Sound Roads Music is a community music school located in the heart of the Santa Monica Pico District. With an emphasis on performance, competition and leadership, we have created an environment for young musicians to thrive. We welcome all who are dedicated and excited about learning music. High standards are maintained through the support of our community and the regular 
performance opportunities created for our students. It is our belief that a performance-based approach mixed with a healthy dose of competition and peer support motivate students to strive for a higher level of musicianship and understanding.
TOM FARRELL: DIRECTOR AND OWNER
Tom Farrell has taught music for the past 20 years and over that time has watched many of his students develop into professional musicians. As a performer himself, he encourages his students to perform as much as possible making it the main focus for developing their skills as aspiring musicians.
Growing up in Chicago, Tom began the guitar at the age of 12 and was mostly self taught, learning by playing in multiple rock bands. As a teen he was exposed to the classical guitar through old recordings of Andres Segovia that he found in a discount pile at the record store. He immediately fell in love with the sound of the classical guitar and went on to study classical guitar at DePaul University and Northwestern University.
While finishing his Masters from Northwestern, Tom was accepted into the world-renown master class taught by legendary guitarist Oscar Ghiglia at the Academia Chigiana in Siena, Italy. Ghiglia himself was a Segovia protégé and responsible for mentoring some of the world’s top classical guitarist. While at Northwestern Tom performed for many other greats such Sergio Assad, Manuel Barrueco, Roland Dyens, William Kannengeise, Nigel North etc. and went on to graduate ‘summa cum laude.’ In 2000, Tom was awarded first prize in the Society of American Musicians collegiate guitar competition and went on to pursue a career as a solo performer playing concerts around the US.
Eventually feeling disillusioned with the classical music world, he set off on a course that embraced all styles of playing. His interest led him into the realms of Jazz, Flamenco and Rock N Roll where he developed a style of guitar playing unique to him. In 2007, Tom moved to Los Angeles where his approach to music and teaching continued to dramatically change based on the opportunities that the new city provided. Since then his guitar playing has been featured on several fiIm soundtracks including ‘Casa de mi Padre’, along with Christina Aguilera, as well as ‘Anchorman II’.
In 2010, Tom met violinist Javier Orman and formed the kinetically charged power-duo, KOZM (fka Duo del Sol), and tours regularly throughout the U.S. coast-to-coast and abroad.
REIKO NAKANO: DIRECTOR AND CO-OWNER
With a passion for teaching and years of experience, Reiko Nakano delights in helping her students grow as violinists. She believes that each student is unique and tailors her teaching style accordingly. Reiko believes that each student is an artist. She strives to offer innovative and inspiring experiences that connect students with their passion for all music and encourages them to create and perform styles of music that they really, really enjoy playing.
Reiko Nakano received her Bachelor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music.
Though she is as an accomplished violinist in the classical music, her study at Berklee was in the field of Jazz and world music. In her study, she successfully proved her exceptional soloist talent in many areas of music performance and production.
Reiko has been involved in a multitude of performances while still a student. She has worked with numerous artists including Elton John, John Williams, Steven Tyler, P. Diddy, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Snoop Dogg, Ariana Grande, Nikki Minaj, Michael Brecker, Kanye West, T. Pain, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Charlie Haden, Kenny Barron, Dianna Reeves, Gary Burton, Donna McElroy, Richard Evans, Oliver Heldens, among many others.
http://www.soundroadsmusic.com
(310) 433-5891
info@soundroadsmusic.com3017 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405, USA