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Faculty
Meet our staff
All of the music instructors at our music school in New Tampa are university trained and are hired, not only for their skill and teaching ability, but for their ability to relate well to students of all ages. Whether you choose guitar lessons, piano lessons, voice lessons, or any of the instruments that we offer, you are assured the highest quality of music instruction and an experience that will enhance your love of music throughout your life.
Chris
Chris earned a Master's of Guitar Performance from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor of Science in Guitar Performance, Magna cum laude, from Frostburg State University. He has been an instructor since 2000 for students of all levels and ages, teaching not only private and group guitar, but also composition programs, as well as serving as a guitar instructor on the Music Faculty of West Virginia University Community Music School. Chris also brings extensive performance experience to his students, with performances in all styles, from classical through jazz, pop and rock.
Photo by Kelsey Schutter
Michael
Michael earned a Bachelor of Music with a Major in Piano, and a Master of Music with a Major in Composition from
Florida
State
University, with additional study at Peabody School of Music in
Baltimore. He then went on to an impressive musical career which included six years as the pianist for the U.S. Air Force Band as a Staff Sergeant, with performances in more than 35 countries. Michael has had more than 20 years of experience as both private instructor and performer, with credits which include Resident Composer for the Tennessee Repertory Theater, where he composed theme and background music for Dracula and Sylvia, Music Director for the FSU Theater department where he composed, directed and conducted musical productions, and as a freelance musician and arranger with experience in a broad range of styles ranging from classical through progressive rock, jazz, salsa and country. He also has numerous CD recording, arranging and composing credits.
Click here or here to hear a sample of Michael's playing.
Kyla
Kyla received a Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Central Arkansas and holds a Florida Educator's License, currently teaching for Hillsborough Schools as an Elementary Music Specialist at Roland Park, K-8, and at Lutz Elementary. She is further certified with an Educational Teacher's License through the Arkansas Department of Education and membership in the Classroom Teachers Association. Kyla brings several years of private and group instruction experience to her students as well as performance experience as a Guest Soloist with the Fujian Symphony Orchestra in Fujian Province, China, and numerous other groups.
Click here to hear a sample of Kyla's singing.
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Yetta 
Yetta earned a Master of Voice Performance from USF and a Bachelor of Voice Performance from Temple University. She has taught voice classes at the collegiate level as well as privately, and has an extensive background as a performing artist who has performed with the Lancaster Opera Company, Elysium Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera North and Mozart and Friend's Opera Company.
Click here to hear a sample of Yetta's singing.
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 Ivan
Ivan holds a Bachelors Degree in Biology, Chemistry and Education from Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, an Associate Degree in Digital Production from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa, and has taught at Hillsborough High School. He has many years of playing experience performing on clarinet, flute, saxophone and guitar, and has several CD credits as a Latin Percussionist. Ivan is also bilingual in Spanish and English.
Click here to hear a sample of Ivan's conga playing.
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Sara
Sara received her BA in Music from Southeastern University with a major in flute. She has 17 years experience studying flute with Barbara D. Jacobson, Martha Rearick and others, and has taught all levels of flute studies and beginner piano for ten years. She possesses additional experience as a substitute teacher at Sidney Central School District in Sidney, NY and at eight private Christian schools in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties.
Click here to hear a sample of Sara playing flute. |
Bill
Bill obtained a BA from Hofstra University and holds a Florida Educators Certificate. He has over 21 years of teaching experience, including private and group guitar and basic music theory instruction at L & S Entertainment and the Eastern Conservatory of Music. Bill is well versed in blues, R & B and jazz styles, and has toured with show groups, performed as a side man and recorded on numerous studio sessions. His education included studying privately with Joseph Carbone and the late Joe Monk.
Photo by Kelsey Schutter
Ryan
Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media from the University of Central Florida and brings more than sixteen years of private lesson expertise to his students. His musical experience and interests span a wide variety of genres, from classical to metal, which were honed in a number of different groups performing throughout Florida.
Michael
Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, with a concentration in Education and Performance from Virginia State University. He has over nine years experience as a private instructor and has also been director and arranger for numerous ensembles and schools, including Mars Music, the Asbury School of Music in North Carolina, World Overcomers Christian Church, Bertie County Schools and Danville Public Schools, for groups with diversity from orchestra and Honor Symphony to horn lines. He has also been 2nd chair French Horn in the Danville Symphony Orchestra and produced for The Box Recording Studio in Hampton, VA where he also provided instrumental and voice coaching.
Tom
Tom is best known for his innovative work as a cellist and composer in a wide range of styles. He studied a double concentration in music composition and cello performance with additional courses in chamber music, orchestra performance, piano skills, jazz improvisation, and advanced music theory at the University of South Florida. Tom brings more than 8 years of private teaching to his students and has performed with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, USF Symphony Orchestra, Florida College Orchestra, Palm Beach Atlantic College Symphony, Classic Albums Live, Jimmy Carl Black and Bogus Pomp. He is also a founding member of, and currently performs with, the Dragieva String Quartet (classical), Lush Progress (rock), Douce Ambiance Trio (jazz), KELP (jazz/fusion), and in various other solo and group performances in many styles for recitals, art shows and other special events.
Photo by Kelsey Schutter
Josh 
Josh received a Bachelor of Music Education, K-12 from the
University of
Central Florida in
Orlando with an emphasis on percussion. He is currently the Music Teacher at Chester Taylor and
New River
Elementary Schools and has been the Marching Band Percussion Instructor for
Timber
Creek
High School in
Orlando. Josh has also performed with and arranged for Black Steel steel drum band, Marching Knights drumline and Orlando Magics Rhythm n Blue drumline.
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Ian 
Ian graduated on the Dean's List with a BA in Psychology from USF, has completed the certification process for high school-level teaching and has experience as a substitute teacher in Pasco County. He has studied guitar privately with an Ibanez endorsee for six years, completed the University of Miami guitar, bass, and drum summer program as well as the program for electronic music and recording at the University of South Florida. He brings over ten years of private teaching and performance experience to his students.
Click here to hear a sample of Ian's playing.
Keisha
Keisha graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is eligible for a Temporary Teaching Certificate in Music K-12 in the State of Florida. Though she majored in voice at UA, she concurrently studied piano and violin at the college level, and brings over three years of teaching experience through Music Plus Performing Arts Academy, in Birmingham, to her students. Keisha is also an accomplished performer, both as soloist and group member, as well as a published author of music research articles and poetry. She has also donated much time to tutoring dyslexic and low-achieving students.
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John 
John earned both a Bachelor of science in Music Education and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the University of South Florida, and holds a Professional Educator's Certificate from the State of Florida Department of Education. He has served as Sunlake High School's Director of Jazz and Jazz Band Director at J. W. Mitchell High School, and other teaching positions including Countryside and Clearwater High Schools. John has numerous performance credits and is on staff with USF's Center for Jazz Composition.
Click here to hear a sample of John's playing.
Melissa 
Melissa earned her BS in Music Education at USF, specializing in euphonium, and is a recipient of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship for Music. She is a band camp instructor for the Lakewood and Spanish River High Schools' Marching Bands in Boca Raton, for Leto High School in Tampa and as a brass/marching instructor for Wharton High School. She can also teach beginning tuba, keyboards, and percussion.
Click here to hear a sample of Melly's euphonium playing.
Warren
Warren earned his Bachelors of music in Studio Music and Jazz from the
University of
Miami. His overall career, however, spans more than 42 years as a professional musician and includes performances with Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Ron Miller, Sam Rivers, Siegfried and
Roy, Eartha Kitt, Terry Bozzio and many more. Warren has been for 15 years, and remains, a staff musician for Walt Disney Worldwhere he still performs and composes for the WDW companyand was the Musical Director for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in Denver, CO. Most notably,
Warren has been a lifelong private student of the legendary Jim Chapin (who was, himself, a protigi of the great Moeller), making him an expert on the techniques and styles of both Chapin and Moeller.
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 Jennifer
Jen received her BA in Music from Westfield State College in Voice Performance & Music History, and a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting and Voice Performance from USF. She has had several years of experience in private vocal instruction at the Springfield Conservatory in Massachusetts as well as being the Founder & Director of the Westfield State Women's Choir and the Youth Choir at the Springfield Conservatory of Music. Jen has also performed as a soloist for, and member of chorales, jazz vocal ensembles, madrigal singers & chamber choirs.
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John
 John's 40-year musical career includes performances as a drummer at the White House, on television's Solid Gold, Hee-Haw, New Country, Church Street Station, The Joan Rivers Show, Lou Rawls' UNCF and The National Arthritis Foundation's telethons, recording and performing with the Grammy Award-winning Urban Cowboy Band in headline rooms, at the Grand Ol' Opry and in concert halls and stadiums. He has also performed with his own band internationally, performing for dignitaries including the Princess of Thailand, State Governors, and ambassadors from the UN. Experienced in styles ranging from Dixieland and swing, through rock, jazz, and Broadway, and with studio drumming credits on albums, CD's, and numerous additional radio and television jingles, John has also taught privately for many years and been the percussion instructor for Portland, Walled Lake Western, and Brighton high schools in Michigan.
Click here to hear a sample of John's playing.
What I look for in musicians is generosity. There is so much to learn from each other and about each other's culture. Great creativity begins with tolerance.
-Yo Yo Ma (cellist)
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Excel Music
10353 Cross Creek Blvd., Suite I
Tampa, FL 33647
813-991-1177 | |
