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Music Lessons

Lesson Rates

Ackerman's Music Center offers music lessons for all ages, styles and levels. Whether the student is a child with no musical knowledge or a seasoned musician who's looking to improve musicianship, we're here to help! Call us or drop by to learn in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

Monthly Rates:

Guitar - $150/mo
Beginning Drums - $150/mo.

Rock & Advanced Drums - $170/mo
Reeds, Strings & Brass - $170/mo.
Piano/Flute - $170/mo.

Teachers

Fred Aziza - Guitar

Fred Aziza is a highly experienced guitar teacher who is very popular here at Ackerman's. He is equally suited for young aspiring musicians as well as adults who wish to improve their playing skills. Fred specializes in Rock and Blues. Fred is also the guitarist, songwriter, and lead singer for Den of Thieves.

Bob Torres - Guitar & Bass

Bob Torres is an extremely popular guitar teacher here at Ackerman's. He is an accomplished musician who teaches electric guitar and beginning bass guitar. Bob is also an expert in recording using pro tools. He is available for recording sessions. Please call or email for rates.

Jim "Pancakes" O'Malley - Guitar

Jim "Pancakes" O'Malley is an accomplished guitar player who plays many styles of music. For individuals who wish to learn to play guitar strictly for recreational purposes, Jim's "Suzuki" teaching method is very suitable for those students who wish to play for fun and enjoyment.

Russ Gurney - Guitar

Russ Gurney is an accomplished jazz/blues and rock guitarist with many years of experience teaching people to play guitar for purely recreational purposes as well as those seeking to advance their skills to the professional level. His teaching style is methodical yet flexible. His unique program will enable the guitar student to become proficient without enduring tedious drills or routines.

Mark Schipper - Drums & Percussion

Mark Schipper (B.A. William Paterson University, M.M. State University of New York at Stony Brook), student of Raymond Des Roches.
Mark has conducted church choirs in New Jersey and the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble. He has recorded for Nonesuch, New World Records, and CRI. He participated on the Grammy Award winning "Percussion Music" recording with the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble. He made his Carnegie Recital Hall debut in 1970 and was a Naumberg Chamber Music finalist 1978. He has performed under the batons of Charles Wuorinen, Harvey Sollberger, Arthur Wesberg and Raymond Des Roches. He has also studied conga, doumbek, frame drums, tabla and djembe. Mark taught at Nyack College and Montclair State University Music Preparatory Division. He has performed with a wide range of ensembles, including The Bergen Philharmonic, The Rockland Symphony, North Jersey Philharmonic, The Group for Contemporary Music, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, and New Jersey Percussion Ensemble. Also The Ridgewood Symphony and Glen Rock Pops Orchestra. Has performed live on radio station WBAI and on TV with the Greg Smith Singers on NJPTV.
Mark is also a member in good standing of The Percussive Arts Society.

Mark is very popular with young children who wish to learn to play drums, xylophone, congas, timbales, as well as other types of percussion instruments. Mark is also sought after by adults looking to improve their existing percussion skills. A number of Mark's students have been selected for All-County or All-State bands or orchestras.

Mark is also the manager of Ackermans Percussion Department. Contact Mark if you have any questions about purchasing or repairing percussion equipment.

Patty Lazzara - Flute

Patty Lazzara has enjoyed a distinguished career as a soloist, chamber and symphonic musician. She is a three time winner of Artists International, a Miyazawa Flute Artist, is the Winner of the Florida Flute Association Performers Grant for Advanced Study and is a 2004 Winner of the National Flute Association Convention Performers Competition. She is a founding member of UpTown Flutes, an innovative flute ensemble in residence at Drew University, is Co-Director of NJ Flute Choir Day and is the principal flutist with the Gateway Classical Music Society along with performing in several chamber ensembles. She attended Carnegie Mellon University and received a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Hartt School of Music.
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Patty has developed a following among aspiring flute students here at Ackerman's Music. Patty is also the Executive director of Music For Life, an out source music lesson program sponsored by Ackerman's Music Center. Patty also teaches beginning classical piano. Her easy going but disciplined approach to teaching flute and piano guarantees a successful outcome to those wishing to learn to play recreationally or professionally.
http://www.myspace.com/pattyflute12

Liz Charles - Cello

Liz Charles is our highly popular cello teacher here at Ackerman’s Music Center. She is well versed in the classical literature. Liz’s accomplishments in cello began at age 11 as principal cellist for the District Of Columbia Youth Orchestra. In her adult years Liz has competed successfully in international competitions and has played at various venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Liz’s passion is teaching music. Liz’s passion for sharing her experience with others who wish to learn to play the cello will provide a rewarding and fun learning experience!

Timothy M. Taylor - Piano

Timothy M. Taylor went to William Paterson University where he got his Bachelors in Piano Performance. Over the last 12 years he has been the Music Director/Accompanist for many community theater productions in NJ. He won the NJACT Perry award for outstanding music direction in 2007. From 2006-2009 he worked at Hasbrouk Height MS/HS as the Vocal Director where he was in charge of large and small vocal ensemble.

Charles Ridgell – Music Therapist

As a music therapist, Charles patiently utilizes a variety of musical techniques (instrument playing, singing, movement) as a means to address the cognitive, physical, language, behavioral, and emotional goals of his students. Music therapy has been shown to be an effective intervention for students in special education including those with autism, learning disabilities, and developmental delays. Charles received his B.A in music performance from William Paterson University and his certification in Music Therapy from Montclair State University.

Juliette Vesque

Juliette Vesque has been teaching vocal music and directing shows in the Wyckoff School System for the past seven years and has recently joined Ackerman's Music Center teaching voice lessons.

Before teaching in Wyckoff, Juliette attended Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. She holds a Bachelors of Music Education degree with Vocal Specialization, and is an active member of the New Jersey Music Educators' Association.

While completing her studies at Mason Gross, Juliette sang in the University Choirs, performed on clarinet in the Rutgers Concert Band, and was an assistant director of the Rutgers Children's Choir.

In addition to teaching, Juliette loves singing and has performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She as appeared on NBC’s Today Show with various singing ensembles. Her performance experience also includes solo performance with several university choirs and in Churches. Her vocal expertise includes Broadway, Pop, Opera, German Lieder, Italian art songs and oratorios, French repertoire, and many other styles of vocal music.

Juliette creates a learning atmosphere that is inspiring for the student while at the same time building the basic musical skills needed to attain success. Her lessons are fun, interesting and tailored to the individual needs and goals of the student. Her well-rounded approach to teaching voice will instill in the student a life long love of music and build a foundation for advanced study!

Achilles Georghiou - Guitar and Bass

Achilles is a student of classical guitar at William Paterson University. His teaching style takes into account the musical goals of the student while including fundamental and necessary musical skills including sight-reading, music theory, learning how to play songs by ear and soloing.

With students that simply wish to increase their general musical ability on the guitar or bass, Achilles combines all of these training factors into an ongoing course of gradually increasing difficulty designed to assist the student in reaching the level of ability they so desire. In addition, Achilles introduces students to the playing of many renowned guitarists by supplementing practice materials with the study of recorded guitar materials. Achilles plays guitar and also sings in Reservoir Dogz, a rock cover band.

Andrea Yi

Andrea Yi is has been teaching violin since graduation from the University of Connecticut in 2009 with a BS in Music Education. A lifelong student of the violin since age 5, Andrea has accumulated many years of experience as a performer in concert halls, schools, and churches.

Her unique balance of performing and teaching skills makes her the ideal choice for a parent seeking to get their son or daughter properly started on the violin. Additionally Andrea’s playing experience will greatly benefit those intermediate to advanced students who are preparing for Regionals and All-State Auditions in New Jersey.

Andrea’s extensive training and background also qualifies her to teach the Suzuki method as well as traditional violin and viola methods.