Accelerate your growth with Sonora Mentorship
Sonora's Mentorship Program provides 1-on-1 access to the world’s top guitarists and educators, weekly Masterclasses, facilitated practice sessions, and more.
Grow with the pros
Our mentors are acclaimed guitarists and seasoned educators who can help students break through plateaus.
Build relationships
Choose a mentor that fits your style, and develop a meaningful relationship as you accelerate your musicianship.
Get unlimited feedback
No waiting for your weekly lesson. Ask questions and get detailed feedback from your mentor when you need it.
Full Time Faculty
Brian Green
Brian Green is a guitar player and producer based out of Los Angeles, California. He has toured, performed and/or recorded with artists including John Legend, Rufus Wainwright, Michael Bublé, Nayo, and Kat Mcphee.
Robb Cappelletto
Robb Cappelletto is a guitarist, composer and educator based in Toronto, Canada. He has two decades of professional teaching experience and has been on faculty at York University as a jazz guitar instructor since 2007.
Curt Henderson
Nashville-based Curt Henderson has played, recorded, and toured internationally with major artists like EZA (Ellery Bonham), and John King, and has worked with American Idol finalist Jonny Brenns.
Seth Rosenbloom
A highly regarded blues guitarist, Seth has shared the stage with legendary musicians and played at almost every iconic club across the US. He has developed a unique approach to teaching blues that melds generations of styles into a modern, adaptable technique.
Trevor Giancola
Toronto-based Guitarist and Educator Trevor Giancola has shared the stage with legendary musicians and built a strong reputation for himself teaching at the university level for over a decade.
Mike Chisnall
Mike Chisnall is an LA based, British guitarist. He has spent the last decade touring and performing as a hired gun, being a musical director and sideman. Most notably with the YouTube sensation Postmodern Jukebox, where Mike has toured, recorded, and filmed videos with them that have amassed millions of views worldwide.
Rob Garland
Rob Garland, originally from England, played with 'The Blue Monks' in the U.S., opening for legends like B.B. King. Now based in Los Angeles, he performs at renowned venues and has recorded at top studios, including J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot. With over 25 years of guitar teaching experience, Rob has taught countless students, been a faculty member at Musicians Institute, and developed courses for TrueFire & JamPlay. His bestseller includes 'Chord Navigator: CAGED'. In 2023, he authored 'The CAGED Rhythm Guitar Method'. He's collaborated with musicians like Steve Vai and is endorsed by brands like Bogner amps.
Matt Sickels
Matt Sickels, based in Greensboro, NC, began his musical journey in Ohio and honed his guitar skills at the distinguished Cuyahoga Community College's Jazz Studies Program. Further refining his expertise at the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media, he was mentored by acclaimed instructors and had sessions with guitar maestros like Guthrie Govan. Today, with vast performance and teaching experience, Matt offers private guitar and theory lessons, blending rich tradition with modern techniques.
Michael Wynar
Michael Wynar, a prominent Bay Area musician and guitar instructor, honed his skills in jazz at Northern Illinois University. Since moving to the Bay Area in 2006, he's established a significant musical footprint: teaching, initiating the GrooveLab after-school program, and performing at iconic venues like The Great American Music Hall and Fox Theater. He's toured with Grammy-winner Jody Watley and collaborated with legends like George Clinton. Michael is a member of Oakland's Strike Iron band and actively collaborates with funk band Sal’s Greenhouse. His diverse expertise spans gospel to jazz and summer festivals.
A modern approach to study
Unlike private lessons, Sonora’s mentored students get unlimited access to feedback so learning and progress can happen every day – not just once a week.
THE OLD WAY
Traditional lessons
Students met with an instructor once a week. For the remainer of that week, students were more likely to practice bad habits and progress slowly.
THE MODERN WAY
Sonora's anytime framework
Students get unlimited access to a mentor, 7 days a week. Along with a custom daily practice plan, forward progress can happen rapidly and at any time.
Guest Lecturers
Mark Whitfield
Mark Whitfield is a Berklee-trained jazz guitarist who has collaborated with legendary artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, and more.
Josh Sklair
Josh Sklair is a two-time Grammy Award winner, honored during his 20+ years collaboration as band leader, guitarist, arranger and co-writer with American Music icon Etta James.
Adam Levy
Los Angeles-based Adam Levy has released more than a dozen albums of his own, and is featured on recordings by Norah Jones, Vulfpeck, Ani DiFranco, Allen Toussaint, and other renowned artists.
Steve Cardenas
Brooklyn-based jazz guitarist Steve Cardenas has recorded and toured with such jazz greats as Paul Motian, Charlie Haden and Steve Swallow, to name a few. Steve is also on faculty at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City.
Amanda Monaco
Amanda is an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music where she teaches private instruction, labs and guitar ensembles. and has performed with artists such as Milt Hinton, Steve Wilson, Rufus Reid, and more.
Arianna Powell
Arianna Powell is a Los Angeles-based touring and session guitarist. She currently plays guitar for Halsey and has also toured with Nick Jonas, Black Eyed Peas, JJ Lin, Drake Bell, and more.
Mimi Fox
Internationally renowned guitarist, composer, and recording artist Mimi Fox has worked with artists Abbey Lincoln, Joey DeFrancesco, Charlie Byrd, Branford Marsalis, Diana Krall, and Stevie Wonder, and more.
Jordan Peters
Brooklyn based guitarist and producer, Jordan Peters has worked, toured, performed and recorded with artists such as Lauryn Hill, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jon Batiste, The Weeknd, NAS, Billy Porter, Quiñ, The Roots, and more.
Nicholas Veinoglou
Nicholas is an LA-based session and touring musician who has toured both nationally and internationally with artists like Jordan Fisher and Atlantic Records recording artist Bazzi.
Nora Bite
Jazz guitarist Nora Bite is a London-based educator and composer from Latvia. One of the many artists Nora has had the opportunity to share the stage with includes the great, late Amy Winehouse.
TJ Whitelaw
Tj is a Toronto-based touring and session guitarist. His on-stage experience is wide-ranging, spanning from Pop/country to jazz to Gospel. He’s performed with MYA, Jessie Reyez, Madison Beer, Kardinal Offishall, and more.
Alicyn Yaffee
Alicyn Yaffee is a New York City-based guitarist, vocalist and bassist, She has toured the U.S. and Europe under her own name, as well as with Becca Stevens, Grammy-nominee JC Hopkins’ Biggish Band, and bassist Benny Rietveld (Santana).