Band Aid School of Music
LAKEWAY
Our story
Walking into our Lkeway location feels like finding your people — a place where families, creativity, and momentum thrive! This is where you are part of a community that’s both grounded and inspired.
Lakeway is a community where family comes first, and everything else grows from there. It’s laid-back, intentional, and full of forward-moving energy. Our school was built to match that hill country rhythm — a place where kids feel safe to take risks, parents feel proud of their choice, and music becomes a shared family experience.
Sometimes the space is buzzing — bands locking in together, drums thundering, amps humming with purpose. Other times it’s calm and focused — students deep in learning, creating, and discovering what they’re capable of. That balance is no accident. Real growth happens when energy and safety live side by side.
Families often feel it the moment they walk in — a sense of relief.
“This is it. We found something special for our family.”
The Lakeway location features:
State of the art band performance spaces with state-of-the-art sound systems
Modern lesson studios designed for focus, creativity, and growth
High quality instruments, amps, drum sets, and sound equipment so your students know what it is like to play through top-line gear
Everything here is designed to help students grow with confidence — step by step, win by win — while keeping the experience fun, inspiring, and pressure-appropriate.
This is a place where kids feel energized and supported.
Where parents feel proud and confident in their investment.
Where creativity flows, friendships form, and music becomes part of who you are.
This isn’t just a music school.
It’s a creative home where families connect, confidence gets loud, joy shows up often, and a lifetime love of music is empowered — together.
We have more awards thaN
any other music school in Central Texas.
Band Aid School of Music has won more awards than any other music school in the area. We are also Central Texas’ only National Champion Rock Band School. For years, we’ve been the school of choice for hundreds of families.
Location and Hours
Address:
915 Ranch Road 620 South
Lakeway, TX 78734
Phone:
(512) 256-0453
Email:
lakeway@bandaidschoolofmusic.com
Lesson Hours:
Monday: 10:00AM–10:00PM
Tuesday: 10:00AM–10:00PM
Wednesday: 10:00AM–10:00PM
Thursday: 10:00AM–10:00PM
Friday: 10:00AM–10:00PM
Saturday: 10:00AM–10:00PM
Sunday: 10:00AM–10:00PM
Ready To Enroll?
We have teachers standing by, ready to help you reach your goals! Click the button below to head to your sign-up page!
Pricing
Band Program
$375/Month
90-minute weekly sessions
Your band, your songs, your friends
Learn songwriting, arranging, rehearsing, performance, recording, image, booking, marketing, promotion and more!
State of the art equipment and facilities
Access to Band Aid’s recording studio
Six guaranteed performance opportunities each year, including two performance classes per semester
Other gig and performance opportunities at local, legendary venues
Group Classes
$290/month
60-minute weekly class
Classes are designed for beginners and advanced beginners, who are developing the skills to join our rock band program, and for those who just learn better in a group environment. The next step after classes is private lessons once they understand the fundamentals.
State of the art equipment and facilities
Access to Band Aid’s recording studio
Performance opportunities available throughout the year
Specialty classes available – Guitar Legends, Voice Legends, Improv, Production, and more…
Online and
In-Studio Lessons
$280/Month
30-minute weekly session
Guitar, Drums, Voice, Piano, Keyboards and more
State of the art equipment and facilities
Access to Band Aid’s recording studio
Six guaranteed performance opportunities each year, including two performance classes per semester
Other gig and performance opportunitie at local, legendary venues
$540/Month
60-minute weekly session
Meet Our Staff
Voice | Guitar | Bass | Songwriting | Bands | Music Business |
Record Production
James Mays votes on the Grammys. He is the creator of SXSW Underage, The Kids Are Alright Fest and Band Aid School of Music. Mays has served as production director of the Miami Music Festival, assistant production manager for SXSW Music and a producer of both NAMM’s School Jam USA and ACL Fest.
As a teenager, Mays began earning his living as a singer. His performing credits range from CBGB’s to Emo’s, to London’s Troubadour by way of Carnegie Hall. His works can be heard in film, television and commercials, including one debuted by Bono as the score for Nike’s Red Campaign. In 2017 Austin City Council and Mayor named October 12, “James Mays Founder of Band Aid School of Music Day” for his past, present and future contribution to Austin’s musical legacy.
Mays’ most current band, mrandmrsmays, earned top ten ranking from many college and AAA radio stations across the country. He began teaching young people in 1991 and has done so since his return to Austin in 2001.
Current Bands: Jonny 8 Track, mrandmrsmays, Bob Popular
James Mays - Director
Sari Pearce - Location Manager
Sari Pearce is the Location Manager for Band Aid School of Music in Dripping Springs, where she supports faculty, oversees daily operations, and helps build a warm, community-centered environment for students and families.
A classically trained violinist with 30+ years of teaching experience, Sari holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California. Her performing career includes work with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, performances for Luciano Pavarotti, and recording music for the TV series MacGyver.
Sari collaborates frequently with her husband, Andrew—a former cellist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra—and co-founded the Lakeway Masterpiece Concert Series. She also brings 20+ years of experience as a Texas Realtor®, adding strength in organization, operations, and client care to her leadership role.
She is passionate about creating a supportive, inspiring space where students, families, and teachers can thrive and make music together.
Guitar | Voice | Trombone | Tuba | Euphonium | Band | Song Writing |
Song Writing
Sumner Erickson is a native of South Austin who comes from a deeply creative and musical family. He is the youngest brother of the late rock and roll pioneer Roky Erickson who, with his seminal band The 13th Floor Elevators, invented psychedelic rock music. Sumner studied at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and, at just 18 years old, won the position of Principal Tubaist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under André Previn, becoming one of the youngest principal musicians in a major U.S. symphony orchestra. During his more than two decades with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Sumner performed in many of the world’s most celebrated concert halls, including Carnegie Hall in New York and the Musikverein in Vienna. His international touring career took him throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, along with numerous professional recordings and television appearances. In addition to his performing career, Sumner has served on the faculties of Temple University, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, UT San Antonio, and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. His extensive musical training also included vocal studies under renowned teacher Dr. Robert Page. Today, Sumner is passionate about sharing the joy and meaning of music with students of all ages, bringing world-class experience, creativity, and encouragement into every lesson.
SUMNER ERICKSON
Guitar | Bass | Ukulele
Carmelo Bonaventura is a guitarist and performer whose musical roots span Classic Rock, Blues, Funk, Fusion, and Progressive Rock. Influenced early on by artists such as Led Zeppelin, Queen, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, and Van Halen, he developed a passion for guitar that led him into decades of professional performing, recording, and teaching. During high school, Carmelo studied guitar with Rusty Anderson, longtime guitarist for Paul McCartney. He later attended the Guitar Institute of Technology, where he focused on music theory, harmony, improvisation, and performance. He also studied at Berklee College of Music and the Recording Institute of Technology. Carmelo spent years performing professionally in Seattle and Los Angeles, playing with original bands that attracted attention from major labels including Elektra, Atlantic, Sony, and Maverick Records. His recordings and projects involved acclaimed producers and engineers known for work with artists such as No Doubt, Deftones, Korn, and Slipknot. As a member of the blues-rock band Hunter & The Dirty Jacks, Carmelo toured nationally, performing more than 100 shows per year and appearing at major venues and festivals including KAABOO Del Mar and Jam in the Van. Throughout his career, he has shared the stage with artists including Foo Fighters, Blondie, Tower of Power, The Zombies, Velvet Revolver, and Robby Krieger of The Doors. As an instructor, Carmelo is passionate about helping students build strong musical foundations while exploring creativity, improvisation, songwriting, and performance in a fun and encouraging environment.
CARMELO BONAVENTURA
Piano
Marco Cerrillo has been teaching piano for over 20 years and brings a lifetime of musical experience to his students. He studied Classical Music for four years at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, where he received extensive training in piano, music theory, solfège, traditional harmony, and music history. Beyond his classical training, Marco has performed professionally in Rock, Pop, Jazz, Blues, Latin Jazz, Reggae, and a wide variety of Latin music styles. Throughout his career in Mexico City and Cancún, he has performed with numerous bands and shared stages with legendary artists including B.B. King, Spyro Gyra, Al Jarreau, Tito Puente Orchestra, Santana, Rubén Blades, Willie Colón, Celia Cruz, Oscar D'León, The Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Mel Tormé, Etta James, Larry Carlton, and many others. Marco's musical journey began at age seven when he learned guitar by ear with a neighbor’s help. He explored Blues, Rock, Jazz harmony, and Bossa Nova before discovering a passion for piano at age thirteen. He studied with respected teachers José Luis Cházaro, who emphasized artistry and expression, and Leopoldo González, who focused on technical mastery—an ideal combination that helped shape him into a versatile musician. A lifelong student of music, Marco developed a deep interest in jazz through independent study, learning from the renowned John Mehegan jazz method books and drawing inspiration from legendary pianists such as Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, Horace Silver, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Chucho Valdés, and Papo Lucca. As a teacher, Marco combines strong classical fundamentals with real-world performance experience, helping students build technique, creativity, confidence, and a lifelong love of music. His lessons are tailored to each student's goals and interests, creating an engaging and supportive learning environment.
MARCO CERRILLO
Piano | Voice
Kiah Unadike is a versatile music educator and audio production graduate with a lifelong dedication to music. She began studying piano at age five and has sung in a church choir since age eight. In high school she completed IB Music, earning a score of 5. She graduated cum laude from McNally Smith College of Music with a Bachelor’s degree in Audio Production and a minor in Music Education. Teaching since 2015, she blends classical and contemporary methods with technology to create engaging, individualized lesson plans that meet each student where they are and support their goals. She has experience teaching students as young as two years old and, since 2019, has received training to work effectively with students on the autism spectrum and those with learning disabilities. Passionate about fostering musical growth, she emphasizes adaptable instruction, student-centered planning, and the effective use of digital tools to enhance learning.
KIAH UNADIKE
Guitar | Bass | Piano | Drums
Keegan Potter is a multi-instrumentalist from Wichita Falls, Texas who grew up in a family where music was a part of everyday life. With both his father and brothers playing multiple instruments, Keegan was immersed in music from an early age. He began piano lessons at age five before expanding to cello, bass, and eventually guitar, which became his primary instrument. Inspired by artists such as Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, and The Allman Brothers, Keegan developed an appreciation for a wide range of musical styles. He is entering his final year at Texas State University, where he is pursuing a degree in Guitar Performance with a concentration in Jazz. As a teacher, Keegan believes students learn best when lessons are connected to the music they enjoy. He tailors each lesson to the student's interests and goals, helping them build strong fundamentals while expanding their musical vocabulary and confidence. His goal is to create an engaging and supportive environment where students stay motivated, make consistent progress, and develop a lifelong love of music.
KEEGAN POTTER
Piano | Voice
Max is a drummer and music instructor who brings a unique perspective to his lessons. Having lived in Germany, Brazil, and Texas, he has been exposed to a wide variety of musical styles and cultures that continue to influence his approach to teaching and performing. Inspired by his father and older brother, who both played guitar, Max first picked up the guitar in high school before discovering his passion for drums. He studied under Noel Rodriguez and Will O'Bryant at School of Rock in Cypress, Texas, and has performed with the School of Rock House Band as well as numerous ensemble groups. Max believes students learn best when they feel involved in their own progress. His lessons provide structure and guidance while encouraging students to take ownership of their learning. He uses books and other resources so students have something tangible to work from between lessons and can clearly see their progress over time. Rather than focusing on mistakes, Max encourages students to think critically about their playing and discover solutions for themselves. His positive teaching style helps students build confidence, develop strong practice habits, and stay motivated without feeling overwhelmed. He especially enjoys helping students make steady progress at home and seeing them exceed their own expectations while having fun along the way. Max enjoys teaching students of all ages and experience levels and welcomes those interested in exploring different musical styles and creative approaches to learning. Outside of music, Max has a background in theater, film, and videography, including sound design and scoring for short films. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies, playing tabletop games with friends, and continuing to learn from the many musical traditions he has encountered throughout his life.
Max Cipollaro
Questions?
Sign Up Now!
If you are ready to go, click the button below to head to our sign-up page!