Archive | Piano

Tyler Cravines

By Jake Zender on March 23, 2016 in Bass, Drums and Percussion, Guitar, instructors, Piano, Ukulele

Drums, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Ukulele

Originally from California, Tyler has been playing drums professionally in the Reno/Tahoe area for 5 years. Being a recent UNR graduate, he is knowledgeable in many musical techniques and improvisational concepts. Combining his creative spirit, awareness, and technical ability on his instrument, he is a top call musician for many musical styles and situations. Tyler has also been teaching private and group lessons for a number of years on drums, guitar, bass, and piano. He provides a unique approach catered to the individual student, which allows the student to have fun while learning skills that they will have for the rest of their life.

Dave Lockhart

By Jake Zender on March 23, 2016 in Banjo, Bass, Cello, Guitar, Harmonica, instructors, Mandolin, Piano, Ukulele, Violin

Bass, Guitar, Violin, Viola, Cello, Harmonica, Banjo, Mandolin, Ukulele

Dave currently makes his living as a professional bassist, primarily performing with the hardworking Americana/Roots Rock band Dead Winter Carpenters – a group that racks up well over a hundred gigs yearly at festivals and clubs all across the United States. Prior to joining Dead Winter Carpenters (and their precursor, Montana Slim String Band), Dave worked his way well up the San Francisco Bay Area music scene as a versatile bassist, known for his work in a variety of Funk, Soul, Jazz, Latin, Bluegrass and Rock groups, including Manicato, The Flux, and The Skinny, among many others. In addition to years of experience as a performer and teacher, Dave is also a formally educated musician, having completed his Bachelor’s Degree from the highly-regarded Music Department at California State University, East Bay. As a student at CSUEB, Dave had the opportunity to perform in many unique settings, including a European Tour with the school’s Jazz Ensemble.

Although Dave is best known as a bassist, he is also an accomplished singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. We do not use the term “multi-instrumentalist” lightly here, as Dave’s instrumental skills include proficiency on: violin, viola, cello, guitar, harmonica, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, piano and rumors of sitar. Quite simply put, anything that Dave touches makes music!

Ellen Flanagan

By Jake Zender on November 11, 2015 in instructors, Piano, Violin

Violin, Viola, Fiddle, Piano

Ellen Flanagan is a classically-trained violinist living in Truckee, CA whose mission is to spread her love of music as wide and deep as possible through teaching and live performance. Originally from Hanover, NH, Ellen moved west to study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Since moving to Tahoe in the winter of 2013 (she was missing the snow), she has been teaching violin, fiddle, and viola in Truckee and performing around the area with orchestras in Reno and San Francisco as well as a local bluegrass and country band.

Jef Derderian

By Jake Zender on November 11, 2015 in instructors, Piano, Trumpet

Trumpet, Piano, Vocal

Jef started studying music from the age of seven with the piano. He picked up the trumpet when he was ten and started playing in school. In high school he was placed as the jazz trumpet soloist in the California All-State Jazz Band. He also was selected to sing in the California All-State Jazz Choir. During the summers he was one of two trumpeters attending the music camp put on by the Grammy Foundation, where he was able to study and work with Christian Scott, Earth, Wind and Fire, Ricky Minor, and Dave Koz.

Jef Derderian recently graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Masters in Jazz and Improvisational Music, where he worked as a teaching assistant with Professor Larry Engstrom and helped to organize the Reno Jazz Festival. Jef performs regularly with the Reno Philharmonic, the Reno Chamber Orchestra and the Susanville Symphony. He can be seen playing around the Reno/Tahoe area with the pop, funk, jazz group The Pretty Unknown, as well as the funk group Rapplesauce.

Eric Johnson

By Jake Zender on November 11, 2015 in Bass, Clarinet, Flute, Guitar, instructors, Piano, Saxophone, Ukulele

Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, and Piano

Eric Johnson is an Oregon native who’s first instrument was guitar, playing in rock bands through high school before studying Jazz Saxophone at the university level. Eric has a bachelors in Jazz performance from the University of Oregon and a masters in Improvisation from the University of Nevada Reno. While studying with Peter Epstein and Adam Benjamin from Kneebody, Eric recorded an album of original compositions that is due for release in October.

Eric teaches Saxophone (Alto, Tenor, Bari, and Soprano), and a variety of stringed instruments inlcuding Guitar, Bass, and Ukelele. His main musical interest is Jazz and traditional Jamaican music, but enjoys a wide variety of styles including rock, folk, and pop music.

John Bennum

By michaelcatanzaro on February 17, 2015 in Bass, Drums and Percussion, instructors, Piano, Trombone

Trombone, Euphonium, Baritone, Drums, Guitar, Bass, and Keyboard

John is currently a student of the Jazz and Improvisational Music program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Previously he attended Northwestern University, where he studied classical trombone with Michael Mulcahy and Charlie Vernon of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. As a high school student he received numerous awards and accolades for his participation in Washoe County and Nevada State solo and ensemble competitions, and held the position of Principal Trombone with the Reno Youth Symphony Orchestra for four years. John has attended the internationally renowned summer program at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan on a full-ride Governor’s Scholarship.

Active in the Reno-Truckee-Tahoe music scene, John plays with funk powerhouse Mojo Green. He also plays with Rapplesauce and has toured with Jellybread.

When he’s not playing trombone, John keeps himself busy working as a composer, arranger, and recording artist.

Mark Henasey

By michaelcatanzaro on December 3, 2014 in Bass, Guitar, instructors, Piano, Saxophone, Trumpet

Trumpet, Saxophone, Guitar, Bass, Piano

Mark graduated with a Music Education degree from University of Massachusetts Amherst. He enjoys performing music and teaching students of all ages. His teaching methods are diverse and oriented towards each student’s specific musical personality.

He spent nine years as a Faculty Instructor for the Summer Institute for the Gifted teaching music courses at Princeton University, UCLA, Drew University and Bryn Mawr College. He also worked as a high school music director for a private boarding school for seven years.

His original compositions have been featured on University of Princeton radio (WPRB 103.3) and his projects have opened for many international touring acts including Ween, The Wailers, Bernie Worrell (P-Funk and Talking Heads) and Vernon Reed (Living Color).

Mark is also the Split Rock Music School director.

Mark Sexton

By michaelcatanzaro on January 7, 2015 in Guitar, instructors, Piano

mark sexton

Guitar & Piano

Mark is a professional musician with years of experience in teaching and performing music around the country. As a graduate of the University Of Nevada Reno, Mark studied under the jazz program’s top guitarists. He loves inspiring people of ALL ages and ability levels. Showing his students the techniques and tools to take their guitar and piano playing to the next level. For more on Mark’s visit: www.marksextonband.com

Ryan Taylor

By michaelcatanzaro on January 7, 2015 in Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica, instructors, Piano, Ukulele

ryan_taylor

Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Harmonica and Banjo

Ryan grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano as soon as he was big enough to sit at the keyboard. He took piano lessons from the age of 4 to 16 and continued with guitar instruction through high school and while studying Music Education and Theory at the University of Southern Maine.

Ryan first began performing in jazz groups with his father and grandfather at the age of 12 and has never stopped being an active stage musician since. He is currently a member of the national touring act the Mark Sexton Band and is a founding member of local groups Terraplane and Thick Newton. He has opened for Modest Mouse and shared the stage with Karl Denson.

Ryan’s teaching style focuses on directing students down a path that will lead them to having a full and well-rounded musical education and possessing the technique necessary to play the music they want to play.