Our credentials and experience
Aaron + Emily are two educated, professional musicians who make a living performing, recording, composing and teaching. And they just happen to be married!
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Voice & Accompaniment on Guitar, Piano, or Ukulele - Specializes in Songwriting, Musical Theater, and Music Theory
Emily Desmond enjoys teaching students of all ages. She teaches all levels of voice students, beginning to intermediate guitar, as well as basic piano accompaniment. Her goal is to allow her students to broaden their interests but focus on the type of music that they love. For voice students, she works on keeping their voices healthy and authentic. Emily strives to show her students how to sing what they hear correctly while still maintaining a soulful sound and telling a story with the voice. With all of her students, she incorporates general music concepts, such as reading, writing, music theory, and song forms. And as an active performer, she will help you prepare for your next gig, recital, or audition, and is more than willing to share a few tips about stage presence.
Ms. Desmond has been performing at festivals, clubs, competitions, and fundraising events since the age of 13. She has opened for national acts such as Rob Thomas, Third Eye Blind, Andy Grammer, and Rachel Platten, and was featured by Mix 104.1 at the Hatchshell in Boston.
Emily spent 4 years in Berklee College of Music‘s rigorous songwriting program where she completed many courses in vocal technique, music theory, arranging, basic keyboard, basic guitar, performance, and recording & production. She has been nominated for Best Female Artist by the International Acoustic Music Awards and received the Honorable Mention Award for Best Folk Song from the USA Songwriting Competition. In addition, Emily taught at Page Music Lessons for 4 years and has 4 years of classroom experience teaching music to students on the Autism spectrum, as well as students with various emotional disorders.
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Guitar & Bass - Specializes in Improvisation, Composition, Music Production, and Music Theory
During his time at Berklee College of Music, Aaron Wheeler studied with wonderful educators who helped his passion and appreciation for music to grow. Aaron strives to pass that along and similarly inspire a passion for music in his students. Aaron believes that the guitar is a very diverse and fascinating instrument that can be used in many different ways. It has so many versatile functions (as a rhythmic, harmonic and melodic instrument) in a band or as a solo instrument. He tries to help his students see the possibilities, to understand how and when to use the guitar in each way and to easily flow between them. He uses a combination of technique and skill-building exercises and real-world musical examples to drive home the exercises so that the student is always making music and having fun.
Aaron graduated from Berklee College of Music (Magna cum Laude) with a degree in Performance. During his time there, he played with numerous ensembles in diverse styles, from Metal and Rock to Jazz and Fusion. He studied with notable musicians and educators such as Colin Sapp, John Baboian, Jon Damian, Joe Stump, Bret Willmott, Mick Goodrick, Scott Tarulli, Don Lappin, Amanda Monaco, and Jim Odgren. Aaron performs with his band frequently and has been the guitarist with Emily Desmond since 2014, performing shows in Boston, Lowell, and surrounding areas. He is also a member of the notable party-band company Speechless. Aaron spent 3 years teaching at the Kingsley Montessori School’s afterschool music program and 7 years at Page Music Lessons in Boston.
