazing, he writes poetry and take pictures with his cell phone.
Jeff Cochran (Jeffy Pants)
Teacher/ Professional Musician/ All-around Good Guy
Jeff Cochran loves to play guitar, write songs and produce his own music. In the grainy photo above we attempted to highlight the essence of Jeff, which is doing a lot of thing really well, all at the same time. He is a born and raised potato eater and loves my L shaped state! Jeff believes that music is the soul of our lives and that sharing it with others is as important as learning it yourself. Jeff lives to grow and develop while helping others do the same.
Aaron Connolly (Con Man)
Teacher/ Professional Musician/ Really Nice Guy
Aaron started playing guitar before he was potty trained. Then he got bored for a while and learned drums, bass and keys. Then he got really into guitar. Now he leaves a trail of melted faces whereever he goes. He plays with local band The Fav!
And!
We have a bunch of other awesome folks involved with our school including: Kacey Martinez (pays our bills and does office management), Casey Miller (our go-to audio engineer) and other rad peoples!
Note, any teacher can be reached directly by emailing: first name [at] boiserockschool [dot] com