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.

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

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

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

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

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 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

julierumbold.com

Available: Mondays

Kelly Gembara: Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano Teacher

Kelly Gembara is recognized as an emerging artist among a new generation of classical musicians. She began her musical studies at the age of nine in Columbus, Ohio, where she performed with many orchestras, operas, and chamber musicians. She was a member of a competitve string quartet for two years through the Chamber Music Connection that won several awards in national chamber music competitions. Kelly recieved her Bachelor of Music Degree in violin performance with chamber music emphasis, and a minor in composition from The Hartt School, where she studied with Anton Miller.

Available: Monday and Tuesday

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

Lynn Tracey: Vocal, Guitar, Piano Teacher

Lynn Tracey, graduate Summa Cum Laude of Manchester Community College A. A. in Music Studies, and State Certification in Recreation Therapy, and graduate (High Honors Award )of the Hartford Conservatory School of Performing Arts - Jazz Studies - Accredited Certification Program, has been performing mainly in the CT scene since 1998. She performs in a variety of groups including genres of Bossanova, Jazz, Rock, Blues and Pop., Big Band, & Musicals. Lynn has had the pleasure of performing with local greats including Nicki Mathis, Jocelyn Pleasant, Joe Carter, HannaH's Field, Cat Sullivan and many more, and has also shared the stage with David Stoltz, Walt Gwardyak, Alvin Carter Jr. and Alvin Carter Sr., and other phenomenal musicians. Lynn has also toured in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, WA, with HannaH's Field, and plans on returning for a solo tour in the future. She also enjoys working with students of all ages.

Available: Fridays and Saturdays

Riley Brutvan: Acoustic/Electric Guitar & Bass, and Beginning Piano Teacher

Riley Brutvan is a student at the Hartt School of Music where he studies music production and music composition. He has eleven years of experience playing guitar and fifteen years of experience playing piano. Riley is fluent in most genres of music, having studied classical style and technique on guitar and piano as well as having performed in settings from musical theater to rock shows. He can teach any experience level on guitar as well as beginner level piano.

Available: Tuesday and Thursday

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

MARTOCCHIO

MUSIC

MEET YOUR NEW TEACHER

Fall STORE HOURS:
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Sunday Closed