Athens School of Music
is run by a team of professional musicians trained to teach both beginners and advanced students. We can customize your lessons depending on your musical goals and dreams.
“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
–Friedrich Nietzsche
William Ruff (Violin & Mandolin Instructor)
William Ruff is a violist, violinist, and mandolinist based in Athens, Georgia. He recently graduated in the class of 2020 from the University of Georgia with an undergraduate in music performance and a minor in jazz performance, Summa Cum Laude. His primary teachers were Professor Maggie Snyder and Dave D’Angelo. Focusing on the multi-genre capabilities of his instruments, Will has performed with various jazz, bluegrass, rock, and funk ensembles throughout Georgia.
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The ensemble recently released their debut album “Roads,” half of which was composed by Will. He is also a consistently gigging classical musician, performing at churches, weddings, and a variety of formal events throughout the Georgia area. Currently his main occupation is as a private music teacher, with over 20 students from various ages and musical backgrounds. Will takes great interest in pedagogy, and strives to bring a variety of genre influences and unique technical approaches to help his students become the most well rounded musicians they can be.
Will is currently on a personal journey to expand the harmonic and melodic capabilities of the mandolin in jazz, and generally re-contextualize the instrument in modern music. To do so, he continues his jazz education privately with Atlanta-based guitarist Ben Weatherford. In his spare time, Will enjoys skateboarding, biking, and taking care of his plants and two cats, Rubin and Luna.
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Steve Terry (Guitar Instructor)
an Athens Georgia based freelance musician who has been teaching at Athens School of Music for over three years. Growing up in Atlanta, Steve started playing piano and guitar at a very young age, joining his first rock band at the age of thirteen, and playing in his first musical at the age of fifteen. Graduating from the University of Georgia, Steve has since split his time teaching, playing with nationally touring rock band Universal Sigh, and gigging around town. More... Less
Steve offers lessons on piano, guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, and mandolin, focusing on the specific interests of each student, while providing them a strong technical and theoretical foundation.
Claudia Malchow (Violin Instructor)
Claudia Malchow is a violist currently based in Athens, Georgia. In recent years she has performed with the Baltimore-based ensemble Symphony No. 1 (assistant principal), the Peabody Concert Orchestra (assistant principal), the University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra (principal), and the Augusta Symphony in Augusta, Georgia. As a chamber musician, she formed the Athena Trio in 2018 alongside pianist Caroline Owen and clarinetist Kelly Riordan. More...
The Athena Trio enjoys exploring music written for its unique blend of instrumentation while promoting new music and collaborating with living composers. Claudia earned her bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance at the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with viola pedagogue Victoria Chiang. She currently attends the University of Georgia where she earned her master’s degree in Viola Performance, and is now pursuing her Doctorate in Music under the instruction of Maggie Snyder. Claudia loves teaching students of all ages and backgrounds, and enjoys helping her students explore different styles of music and finding what inspires them the most. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her kitty cat, Starley.
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The Athena Trio enjoys exploring music written for its unique blend of instrumentation while promoting new music and collaborating with living composers. Claudia earned her bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance at the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with viola pedagogue Victoria Chiang. She currently attends the University of Georgia where she earned her master’s degree in Viola Performance, and is now pursuing her Doctorate in Music under the instruction of Maggie Snyder. Claudia loves teaching students of all ages and backgrounds, and enjoys helping her students explore different styles of music and finding what inspires them the most. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her kitty cat, Starley.
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Phile Gayle (Drum Instructor)
Phill Gayle is a long time performer starting from age 11. His first instrument of choice was the clarinet performing in concert band and regional honors bands. At age 13 he started taking drum lessons to expand his musical knowledge. After a few years continuing drum lessons Phill realized that drumming was his true passion and joined his high-schools jazz band. From “2011-2016” Phill attended Shenandoah University with a major in “Music Production and Recording” and a minor in “Jazz performance.” Phill believes music allows people to communicate what they can’t put into words. He loves teaching children and expanding their knowledge with what he has learned over the years of his experience.
Stephen Fischer (Woodwind Instructor)
Stephen Fischer, serves as the Outreach Administrator for the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music working with the Community Music School, String Project, and Summer Music Camps. A graduate of the University of Georgia, he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in music education and a Masters degree and DMA in saxophone performance.
More... As a performer, Dr. Fischer is an active member of the North American Saxophone Alliance, and has been invited to perform at the organization’s national and regional conferences in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. He has also performed as a soloist and chamber musician at meetings of the World Saxophone Congress in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2003), Ljubljana, Slovenia (2006), St. Andrews, Scotland (2012), Strasbourg, France (2015), and most recently in Zagreb, Croatia (2018). An avid supporter of new music, he regularly participates in the commissioning of new works through various consortiums. Commissions include pieces by Shih-Hui Chen, Halim El-Dabh, and Marc Mellits. Dr. Fischer has recently premiered new works by composers Dave Deason, Roger Vogel, Natalie Williams, Ashley Floyd, and Douglas Bassett. Dr. Fischer maintains an active schedule as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. He has served on the music faculties of Georgia College, Clemson University, the University of Georgia, and the University of West Georgia. Less
Mason Davis (Drum Instructor)
Mason Davis began playing drums at a young age, primarily beginning with the study of Afro-Cuban Percussion from Keta Allen, a former student of Mongo Santamaria. He went on to perform throughout the SouthEast US through his teenage years and went on to study Classical Percussion Performance and Jazz Performance at Valdosta State University with Prof. Paul Campiglia. Upon Graduating he relocated to Athens, GA. Where he began a career as a session drummer and percussionist, and also as a freelance touring drummer. He has performed and recorded for many acts throughout the SouthEast including Kishi Bashi, Saint Francis, JGBCB, Dr. Louis Sullivan, and many more…
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In 2014, he assisted the production crew for Snarky Puppy at their performance at the Georgia Theatre and that fall was invited on his first tour as Drum and Percussion Technician for the band. Since then has been touring full time with Snarky Puppy, assisting on every live performance in over 50 countries , including their live recordings of “Family Dinner Vol. 2”, and the 2020 Grammy nominated, “Live at the Royal Albert Hall”. Through working with the drummers for Snarky Puppy he has also worked with Will Kennedy, Eric Harland, and Mark Simmons. He currently Resides in Athens, Ga. where, in between tours, he stays busy as a session drummer/ percussionist, and teaches full time at The Athens School of Music.
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Sveda Arjomand (Voice Instructor)
Sevda Arjomand teaches pop, musical theatre, art song, opera and a variety of other singing styles at the Athens School of Music. A recent graduate of the University of Georgia, she was a member of the Hodgson Singers, the university’s premiere choral ensemble. During her time at the university, she performed in choirs alongside Andrea Bocelli and The King’s Singers. She has also had the privilege of singing in masterclasses for Renée Elise Goldsberry as well as Renée Fleming. More recently, she enjoyed performing Middle Eastern folk song with the Athens Middle Eastern Orchestra and local composer Badie Khaleghian. She focuses on healthy singing techniques, aural skills, and music literacy. She loves seeing students grow and experience the joy of singing!
Dustin Goddard (Piano Instructor)
Dustin Goddard has a lifelong passion for music and has been teaching students for 11 years. His unique background and formal education from Shenandoah University encompasses a wide range of subjects including classical and jazz piano, music theory, music history, audio engineering, and music production. As such, lessons can range a wide variety of topics specific to the interests of each of his students, while tailoring to their skill level. He uses high quality software to deliver the best quality audio and video for comprehensive and enjoyable online lessons. Devoted to the progress of his students, he is readily available to answer student questions between lessons.
