Arend Aldama:

Piano

Born and raised in Sacramento, California, Arend Aldama is a classically trained pianist who holds a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from California State University, Sacramento (CSUS). He began playing piano at the age of seven. Mr. Aldama has performed and accompanied as a professional pianist around the Sacramento region. During his years at American River College (ARC), where he earned his associate degree in music, he auditioned for the Concerto-Aria competition and was chosen three times. He performed the Grieg “Piano Concerto in A minor” and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with the ARC orchestra.

Mr. Aldama has a contagious excitement about the piano to share with his students. He is proficient in performing and teaching many different styles of music ranging from baroque, classical, and romantic to jazz, blues, ragtime, and rock. He also has a well-rounded appreciation for a variety of classical repertoire and a compassionate understanding of the learning process students are traveling through. Students enjoy his patient approach and willingness to relate to their personal musical interests and tastes.

A pleasurable environment in the piano lesson is a must. Mr. Aldama believes a supportive atmosphere with positive, yet critical comments encourages students to learn more about the piano. He believes it gives them a desire to practice, which helps them become self-motivated and independent learners.

Mr. Aldama is currently working on his master’s degree at CSUS, and plans on continuing his performance studies by pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (DMA) at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

Zach Rockafellow:

Guitar (electric and acoustic) & Bass

Primarily a Rock/Blues guitarist, I honed my music theory and sight-reading skills while pursuing a degree from Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, CA. After graduating from MI, I  moved back to the Bay Area, and began providing freelance lessons, gigging, and recording with my band ‘Dollar$hort,’ with whom I've performed hundreds of shows around the Bay. In early 2022, I began teaching and providing music lessons full-time, teaching nearly 200 students in both individual and group settings. I also own a business creating custom pick-ups and sound equipment. 

Joseph Arquette:

Voice

Joseph Arquette is currently completing a doctorate in audiology at California State University, Sacramento. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Vocal Performance from the University of California, Berkeley. He has studied and worked as a musician and actor performing with numerous choral, big band, Latin jazz, opera, pop, and classical music ensembles. As a baritone, he has worked as a cantor, soloist, and bass section leader performing solos with orchestra in works by Faurè, Mozart, Puccini, Bach, and Handel. He also earned an Associate of Arts degree in Music Vocal Performance from East Los Angeles College where he spent much of his time nurturing his craft and performing regularly throughout Southern California. He has worked with the West Edge Opera Company in Berkeley, performed annually for the Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Pageant, and worked in film and television for companies like Disney, Telemundo, Cineville, and Nerdist Industries. He is an advocate of longevity and believes that music can make us better at everything that we do. He is thrilled to be joining Heart Beats Music School and sharing his passion for music. 

Gabrielle Helfer:

Piano

She/her

Gabrielle Helfer is a classically trained pianist, composer, conductor and educator from Granite Bay, California. She studied at the Sacramento State School of Music, majoring in Composition with a concentration in piano performance. She then moved to Seattle to studyunder Emmy winning composer Hummie Mann at the Seattle Film Institute, earning a Masters Degree in Film Composition. As a culmination of her Masters Degree, Gabrielle conducted a 52piece orchestra made up of Seattle Symphony musicians, performing her final graduatecomposition. She recently had an original orchestral composition premiered by the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra.Gabrielle has been teaching private piano lessons since 2012, and performs regularly forprivate events and recording sessions. Most recently Gabrielle was the music director at a High School in Los Angeles, and is currently tutoring a handful of Berklee College off Music studentsover zoom, preparing them for exams. Gabrielle also has experience teaching Certificate ofMerit, including teaching group theory classes and group ear training classes.

Gabrielle’s teaching philosophy is that every student learns differently, and she bases her teaching around understanding each of her students. To Gabrielle, music is a portal to knowing oneself, and to understanding people and the world around them. One of her greatest passions is to instill her love of music with each student she teaches, and to watch them fall in love with piano.

Annie Charleboix:

Harmony Road

Annie Charleboix is currently a third-year undergraduate student at California State University Sacramento, CSUS. She is working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with a concentration in jazz voice. Annie is a member of CSUS’ Vocal Jazz ensemble and has gained experience singing Lead Soprano from her participation in the group. She has also been a member of a variety of choral groups at both Christian Brothers High School and CSUS. Annie was chosen for the All-State California Alliance for Jazz, CAJ, High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble for the California All-State Music Education Conference two years in a row where she was privileged to work under the direction of Kerry Marsh, an arranger and publisher well-known in the vocal jazz community, and Kim Nazarian from New York Voices. Annie is experienced in both voice and piano. She will be teaching group classes for the Harmony Road program at Heartbeats. She is excited to teach the Harmony Road classes and apply the experience she has gained from working in her mom’s second grade classroom for the past ten years.