INSTRUCTORS
Congratulations to our instructors on their nominations at the 2011 Detroit Music Awards!Emily Rose
- Outstanding Acoustic Artist/Group
- Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Songwriter
- Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Vocalist
Gayelynn McKinney & Marion Hayden (Straight Ahead)
- Outstanding Traditional Jazz Artist/Group
Jim Wilpula (Mainstreet Soul)
- Outstanding R&B Artist/Group
Drums
Gayelynn McKinney
Styles Taught: Jazz, Fusion, Pop and more
Students: All Levels - Master Classes ONLY!
GayeLynn McKinney's drumming style is electric; transitioning from jazz to latin to rock to funk, she is a woman with many facets. Her signature style of drumming can be seen through her uncanny improvisation, power, speed and an always-present deliberate control. McKinney is a founding member of the Detroit based, Grammy nominated all female jazz group STRAIGHT AHEAD. McKinney is also a talented saxophonist and singer and a member of a musical dynasty, which helps to explain her powerhouse style! GayeLynn was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, her father, the legendary Harold McKinney, was a formidable jazz pianist and composer; her mother Gwendolyn McKinney a renowned singer and vocal instructor. She began playing the drums at the age of two and has had ample exposure to the creative music scene since birth. McKinney received much of her musical training on the Detroit Jazz scene, but she also obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Oakland University. At the university she was a part of the Meadowbrook Estate a world-renowned show choir and a member of the university jazz band. At Oakland University she learned and mastered music theory and composition. GayeLynn is an active member of the Detroit jazz scene, performing workshops for novices, serious musicians, elementary, junior & senior high school and college students. She has also appeared at many local famous nightspots including the renowned Bakers Keyboard Lounge. Her hometown advantage has given her the opportunity to play with many famous jazz notables including Aretha Franklin, Carlos McKinney, Marcus Belgrave, Geri Allen, Harold McKinney, Regina Carter and many others. Among GayeLynn McKinney's many awards, she was presented with an award for outstanding musical performance during Music Fest, USA where she won best drummer beating out over nine thousand participants. McKinney was recently awarded the 2004 Motor City Music Award with her group Straight Ahead for best jazz group. GayeLynn McKinney's diverse drumming style has given her the opportunity to travel extensively and play at many famous jazz shows including Montreaux-Switzerland Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Boston Globe Festival, the Kennedy Center, Jamaica Jazz and Heritage Festival-Montego Bay and the 1996 Olympics. She also did an extensive tour in Japan where she was the drummer for Speech of Arrested Development. McKinney is an extraordinary all around gifted drummer and percussionist. Her lifelong love of music allows her to stir the soul with her broad-based knowledge of music in general. She is an instant showstopper, and is a musician to keep your eye on.
Sonya Mastick
Styles Taught: Rock, Pop, Funk, R&B and more
Students: Beginners
Sonya is a Detroit Music Award winning drummer/percussionist and has limited openings for beginner drum students and for beginner to intermediate percussion students. She has been playing for 20 years and has toured extensively with regional and national acts.
Guitar
Emily Rose
Styles Taught: Acoustic Folk
Students: Beginners to Intermediate
Emily Rose is an independent singer-songwriter home-based in Metro Detroit. She is also a guitar/songwriting/and vocal coach. She has cultivated a sound described as emotional, soulful, and unique matching rebellious, thought-provoking lyrics. In 2009 she won the Detroit Music Award for Outstanding Acoustic Songwriter, at the age of 23, the youngest to be nominated in all her categories. In 2008 she embarked on two self-promoted U.S. tours and opened for Nationally renowned artists, Amos Lee and Matthew Good. Her full length, self-released album “Cocoon Stew” has been migrating around disc players and newspaper articles since it’s emergence in the fall of 2008. Emily is passionately involved with eating disorder awareness, and inspires her peers with forthright honesty, sensitivity, and artistic expression.
Jere Stormer
Styles Taught: Blues, Roots-Folk, Celtic
Students: All Levels
A 3 time Detroit Music award winner Jere embraces blues, a bit of Celtic and a helping of rootsy folk music and transforms them into a heady brew all his own. Fans of Richard Thompson, Kottke & Waits will spark to Jere. His goal in concert is to reward listeners with soul stirring music. Having played many different instruments for decades, his style is as diverse as his ability.
Chris Degnore
Styles Taught: All
Students: All Levels
At the young age of 25, Guitarist Chris Degnore is the winner of the Nashville Best Upcoming Songwriter Award. He has been playing guitar for the past 15 years touring overseas and playing extensively with the area’s top acts. Chris focuses his playing and teaching on a broad range of styles.
Bass
Marion Hayden - Upright Bass
Styles Taught: Jazz, R&B, Pop, Classical and more
Students: All Levels
Upright Bassist Marion Hayden has become one of the more enduring instrumentalists in the Midwestern United States. Born in Detroit, MI, she has been playing for 47 years and has a degree from the University of Michigan. Marion is one of the founding members of the all-female Atlantic Records, Grammy Nominated Jazz band, Straight Ahead. Hayden is comfortable playing most styles including Jazz, Classical, R&B and mainstream.
David Mastick - Electric Bass
Styles Taught: Rock, Pop, Metal, R&B, and more
Students: All Levels
David began as a self-taught bassist, learning songs by ear, playing locally, and writing original music. Realizing the need to express himself beyond his current knowledge, private theory lessons were started as well as the research of many method books. Traveling to California as well as New York, David has studied with Victor Wooten, Gary Willis, Dave LaRue, and Steve Bailey through the National Summer Guitar Workshop. David has played across the county as well as many local venues such as the main stage of Detroit's DTE Energy Music Theater, Chene Park and The Magic Bag. He also has recorded on many different projects, playing diverse styles, both as a side man and a group member. Artists he has worked with include Motown singing & writing legend Barrett Strong, Kirk Whalum, Faruq Z. Bey, James "Blood" Ulmer, Thornetta Davis, Jim McCarty, Johnny 'B' Badanjek, and Hugo Ferreira of Tantric. These real life situations, along with book knowledge, are used to teach all aspects of bass playing. Lessons are tailored to each student's needs and abilities. David's goal with teaching is to help every student find his or her own unique voice through their instrument.
Saxophone
Jim Wilpula
Styles Taught: All Styles
Students: All Levels
Jim is a native of Ashtabula, Ohio and now calls the Metro Detroit area home. Jim graduated from Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio, where he majored in Jazz Studies/Music Education. In college, he played with professional groups that included The Don Burns Orchestra, The Angelo Lacivida Orchestra, The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, The House Band and other various groups throughout Northeast Ohio. During the summers from 1995 – 2000, Jim could be seen at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, playing in some of the live shows that the park offered. After earning his degree from YSU, Jim toured with The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra where he performed in 23 states, the Caribbean, as well as a six-week tour of Japan. Jim has written countless horn arrangements for bands around the Metro Detroit area, including Regular Boys, Stewart Francke & Huckleberry Groove. Jim now plays lead alto saxophone with The Gary Greenfelder Orchestra and leads his own band called Mainstreet Soul, of which was nominated for a 2011 Detroit Music Award in the category of Outstanding R&B Artist/Group.
Visit the Mainstreet Soul web site.
Clarinet
Jim Wilpula
Styles Taught: All Styles
Students: All Levels
See bio under Saxaphone.
Piano
Rachel Madison - See bio under Vocals
Students: Beginners
Bagpipe
Andrew Duncan
Styles Taught: Bagpipe
Students: All Levels
Andrew began piping at age ten and studied with John Cairns for over 18 years. As a nine year member of the Windsor Police Organization (1999-2008) he was a member of the grades one and two bands, pipe major of the grade three band, and the primary instructor and organizer for the piping school. While competing in grade two for five years the Windsor Police Grade Two band won three North American Championships, three United States Championships, two Canadian Championships, four Champion Supreme designations from the Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario, and placed fifth, fourth, and third (on two occasions, one of which was marked by the pipe section being placed first by both piping judges) at the World Pipe Band Championships. Andrew Duncan was the Pipe Major of the Windsor Police Grade Three band (2005-2006). Under his leadership the band consistently placed in the prize list and won the U.S. Pipe Band Championship in 2006. Andrew is a past president of the Windsor-Detroit Branch of the Piper’s Society of Ontario. ?Most recently Andrew joined The Peel Regional Police Grade One Pipe Band. Andrew is in charge of the bagpipe program at Alma College. He also is the bagpiping coordinator for The Ohio Scottish Arts School. Andrew and his wife Jodie own and operate Duncans Highland Supply. Andrew won the Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario’s Champion Supreme award for Grades II and I light music. Since his return to solo competitions Andrew has won several professional prizes in North America including the 2004 Winnipeg Knockout Championship and the 2005 John Ure Anderson Memorial Gold Medal for Piobearachd at Ligonier. He began competing with Grade I bands at age 15; including St. Thomas Police Pipe Band, Toronto Metro Police Pipe Band, and the 78th Fraser Highlanders. Andrew was a member of the highly successful Windsor Police Pipe Band Organization.
Kenton Smith
Styles Taught: Bagpipe
Students: All Levels
Bio comming soon.
Mandolin
Jere Stormer - See bio under Guitar
Violin / Fiddle
Jere Stormer - See bio under Guitar
Banjo
Jere Stormer - See bio under Guitar
Ukulele
Jere Stormer - See bio under Guitar
Chris Degnore - See bio under Guitar
Harmonica
Andy Mather
Styles Taught: All
Students: All Levels
Andy Mather has been playing harp since 1972. A long-time member and former President of the Paint Creek Folklore Society, Andy has given harmonica workshops for children and adults at the Rochester group's May Play Day. Larger venues have included the Original Dulcimer Players Club FunFest in Evart, and the annual Thumbfest in Lexington. While strong in both folk and blues, he is best known for his "tasty" accompaniment style. As part of the "house band" at Live! >From the Living Room coffeehouse in Pontiac he has backed up hundreds of local artists. He has contributed tracks to several locally produced CDs. Besides the harp, Andy plays guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, and pretty much anything else he can get his hands on. He has CD of original music, Unexpected, but there's no harmonica on it. "It was all one-take tracks," he explains, We'll do some multi-tracking on the next album.
Vocals
Lauren Fuller
Styles Taught: Pop, Classical, Theater
Students: All Levels
Lauren is well versed in the world of Music Theater and classical singing styles. Born and raised in the theater, she is currently a college student pursuing a degree in Music Theater and Vocal Music Education. Lauren teaches theater and vocal performance classes with Marygrove College’s Institute of Music and Dance and is now accepting students at The Lesson Rooms for private or group instruction. Her students range in age from three to sixty-two. Lauren has worked as a clinician for many children’s theater productions in the area and acted as assistant director for other productions. Lauren started performing at age 2; her stage credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Forgotten: the Murder at the Ford Rouge Plant, Guys and Dolls, The Miracle Worker, Oliver!, Les Miserables, Anything Goes, and Grease.
Polly Taylor
Styles Taught: All
Students: All Levels
Producer, arranger, song writer and vocalist, Verdena "Polly" Taylor does it all. Just a few of her accolades include working with the award winning Fred Hammond, Brian O'Neal and The Gospel WOW CD Series. While Polly is known as a heavy hitter in the gospel world, her vocal style and teaching covers the full spectrum of music. She has the powerful voice that every singer wishes they had!
Rachel Madison
Styles Taught: Classical, Jazz, Rock/pop, R&B, Musical Theater
Students: All Levels
Rachel Madison is an independent vocalist and songwriter, and lead singer with the Metro-Detroit based band, The Crush. She holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education from Oakland University. She has been a featured performer at various Metro-Detroit venues as well as the Bitter End and Carnegie Hall in NYC. Ms. Madison has been teaching private music for 9 years, directed school vocal programs for 5 years, and enjoys working with students of all ages. As very versatile vocalist, she believes in every student having a foundation of great vocal technique that they can use to explore any genre of music.
