|
|
ABOUT OUR TEACHERS
We have the finest staff of teachers, combining both educational and professional experience. Our knowledgable and experienced teachers have come from The Hartt School of Music, Yale School of Music, Western Ct, Southern Ct, and Quinnipiac Universities. Most of our teachers are presently preforming in the regional music scene. We teach all levels of learning abilities from the gifted to the challenged, and all in between. We teach all ages, from the preschooler to the senior citizen! They work closely with each individual student, at the student's pace, to provide quality instruction. Come join in!
 |
Ken has been on the music scene since the mid 70's leading the very popular bands "Made in the Shade", "Full House", and "Elm City Blues Project". As a member of the DW Armstrong Rent Party, Ken arranged and played on both CD's showing his versatitly on both guitar and harp. In early 2001, they were chosen as CT's best blues band and traveled to Memphis for the National competition. He has hosted both the Foundry Blues Jam in the 80's and up until 2009 the Sunday Night Blues at Cafe 9. Ken is an accomplished musician and arranger, and has also played drums and saxophone professionally.
|
 |
Eric Spoldi currently resides in his hometown, West Haven, CT, where he recently spent a year teaching Elementary Band in the West Haven Public Schools. Eric studied double bass under Dave Ruffles and received a BS in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University in 2009. Eric is an experienced performer in both the clasical and jazz idioms, having spent time in a multitude of performance ensembles. In addition to his experience with different performance styles, Eric also teaches a variety of musical instruments, including strings, brass, woodwinds, and piano. Eric is a member of the Randy Kemp Trio and also gigs professionally with pit orchestras. Eric's calm and patient manner of teaching allows him to work at a pace appropriate for each individual student. Eric has been with Family Music Center since June of 2009. |
 |
Nick attended Western Connecticut State University in 1999 where he majored in jazz performance (drum set) under the tutelage of Jeff Siegel. Nick has performed with all types of projects from The Big Crazy Energy Band (big band jazz/fusion), Vurse1 (hip-hop), Feel Theory (rock/jam band. Currently he performs regularly with Closed Till Dark (r&b/neo-soul/pop), recording sessions with Michael Chenkus (pop/rock/country), community theatre groups and numerous free-lance jazz gigs. In addition to all of this, Nick also spends a lot of time working on his compositions which also cover the same broad range of styles. D'Errico looks forward to his future in music and to all of the obstacles and knowledge he has yet to come across. He is currently a member of the Vic Firth Educational Team (PDT) (www.vicfirth.com) and is available for clinics and master classes throughout the state. |
 |
Polina was educated at Wesleyan University where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in 2006. She went on to graduate studies at the University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music where she completed a Master of Music History with Performance Practice Emphasis degree. Currently she is enrolled at Central Connecticut State University where she is pursuing music teacher certification. Polina has extensive teaching experience. Having taken a piano pedagogy class at the Neighborhood Music School, she began giving private and studio piano lessons. She has been teaching piano for three years. She has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Hartford where she taught “Introduction to Music” to undergraduates for several semesters. |
 |
Johanna was an honors student in high school and is presently a bachelor Candidate at American University in Washington DC. Her experience teaching children of all ages helps her to relate well to the students here at Family Music Center. She has been playing and studying violin from a very early age, performing at many levels in both American University Symphony and their Chamber Ensemble. She also performed in the Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. Her voluntary missionary service has added to her empathy as an instructor. |
 |
Kristin O’Connor teaches percussion and beginning piano. She has studied percussion with Ben Toth, Director of Percussion at the Hartt School, Josh Ryan at Baldwin-Wallace College Music Conservatory, where she also studied piano as a secondary instrument, and is currently a Music Education student at Western Connecticut State University where she studies with David Smith and Pat Smith, both members of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. Kristin was a percussion teacher in the New Horizons Band in Berea, Ohio and in nearby marching bands in Connecticut, and also tutors ear training and music theory at WCSU. Kristin has performed in collegiate level ensembles in timpani and percussion, bassoon, recorder, and voice. Her other experience with instruments includes playing the carillon at St. James’s Church and the Canterbury School, and playing and arranging music for hand bells. Overall, Kristin is passionate about helping students to achieve a well-rounded, enriching music education. |
TWO SISTERS ARGUING OVER WHO TAKES THEIR LESSON FIRST! -->
