22 independent music instructors currently teach at MockingBird Music - more bios will be added soon!

John Barnett Piano Instructor • Teaching piano since 1998 • Specializes in rock, blues, jazz and pop. • Plays in rock, blues and jazz bands such as the Bone Shakers, Barnstormers, The Red Rum Jazz Trio John believes that piano lessons are a time to explore fresh ideas, confront new challenges, and have fun. Whether the student is an adult rediscovering their love of music, an adolescent learning about music for the first time, or anyone in between, he is excited to guide them on their musical paths. John continually strives to communicate with and assist students to improve themselves as musicians and people. He is a musician that genuinely enjoys teaching as much as playing live; he finds that it is incredibly rewarding to see a student achieve their goals and develop beyond what they thought was possible for themselves. John’s teaching background is diverse. He’s taught 5 year old students how to play piano, improvise, and write notes on a staff. He’s taught 50 year olds how to compose ballads and orchestrate solo piano arrangements. To John, age doesn’t matter but attitude is everything.

Jack Colombo - Piano Instructor Jack Colombo is an active, experienced, full time professional musician. In addition to his piano teaching duties at the Music Machine, Jack is the Musical Director for the legendary vocal group the Drifters. He tours, performs and records all over the world with the group performing their classic hits “Under the Boardwalk”, “Up on the Roof”, “There Goes My Baby”, and “Save the Last Dance for Me.” Jack recently coordinated a Drifters reunion segment for PBS Television that is currently being aired nationally. He composed their latest release “Take Me Back to the Boardwalk”. In addition to the Drifters, Jack’s performance credits include the Manhattan Transfer, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Al Jardin of the Beach Boys, and Michelle Phillips of the Mama’s and the Papa’s. Jack is also the Official Keyboardist for the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. He is the President of Coast to Coast Entertainment and Events which specializes in booking musical performers, and providing production assistance and planning for national, regional and local events. Jack enjoys and plays keyboards of all types including acoustic and electric piano, the Hammond B-3 Organ, and a variety of electronic synthesizers. Jack's Policies Jack is available to teach Wed 3:00-8:00 His rate is currently $25/half hour Each student is allowed to reschedule up to four lessons per year beginning each September provided they inform the store ahead of time of the cancellation . (Make-up lessons must be scheduled by Aug 31st). Refer to the website for availability of times for make-up lessons. Students who remain enrolled for July & August will receive two additional make-up lessons should they need them. If Jack is absent, he will attempt to reschedule your lesson or may instead provide a substitute instructor.

Chris Enright, Piano Instructor • Playing piano for 16 years • Bachelor of Arts, Berklee College of Music, additional studies at New England Conservatory and the University of Maine. • Has been teaching since 2004. • Specializes in jazz, jazz fusion and rock. • Has performed at Berklee Performance Center, the Isabella Gardiner Museum and the International Jazz Educators Conference. One of the primary skills Chris has gained from the study of music is the ability to see how things that are seemingly different are actually interrelated. “Music provides the student with a sense of perspective. A musician gains the ability to see what different styles of music have in common as well as their differences.” With tastes that range from the classic 60’s jazz of Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock to the more contemporary sounds of the Bad Plus, Brad Mehldau and Kurt Rosenwinkel, the pianist is looking forward to carving out his own niche as an original composer and performer. In the meantime Chris gets great satisfaction by teaching and “seeing the thrill students can get out of music.” He encourages his students to work through the tough parts of becoming a musician citing the challenges even professional musicians face as they develop their musical identity. In his words “it’s worth it.”

Greg HawleyVoice, Piano, Guitar Instructor Greg is a recent graduate from Wheaton College where he directed, arranged music for and performed with the men’s acapella group “The Gentlemen Callers.” He also sings and plays guitar in the band “The Fury Coast” Greg has been teaching at MockingBird for 8 months and is loving it. His ability to offer voice coaching is an added bonus for many of his guitar and piano students!

Mark Massery, Piano Instructor • Graduate of University of Massachusetts with a minor in music. Additional training under the tutelage of Michael Schiffer at the Berkshire Community Music School. • Playing piano for over 27 years. Also plays alto saxophone. • Has been teaching piano sine 2002. • Musical specialty: blues and jazz. • Has performed at locations throughout the Berkshire Mountains as well as First Night Boston and New York’s fabled Bitter End nightclub in Greenwich Village. • Favorite artists include Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Billy Joel and James Taylor. “I believe music is a means of self expression that brings the musician peace of mind,” states Mike. “It plays a key role in our humanity.” Mike encourages his students to not only practice on their own, but to get out and play with as many people as possible. “Every person one plays with brings a unique perspective and new experience. It helps us all to keep an open mind.” Mike also believes in the benefits that physical fitness brings to the musician. An avid golfer, he also plays soccer, SCUBA dives, hikes, rides horses and throws a mean Frisbee. He hopes to get into the recording studio soon to record some of his many original tunes.

Julia Roche, Piano, Voice, Flute, Clarinet, & Sax, Instructor • Has been studying and playing flute since 1997, has been studying and singing formally since 1997, has been studying and playing piano since 1999. • Bachelor of Arts Candidate, Music Major, Rhode Island College • Favorite artists: Mozart, Kenney Chesney, Bach, Justin Timberlake and Rascal Flats To say that Julia has lived a life in music is an understatement. At age four she dreamed of playing the French Horn. Since then she has studied not only that instrument, but also the clarinet, oboe, trombone, bassoon and drums. Her area of expertise, however, lies in the flute, piano and voice! From elementary school through high school she has been a member of the band, orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz band, drum corps and chorus. By the time she graduated she had taught music as a substitute teacher and was Assistant Choir Director in the Bellingham elementary, middle and high schools. Now in her third year at Rhode Island College she is studying flute under Maryellen Guzzio-Kregler, piano under Lila Kane and Modern Voice under Eric Whittaker. She is a member of the Rhode Island College Women’s Choir. “Music is a never ending learning process”, states the multi-instrumentalist. “Everyday I gain a greater appreciation for it. My favorite part of teaching is passing on the knowledge I have gained and seeing students apply it and love it.”

Matt Spitz, Piano, Drum, GuitarInstructor Matt’s a former Brown University music major living in Braintree, Massachusetts. He has studied drumset for fifteen years, and also has an extensive background in musicianship, music theory, marimba, piano, and guitar; He currently is working on banjo, alto sax, recorder, and wooden flute. He’s currently drumming and singing in a rock party band and working on bluegrass and jazz function groups. In his spare time, he’s an avid reader and sports fan.