Business Profile
Montavilla Guitar Studio is the destination for anyone seeking support on their musical journey. Montavilla Guitar Studio offers one-on-one lessons focused on developing musicianship through learning guitar, bass, ukulele, mandolin, piano, voice, and drum set. Montavilla Guitar Studio boasts the best music lessons in Portland, helping the absolute beginner to the lifelong dabbler, the weekend rock ‘n’ roller to the soon-to-be studio musician, the Juilliard-bound teenager to the play-by-ear professional, MGS sets students on a clear course to musical development.
Teaching Philosophy
At MGS we believe that everyone can learn to make music. Musical development is essentially no different than speech development in that, with the right amount of environmental stimulus and practice, musical ability can be cultivated.
Location
Montavilla Guitar Studio is located at 7828 SE Stark Street in the heart of downtown Montavilla.
Montavilla Guitar Studio
We want to show you the way to become an exceptional musician!
Our mission is to give you the creative solutions to remove the obstacles that stand between you and your musical development. We’re changing the music world by guiding musicians to reach the highest levels of musicianship. We have a vision of a world of highly skilled musicians who can excel in any musical situation they encounter, are equipped with the skills to play the music they want to play, and will go on share this movement of excellence with the next generation of musicians. Find out more about guitar, bass, ukulele, mandolin, piano, voice, and drum set lessons here!
Meet the MGS team!
We are the music professionals who believe that anyone can learn to make music, and that learning to play an instrument is an incredibly fun and rewarding way to grow as a person. That’s why it’s our passion to provide the best music lessons in Portland.
We’re here to help make sure you have an exceptional music lessons experience!

Twana York (she/her)
Front Desk
Twana is a Portland native and graduate of the University of Oregon, where she studied Romance Languages. Her focus on learning Spanish and French took her to school in Mexico and Spain, but nowadays her focus is raising her son, who is now in high school. Her background in office administration while working in healthcare and banking has brought her to Montavilla Guitar Studio as a new front desk assistant to support our services to our clients. She has lived around Mt. Tabor and Montavilla during her childhood and adulthood and cares about this community. She played piano growing up and her Dad played guitar and her love of music and fostering that love of learning in young and old students alike is why she wanted to be part of our team.

Mary Bycroft (she/her)
Front Desk
Mary is a mom, grandma and has recently retired from thirty seven years as a respiratory therapist. Her interests include ceramics, gardening and sharing food and music with friends and family. Mary says that she loves “working in this amazing space! ” Mary is our assistant. You may see her helping out at the studio or during one of our concerts.

Karin Cravotta (she/her)
Front Desk Manager
Karin is a native New Yorker who’s been living in Portland since 2010. An avid music lover raised in an artistic family, Karin has been composing poems and songs since she was a small child. As a young adult, she attended the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music where she studied voice and participated in jazz vocal performances and jazz/gospel choir. During her time in Portland, she has worked for various arts organizations and has continued to write on a regular basis. She enjoys singing karaoke.

Emet Harmon (they/them)
Programs Manager
Emet Harmon is a musician, teacher, and coordinator in and around Portland. Harmon (as they’re called around the studio) leverages years of teaching experience, group coordination know-how, and a roll-up-sleeves-and-get-involved volunteer attitude to foster a feeling of community right here at MGS.
Their time teaching students and leading bands has given them a uniquely keen insight into the particular needs of the musicians around the studio (both the ones teaching and the ones learning). This has allowed them to connect with everyone who comes down our hallway and give them a happy and fluid experience within our studio.
When not working at the studio, Harmon is engaging in systems of mutual aid, leading their band Golem Pink, toiling in the garden, and playing board games with their friends and neighbors. They love a challenging book just as much as a good episode of WWE, and seek out excitement wherever they can find it.

Neil Mattson (he/him)
President and CEO
Neil Mattson is an arts leader, entrepreneur, and educator dedicated to advancing arts and culture within his community. As the Founding Executive Director of Montavilla Jazz, Neil has been a driving force in supporting and elevating Portland’s jazz scene for over a decade. His strategic vision has brought arts programming to neighborhood schools, bridging gaps in music programming, and serving hundreds of students.
Neil’s extensive experience as a private music instructor showcases his dedication to individualized learning, having taught more than 25,000 lessons. As the founder and CEO of Montavilla Guitar Studio, Neil has impacted thousands of students and facilitated the professional growth of numerous music teachers. In his role as a business leader and President of the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association, he is actively engaged with the Montavilla community.
With a solid background in business management and marketing, Neil has excelled in developing both nonprofit and for-profit organizational systems. Throughout his work in the Montavilla neighborhood, Neil’s relationships within the community have flourished, a testament to his communication and community organizing skills.
My teenage son started lessons with MGS in the fall & I am astonished at how far he's come. MGS takes guitar seriously and makes it fun with additional practice groups & recitals (with professional musicians sitting in!). Though my son takes private lessons this makes him feel part of a community and he works hard to perform his best. I strongly recommend MGS!
Your first lesson is on us!
Follow the link to schedule your Kickstart Session, a free 30 minute lesson where we play, chat, and find out if we're a great fit.