Tyler Pompei
Tyler Pompei is a professional songwriter, performer, and music teacher specializing in piano and bass guitar. He began his musical journey at age fifteen, forming a punk band with friends. Known as Koala!, the band performed everything from The Smashing Pumpkins to Yes and played many shows around the Boston/Providence area. After the band parted ways, Tyler formed Mr. Thinwheel, a jazz fusion project that saw him take the stage at renowned venues like The Middle East in Boston, The Met in Rhode Island, The Hard Rock Cafe, McCoy Stadium, and perform live on public radio, among countless other performances.
In 2014, Tyler attended the Berklee College of Music Bass Workshop, led by world-renowned bassist Victor Wooten. This experience shaped his approach to improvisation and musicianship, giving him the opportunity to learn how to confidently perform in a variety of musical settings.
Tyler’s teaching journey began in 2018 at School of Rock, where he developed his communication and teaching skills while mentoring over 30 private students in piano and bass. He also led group performance classes, guiding students to stage performances at local venues. After leaving School of Rock, Tyler continued his teaching career independently, focusing on personalized lessons for each of his students.
As a teacher, Tyler is known for his approachable and attentive personality. He believes in the power of music as a form of self-expression and aims to create an open, warm, and welcoming environment in every lesson. His goal is to help students build confidence, find their voice, and feel comfortable exploring their musical ideas. Tyler values the importance of building strong connections with his students through shared musical goals and a mutual passion for music. He always encourages open communication, making sure his students feel free to ask questions and express themselves.
Tyler has worked with students of all ages, with a particular focus on young children, pre-teens and teenagers. He especially bonds with students who share a love for rock and blues, as well as the sounds of the ’60s and ’70s. While rock n’ roll is his first love, he also enjoys playing and teaching in a variety of genres, including jazz, pop, metal and hip hop and can see the threads of blues and rock and roll running through all types of modern music.
Why does Tyler teach music? Simply because he believes in music’s unique ability to help us discover who we are inside. His mission is to share that transformative power with his students, encouraging them to explore their musical potential, to believe in their unique purpose in the world and to have the courage to express that uniqueness through songwriting, improvisation, and performance.