Get to Know Us

Lee Zimmer - Guitar

Lee Zimmer’s background includes years of experience in rock bands, classical guitar and jazz. As well as being an instructor at the Fender Center, he heads the guitar studies at La Sierra and California Baptist Universities. Lee was one of the original instructors when the Kids Rock Free program first opened its doors to students in the summer of 1998 and was involved in establishing the current curriculum.

Mr. Zimmer’s classical studies include studying privately for several years with Maestro Seiko Sesoko, as well as performing in Master classes with Manuel Barrueco, Sharon Isben, David Russell, Michael Newman, and Jorge Morel. As well as performing and teaching, Lee has arranged music for one, two, and four guitars. His arrangement for two guitars of Le Tombeau de Couperin, by Maurice Ravel, is featured on a CD that he recorded along with guitarist Eric Brenton as Duo Sesoko, a premier guitar ensemble. Lee performs concerts regularly with the duo, as well as a soloist.

Since 1985, Lee has been on the board of directors for the Orange County Guitar Circle, a guitar society that has been in existence for over 35 years. He was the president of the organization from 1996 to 2005.

 

Christopher Diaz - Voice

Christopher Diaz joins the Kids Rock Free program after a varied academic and professional career. He holds an associate’s degree in commercial music/recording technology, bachelor’s degrees in both marketing and music business, a master’s degree in music and human learning and he is currently working on his PhD in digital composition. He has worked for both independent and major recording studios and record labels, and comes to Southern California after spending much of his adult life in two iconic musical centers: New York City and Austin, TX. As a classically trained baritone, Chris has spent years honing his skills as a professional singer and performer. He also plays piano, guitar, drums and is an avid composer and songwriter who has released three full-length albums.

Mr. Diaz has taught music classes that range from kindergarten to college. He was the music specialist for a title I elementary school in Texas before relocating to the Inland Empire. As a member of the KRF team, Chris teaches class and private vocal lessons while also directing the vocal ensemble. He also currently directs discussions as a teaching assistant/graduate student at UC Riverside. A strong believer in intrinsic motivation, Chris believes in allowing his students to bring their own unique musical tastes and preferences into his classroom and studio. This approach works well in an environment like the KRF program, where students are encouraged to study and engage with popular music styles. As a young man, Chris did not find himself interested in traditional music education. As a teacher, he tries to meet the musical education needs of students like himself who may not be interested in the western classical repertoire.

 

Ruben Guaderrama - Guitar

Ruben has been a musician since the age of 11. mentored by several local talents in his neighborhood growing up including drummer Victor Bissetti, and guitists and multi-instrumentalists Cesar Rosas & David Hidalgo (who eventually put together the band Los Lobos).

He has performed from the age of fifteen onward; proficient in guitar, mandolin, tres, bajo sexto, baritone guitar, bass, and ukulele as well as teaching guitar, bass, & ukulele.

He has recorded six albums with his band “The Blazers” and has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe since 1994. Ruben teaches both privately and for local schools including: The Music Academy in Rancho Cucomonga, and here at Kids Rock Free®.

 

Billy Purnell - Extreme Vocal

Billy Purnell is one of Southern California’s most sought after voice teachers, with a full private roster in Riverside and a list of clients all over the world that he works with on Skype. His students include major and indie label recording artists, television and film stars, Disney and Nickelodeon Channel stars, Broadway actors, touring groups, worship leaders, voiceover actors, voice teachers and other professional voice users. Capitol Records artist Tori Kelly, Keke Palmer, Andy Vargas from Santana, Chinese Superstar Teresa Carpio, American Idol star Jessica Sanchez, Kristoffer Cusick and Derek Klena from Wicked on Broadway; these are only a few of the many amazing artists that Billy has been blessed to call students.

He is the creator of the Ultimate Voice Training for Singers home-study CD program that has sold in over 75 countries around the world, and Billy has taught private lessons across the United States and Japan, Australia, Holland, the Caribbean, and Hungary. He has taught and coached 4 different winners of CBS Television’s Star Search, 19 contestants and five winners of NBC-TV’s America’s Most Talented Kids, and 4 winners of the Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Award, as well as performers on America’s Got Talent, American Idol, The Voice, Showtime at the Apollo, Dance Wars: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann, and Sing Off, to name a few.

In addition to teaching here at the Fender® Center for the Performing Arts, he has been vocal instructor to Calvary Chapel’s West Coast and East Coast Worship Leader Conferences, the Young Americans, America Sings, the Hollywood Pop Academy, Ron Harris’s Talent Boot Camp, Hollywood Launch, the School of Pop, and Deborah Gibson’s Camp Electric Youth. Billy’s talent showcases, called Kids4Kids, have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for various children’s charities in the United States.
Email: billy@voicetraining.com

Henry Rodriguez – Drums

Henry has been playing drums for 25 years. His background includes learning from the best -Bob Dominguez, a well known local instructor, Richard Wilson a cutting edge drum Instructor, and Murray Spivak one of the world’s leading percussion instructors.

Henry has been teaching private drum lessons since 1998. He was one of the original instructors at the new Fender Center Museum from 2002-2005 and rejoined the faculty in 2008. Henry has been performing and recording with the Jazz Junkies, a popular local Jazz band and Them Novus, an up-and-coming world power pop band. Henry also teaches private lessons.

 

Vicki Woods - Piano

Vicki Woods always wanted to play piano or organ, but because she is the oldest of 8 children, she didn’t start lessons until she was 15. That’s when the family bought an organ. She made up for lost time quickly because she began teaching at 18. She attended the College of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois for 2 years where she was majoring in organ. Vicki began playing keyboards in live bands at local clubs after moving to Corona, CA in 1976. Her favorite “gig” was at Disney’s California Adventure where she played on Santa’s Beach Blast Float during the Winter of 2003-2004.

She has played at many local churches and is currently playing at St. Mel’s Church in Norco and St. Matthew’s Church in Corona. Vicki is very happy to be teaching at Fender. It’s so great to pass on the fun of music to the next generation.