Staff
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Dave Carroll
Instruments: Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Guitar
Experience: 10 years of teaching Band, Chorus, and General Music in several public schools in the Boston area, including Quincy and Newton public schools
Studied: Boston University
Specializes in: Jazz, Classical, and Rock 'n Roll
Approach: Teaches with positivity around each students' individual learning style. Creates a safe place for learning where students can feel free to ask questions, make mistakes, be themselves, and develop their musicianship independently. As music director at The Conservatory, Dave organizes and oversees the education process, ensuring that each teacher meets the National and Massachusetts standards for music education and provides a positive learning environment for each student.
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John Paolilli
Instruments: Guitar, Bass, Ukulele
Experience: 17 years playing, 11 years professionally.
Studied: Berklee College of Music
Specializes in: Rock, Pop, Country, Blues, Jazz
Approach: My teaching style is focused on the music that inspires the student to practice and learn. Through this approach, we discuss all the techniques and theory needed to achieve musical proficiency and eventually excellence.
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Debbie Apple
Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello
Experience: Over 10 years teaching privately
Studied: Bachelor of Music summa cum laude, University of South Carolina; Master of Music, The Boston Conservatory
Specializes in: Classical
Approach: I believe that through learning music, students are exposed to the joy of expression, the value of perseverance, and the rewards of collaboration. By providing individual private lessons personalized for each student’s goals, I nurture growth by emphasizing a well-rounded musical understanding in addition to building a quality performance ethic. I introduce musical expression and phrase interpretation at every level of playing. Ear training, theory, and history also play a large part of my musical instruction as students learn that technique always serves musical expression. Ultimately I strive to share the love of all kinds of music with every student in a way that enriches their lives.
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Kathleen O'Boyle
Instruments: Voice, Piano
Experience: 24 years playing and performing, 10 years experience teaching
Studied: B.A. University of New Hampshire in Voice Performance, cum laude; M.M. in Voice Performance, Longy School of Music; International Education for Students, 2006 spring term, Vienna, Austria
Specializes in: Classical, pop, musical theater
Approach: My approach to teaching piano and voice is based on classical technique, but my main intention as an educator is to cultivate a passion and joy for music learning. All piano students learn scales, harmony, sight-reading, theory, and performance repertoire. I teach a varied performance repertoire, including classical and popular, but I highly encourage the student to communicate with me about the repertoire they would like learn, as I want to make sure that they are inspired by what they are working on and retain a natural curiosity to learn. I challenge the student to work through exercises, material, or content that may be difficult for them, but I also develop and expand on their musical strengths, which builds self-esteem. I use positive reinforcement and connect with each student through a healthy student teacher relationship based on mutual trust and respect. I have a keen ability to connect with and inspire young beginner piano students to continue working towards their goals. I cross-train my voice students in the classical, pop, and musical theater realms so they become versatile dynamic singers. The ultimate goal is to gain control of the voice and use it in many different ways. I also focus on ear-training, breath management, expression of text, diction, performance practice, stage presence, and audition preparation.
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Aaron Bellamy
Instruments: Bass, Guitar, Music Production, Music Theory, Song Writing
Experience: 25+ years performing, touring and recording with National and local artists including Chaka Khan, G Love, The A-Beez. Production/Engineering credit on a multitude of records and singles. Private Teacherfor 10+ years, Bassist for Roxbury Presbyterian Church (2010-2020) Milton Academy Gospel Choir. Producer, Composer and Arranger: The A-Beez.
Specializes in: Funk, R+B, Rock/Metal, Reggae, Pop,
Approach: My goal is to encourage each student to explore various musical styles that resonate with them. I encourage students to learn the language of music through music theory and technical exercises as well as learn how to express themselves artistically and spiritually. I want my students to feel empowered and inspired to learn and grow into better musicians with each lesson.
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Hadley Lloyd
Instruments: Drum Set and Percussion, Beginning Guitar, Beginning Piano, Early Childhood, Rock Bands
Experience: I have experience teaching both private and group percussion/drum set lessons. I teach individuals with special needs at the Berklee Institute of Arts Education and Special Needs (BIAESN), and I teach a Percussion class and an Introduction to Band class at the North End Music and Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC). I have been playing the drum set for 16 years and have been gigging for the past two years.
Education: University of Connecticut, B.A. in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences with a concentration in Human Development and Family Studies. M.M. in Music Education and Autism at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Specializes in: Jazz, R&B, Funk, and Rock
Approach: Everybody learns differently! My goal is to individualize the lessons in order to celebrate each person's unique learning style. I believe that learning happens when the material presented is geared towards individual interests and musical goals. It is important to incorporate valuable musical concepts and techniques within the lessons in a fun and engaging way. My hope is to help foster a welcoming and inclusive environment in order for each individual to get the best out of their musical experience!
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Irene Choi
Instrument: Piano
Experience: Over 20 years teaching experience in Newton and the greater Boston area
Studied: B.A., University of California, Davis, M.M., New England Conservatory, Boston
Specializes in: Classical, Jazz, Vocal Accompaniment
Approach: I give my students an experience that is well-rounded and fun. I feel it is important to end each lesson with the student feeling both challenged and inspired, always wanting to come back for more.
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Shannon Corey
Instruments: Piano, Voice, Songwriting
Experience: Piano Player/Singer/Songwriter National and International Tours with original music: opened for Lady Gaga, Jon McLaughlin and sang back up on tour with Stephen Stills. 10+ years of Classical/Pop piano/voice teaching experience. Received a Yamaha endorsement for 2007-2010 and won the ASCAPLUS award in Jazz & Popular Division in 2010 and 2011. The voice of the“WAYFAIR” jingle that you can still hear on TV today!(Website: www.shannoncoreymusic.com)
Studied: Berklee School of Music - Boston: Theory Program Certificate, Piano Performance Program Certificate. Mannes School of Music at The New School - NYC: Encores Program: Piano Pedagogy certificate. The Royal Conservatory of Music - Toronto: Elementary Piano Pedagogy Certificate, Intermediate Piano Pedagogy Certificate.
Specializes in: Classical, Music Theory, Musical Theatre, Pop, and Songwriting.
Approach: Each child that walks through the door is gifted with his/her own strengths in music. Being able to encourage and empower them through these gifts is what I believe to be most important. Finding a balance between technique, theory, note reading and just plain fun will give each child a well rounded and enriching music experience. I also like to see what music the students are inspired by and can personally create an arrangement of that song for them at their level. te reading, theory, technique, ear training, and will build a repertoire of classical and pop songs. They will also get the opportunity to sing while playing, because singing helps with memorization! From there, I will curate a program that fits the child’s needs and focuses on their strengths and passions, while maintaining the important standards necessary to complete each level!
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Shooka Afshar
Instruments: Piano, Voice, Flute
Experience: 22 years of performing, 10 years professional teaching
Education: First Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Physics. 2.5 years of Undergrad studies, Dalcroze
Eurhythmics training and a Master’s Degree in Music in Classical Vocal Performance from Longy School
of Music. Teaching Artist Certificate from Longy School of Music, and a City of Boston Certified Artist
Specializes in:
Piano: Classical, Pop: Beginner - Intermediate
Voice: Classical, Musical Theater and Pop: All Levels
Flute: All Genres: Beginner – Intermediate/Early Advance
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Ted DeColo
Director of Woodwinds -
Zachary Baskin
Instrument: Bass
Experience: Active performer, promoter and educator with years of private lesson and ensemble experience in various schools
Studied: Berklee College Of Music, B.A. in Music Business & Professional Music 2009-2014
Specializes in: Rock Styles & other genres
Approach: Teaching technique and songs through motivating exercises, promoting that music should be fun first and a great outlet for expression.
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John Frazee
Instruments: Brass, Drums
Experience: Professional musician and music educator in the Boston area since 1993. Since moving to Boston, Mr. Frazee has balanced his professional career with performing and teaching. Aside from freelance work with local blues and jazz artists, he played with Boston Music Award winning bands, Rippopotamus (1993-1996) and The Allstonians (1996-1999). He continues to lead his own performing groups Uncle Johnny’s Band (classic jam rock), Miles Ahead (electric Miles Davis tribute), and the Johnny Frazee Trio. While at The Boston Conservatory, John began working part time at The Brookline Music School as a private trumpet teacher for both adults and students. He was soon hired by the Public Schools of Brookline as a beginning band instrument teacher in their elementary system largely instructing beginning brass. This developed into a System Wide Music Teacher position where his responsibilities included beginning group lessons for all winds and percussion as well as concert band and classroom music instruction. After 14 years in Brookline the opportunity came for full-time employment for the City of Cambridge as an Instrumental Music Teacher where he currently instructs brass instruments and elementary band. Mr. Frazee continues to balance performing and teaching. Recently he began traveling to Japan where he had the opportunity to perform with some local musicians in Tokyo and Nagano. He has also instructed basic jazz workshops for adult and student amateur as part of “The Ueda Joint Free Music Party” music festival in Nagano, Japan (2009) and at Shibazaki
Jazz Club in Ueda City Nagano, Japan (2010).
Studied: Bachelor of Arts in Music from Westfield State College with a concentration in Trumpet Performance, Music Education and Jazz Studies; Master of Music Education,
The Boston Conservatory of Music
Specializes in: Blues, jazz, Rock
Approach: John focuses on each students' individual learning style and creates a safe place for learning, so that students can feel free to ask questions, make mistakes, be themselves, and develop fully as musicians.
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Annie Linders
Instrument(s): Trumpet, Trombone, Guitar, Beginning Piano
Experience: 12 years experience gigging with various bands, 7 years of experience as a bandleader, 4 years teaching music in public schools, 12 years teaching private lessons, teaches bands at the Soloman Schechter School in Newton
Studied: Bachelor of science in music education from University of Missouri - Columbia
Specializes in: traditional jazz, folk, modern jazz, wedding band, blues, neo soul, pop
Approach: I use a combination of reading and ear training when working with students. My goal is to find out a student's music interest and find songs that they will want to play. Of course, it is important to make sure that the fundamentals and technique of playing are there. I tend to end lessons with a little bit of ear training and music games. I teach musical vocabulary as it relates to the individual songs we are working on.
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Clara Mazo
Instruments: Violin, Viola and Trumpet
Experience: 18 years of playing violin and 10 years playing trumpet
Studied: The Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Specializes in: Classical, Folk, Jazz
Approach: Finding the students individual love for music and cultivating it is so important. Everyone is different and learns differently so being able to teach and cater to different interests/ ways of learning is what I believe inspired students to keep playing.
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David Ling
Experience:
David is a Malaysian-born composer, performer, and educator currently based in Boston, MA. A graduate of Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory, he is a highly sought-after musician in the Boston and New England music scene. His current projects include an upcoming album release and tour with Grammy-nominated vocalist Debo Ray, and a monthly residency at Boston’s historic Wally’s Cafe with his 16-member Wally’s Jazz Orchestra. David has also received recognition for his work as a composer, winning the prestigious ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award in 2019.
Studied: Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory
Specializes in: Jazz, Classical, Pop and other contemporary styles, improvisation, composition/arranging, music synthesis
Approach:
I believe music education should be both fun and engaging for the student and teacher. I develop personalized lesson plans based on each student’s interests with an emphasis on creativity and self-expression. I also incorporate fundamental musical basics in creative ways to keep things interesting for the student. -
Jake Hirsch
Instrument(s): Saxophone, Guitar, Clarinet, Bass, Music Theory/Production
Experience: 10+ years of performing, recording, and teaching experience
Education: Dual Degree in Jazz Composition and Performance from Berklee College of Music
Specializes in: Jazz, Progressive Metal, Funk, Rock
Approach: I am all about applying interesting and exciting harmonic and rhythmic concepts to actual music. For me it is all about finding that spark of curiosity in a student and exploring it to its fullest potential! I like to balance my lessons with a mix of ear training, conceptual learning, and in some cases working out of method/etude books, all centered around catering to the individual needs of the student.
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Riley LePere
Instrument(s): Saxophones, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Beginner Piano, Harmonica, Banjo, Music Production/DAW
Studied: Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Berklee College of Music Contemporary Writing and Production
Experience: 10 Yeas Performing and Teaching
Specializes in: Musical Theater, Pop, Rock, Classical
Approach: I love to get to know my students and use their lived experiences to make a connection to music that much easier! I have experience working in mental health and am a firm believer that music is a personal journey, and the quickest way to success is to take it things at one’s own pace and enjoy the process! I think that music is about connecting with others and yourself, and emphasize this human aspect in my teaching. Students can expect to learn the music that they want to as well as the fundamentals of their instrument through a combination of in-person instruction and customized lesson materials for individual practice.
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Veronica Ramirez Diaz
Instrument(s): Voice, Piano, Guitar, Ukulele
Experience: 17 years of singing professionally, gigging and playing with ensembles of varying styles.
Studied: Bachelor of Music in Jazz Singing at EAFIT(Medellín-Colombia).
Specializes in: Jazz, Rock, Pop, Latin.
Approach: I teach through imitation and exploration to help develop the student's body proprioception. This allows them to have better control of their instrument. I encourage active engagement in the student while introducing musical terms that connect practice with music theory. I create a positive learning environment allowing the student to have a great learning experience.