Why Pathfinder Music Lessons?
Pathfinder Music Lessons Ringwood started out as Ben Plant Guitar back in 2015, a guitar-only school in Ringwood, whilst Pathfinder Music Lessons Kilsyth has been a music school for much longer, formerly known as Sammy’s Music School, Streams and Stormer Music.
In 2023, the two studios joined forces as Stormer Music Ringwood & Kilsyth, before eventually becoming Pathfinder Music Lessons in 2025!
Our goal is to teach musicians:
The most effective ways to learn and play
Practical techniques and lessons that get results fast
The skills you can't learn from the internet or books alone
To become an independent, confident learner
How much fun making music can be!
Adrian
Teacher
Ringwood
Adrian’s our resident metal-head, into all things heavy! His focus on technique and advanced guitar playing is highly sought after by advanced students & beginners alike.
Adrian’s completing his Bachelors of music, and also gigs, writes and records with his metal band in Melbourne.
Dave
Head of Guitar
Ringwood
Dave's an experienced rocker who has created compositions for film, games, bands and avante garde soundscapes.
Dave joined the team in 2016 and runs many of our group guitar lessons for adults and beginners.
Dave holds a Masters of Music and a Bachelor of Applied Music from Box Hill Institute. On weekends, you can catch him playing in a variety of classic rock bands.
Harrison
Teacher
Kilsyth
Harrison is an experienced drum and piano teacher with a background in metal, jazz, rock and everything in between.
He often teaches students from his self-authored drum method books, though he also teaches AMEB Rockschool.
Harrison holds a Bachelors of Music and is a regular gigging, writing musician too.
Rory
Teacher
Ringwood
Rory’s an experienced teacher with a background in composition and music technology, which he’s studied through his Bachelors (Honours) at Monash University.
Students who are after extra depth and understanding in their lessons love Rory’s teaching style.
Rory’s a regular performer in a number of bands and has additional experience developing instruments and techniques for students with different needs.
Christian
Teacher
Kilsyth
Christian’s a drummer with a background in church music, soul and funk, so his students are very well developed at groove and timing.
Having now completed his Bachelors, Christian spends his free-time playing in bands as a drummer and also as frontman for his own band.
Giles
Lead Teacher
Ringwood
Giles is our master instrumental teacher, teaching guitar, drums, piano, violin (and he even offers lessons in other instruments too!)
A regular performer in multiple bands, Giles joined the team in 2023 to build out our lessons in other intstruments.
Most Ringwood students will meet Giles in his role as Lead Teacher when they first start lessons with us.
Giles holds a Masters in Music and has taught in schools across Australia.
Luke
Teacher
Kilsyth & Ringwood
Luke joined the team in 2017 as a student, and is now one of our most popular teachers for young students and advanced fingerstyle players alike.
Luke has established himself as one of the foremost modern guitarists in the world, with a number of endorsements, tours and awards under his belt.
He’s currently undertaking tertiary music qualifications at Box Hill Institute.
Dominic
Studio Assistant
Ringwood
Dominic’s a highly skilled guitar student who now helps manage the Ringwood studio.
Dom plays guitar and cello, both to high standards (he even accelerated VCE Music) and has worked as a busker around the community.
Outside the studio, Dom’s undertaking his final year of VCE in 2025.
Claudia
Teacher & Assistant Studio Manager
Kilsyth
Claudia’s a highly skilled contemporary piano & vocal teacher, with a background in classical music too, so is always in-demand with those who want to sing and play themselves!
Claudia regularly performs and manages her own large band (with Christian as drummer) and has completed a Bachelors of Music.
Harriet
Studio Manager & Teacher
Ringwood
Harriet’s our Studio Manager at Ringwood, who teaches singing & beginner keyboard.
Harriet started her journey with us as a young up-and-coming guitar student, before focusing her efforts on vocals.
You’ll often be speaking with Harriet for all things to do with lessons, as she manages the studio and the team at Ringwood.
Now, as a Bachelor qualified music teacher, Harriet performs and records with her own band & others.
Miranda
Studio Manager & Teacher
Kilsyth
Miranda’s a highly sought after vocal coach with experience in everything from rock bands to musical theatre.
When she’s not belting out ballads with her students, Miranda manages the studio and team at Kilsyth, a studio where she herself learnt guitar back in the Sammy’s Music School days!
Miranda’s undertaken tertiary music studies at Box Hill, but her current passion is in music theatre.
Abtin
Studio Assistant & Assistant Teacher
Kilsyth
Abtin’s a master shred-guitarist, who now also helps manage the Kilsyth studio.
You’ll also catch Abtin helping out in guitar lessons, as he’s building up his skills to teach his own students.
Abtin’s also undertaking his final year of VCE in 2025
Hiring Teachers for Workshops
If you’d like a guitar teacher to present a specialist:
Guitar workshop
Seminar or
Performance
for your organisation, get in touch to let us know how we can help.
We do offer pro-bono workshops for charities, non-profits or special-needs educational institutions if applicable. You guys deserve some extra love!