LOCATION:
1307 High Street
(Corner of High St. &
Encinal Ave.)
Alameda, CA 94501
Phone: 510-769-0195
1307 High Street
(Corner of High St. &
Encinal Ave.)
Alameda, CA 94501
Phone: 510-769-0195
BIOGRAPHIES
Viola studied violin at the Conservatory of Music in Florence, Italy. She
continued her studies in violin performance at the San Franc
BARRY SOLOMON---Guitar and Rhythm Rascals
Barry has twenty-five years of teaching experience, and a wealth of
performing experience in numerous and varied settings. He has
most recently taught at Piedmont Piano & Music School, and for
years was head of the guitar department at the famous McCabe's
Music School, in Santa Monica, California. He's been playing guitar
for forty years, and his performance experience includes live clubs,
hotels, weddings, music festivals, workshops and amusement parks.
Barry has authored instruction books and tapes, as well as
contributing to a number of recordings over the years. Barry's
strength as a teacher is his experience and versatility in a wide
range of styles, and his ability to be flexible yet organized and
systematic in his teaching.
JEFF WEINSTEIN---Rock Guitar
A native of Berkeley, California, Jeff has had varied musical
experiences, both with teaching and performing. In 1998 He
received the Albany High School Instrumental Music Student of the
Year Award. He received a B.A in music from the University of
Southern California, and has a wealth of experience performing and
teaching in the Bay Area. Jeff is comfortable teaching various
styles of electric guitar, including rock, pop, funk, latin, and rhythm
& blues. He has experience teaching at all levels, and with kids as
well as adults.
Jeff currently performs with the Mark Kaye Band, a versatile group
which performs all over the Bay Area. He has shared stages with
many well-known musicians, and has performed in all kinds of
settings, including clubs, festivals, private parties and workshops.
MARC BABIN---Guitar
Marc started playing guitar at eight years old, and by the time he
was twelve he was already playing professionally for the Walnut
Creek Rec & Parks Dept! He received a BA in Music at San
Francisco State University. He has performed in numerous groups
and venues around the Bay Area, performing with such luminaries
as Stevie Wonder, Herb Ellis, Marcos Silva, Wayne Wallace and
Ruth Davies. Marc has been teaching guitar for over twenty years,
and is well-versed in Rock, Pop and Classical styles. He is currently
performing with “The Lost Cats” at the New Zealander restaurant,
and solo guitar at “C’era Una Volta” restaurant. Mark stresses
music fundamentals in his teaching, using note-reading, scales and
exercises as well as a flexible repertoire to give students a well-
rounded approach to their lessons.
DONNA SOLOMON---Guitar
Donna has a gift for working with kids, and this is due to her friendly
personality and extensive experience with children. She has a BA
in Early Childhood Development from Pacific Oaks College, and
was a teacher for the Santa Monica/Malibu School District for fifteen
years. She has been teaching guitar for over twenty years, and
has made guitar players out of legions of local Alameda kids!
Donna has extensive performing experience, including leading her
own female Swing group, singing on many recordings, and directing
the Children’s Concert Series at the famous McCabe’s Music
School in Santa Monica, California.
VIOLA PELLEGRINI---Rhythm Rascals
Viola studied violin at the Conservatory of Music in Florence, Italy.
She continued her studies in violin performance at the San
Francisco Conservatory of Music, and is currently working towards
a degree at Mills College in Early Childhood Education. Her
performing activity includes playing with the Oakland Civic
Orchestra from 2005 to 2007, as well as playing at numerous
private functions throughout the Bay Area. Since 2006 Viola has
been teaching preschool music classes in a number of Berkeley
schools, as well as private Suzuki method violin lessons.
HARRY LIKAS---Piano
Harry was born and raised in the Bay Area, and received a BA in
Music from Sonoma State University. Over the years he has
performed and recorded with numerous groups and projects, and
has been teaching piano for fifteen years. Harry is best known for
being the technical editor for two of Mark Levine’s jazz piano books,
which are some of the best selling and highly regarded books in
their field. He has also had his piano technique described in an
article in Keyboard Magazine. Harry has performed with such jazz
luminaries as Andy Narell and Jerome Richardson, and has
produced his own studio recording, called “Full Moon”, which is a
collection of Harry’s original tunes.
Harry is equally comfortable teaching beginners as well as
advanced students, and loves the satisfaction and challenge of
inspiring all levels of students. His experience has made him quite
a versatile teacher, and he can cover classical, pop and jazz styles,
at any level of instruction.
REGINA SCHAFFER---Piano
Ms. Schaffer is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of
Music, where she studied piano performance with Mack McCray.
She has been teaching piano to students of all ages since 1997. In
addition to taking many teaching and child development courses
while at SFCM, Ms. Schaffer completed a one year teacher training
course at the Curtis School of Music in Kansas City. During this
time she learned a unique method of teaching that caters to each
student’s developmental level and desire and goals for studying
music. Regina also has extensive performing experience, and
specializes in working with live composers and performing new
music. She started the “New Keys” annual concert series three
years ago, where she partners with local composers and performs
new music concerts.
MIKE DALE---Piano
Michael Dale is a composer and multi-instrumentalist. He hails from
Sacramento, California, where he first learned music in the public
schools. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree in
performance and composition from CSU, Sacramento. He has
worked with diverse groups in many musical genres. He has served
as Assistant Conductor for the Sacramento and California Youth
Symphonies, and has directed musical theater and opera
productions as well. He has also taught piano and woodwind
instruments to dozens of students (from ages 3–63). Michael is
currently a candidate for Master of Arts in Music Composition at
Mills College, where he has studied composition with Alvin Curran,
Chris Brown, and John Bischoff; improvisation with Fred Frith and
Joelle Leandre; saxophone with Steve Adams and Roscoe Mitchell;
and piano with Matthew Goodheart. His teaching emphasizes a
patient and collaborative approach, in which he works with each
individual student to fashion a repertoire and technique that is right
for them, in any of various musical styles.
PHYLLIS PLOTKIN---Piano
Phyllis Plotkin graduated from UC Berkeley and has an extensive
history of teaching, which includes J & A Music, Kurt Erickson
School of Music, Campanas Music Store, El Cerrito Community
Center, Strings (a music-in-the-schools program), Cazadero Music
Camp, and fifteen years at Piedmont Piano. She spent ten years
playing for dance classes that include Cal State Hayward,
Everybody’s Dance Studio, Mills College, Berkeley Ballet, and the
San Francisco Ballet. Phyllis has also spent seven years playing
Saturday nights at Petrouchka’s Restaurant in Berkeley, and in
various churches for the last fifteen years. Although Phyllis is
mainly a classical oriented teacher, she has performed in a rhythm
and blues band, as well as a folk-rock band. She has also
performed harpsichord with the Berkeley Street Ensemble, and as a
soloist with the Albany Strings Community Orchestra. Phyllis is a
MTAC member, and currently continues her study of piano in the
Taubman technique. Life long learning!
Phyllis offers a comprehensive program that includes ear-training,
sight-reading, in-depth technical study, theory, and learning a
varied repertoire. She emphasizes learning music as a process of
discovery and using one’s senses. She teaches students how to
focus and find better and better ways to practice. Skills are taught
with the idea of musical appreciation, growth and self-expression.
JEREMY SOLOMON---Piano
Jeremy is a college student and has been playing piano for ten
years. He has taught here at the school for the past three summers
in our day camp program. He has an organized and flexible
program for young children, using various method books and
progressive level pieces for successful learning. He Is currently
finishing his training in the Royal British Academy, which is a world-
renowned piano achievement accreditation. He is a veteran of
numerous recitals and performances for schools, senior residences
and neighborhood parties.
Jeremy is an effective instructor for young children, who relate to
him easily and feel comfortable with learning from a young adult.
Introductory lessons are welcomed, and parents are encouraged to
sit in, so that they can help their child with their in-home practicing.
ELLEN ST. THOMAS---Voice
Ellen has extensive experience in teaching and performing in
numerous settings over many years. She received her B.A. in
Education at Mary Washington College in Virginia, and has taught
music and voice at Elementary School through High School levels.
She has taught the Kodaly music program to first graders, as well
as choral singing seminars to high schoolers. Her performance
experience includes “La Boheme”, “Porgy and Bess”, “Don
Giovanni”, and many others. She has also directed numerous vocal
choruses, and has experience in stage managing and directing.
Ellen is comfortable teaching all age levels, and loves to unlock that
creative vocal expression that everyone has beneath the surface.
HANDE ERDUM---Violin
Hande is originally from Istanbul, Turkey and received her BA from
Istanbul University State Conservatory. During her undergraduate
studies she performed in the Istanbul State Symphony and the
Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra and taught college
preparatory violin, piano and musicianship classes. She has
performed on radio and television in Turkey, and has done
numerous recitals and solo performances. She also has an MFA in
music from Mills College. Her teaching experience includes being
the chamber music ensemble coach for Alameda High School, and
creating a course for undergraduate musicianship classes at Mills
College. Hande is currently working as a freelance musician
playing in orchestras across the Bay Area including the Sacramento
Philharmonic, Stockton Symphony, Vallejo Symphony, Monterey
Symphony, Modesto Symphony and the Santa Cruz County
Symphony.
Hande is a member of the San Francisco Composers Chamber
Orchestra, an ensemble that specializes in new music by Bay Area
composers. She is also a member of Quartet Opabinia which is
devoted to the performance of contemporary music. In addition to
being a very active performer she teaches all levels of violin, and
specializes in coaching students in ensemble settings with other
instruments.
DONNA VISCUSO---Sax and Flute
Donna is an experienced teacher and performer, having worked in
numerous schools, educational programs and grant-sponsored
touring ensembles. She studied music at Laney College and San
Francisco State University, and has experience playing piano,
numerous woodwinds, harmonica and percussion. She performs
regularly with the Adventures in Music Program, sponsored by the
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, which performs in local
elementary schools. She also teaches at the East Bay School for
Girls, and performs with the Latin American Children’s Ensemble,
which performs for children of all ages in libraries and schools
throughout the Bay Area. Donna is also an accomplished
performer of various ethnic music, including Venezuelan and
Brazilian styles.
BRANDILYN DAVIDSON---Clarinet
Brandilyn is an award-winning clarinetist from Texas, and became
proficient at a very early age, culminating in her appointment as first
clarinetist for the Texas All-State Band four years in a row. She
then continued her education at the highly regarded North Texas
College of Music where she received her BA in clarinet performance
and music theory. Since living in the Bay Area, Brandilyn has
flourished as a performer and conductor in varied settings such as
Broadway-style musicals, swing bands, Klezmer bands and modern
classical ensembles. For many years Brandilyn has been a
dedicated teacher, and prides herself on her clear, concise
teaching methods and motivational skills. She also has valuable
experience directing woodwind and brass ensembles, both at the K-
12 level and for adult community bands. For several years she has
the band director for the Conservatory of Vocal/Instrumental Arts in
Oakland, and as the associate conductor for the Urkhardt Memorial
Concert Band. Brandilyn also plays flute and saxophone, and has
gained a wide musical breath of experience which expands her
teaching skills to include many varied musical styles.
DAVE ALT---Trumpet
Dave has a BA in Music from San Francisco State University, and
has been teaching and playing professionally for the last forty
years. He has performed in countless settings: large hotels in the
Catskill Mountains, as a soloist with the Golden Gate Park Band,
Bay Meadows racetrack, and in numerous show bands backing
many well-known entertainers. He is also the founder and leader of
a sixteen-piece Swing big band. He currently keeps busy with his
own groups as well as free-lancing with others, playing weddings,
corporate parties, country clubs and conventions. Dave’s emphasis
as a musical coach is to enhance his students’ experience through
traditional written materials as well as play-a-long CD’s. He
stresses having fun with the instrument, while at the same time
developing a solid foundation in technique.
MICAH McCLAIN---Drums
Micah has over fourteen years of teaching experience in varied
settings. He received his music education from Indiana University,
and has studied with numerous private teachers. Micah has
extensive performing and recording experience, having performed
with such Jazz luminaries as James Moody, David Baker and Red
Rodney. He is well versed in different musical styles, and imparts
this “big picture” experience to his students. His performance
credits include The Indiana All State Jazz Band, Terrence Brewer
and “Magnesium”. Micah taught private lessons for years in
Indiana, and currently teaches at Elmhurst Middle School, Oaktown
Jazz Workshops, and Kensington Montessori School, where he has
developed three different summer programs for children, and
composes and arranges holiday and graduation performances.
Micah enjoys teaching children and beginning students, and has
over the years developed an extensive library of music, method
books, videos and other teaching aids.
RHYTHM RASCALS - VIOLA PELLEGRINI BARRY SOLOMON GUITAR - BARRY SOLOMON ROCK GUITAR - JEFF WEINSTEIN GUITAR & UKULELE - MARC BABIN GUITAR - DONNA SOLOMON PIANO - HARRY LIKAS PIANO - REGINA SCHAFFER PIANO - MIKE DALE PIANO - PHYLLIS PLOTKIN PIANO - JEREMY SOLOMON VOICE - ELLEN ST. THOMAS VIOLIN - HANDE ERDUM SAX & FLUTE- DONNA VISCUSO CLARINET - BRANDILYN DAVIDSON TRUMPET - DAVE ALT DRUMS - MICAH McCLAIN |
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What's New!
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