SongPond™ Instructors

DAN ORR - Guitarist

Dan first started out playing piano, but once he found a guitar in his dad's closet has been playing guitar ever since. Dan describes himself a partially self taught guitarist who learned many a thing by looking over someone else's shoulder.
Dan trained in performance music and has spent many years playing live, particularly in Church music groups. He specializes in driving acoustic rhythm and has a love for alternate voicings and open chords. He is currently experimenting with other tunings.

RUTH SEARLE - Pianist

Ruth formed a passion for piano at the early age of 7 when she began classical studies. She is trained in music and composition, majoring in commercial music.
She was winner of the Emma Trust music award for Composition in three consecutive years, winner of the APRA Award for Composition and her debut album, “Ode to Ivory”, gained critical acclaim.
She aims to help students to be inspired to not only play piano well, but to make their own music and express themselves through their playing.
Ruth continues to hone her skills as a pianist, dividing her efforts between Classical, Jazz, Soul, Gospel, Blues, Pop and Progressive Rock piano styles.

MARK MCKENZIE – Guitarist

Mark began learning guitar at age 14. Early on he was inspired by guitar greats like Jimi Hendrix and Mark Knopfler and sought to emulate their sound. His career in Music has taken him many places. He has played every style you can think of including Jazz, R&B, Rock, Funk and Latin American. He has played and recorded for the NZ Army band as well as many other bands as a session musician. Mark loves to teach and brings this passion to every SongPond lesson.

BEN EDWARDS – Guitarist

Ben is a highly respected guitar teacher in the online world of guitar learning. The former lead guitarist for the popular band "DegreesK", Ben has toured internationally and played with many great acts including The Datsuns, Shihad, Cog, Betchadupa, Grinspoon, Icarus line, the Butterfly Effect and Love Outside Andromeda.
Ben’s passion for teaching others, especially guitar, sparked him to develop Jamorama - The Ultimate Guitar Learning Kit which is still one of the best selling guitar courses online today.

MOSES ROBBINS – Guitarist

Moses is a singer-songwriter who has been playing guitar for over seven years.

ASHLEIGH SOUTHAM – Pianist

Ashleigh Southam started out learning classical piano from an early age. His passion for music led to further study at the Christchurch Polytechnic Jazz School, Auckland University and the Otago University for Contemporary Music.

PAUL UBANA JONES – Guitarist

Born in London, Paul Ubana Jones was playing guitar by the age of 11, beginning a three decade career that would see him crossing continents and recording seven albums of mostly original songs.
After graduating from a London music college, where he studied guitar and cello, Paul began to forge the solo acoustic style that he has stuck to and developed over the years.
He has performed internationally, to growing acclaim. Concert performances include opening for the likes of Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo’, Tuck and Patti, and Crowded House. Festival appearances include Dublin Blues Festival, Byron Bay Blues Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, and Blues at Bridgetown, as well as festivals across Canada and elsewhere.
Paul continues to perform regularly in New Zealand and is well known to Wellington audiences.

“Paul Ubana Jones’ … soulful voice, sprightly guitar agility and enthusiasm made this the most inspired performance of the evening … In any other country he would be a national institution!” -- Simon Sweetman (Reviewing Paul Ubana Jones/Patti Smith/Bob Dylan, Queen’s Wharf Events Centre, September 1998)

“Trying to describe just how good Paul Ubana Jones is, is like trying to define why the Mona Lisa is the most famous painting in the world – words pale in comparison.” -- Evening Post