Meet our Teachers!
With so many teachers, there is bound to be a perfect match for you or your student!
Take a look through our teacher bios, photos and links. They are all incredible musicians in their own right, from classically trained to self taught, touring musicians to online personalities -- all teaching here, in Southern Pines and we are so excited to connect them to students and share their talent and love of music! You can send a teacher request to our scheduling manager or when you sign up for lessons.
Jonathan Robinson
Jonathan is a guitarist and a songwriter from rural North Carolina with a broad range of influences and styles and they all show up in his writing and guitar playing.
Born in NC, Jonathan paid his dues as a sideman in Nashville, only to end up back in his hometown making the music he loves and grew up with. He still plays gigs regularly at local venues as well as travels to play when asked. You'll catch him at The Neon Rooster on Thursdays as the house band or during their Blues Jam.
He has been working at Casino Guitars since 2017 and was teaching guitar well before that. He is great teaching a variety of styles on both acoustic and electric guitar. To get a taste for his personal style, you can listen to his music HERE or check out his Youtube Channel.
Chelsea Davis
Chelsea Davis is a Drum, Percussion and Guitar instructor and Songwriter/Producer in the triangle area of North Carolina.
Originally from Utah, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from Southern Utah University before moving to Los Angeles in 2007 to pursue a career in music. While touring and recording with established and up-and-coming acts she also provided Private Instruction for artists and other clientele, tailoring each session/syllabus to the individual and their goals.
Finally landing in NC in 2020 she continues to write and produce for artists as well as her own projects in addition to Drum & Guitar Instruction. See her play & talk about her work with Moon HERE.
Shannon Harrison
Shannon comes to us from Honolulu Hawaii where she studied classical guitar at the University of Hawaii under Ian O’Sullivan from Yale University. Her background in Classical, Rock, Folk, Finger-Style and Hawaiian slack key (open tuning) make her her a unique acoustic guitar teacher at Casino Guitars.
Shannon has a gentle touch and a love for beautiful acoustic guitar music. Shannon loves singing harmony that she cultivated in traditional church choir and cover bands in Honolulu. She believes you are never too old to learn to play guitar and improve your singing voice. The joy music brings is something she is excited to share. After overcoming debilitating stage fright, and raising two successful daughters, she is a great resource for anyone that needs a supportive and kind teacher with the patience and insight for effective learning and performing. Learn more about Shannon’s path to a music career HERE!
Shannon is also helping manage the teaching studio so you may hear from her regarding scheduling lessons or joining us for performances!
James Villone
James Villone has been with Casino Guitars since the shop opened in 2016. James grew up somewhere in the woods outside of Carthage, NC and spent their younger years dedicating themself to the craft of various and sundry musical endeavors and also being a huge video game nerd.
James has toured up and down the east coast as a member of several different regional bands and has acted as a creative director and producer for a few others. James is a singer songwriter and lifelong guitarist.
His music can be heard HERE.
Dylan Potter
Originating from Connecticut, he is no stranger locally having made the Sandhills his home for over 20 years. Dylan has had a lifelong passion for music and has been playing the guitar for 16 years. He grew up listening to Classic Rock and 80's hair bands while turning wrenches with his Dad in the garage. After being gifted his first guitar and amp from his parents, he was hooked and has stuck with it ever since. Although while previously working at the daily grind as a HVAC tech, Dylan continued to pursue his passion playing guitar with various bands and friends. He has played a diverse range of genres including Classic Rock, Thrash Metal, Prog Rock, Indie, Blues, and Funk. While incorporating a blend of these styles together, he and a close friend formed a freestyle Jam Rock band. They are locally based but have also performed at various live events throughout the North Carolina area.
Dylan has recently joined us here at Casino full time and is looking forward to sharing and expanding his musical skills. You can find his band here
Sean Diesfeld
Along with teaching, Sean also works at Casino Guitars, runs his own production company, Pactolus Records, plays with local band The Violet Exploit and manages sound at the Neon Rooster in Aberdeen. He has recorded and produced some of our own musicians as well as others in the area.
Sean is a great beginner guitar teacher for both acoustic and electric guitar and is especially good with younger students.
Jeremy Winguard
Jeremy currently teaches guitar, ukulele and vocal coaching with Casino Teaching Studios. He has two sons who attend STARS, Sandhills Theater and Arts Renaissance School. He plays guitar and sings with a local band, The Five Kings.
His wife is a doctor who works with teeny tiny babies and with young kids of his own, he is an energetic teacher!
He speaks kid language and ensures that students are enjoying their lesson while learning life-long musical skills.
Lyd Riedesel
Lyd is our Ukulele teacher who is self taught with the guitar, ukulele and voice. She comes from a musical family and I'm working on more for her bio and hope to update the page soon!
Jeff Whitesell
Jeff starting teaching with Casino Guitars in 2021 but is really a life-long guitarist and Eagle Scout! He comes from a musical family and picking up an instrument just seemed like part of growing up.
As a kid, he was drawn to metal but has sense become more of a blues rock player. He finds musical inspiration from ACDC, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Hendrix, and Black Sabbath among many other favorite musicians!
When it comes to music, he likes loud amps, good guitar tone and energy! He loves comic books. And when he’s not playing, he’s spending his free time with his Bassett hound, Guinness.
Studio Owners, Baxter & Taylor Clement
Baxter is a born musician, able to play pretty much anything he picks up. He attended the the O'Neal School and then North Carolina School of the Arts for high school where he studied classical guitar. He then went on to earn a full scholarship to Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music and later play on Broadway and tour.
He returned to North Carolina in 2006, and founded this teaching studio (formerly Sandhills School of Performing Arts). In 2016, he and Taylor opened Casino Guitars and turned his teaching studio into professional guitar lesson studio; to employ working musicians and share their love of music.
Although Baxter does not take on new students, he continues to share his passion for music through the Guitar Shop and it's Youtube Channel, as well as some rare local performances. Many of Baxter's former students have continued on to pursue a collegiate path and professional career in music.
Taylor is a former Financial Advisor who stepped away from Finance in 2016 to spend more time with her sons and help open the guitar store. She now manages the finances for the teaching studio and guitar shop.