Meet the Instructors

At the Sweetwater Academy of Music, our professional instructors have decades of performing and teaching experience to draw from. While all are passionate about their instruments - and about passing along that passion to their students - their collective talents span a wide range of playing styles and musical genres. No matter what your age or the style of music you're interested in, just give us a call, and we'll match you up with the instructor that's perfect for you.

	Kelly Lentine - Director Kelly Lentine started working in the music industry in 1985 at an Ohio retail music store. She has over 20 years experience with all aspects of operating a music store, including music lessons given on all types of instruments. Prior to joining the Sweetwater Academy of Music, she oversaw a music lesson program that had an enrollment of over 1,000 students.
	Steve Bell - Guitar Steve's love for the guitar started in the '60s during those formative years of Rock 'n' Roll! Throughout his extensive playing experience, he has grown to appreciate all forms of music, actively playing rock, country, gospel, blues and more. Steve started teaching lessons at the young age of 14, and hasn't stopped since - continually refining his proven teaching methods, and offering his knowledge to eager students of all styles and levels.
	Kenny Taylor - Guitar Kenny has been teaching guitar, mandolin, lap steel, and ukulele for more than twenty years with a particular adoration for '50s guitar stylings, rockabilly, surf, The Beatles, bluegrass, honky tonk, finger-picking, and more. He's toured extensively both nationally and internationally with his rockabilly band, The Blue Moon Boys, getting the chance to open for such guitar legends as Dick Dale, Link Wray, and Brian Setzer. A BMI affiliated songwriter whose songs have been recorded by rockabilly great Ronnie Dawson and more, Kenny still plays out quite a bit locally and in the Indianapolis area with a number of projects including original bluegrass with K.T. and the Moonshine band, instrumental surf guitar with the Tikiongas, honky tonk punk with Cadillac Zac & The No Money Downs, and as one half of rockabilly duo, Deuce.
	Scott Newman - Guitar Scott Newman is a 1998 graduate of the Ball State University College of Fine Arts. He has taught instrumental music at the secondary level in public and private institutions in northern Indiana for eleven years. Scott's primary instruments are guitar and saxophone. He enjoys working with young students, but has taught performance, music theory, music history, and a myriad of genres to all age groups. Scott has extensive experience in sacred and secular music performance, and is passionate about maintaining music education in our schools.
	George Ogg - Guitar George Ogg has been playing guitar professionally in the Fort Wayne area for more than 30 years. He can often be seen performing in several of the city's finest restaurants including Opus 24 and Club Soda. George can teach any style of guitar that students desire, including jazz, blues, and rock.
	Tom Porter - Guitar Tom began his musical career at the age of eight, when he first started playing the guitar. He has developed many styles of playing over the years, including finger picking, hybrid picking and flat picking. As a student, Tom's favorite guitar instructor was Ray Earl, a studio musician that also performed with several touring bands and worked with Loretta Lynn. Tom has had a diverse performing career that has spanned many musical genres to include country, rock, southern rock and traditional R&B. His resume includes tenures with bands such as Savannah, August Rose, Southern Overdrive, Loredo and Profile. He has also worked with the Kentucky Head Hunters, Alabama, Duke Tumatoe, Colin Ray and the Forester Sisters to name a few. Tom loves teaching music as much as he enjoys playing music.
	Eric Clancy - Piano/Synth A professional musician for over fifteen years, Eric began his piano studies with jazz bassist and piano player Carl Rowan, and later continued learning with the great Kenny Werner. He continues to refine his cross-genre talents by playing on countless local/regional/national and international projects as a studio musician, while also gigging solo and with a number of bands in the Northeast Indiana and Chicago regions. A former adjunct professor of Jazz Theory at Huntington University, Eric is passionate about all things music - from technique to theory to recording and production. And, while certainly a master of all-things-jazz, Eric loves keeping up with - and teaching! - all the latest in keyboard and synth technology.
	Hope Arthur - Piano/Synth A graduate of Concordia Lutheran High School, Hope Arthur is now a sophomore at IPFW, double majoring in Music Business, and German, with a concentration on piano. Hope has played piano for almost twelve years, and is well versed in both jazz and classical. As a piano instructor for the past three years, she has taught students ranging in age from seven to 25. Hope is very active in the IPFW music program and performs with the choir and the university's wind ensemble. In addition, she is an active local musician, and has been writing music since the age of 17.
	Dave Nelson - Bass A whiz on both electric and upright bass, Dave received a host of prestigious awards during his early playing days which propelled him to continue his playing career at Purdue. As a Boilermaker, he played with a number of variety and jazz ensembles as well as local professional acts before he moved to the DC area. There, Dave continued to gig at many area clubs and hotels with hometown favorite Earl Jackson, before he got invited to tour with Rhythm House and eventually open up for Grammy-winning band, Petra. A versatile player, and ardent about passing on his love for music, you can see Dave regularly as he frequents Eddie Merlot's and Club Soda with a local favorite band, Dana Christy's Trio.
	Doug Laughlin - Drums/Percussion Doug has been playing drums professionally since the age of 14, having performed and/or recorded with an impressive roster of artists including Ransom, Gravity, Jay Fox, Francie Zucco, Petra, New Millenium Jazz Orchestra, comedian Heywood Banks, and many others. He's also opened up for a diverse set of national artists such as Ronnie Milsap, Jars of Clay, Canned Heat, The Grass Roots, Starbuck, and The Oak Ridge Boys. Currently a part of two bands - Nostalgia and the Island Vibe band - Doug enjoys playing a wide variety of music, and is committed to the education of aspiring musicians.
	Steve Smeltzer - Drums/Percussion Steve Smeltzer has been a fixture on the Fort Wayne music scene for the last 35 years. He's played with bands at about every local venue, from the smallest and most intimate, to the main arena at the Memorial Coliseum. He's also played on numerous radio and television commercials, various rock and jazz CDs, and extended "house gigs" at such places as Columbia Street West, Club Soda, Paula's Seafood, The Holiday Inn-Downtown and The Downtown Hilton. In addition to these public engagements, he's played countless private functions at The Summit Club, The Fort Wayne Country Club, The Grand Wayne Center, and The Embassy, to name a few. But possibly he is best known as a drum teacher who has taught hundreds of students, many who have gone on to professional music careers or even have become drum teachers themselves.
	Larry Ford - Drums/Percussion Larry earned a B.S degree in percussion performance from ISU. He was named the national winner of MTNA's Concerto Competition. Since then, he has played vibes in the Larry Ford Trio. Larry makes his living as a freelance educator. He has been performing percussion for 29 years. Thirteen of those years were with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra. Larry also is a percussion adjudicator for ISSMA contests.