Teaching Artists
Em Smith
Em is a dancer and printmaker with 4 years of experience in direct support services with disabled adults, primarily those on the Autism spectrum. They train primarily in the LA born dance style of Whacking/Punking and frequently up-cycle clothing using block printing and screen printing techniques. They are a patient teacher and always implement self advocacy lessons into their work, this means that student self-direct what they want to learn.
Evan is a musician and educator, and has established himself as a professional saxophonist in Los Angeles, specializing in jazz improvisation and woodwinds. He holds a BFA in Music Performance from Calarts, and offers classes in these subjects, as well as music history, instrument technique and beginning piano/music theory. Evan has taught privately for 10+ years, and for 5 years in the non profit space, developing the skills necessary to offer all of his students the individualized learning approach necessary to meet their musical goals.
Evan O'Brien
Loran Witteveen
Loran is an award winning pianist, composer and educator with experience teaching all ages and levels. Loran was a professor at the Codarts University for the Arts in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
He has years of experience teaching at both universities and music schools throughout Europe. Besides teaching, he has developed curricula for the Codarts University for the Arts in Rotterdam as well as Jazz Hands for Autism in Culver City, California. He has taught piano for 17 years and has been teaching the neurodivergent community for 5 years. Besides his work as an educator, Loran is the cultural advisor for the Netherlands – America foundation.
Siv Anderson
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Siv is a music educator, composer, and ceramicist with a Master of Music in Composition from Listaháskóli Íslands, and Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College (MA). She is experienced in teaching composition, songwriting, piano, and voice to neurodiverse students. Siv is also an accomplished recording artist and visual artist: her work has been reviewed by Rolling Stone DE and Record Collector Magazine, and she is a member of The Pottery Studio in Los Angeles.