MEET YOUR NEW TEACHER
Our teachers here at Martocchio's are the best around. They have been highly educated in the art of music and education and many of them perform professionally as well. It doesn't matter how experienced or how old you are, you'll love your lessons here! From mandolin and ukulele to classical piano, our teachers know how to teach. We offer virtual and in person lessons. Our in person lessons follow COVID-19 regulations and social distancing guidelines and we are getting rave reviews for our virtual lessons.
Jim Martocchio: Owner and Wind Teacher
Graduate of Berklee College of Music, state certified in elementary and secondary music education. Teaches jazz at area schools, including Simsbury. Performs professionally with Sebastian & the Hitmen and his group of 50 years, Legacy Jazz. (same guys since age 14)
Alex Gurin: Piano, String and Vocal Teacher
"Sol Solis Consort"- Music Director. Graduate of Rimsky-Korsakov College of Music of the Leningrad State Conservatory. Julliard Music School, NY. Assistant Conductor, Norwalk Symphony. The Leningrad Children's Choir, Music Director. The Leningrad Chamber Orchestra and Choir, Assistant Conductor (Vladislav Chernushenko, Music Director). 25 years with Martocchio Music.
Learn more at the following website:
https://gurin.musicteachershelper.com/
Available: In person and virtual Saturday
Beth Galloway: Flute and Piano Teacher
Beth was born and raised in Granby, CT. She has played music and taught in the area for most of her life, with a short time living in Florida. Beth is a certified music teacher and a graduate of the University of Connecticut. She taught private music lessons for many years in her home, and ran flute choir programs through the East Granby parks and rec department. Beth also has run sectionals with area band directors, and she is the flute instructor with the Suffield summer band camp. She played locally with the Hartford Flute Ensemble
Available: In person Monday and Friday.
Dakota Austin: Saxophone and Clarinet Teacher
Dakota Austin, hailing from Burlington, Connecticut is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and arranger. Through performance and education, he is driven by his music passion to inspire students. He holds a bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies that he received from Western Connecticut State University under the tutelage of Jimmy Greene. In the Summer of 2021 he finished his MM in Jazz Studies at the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz, part of the Hartt School of Music.
Available: In person and Virtual Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
Damian Curtis: Piano and Percussion Teacher
Graduate of The Hartt School of Music. Jazz studies with Andy Laverne. Professional jazz and Latin musician. Specialist in music production and sound recording. Performs and teaches locally. 22 years at Martocchio Music.
Available: In person and virtual Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Danielle Astacio: Piano, Vocal ,Guitar and String Teacher
Soloist and practicing musician for over 15 years. Experience in directing, writing, and teaching music. Leads Saturday Rock Ensembles and summer camps. Graduate of Central Connecticut State University.
Available: In person and virtual Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Elijah Atwood : Guitar and Piano Teacher
Student at Central Connecticut State University, Jazz studies major with emphasis on performance and theory. Experience in guitar performance in rock and jazz band settings. Teaches beginning piano and drums along with beginning to advanced acoustic and electric guitar. Strong passion for teaching and learning
Available: In person Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
Jaclyn Jones: Classical Guitar Teacher
Jaclyn currently teaches at the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury and attended the Hartt School of Music to earn her Master of Music Degree in Classical Guitar Performance. She also earned her bachelor's degree from the Hartt School of Music in 2012.
Jaclyn has played solo and chamber music for schools, universities, museums, art centers, local television, nonprofit organizations, churches, libraries, and weddings throughout the New England area. She is an active member of the violin/viola and guitar duo 10 strings and the Hartford Classical Guitar Ensemble. In addition to performing and teaching, Jaclyn founded the Simsbury Historical Society Concert Series and was the Music Director for two years.
Available: Monday and Wednesday
James Devor: Acoustic & Electric Bass, Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Beginning Piano, and Brass
James received BMs in music education and music theory/composition at West Chester University of PA and currently studies his Master’s in music composition at The Hartt School. James' interests include studying and performing early music, playing double bass, classical and acoustic guitar. He performs locally in bluegrass and folk bands and is a member of the Martocchio Music Faculty Jazz Band.
Teaching has always been incredibly important to James, and he strives to pass on his love for music to all his students. He has been teaching music at the professional level for the past 6 years. He enjoys working with and learning from all his students. Experienced in all genres of music, James creates a space where each student can succeed and flourish in their love for music.
Available: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
Jesey Meche: Percussion, Drums, Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Piano, Harmonica
Graduate of the Hartt School of Music. Studied classical percussion with Benjamin Toth and composition with David MacBride. In 2016 he received the Alexander Lepak award for Excellence in Percussion and in 2017 the Ed Diamante award for Excellence in Composition. He has been teaching at Martocchio Music since 2019 and is passionate about teaching music to students of all ages.
Available: In person and virtual Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Jon Stoltzfus: Percussion and Guitar Teacher
Graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in Music Business and Performance. Drummer in the band Atlas Gray.
Visit their website at: www.atlasgray.com
Available: Wednesday
John Crand: Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano, Recorder Teacher
Assistant Concertmaster of Connecticut Valley Chamber Orchestra, Hartford, CT. Artistic Director of Sol Solis Chamber Consort, Collinsville, CT. Graduate of University of Connecticut. Over 10 years with Martocchio Music.
Available: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
John Mundy: Trumpet and Trombone Teacher
Graduate of The Hartt School's Jackie McLean institute of Jazz with a degree in Trombone Performance. John is a freelance trombonist and member of Hartford based Funk & Soul band, West End Blend. He has a real passion for teaching music to students of all ages.
Visit his band's website at www.westendblend.com
Available: In person Monday
Julie Acosta: Trumpet and Piano Teacher
Julie “Jewls” Acosta became a professional trumpetist as a teenager, and she collaborated and performed with greats such as Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Alejandro Sanz, John Legend, Gilberto Santarosa, La India, and many more. Jewls also co-produced and co-wrote Giovanni Almonte’s Latin-Jazz fusion album, High vs. Low.
In 2017 their album "Mariachi Flor de Toloache" won a Latin GRAMMY. Jewls made her debut as a songwriter and lead vocalist for the song “Toloache” on their latest album ‘Indestructible’. She is now signed to Warner Chappell as a songwriter.
The group has been featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk series with over 2.5 million views,
Available: Wednesday and Thursday
Lee Jansen: Piano Teacher
Twenty-five years teaching experience in area schools. CT certified music educator. Has a passion for teaching students of all ages, young and old alike. Has been with Martocchio's since the beginning!
Available: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Matt Parker: Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet Teacher
Since relocating to Simsbury with his wife and two young kids from New York City, where he performed with the Maynard Ferguson Band, the Charles Mingus Big Band, and many solo and duet projects, we are proud to have Matt teaching here at Martocchio Music. He loves teaching students of all ages and now performs regularly with our own Damian Curtis and friends.
Available: Wednesdays and Saturdays
Timothy Sterbenz: Cello Teacher
Timothy Sterbenz is a recent graduate of the Hartt School of Music where he received both his Masters and Bachelor's degrees in Cello Performance. His musical journey began growing up outside of Detroit and was an active participant in youth Orchestra and chamber music programs in the local
area. In addition to moving to Hartford to study with Mihai Tetel, he also completed his Suzuki Pedagogy training with Blake Brasch. He enjoys performing and collaborating on a variety of genres from musicals, film, and community outreach.
Available: Monday evenings
Tori Tolan: Flute, Piccolo and Piano Teacher
Tori Tolan, originally from Central Florida, has been through extensive musical training in the last twenty years. She's a Graduate of Stetson University in Florida with a Bachelor's of Music in Flute Performance. Tori has been teaching for twelve years and has had students accepted into CMEA regional ensembles, the New England Music Festival Association, the Hartt School Ensembles, and the Springfield Youth Orchestra. Tori is well versed in the college audition process as well, and has had students accepted into prestigious Universities such as Ithaca College and Berklee School of Music. Tori is currently a Flutist in the University of Hartford's Capital Winds Ensemble.
Available: Virtual Only Monday and Friday