Lessons

We have over 15 teachers that offer private lessons in our Gainesville store ranging from accordion to xylophone! Call us for contact info or fill out the form below.

Brass
Professor R. Gary Langford- Trumpet Gainesville
Professor R. Gary Langford is Professor of Music Emeritus at the University of Florida. He came to the university in 1971 from the University of N Texas where he was a member of the famed One O'Clock Jazz Lab Band. He is well known throughout the state of Florida as an adjudicator and clinician having directed numerous county, district and All-State concert bands and jazz bands. He has arranged over 400 musical selections for the UF Marching Band, the Pride of the Sunshine, and was the director of that organization for 10 years before "retiring" to devote more time to administration and the jazz program. His honors have included the 1997 Musician of the Year presented by the Foundation for the Promotion of Music, the 1998 College Music Educator of the Year presented by the Florida Music Educators Association, the Distinguished Service to Music Medal, presented by Kappa Kappa Psi, and was selected as the 2006-07 Co-Teacher of the Year for UF. Mr. Langford has also twice been a finalist for the prestigious UF Outstanding Alumni Professor Award. In addition to his activities in the jazz area, Mr. Langford is also the Conductor and Music Director of the Alachua County Youth Orchestra, a position he has held for the past 25 years.
Mr. Langford teaches trumpet to students of early intermediate level and above.

Glenn Maerkl- All brass instruments Ocala
Glenn Maerkl is a retired Marion County music educator, formerly at Howard Middle School. He has 36 years of experience teaching band and music. While at Howard, his bands consistently received Superior ratings at Florida Bandmasters Association festivals. His students also consistently received Superior ratings at Solo & Ensemble festivals.
Mr. Maerkl teaches all brass instruments at all levels and music theory.

Kevin Hicks- Trombone/JazzGainesville
Kevin Hicks recently received his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas. He is now pursuing his Masters at The University of Florida and plays lead trombone in UF Jazz Band. Mr Hicks auditioned and won the Air Force, Airmen of Note lead trombone position in May 2012 but declined the offer. Mr. Hicks played in the One O’Clock Lab Band and recorded on “Lab 2010” “Lab 2011” and most recently “Lab 2012.” He also played lead in UNT's award winning trombone jazz ensemble, The U-Tubes and can be heard on their self-titled recording “The U-Tubes.” In 2009 he was on the Downbeat Award winning album “Too Two” while in the Two O’Clock Lab Band under the direction of Jay Saunders. Before UNT this Salt Lake City native worked at Universal Studios theme park in Osaka, Japan as an entertainer/trombonist for two years in 2006 and 2007. Playing thousands of shows, he gained musical abilities as well as showmanship. He has also worked for Princess Cruise Lines in the Sapphire Princess Orchestra in 2009 under the direction of Franz Merfert.
Mr. Hicks has had the pleasure of playing with some pretty cool cats including: Conrad Herwig, Brian Bromberg, Ron Blake, Terreon Gully, Geoffrey Keezer, Jeff Coffin, Corey Christiansen, Scott Wilson, Shelley Carrol, Brad Leali, Dave Richards, Tony Baker, Victor Barranco, Bob Heller, Dwight Kennedy, Jim Riggs, Lou Marini, Lyle Mayes, John Mosca, Tim Ries, Bernard Fowler, Ravi Coltrane, Darcy James Argue, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Bob Curnow, Wayne Bergeron, Denis DiBlasio, and The Houston Symphony. Kevin Hicks plays many styles of music on the trombone including jazz, Latin, commercial, show, classical, ska, funk and more. He performs, transcribes, arranges, composes, teaches, and records music. He teaches private lessons and has been hired for workshops, high school jazz clinics, and adjudicating at festivals. Kevin also works in the Gainesville Flordia area. Keep an eye out for this enthusiastic young player.
Mr. Hicks teaches trombone (classical, jazz, improvisation) and jazz theory.

Frank Ferraro- Trumpet/TromboneGainesville
Marco Thomas- Trombone/Euphonium/Tuba Gainesville
Frank Young- Trumpet Gainesville

Woodwinds
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/400421_10151040199478635_1677487978_n.jpgKevin Jouannic- Clarinet Gainesville
Kevin is a graduate from the University of Florida where he received a B.A. in Music with a minor in Business. He has performed with the UF Wind Symphony, UF Orchestra and founded UF's only woodwind quintet, 'Gator Winds'. He has also toured with the UF Clarinet Choir to various U.S. cities. Kevin's passion for teaching and music are what allow his students to consistently get selected for outstanding ensembles such as All-State Honor Band, All-County Honor Band and Alachua County Youth Orchestra (ACYO).
Kevin Jouannic teaches clarinet and bass clarinet to students of all ages and skill levels.

Glenn Maerkl- Beginning woodwinds Ocala
Glenn Maerkl is a retired Marion County music educator, formerly at Howard Middle School. He has 36 years of experience teaching band and music. While at Howard, his bands consistently received Superior ratings at Florida Bandmasters Association festivals. His students also consistently received Superior ratings at Solo & Ensemble festivals.
Mr. Maerkl teaches beginning woodwinds and music theory.

Rebecca Pieters- Oboe Gainesville
Becca Pieters, a Gainesville native, began her oboe career in middle school band class. She immediately took to the instrument and continued playing through high school, studying with University of Florida oboe professor, Dr. Leslie Odom. She then received a scholarship to study oboe performance at the University of Florida and graduated with a Bachelor's of Music degree in 2006.
Becca participated in All County Band, All State Orchestra, and Alachua County Youth Orchestra during middle and high school, as well as Solo & Ensemble festival. At UF, she performed with the UF Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, and Orchestra, as well as several chamber ensembles.
Becca began teaching oboe lessons in 2004 while attending UF and now offers lessons at Hoggtowne Music.

Mike Summers- Saxophone Gainesville
Beth Vinson- Flute Gainesville
Jolene Samford- Flute Gainesville

Guitar
Scott Dalziel- Guitar/BassGainesville
Scott Dalziel teaches guitar and bass. Acoustic and electric, many styles, and all levels. He is an accomplished performer and has been teaching over 16,000 lessons over 16 years. Having taught every man, woman, and child in Iowa to play guitar, he decided to conquer Florida. Keep up with him at www.dalziel.net.
Scott Teaches guitar and bass to students of all ages and skill levels.

Tammy Murray- Guitar/Banjo/Mandolin/UkuleleGainesville

Richard Simmons- GuitarGainesville/Ocala


Piano
Will Johnston- Piano Gainesville
Will Johnston teaches piano. He is an accomplished musician with experience in classical literature, country, and pop music. He teaches all levels and is strong in theory and technique.


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David O'Neill- Piano Gainesville
David earned his bachelors degree in vocal performance and education from the Schwob School of Music. Along with classical voice and piano training Mr. O’Neill has studied the art of opera and musical theatre. Mr. O’Neill, along with performing as a bass-baritone, has held a private voice studio since 2006 and performs throughout the year with different vocal and instrumental ensembles. He also performs with production companies in leading roles upon request.

Amy Elisabeth Garner- Piano Ocala
Amy-Elisabeth Garner resides in Ocala with her husband of 14 years. She had her first piano lesson at age 4 and continued to study piano through her first year in college. She has taken music theory and piano classes at the College of Central Florida. She played piano in church for offertories and in 2007, performed a string reduction part on keyboard with the orchestra at Trinity Baptist Church. She has taught locally for 16 years from beginner to intermediate levels. She loves Christian Contemporary, Classical, Gospel, and Popular music.
Amy-Elisabeth teaches piano and music reading to students of all ages from beginning to intermediate level.

Jason Bontrager- Piano Gainesville 
Jason Bontrager is completing a Bachelors degree in Music Education at UF. He studies Classical Piano with Dr. Hee Jung Kang. Jason holds the piano position in the UF Jazz band and is pursuing a minor in Jazz under Scott Wilson. He plays trumpet in the UF Marching Band and performed at the 2012 Olympic Games and US Ambassador's Residence in London. He also continues to play in the Basketball Band, performing all around the country. Before attending UF, he received an Associate's degree in the Arts from Polk State College. It was here that he began Classical Piano lessons with Keith Rassmussen and took Jazz Piano with Jeff Phillips. Jason performed over 50 shows with the Polk State Big Band and Jazz Combo under the direction of Roger Hewitt. Upon departure, Jason received the Louie Armstrong Jazz Award and won first place in the Tuesday Music Club county music competition. Jason has also gained entertainment experience while playing piano and entertaining audiences nightly in Orlando and Tampa for Twisted Artz Entertainment Company from 2009-11. You can catch him every week performing live in the Gainesville area.Jason hopes to gain a strong language in Jazz piano and aspires to become a professional pianist while teaching jazz bands, theory, and piano.
Jason teaches both jazz and classical piano along with music theory, aural skills, piano technique, and jazz fundamentals to students of all ages. He also teaches brass instruments. Keep up with him at www.JasonBontragerPiano.com.

Strings
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/524209_10150962051568635_817281980_n.jpgSabrina Krisberg- Cello Gainesville
Sabrina Krisberg teaches cello and violin. She studied cello performance at Stetson University and at Florida State University and has performed with various professional orchestras including the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, the Gainesville Civic Chorus and Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Albany Symphony Orchestra in Georgia. She is currently a member of “Body and Soul, the Art of Healing”, a non-profit organization of professional musicians and artists devoted to enhancing the quality of healthcare through the Arts in Jacksonville, FL area. Sabrina shares her passion for music and love of cello playing through her private music studio.
Sabrina teaches cello to students of all ages and levels and violin to beginning students.

Lauren Alderman- Violin Gainesville
Lauren Alderman teaches classical violin to children. Her focus in teaching is to be attentive to the needs of each individual student, providing music training that is relevant to the child's developmental level. She also works with students who have special needs.
Ms. Alderman studied Elementary Education (B.A.E) and Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.) at the University of Florida. She has played violin for sixteen years, trained as a classical musician through private lessons and school programs in Florida, Japan, Alabama, and a summer music festival in Italy. She speaks Japanese at an intermediate level and signs American Sign Language at a beginner level.
Ms. Alderman teaches classical violin, music reading and basic music theory to young beginning to intermediate students.

Tammy Murray- Fiddle Gainesville


Voice
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/303694_10150897924448635_1303884282_n.jpgDavid O'Neill- Voice Gainesville
David earned his bachelors degree in vocal performance and education from the Schwob School of Music. Along with classical voice and piano training Mr. O’Neill has studied the art of opera and musical theatre. Mr. O’Neill, along with performing as a bass-baritone, has held a private voice studio since 2006 and performs throughout the year with different vocal and instrumental ensembles. He also performs with production companies in leading roles upon request.
David O’Neill teaches voice and piano. Mr. O’Neill helps students learn in the areas
of solo performance, ensemble, reading music, music skills, music theory, and music history.


Percussion

Masatoshi Enomoto- Percussion Gainesville

Masatoshi Enomoto started playing at the age of 15, where he spent most of his time learning about rudimental and orchestral percussion. While at the University of Miami studying to be a band director, he played in many ensembles and began to teach privately and in schools. In 1998, he was part of the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps front ensemble.After finishing school, he briefly taught middle school band and orchestra and worked as a percussion instructor/arranger at many award-winning middle and high school band programs throughout the state of Florida including Glades MS, Howard Bishop MS, Miami Killian HS, Flanagan HS, and Santa Fe HS.Recently, he taught private percussion lessons at the College of Central Florida in Ocala, FL.Masa has played with various world music groups including, Trio de Janeiro (Miami), Klezmiamians, and Opia Gua Ciboney. He has recorded and played with Gainesville act, Morningbell and has played drums for local artists Killarney Star and Barbara Jimenez. He has also played with the Central Florida Philharmonic, Southwest Florida Symphony, Florida Grand Opera, and the Miami City Ballet.Currently, he is Principal Percussion/Tympani with the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra, section percussion with the Ocala Symphony, plays drum set and percussion with local singer/songwriter Cliff Knizley, and drum set with the Gainesville Community Jazz Band.

Masa teaches percussion including- snare drum (rudimental/concert), drum set, mallets, auxiliary percussion, rhythm reading to students from beginning to later intermediate and beginning hand drums.

Other Instruments
Frank Ferraro- Accordion Gainesville


Call us to find out more about our lessons or fill out the form below if you want to be contacted by a teacher. For those under 18, please have your parent(s) fill out the information below.

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