Montel Chan

Location: G Street Conservatory

Difficulty Levels: Beginner to Advanced
Music Styles: Classical, Concert Band, Drum Corps, Pop, Rock, Jazz, R&B, Reggae, Latin, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Salsa, Rumba, and more

Montel Chan is an accomplished percussionist and educator who teaches a wide variety of percussion instruments, from drum set and concert percussion to specialty instruments. He began his musical journey in public school band and has since performed at prestigious events including the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), Drum Corps International (DCI) as a member of Carolina Crown, the Midwest Clinic, and the North American Brass Band Convention. He has also toured internationally in Italy and Ireland.

Montel earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Tennessee Technological University and holds a K–12 teaching license. He continued his studies at the University of North Texas, where he worked with renowned percussion educators Christopher Dean, Mark Ford, and Paul Rennick. Montel enjoys helping students of all ages and skill levels build confidence, develop strong musical foundations, and achieve their percussion goals.

Matt Fincher

G STREET LOCATION
|Drumset/Snare/Marimba

Difficulty Levels: Beginner to Advanced
Music Styles: Any
Locations: J Street Conservatory

Teaching and performing professionally for over thirty years, Matt brings a wealth of experience and passion for music to his students. Highly recommended by many of the area band directors, he can prepare the school percussionist for region and state tryouts, or take any beginner to pro student on the drumset. Interest in all styles of music is welcome and encouraged.

Akshath verma

G STREET LOCATION
|All percussion Instruments/Auxiliary instruments

I am Akshath Verma, a percussionist and drummer with over 3 years of experience performing with local bands. I began playing percussion in 6th grade and have since developed a strong foundation across a variety of instruments. During my time with the Bentonville Pride Drumline, I performed on both vibraphone and snare, and I was also a member of the Wind Ensemble, which broadened my musical versatility and ensemble experience.

I am currently a third-year student at the University of Arkansas, where I continue to grow as a musician. In addition to my studies, I play drums for two local bands, Idle Valley and DOVER. I enjoy performing in a wide range of settings, including live shows, recording sessions, and informal jam sessions.

I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and enthusiasm for percussion, and I look forward to helping students develop their skills and achieve their drumming goals.