About Our Instructors...
We are proud of our team of highly
qualified instructors. Most Sound Beach
Music instructors either hold a teaching
degree, or are professional musicians
with years of experience. Please click
here for information regarding
lessons.
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Aaron Charles
Aaron teaches violin and began teaching in 2010. He is a graduate of Longwood High School and Suffolk Community College, where he majored in Music.
He has travelled to different countries over four summers, with the Long Island Youth Orchestra. He studied with Sound Beach Music’s own Brian Chabza for five years and he now studies with Anne Mandaro.
Aaron enjoys playing violin and loves music as well as helping students get better at their instrument while having fun. He also likes to improvise, thanks to Brian, who inspired Aaron to take the violin in a new direction. He likes to teach his students different aspects of violin playing, the same way his teachers taught him. Aaron plays in a band called The Native Estates.
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Andrew Smith
Andrew teaches sax, flute and clarinet. He is currently studying Music Education at Long Island University, where he is principal tenor saxophonist in the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble, principal baritone saxophonist in the Saxophone Choir and alto saxophonist in the Wind Symphony. He also plays tenor saxophone, flute and clarinet in the LIU Post Jazz Combo.
Andrew studies classical saxophone with Timothy Ruedeman, jazz saxophone with T.K. Blue and classical clarinet with David Sapadin. He is in progress to obtain his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from L.I.U. Post. He is a member of the Honors Program. He has extensive performance experience. He has performed at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall and the Iridium Jazz Club.
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Bill Tsantes
Bill has a Masters Degree in Education from Queens College.
He has studied privately with Tony Mann, Carl Schachter and Richard Rabatin.
Bill teaches guitar and bass as well as violin.
Some of the highlights of his performing experience are: performing Off-Broadway, at Theater Three and at Carnegie Hall. He has also recorded on several CDs.
Bill also toured Europe as the guitar tech for Richie Blackmore
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| Bogdan Scurtu
Bogdan teaches clarinet
(any level, all
instruments including Eb
and bass clarinet) and
piano.
He is also
available to teach
composition, theory,
music history and
electronic/computer
music.
He
started teaching in
1998.
He has been the
undergraduate clarinet
instructor at
Stony
Brook
University
since 2003.
In addition, he
worked as a woodwind
clinician and conductor
with the Stony Brook
Wind Ensemble and the
undergraduate orchestra.
He has
a Bachelor’s in Clarinet
Performance, a Master’s
in Clarinet Performance,
a Master’s in
Composition and a D.M.A.
in Clarinet Performance.
Bogdan
has received many
clarinet performance
awards in his native
country of Romania,
including 1st
Prize in 1996 at the
International music
performance competition,
Tg. Jiu, and in 1997 at
the International
“George Georgescu”
performance competition.
He has also
received composition and
education awards.
Bogdan is
fluent in Romanian,
French, English and
German and is learning
Japanese.
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Brian Chabza
Brian has been teaching at Sound Beach Music since 1997. He teaches violin, viola, guitar and mandolin.
Brian
performed with Ants
Marching (a Dave
Matthews tribute) since
1998.
They played over
100 shows a year at
venues such as Nassau
Coliseum and Meadowlands
Racetrack, and have
opened for The Wailers
in
Seaside Heights,
New Jersey and at many more
locations. He currently
plays in a bluegrass
band called The Smokey
Knoll Top Ramblers, with
local mandolin player,
Buddy Mirriam. He is
also the current
resident guitarist for
Theatre Three, of Port
Jefferson, and has been
since 2006.
He
studied privately with
Ron Feinberg
(bluegrass), John Blake,
Jr. (jazz), Wendy Fogel
(classical) and Alan
Grubauer (jazz.)
Brian began playing
professionally at
17-years-old.
He has attended
workshops and master
classes with Mark
O’Connor, Claude
Williams, Matt Glaser,
Darol Anger, Buddy
Spicher, Randy Elmore
and Catherine Cho
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Carl D'Orsogna
Carl teaches harmonica, banjo, accordion and finger-style guitar. He has been teaching since 1976. He has performed in various bands and orchestras and as a studio musician.
Carl wants you to know that proper study of technique enables the student to play well and most importantly, to enjoy it.
“Have fun!”
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Carl Millard
Carl teaches violin and viola. He began teaching in 2011. He has a Bachelor’s in Music Education from Five Towns College.
Carl has played in productions of Broadway shows, weddings and in the Nassau Pops Orchestra. He has studied privately with Steve Rudin and Matthew Pierce.
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David Andersen
Dave teaches guitar and piano at Sound Beach Music as
of May, 2009. He has been playing guitar since 1997,
as well as playing piano since 1999. He excelled in
Advanced Placement Music Theory courses during high
school.
Dave performed in 2007’s “Save the Music Festival” to
raise money for the Miller Place High School music programs.
He also has performed in various music bands and recording
projects over the years. He studied privately with Michael
Livering at The Performing Arts Studio in Port Jefferson.
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David Dreyfus
David teaches drum set and snare drum. He started teaching in 1984. He is a graduate of Miller Place High School (1986.) He has an Associates in Liberal Arts with an emphasis on music (concert band, jazz band and theory.)
David’s first drum teacher was Arthur Johnson. He next studied with Bill Dwyer. At age 18, he began studying with internationally renowned drum educator Dom Famularo. He also studied with two of Dom's instructors, Al Miller and Jim Chapin. He continues to study and practice to this day; he considers himself a perpetual student of the art of drumming.
David tells of one of his many performing experiences. Performing outdoors during the heat wave of 1999 at a museum in Richmond, Virginia, the show was with the band Lenahan, a Celtic rock group. They did two sets-the first an hour, the second an hour and a half. There was an estimated audience of two thousand people. In spite of the heat (nearly one hundred degrees) everyone had a great time. He says it was amazing to see so many people dancing and having fun.
Dave’s education continues to this day. He’s always reading and studying different subjects such as: Health, History, Economics, Environmental Issues, Gardening, Sociology, etc.
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Jessica Bender
Jessica received a Bachelors Degree in Music (vocal) from the Crane School of Music. She has also studied privately with Nancy and David Adams, Dr. Eileen Strempel, Catherine Sevigney and Ronald Meixsell.
Jessica teaches voice.
Some of the highlights of her career to date are performing at formal recitals as well as in plays.
Jessica has been teaching since 2000. She loves to teach voice. She finds that her students build confidence and develop self-esteem which is beneficial in all aspects of life, not just in performance.
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Jim Carrol
He has a B.A. degree from Berklee College of Music.
Private study includes: Gary Chaffee, Joe Hunt, Jim Chapin,
Michael Lauren, Al Miller, Lenny White, Joe Morello, Peter Magadini,
David Garibaldi, Billy Cobham and Akira Tana.
Instruments he teaches here are: drums, all percussion,
all orchestral, all Latin, South American, African, Celtic,
North Indian drumming as well as theory and improvisation.
He has been teaching individual and group lessons for 22
years. He has taught percussion at various public and private
schools for 21 years.
Some of the highlights of his performing experience are as
follows: Annual Concert at Carnegie Recital Hall, 1996 Olympics
in Atlanta and original drummer for the Off-Broadway production
of “Summer of ‘69” with the band Little Curtis
and the Big Men. He has performed with Eddie Brigati and Gene Cornish
(The Rascals) and also for Johnny (“Sleepwalk”) Farina.
He has been an adjudicator for SCMEA festivals and for NYSSMA for
over 10 years. He has also judged many drum competitions in the metro
area. Many of his students have gone on to study music in college. Two
of his students gained national recognition with their bands, both with
multi-platinum selling albums.
He also does clinics for musicians and non- musician groups in Suffolk
and Nassau County Schools.
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Joe Lopez
Joe is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music with a
degree in instrumental performance. He also has studied
privately with Alan Dawson and Gary Chaffee.
He teaches drums and has been teaching since 1978.
Some of the highlights of his musical experience have
been recording, as well as playing in clubs. He has
performed in local bands including Milagro, a Latin
rock band.
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Krysta Donnelly
Krysta has been teaching flute since 2006.
She graduated from S.U.N.Y. Suffolk in 2012
and will complete her degree at LIU Post in 2015.
She was the featured soloist in the Suffolk
Community College in 2010 and has been a member of
the LIU Post Wind Symphony, Orchestra and Flute Ensemble.
She has played flute since 1999.
She studied with Michelle LaPorte and currently
studies with Karla Moe.
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Leslie Sloup
Leslie teaches clarinet, alto sax and oboe. She received
an Associates Degree in Music from Suffolk County Community
College and holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from
Long Island University-C.W. Post.
She has performed at Carnegie Hall in April, 2010 and in the
Port Washington Clarinet Choir. She recently participated in
a performance tour in China.
She has participated in several community band and theater
programs. She enjoys performing in pit orchestras. She has
studied privately with Dr. Levana Cohen and David Sapadin.
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Lucas Balslov
Recently graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree
in music, Lucas achieved highest honors with the distinction
summa cum laude. While at Stony Brook he was also awarded the
Presser Music Scholarship. Over the past four years he has also
studied trumpet at summer music festivals including the Atlantic
Brass Quintet Seminar and the Bay Brass summer Brass Institute,
where he studied with members of the San Francisco Symphony. As
an undergraduate at Stony Brook, Lucas performed with the graduate
Symphony Orchestra under conductors such as Rossen Milanov, Edwin
Outwater, George Manahan, Jeffery Meyer, Glen Cortese, David Lawton,
Tim Long, and Alan Kay.
Lucas performed with the New York Youth Symphony for three
seasons in Carnegie Hall under the direction of Ryan McAdams. While
in high school he was also in the Long Island Youth Orchestra,
Nassau-Suffolk Wind Symphony, and the All County and All State symphonic
bands.
Lucas teaches both trumpet and piano, and has studied privately
with Kris Kwapis and
Kevin Cobb.
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Linda Robertson
Linda studied music education for 3 years in college and studied privately with Joseph Mahoney.
She
has been teaching piano
for many years. She has been teaching at Sound Beach Music since 2003.
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Mallory Rivera
Mallory teaches voice for Sound Beach Music. She began teaching, in a school setting along with teaching private students, in 2010.
She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Concentration in Voice in May, 2010 from Nazareth College, Rochester, NY.
She has been performing in various capacities for most of her life, from individual performances to musicals to working with bands.
She studied privately with Rose Kosh, Derrick and Andrea Folan.
Mallory says, “Music is my passion. I enjoy listening to and feeling involved with all genres and areas of music. I love to study the voice as an art form and the meaning and psychology behind it.”
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Michel Ligonde
Michel
teaches the guitar.
He
started giving private
guitar lessons in 1996.
He
received his Bachelor’s
of Science and Master’s
of Arts at City College
of New York.
Michel
has performed auxiliary
services (now G.E.D
Plus) for high school
graduation ceremonies
from June 1996 to June
2008.
He
performed at
Brooklyn’s 5th
annual Jazz Festival on
April 18th,
2004 at St. Philips
Episcopalian Church.
He
studied privately with
guitarist Dernst Emile
from 1995 to 2005.
He also studied
with guitarist Roni
Ben-Hor from 1996 to
1997 at the Jazzmobile
and took as few private
lessons with him as
well.
As the
duo known as 2Do, Michel
recorded a CD with
saxophonist Jim
Ferraiuolo.
He has a website
and his music can be
listened to at
2DoMusic.com.
2Do has played at
clubs, anniversary and
birthday parties,
weddings, graduations,
proms, and retirement
and fund-raising events.
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Mike Orioles
He has an A.A.S in Music from Suffolk Community College and a B.S. from S.U.N.Y Stony Brook. He has studied privately with Tony Mann, Richard Rabatin for improvisation, blues and jazz guitar and Jerry Willard for classical guitar.
Mike has been teaching guitar and bass since 1987.
He has played in the off-Broadway play Summer of 69and has done studio work with such people as Doug Stegmeyer (Billy Joel), Kasum Suitor (Todd Rundgren and Joan Jett), Steve Holly (Elton John). |
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Pete Heywood
Pete began playing drums at the age of 11. He has studied with John Speidel, Tony Sanns and Al Miller. He has had a wide variety of playing experiences since the age of 13 and has recorded with the Fifth Avenue Band. He currently has three drum study books in progress as well as several articles published in Creative Drummer Magazine.
Pete has been teaching since 1961.
Former students include: Bobby Rondenelli of Black Sabbath and John Miceli of Meatloaf. |
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Regina Gordon
Regina is an instructor of voice, piano and violin. She has been
teaching since 2007and at Sound Beach Music since 2009. She graduated
from Five Towns College in 2010 having received a Bachelor’s Degree of
Music, with an emphasis in Music Education. She is a New York State
certified music teacher and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in
Psychology.
During her years at Five Towns College, she performed in her
school’s select choir of which she was a section leader and often a soloist.
She has been seen in many musical and opera performances including HMS Pinafore,
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and A Christmas Carol. She has performed
all over New York including having performed at Carnegie Hall. She has studied
voice privately with many teachers and is currently under the tutelage of Ken Friese.
Regina has spent many years training to be a teacher and a performer.
She loves teaching music equally as much as performing. She says there is nothing
more rewarding than being a teacher and plans to do it for a long time.
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Sally Morrison

Sally has been playing piano since 1987 and has been teaching for Sound Beach Music since 1996. She has studied with several teachers including Rozanne Chevallier. Sally also sings professionally. Her specialty is playing classical piano.
Sally is also one of the owners of Sound Beach Music. She has extensively coached and trained others to be effective.
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Steve Rudin
Steve attended the High School of Music in Manhattan and later received his Masters Degree in Music Education from L.I.U., C.W. Post campus.
He also studied privately, first with his father, a violinist with the New York Philharmonic and later with Max Weiner, also with the Philharmonic and with Harvey Glickman and Sylvan Schulman, both former members of the N.B.C. Symphony.
He is a retired orchestra teacher in Rocky Point Schools. He has been teaching at Sound Beach Music since 1992.
Steve also plays at many social events around Long Island.
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Steve Subject
Steve teaches guitar and bass and has been teaching since 1975.
Steve began studying the guitar at the age of 12. It was at this time that he began his career as a vocalist. He was the leader of several bands throughout high school. He began writing songs in 1971 after purchasing his first acoustic guitar. In 1975, he began performing as a soloist throughout Long Island, continuing to compose all along. In 1976, he joined a four piece band, The Spring Fever Band, as a bass player and vocalist, performing all over Long Island. In 1987, he joined a seven piece band, Spectrum, performing at weddings, bar mitzvahs, retirement parties, graduations, etc. To date, he still continues work as a soloist, in a duo and in up to a full band as required by the job.
In 1975, he first began teaching private lessons on guitar and later added electric bass. In 1979, he began teaching at a small music store in Sound Beach called Tony Sanns Music. A few months later, he began working in the store and within a short time became the manager. On January 1, 1985, he purchased the store and has owned it since.
In 1989, the store first expanded to five teaching rooms and added a drum shop. In 1994, Sound Beach Music moved from Sound Beach to Miller Place in Miller Place Square, expanding to seven teaching rooms. In February, 2004, was the last expansion to 5000 square feet with ten teaching rooms and a 500 square foot drum shop.
In 1998, his first CD, All Lifes Changes was released, containing 13 original compositions and featuring several other teachers of Sound Beach Music. In 2004, his second CD, Living a Dream was released, again containing 13 original tunes and featuring his wife, on vocals and even more members of the Sound Beach Music family on a wide variety of instruments.
Steve had up to 50 students at one time but now only has time for a handful. He and his wife Sally, co-owner of the store, continue to teach and are hands-on, working owners, highly involved in the day-to-day serving of our customers and the running of the store.
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Sean Mackenzie
Sean has been playing the cello since 1997 and piano since 1999.
He started teaching in 2005. He studied privately with Christine
Schaefer and Rozanne Chevalier.
Sean is a graduate of Brooklyn College Film School. He
currently plays keyboard in a band. He is also working as a production
assistant on film shoots in New York City and Long Island.
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Tom Macaluso
Tom teaches trombone, baritone horn/euphonium, tuba,
trumpet, French horn, flute, clarinet and sax. He began
teaching in 2012. He has a B.M in Music Education, and a
B.M in performance on trombone from the Crane School of Music
at SUNY Potsdam, having graduated Magna cum Laude.
He performed at Carnegie Hall at his debut at age
17 with the New York Youth Symphony. He has been hired to
play in musicals, with choirs, ballets and orchestras.
Tom studied privately with Dr. Mark Hartman,
professor of trombone at SUNY Potsdam and Dr. Denson
Paul Pollard of the Metropolitan Opera.
Mr. Macaluso has also student taught at the
elementary and high school levels. In the summer of 2012,
he was a counselor at Crane Youth Music Camp.
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