"As a guitarist who's wanted to sing for a long time, but who never knew how (or had the courage) to begin, Sarah's teaching was extremely helpful to me. With me, she emphasized the emotional and mental sides of singing as much, if not more so, than the mere physical technique. As a result, after just a handful of lessons with her, I felt confident and relaxed to sing the lead on a song with my band at a party in front of 150 people, and it went well. And more importantly -- now I think of myself as a singer, and have the confidence to keep going with it."
- Phil Hurd, adult student
- Phil Hurd, adult student
Private and Group Lessons:
Lessons at Morningside are affordably priced with patient teachers who are working pro musicians, well versed in a wide variety of styles. Work on your technique, theory, improvisation, and more.
Lessons are on Zoom for time being. We hope to have lessons at our studios in Arlington Center when it is safe.
Private lessons for all ages and levels are offered for:
Voice
Piano
Guitar
Bass
Drums
Latin percussion
Trombone
Trumpet
Sax
Clarinet
Flute
Ukelele
Composition
Improvisation
Ear Training and Theory
Music Technology
Cost:
30 min. lesson - $40
45 min. lesson - $60
60 min. lesson - $80
add $5 per lesson for in-home option.
Group Lessons
Group Piano Lessons - Click here for more info
See Private Lesson Policy Below
| morningside_private_lesson_policy_-_google_docs.pdf |
Meet our Faculty
Dan Fox, Owner - jazz ensembles, lessons on trombone, drums and bass.
In addition to teaching at the Berklee five-week program, Dan has performed at concerts and functions, in radio and TV studios, and for musicals throughout the US, Europe and Japan. Venues include the Kennedy Center, Newport Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, and Beantown Jazz Festival. Performances on trombone include traditional and straight ahead jazz concerts with Sheila Jordan, Herb Pomeroy, Boston Pops Swing Orchestra, New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Gene Krupa Orchestra, Cab Calloway Orchestra, Lou Colombo/ Dick Johnson Group, and more modern jazz with Ben Monder, Walt Weiskopf, John Tchicai, Matthew Garrison, Greg Hopkins and The Either/Orchestra. Fox has also played in big bands backing jazz legends Louis Bellson, Paquito D'Rivera, Joe Lovano, and Clark Terry. On bass, Dan freelances with singer/songwriters and world music acts in the Boston area. He has backed bands such as The Cadillacs, The Chantels, and The Drifters.
More info at www.danfox.com
In addition to teaching at the Berklee five-week program, Dan has performed at concerts and functions, in radio and TV studios, and for musicals throughout the US, Europe and Japan. Venues include the Kennedy Center, Newport Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, and Beantown Jazz Festival. Performances on trombone include traditional and straight ahead jazz concerts with Sheila Jordan, Herb Pomeroy, Boston Pops Swing Orchestra, New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Gene Krupa Orchestra, Cab Calloway Orchestra, Lou Colombo/ Dick Johnson Group, and more modern jazz with Ben Monder, Walt Weiskopf, John Tchicai, Matthew Garrison, Greg Hopkins and The Either/Orchestra. Fox has also played in big bands backing jazz legends Louis Bellson, Paquito D'Rivera, Joe Lovano, and Clark Terry. On bass, Dan freelances with singer/songwriters and world music acts in the Boston area. He has backed bands such as The Cadillacs, The Chantels, and The Drifters.
More info at www.danfox.com
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Jennifer Elowsky-Fox - Piano Although Jennifer is currently a Professor in the Piano Department at the Berklee College of Music, she has considerable experience teaching people of all different level and ages. She has earned a Masters Degree from Boston University and a Bachelors Degree from Central Michigan University. Her performances in New England as soloist, chamber musician and duo pianist include numerous world premieres and commissions, both in concert and on radio. She was a recipient of a grant from the St. Botolph Club in Boston, which enabled her to complete her solo CD, entitled Pictures and Images. The commissioned piece on the record, The Galilee Hitch-Hiker, by Stephen Halloran, won the Renee B. Fisher Award. She is at work on her second CD , a collection of chamber music performed with members of the Boston Pops. |
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Peter Cicco - Latin Jazz Ensemble, Rock and Blues/Funk Ensembles, guitar lessons Peter Cicco is a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who has been a working professional musician in original, and general business bands, jazz duos and swing orchestras for over thirty years. Currently he performs with the Rhode Island based club band Triad. He has also sung on commercial radio and television spots that have aired nationally, most recently for W.B. Mason office supplies. Peter has been a private guitar/bass guitar instructor for over thirty years, teaching a wide variety of musical styles, and has led student ensembles in Jazz, Rock, Funk, R&B and Latin music. |
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Ethan K - Jazz Ensembles, guitar and piano lessons Ethan is one of the busiest jazz guitarists in Boston, working as a sideman in numerous projects as well as leading his own groups. Sarah Infini Takagi- Voice and songwriting Sarah is a highly accomplished multi-faceted musician, who is on the faculty at the New England Conservatory of Music teaching piano and improvisation. Sarah is known for her out-of-the-box creative shows where you can see her playing the piano, singing an original song or perhaps a Jazz arrangement of a Beethoven sonata, and surprising her audience with her comedy skits. Singing and Songwriting evolved naturally for Sarah who has been singing as a young girl in Japan( where she was chosen to lead her singing class), or as a member of a nationally competitive show choir where she sang and danced as part of a professional Disney instructional video. As a composer and arranger, she has written for solo piano and voice, where she has helped her students in writing their original songs. As to teaching voice, this is what she says: "Music began with the earliest caveman singing. Singing, as they say, is sustained speech; thus, if you can talk, you can sing! The joy of singing is in exploring the wide range of emotions and feelings that can create a different color, and expression in your voice. The easiest way to get started is to write your own words that are authentic to you, and by paying attention to your inflection and feelings, create your own unique melody. Then we can find a starting pitch, and harmonize the melody by creating your own chord progression. Additionally, we can look at songs that you like, and by study and analysis, model your song in a style that you find appealing. There is nothing more satisfying than helping my students write their original songs!" Watch video: How to Start Your First Song ( 5 different styles) with Sarah Infini Takagi Jonathan Fagan - Piano and ensembles Jonathan grew up in Arlington and has recently moved back to te area after receiving his Masters at Eastman School of Music. He is proficient in both jazz and classical and is quickly making a name for himself as a performer in the Boston area. With wisdom well beyond his years, we are lucky to have Jonathan on the faculty offering private lessons for all levels and masterclasses on improvisation. John Franzosa - Reeds and piano John has been teaching and performing in and around Boston for decades! He is great with beginners and advanced players alike. He also represents Morningside teaching lessons at the International School of Boston. Mike Carey - Sax, flute, clarinet and ensembles Mike has been teaching sax, flute and clarinet to kids and adults for 16 years. For the past few years he has taught music production and band in the Brookline Public Schools. He toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 2000 and has played in a variety of Broadway style shows. After performing on cruise ships in Europe and Central America backing up groups like the Crystals and the Platters. Michael studied Jazz and Classical saxophone at the University of North Texas and UMASS Amherst. He teaches with and mix of ear training, improvisation and humor while thinking of his students on and an individual basis. John Dalton - Drums and piano John Dalton is a Boston based drummer who has worked in a variety of musical settings, Including performances at Fete, the Zeiterion Theatre, Boston University, New Bedford Jazzfest, the International Portuguese Music Awards, and has opened for renowned primatologist Jane Goodall. He has performed with many esteemed musicians such as: Jim Robitaille, Jing Wang, and Royal Hartigan. John has earned a BA in music from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. John also has experience teaching all ages, levels, and styles. He has served as drum set instructor at Long Lake Camp for the Arts in Upstate New York. Bruce Bears - Keyboards Bruce currently plays keyboards with two time Grammy Award nominee Duke Robillard and the Duke Robillard Band, and can be heard on Duke's Grammy nominated albums Guitar Groov-a-rama and Stomp! The Blues Tonight as well as many of Duke's other albums. He has been touring internationally for 20 years, and formed the original Toni Lynn Washington Band in 1998. Bruce has performed with raw bluesman "Big Jack" Johnson, Blues Icon “Little” Milton Campbell, Susan Tedeschi and Jay Geils, Chicago Bluesman Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson, singer-songwriter Mark Erelli, gospel star Mavis Staples, masterful songwriter and soulful singer Martin Sexton, and many others. His skills as a keyboardist and musician are as diverse as they are in demand. Santiago Hernandez - Drums and percussion As well as being a visual artist and Lesley University professor, Santiago is also an accomplished percussionist, specializing in jazz and latin styles. Born in Cuba, he grew up in Miami and was influenced by Cuban groups such as Irakere but also soaked up all the popular American music as well. We are please to have him on the faculty offering Afro-Cuban Percussion classes and private lessons on percussion and drum set. Santiago's class is highly suggested for anyone interested in the Morningside Tours to Cuba. Cheryl Arena - Harmonica and blues ensemble Very active for years on the Boston music scene, Cheryl sizzles with excitement as she mesmerizes audiences with her sultry voice and powerhouse energy. She is a triple threat- a great songwriter, vocalist and blows harp like there's no tomorrow... Joe Hunt - Drums and ensembles Joe Hunt jazz drummer, educator, and author joined and recorded with the George Russell sextet (1960-1962) including Eric Dolphy and Don Ellis. In 1964 he joined the Stan Getz quartet (64-65) for international tours, jazz festivals, and recordings. From 1966-67 Joe toured with the Bill Evans trio. He’s played with Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Hall, and many others.In 1971 Joe came to Boston with Gary Burton and taught at Berklee College until 2002, after which he was a jazz ensemble instructor at NEC for five years, and still teaches part time as Professor of jazz studies at Berklee. Joe played in the Tel-Aviv jazz festival 2010 (Don Friedman and Chuck Israels). He authored a jazz drumming history book: “52nd Street Beat” (Aebersold). Lindsay Foote - Piano, group classes, guitar, songwriting Lindsay is a multi-faceted musician and music educator, originally hailing from Winchester, Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto where she refined her skills as a performer, composer, and instructor. She teaches voice, piano, guitar, and songwriting, all with a creative and open-minded approach that is tailored to each individual student. An up and coming singer-songwriter in the vibrant Boston folk scene, Lindsay has received significant attention from the folk circuit. She has toured nationally and internationally, and already released two EPs and a full album. Over the past few years, Lindsay was a finalist in both the Songwriter Serenade Competition and the Canadian Songwriting Competition. In 2019, she attended the prestigious Singer-Songwriter Residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. A recipient of both the Ontario Arts Council Recording grant, and Canadian Factor grant-- Lindsay is currently working on a new album to be released in early 2020. David Rumpler - Jazz and latin piano styles David Rumpler obtained his music degree (jazz/classical) from Ithaca College in 1980, and soon after relocated to São Paulo, Brazil where he immersed himself in the Brazilian music scene. In the next decade, he traveled between Boston and Brazil frequently, studying bossa nova, samba, baião, ijexá, maracatu…and many other styles on guitar, piano, voice, cavaquinho (4-string guitar) and hand percussion. David currently performs jazz piano and Latin piano styles in the Boston area, with occasional trips to NYC. He also sings in Portuguese and does vocal coaching in jazz and Brazilian styles. Matt Hespelt - Guitar lesson, group classes, composition, improvisation, music theory & ear training, piano Matt is a well jazz guitarist/composer from the New York City metropolitan area. Jazz has been his main focus recently, but he enjoys playing and teaching other styles of music on guitar including, rock, pop, blues, and folk. Matt graduated from Berklee College of Music with a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Composition and has been an active educator and performer on the Boston scene ever since. Before Berklee, he mentored students as part of music education programs in New Jersey and New York, such as Jazz House Kids, Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens, and the precollege program at Manhattan School for Music. With his positive attitude, Matt hopes to share his love for music and teaching with students in a fun and inspiring way. |
