This music adventure begins with a lesson with one of these amazing artists! Start with a free lesson to see if it’s a good fit, then book weekly private lessons. Instruments are available on location, so you can rent or buy an instrument and walk in to the lesson with an instrument ready to go.
Dennis Shafer, Director: Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute
Dennis loves working with kids and making music FUN! He has a passion for music instills this in his students. Dennis has over 15 years experience teaching all ages and styles of music, and holds degrees at Longy of Bard College, Boulogne Conservatory (France), The Boston Conservatory, and Brooklyn College. He feels it is important to organize performances for his students. His students have performed in many venues from Harvard Square to Carnegie Hall.
Sergio Belotti, Teaching Artist: Drums
With over two decades of professional teaching and performance experience, Sergio Bellotti will get you up and drumming in no time!
Sergio specializes in jazz, funk, fusion, world music, and acoustic-electronic hybrid setups on the drums. Everything from beginner to preparing for the college audition, Sergio has got you covered! He has been teaching fusion drumming as well as a popular Moeller technique course at Berklee College of Music since 2002. Sergio has toured and/or recorded with The Platters, Mike Stern, Bob James and Grammy nominated artist and blues hall of fame Joe Louis Walker to name but a few but is ready to meet you at the level you are at (all ages, all levels) and bring you quickly to the next level! If you need music business coaching or career advising, Sergio can also help you to fully explore and develop your potential. In person or remote sessions are available.
Teri Cotè, Teaching Artist: Drums
Teri Coté is a seasoned drummer and vocalist with over 40 years of professional experience. She has been teaching for over 25 years and offers dynamic drum lessons for all ages and levels. Her diverse musical background, spanning from country and rock to soul and R&B and anything in between , allows her to help students unlock their inner rhythm. Teri's unique ability to sing while drumming, honed through extensive international touring with David Cassidy and other renowned artists, sets her apart as a truly versatile musician and instructor.
Gil Selinger, Teaching Artist: Cello
Gil brings a wonderful variety of world class cello-playing to your living room by a fun and rigorous study with his students! While performing in a wide variety of settings from symphony orchestras and chamber music to jazz ensembles, modern improvisation, and solo cello sonic explorations, he has been guest faculty around the world, including Austria, France, Switzerland, Colorado, and New York. When not touring the world as a cellist and live-composer, Gil has been based in New York City from 1995 to 2016, then Colorado from 2016-2022. Now we are lucky to have him here in Salem where he has joined our wonderful team!
Jose Reyes, Teaching Artist: Violin, Viola, Piano
Jose Reyes was born in 1987 in Caracas, Venezuela. He began his violin studies at the age of six in El Sistema academy, where he was immediately taken into their very own national youth orchestra. After graduating from Florida International University where he was concertmaster of their orchestra, he has moved to Boston. While having an active performance career and getting a MBA at Boston University, Jose has found time to work with our students on the violin! Jose is wonderful with children while giving them the structure they need to succeed as he has at their instrument.
Josiah Reibstein, Teaching Artist: Trombone, Tuba, Brass
Josiah is the King of Low Brass! He makes brass instruments, especially trombone and tuba, sound marvelous—and can make you sound marvelous playing them, too! He specializes in jazz, and is on a mission to make the tuba an engaging, improvising instrument not rooted to any genre of music. He has performed with The Late Risers, the Hot Tamales, and many others, and leads his own band which performs his original music. Check out his debut album Not Now But Later here! Josiah holds a double degree from Oberlin Conservatory in Jazz Performance and Creative Writing.
Trisha Craig, Teaching Artist: Flute
Trisha Craig believes that anyone can learn and loves to bring out the best in all of her students! She has been teaching, coaching, and conducting musicians of all ages for over thirty years. She enjoys exposing students and audiences to modern styles and techniques, and her enthusiasm is infectious. Trisha holds music degrees from Ithaca College and Longy School of Music, and her students have won awards at the local, regional, and national levels.
Chris Brandt, Teaching Artist: Double Bass, Guitar
Chris can prepare you for the symphony or the big band on the upright bass! Chris Brandt is a music practitioner and educator who has played and taught music far and wide: from Singapore and China to here on the North Shore. As a performer, Chris played principal bass for the Malaysian and Hong Kong Philharmonics. He has instructed music of diverse genres and led various ensembles and bands of middle and high school students over his career. Chris has a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin and a Masters of Music from New England Conservatory.
Chris Donelan, Teaching Artist: Guitar
Guitarist/producer/songwriter Chris Donelan makes the guitar come to life working with all ages! He has been in the industry for 15 years, working as a session musician in studios or in live concerts in the New England Area. He studied guitar with Ethan Brosh, and created and was president of the Penn State Guitar Club in school. As a living mascott for the guitar, his passion is contagious—in the same room as Chris, you will catch the guitar bug! When he’s not teaching, Chris is producer/engineer at My.Lady On Fire Music Studio in Brighton, MA, and doing live sound engineering at events all over New England.
Nate Silva, Teaching Artist: Highland Bagpipes, Scottish Smallpipes, Border pipes
Nate makes bagpipes even more fun than they already are! He loves working with people of all ages on bagpipes. He started at age 12, and is now a multi-award winning performer of Scottish Highland pipes! Nate studied piping at the Gaelic College in Nova Scotia for many years, and now plays with the Commonwealth Pipes and Drums based in Melrose, MA, and while living in Salem remains in high demand as a solo performer and instructor.
Mary-Alexandra Onstad, Teaching Artist: Voice, Piano
Mary-Alexandra loves teaching healthy singing using good breathing, posture, tone production—but most importantly: finding your true voice and enjoying the art of making music through singing and song! As a performer in musical theatre, opera, art song, jazz, and church music, there is nothing that Mary-Alexandra can’t teach you about your voice! Voice students can also work on piano, music theory, stage presence, character presentation and audition techniques as well with Mary-Alexandra. She has over 15 years of teaching experience, holds degrees from New England and Shenandoah Conservatories, and now lives right here in Salem, MA!
Max Ignas, Teaching Artist: Trumpet, Brass
Max makes trumpet fun!! Max is the Visiting Lecturer of Trumpet at Salem State University and is currently finishing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the New England Conservatory of Music where he is the first classical trumpet player admitted to the NEC doctoral program. He received his Bachelor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees at the University of Oklahoma.
Mary Jodice, Teaching Artist: Piano
Mary Jodice is a organist, choral conductor, pianist and harpsichord player based on the NorthShore. At the heart of her performing is teaching. She believes anyone can get better at their instrument at whatever level they are at. Mary is a problem solver and thinks of unique solutions to teaching and learning issues for all of her students. She has a Masters in Music, Organ, and Collaborative Piano from the Longy School of Music at Bard College. Her favorite activity is accompanying singers and instruments in a collaborative setting.
Peter Tentindo, Teaching Artist: Guitar, Piano
Peter Tentindo is a professional guitarist, vocalist, keyboardist, and recording artist from the Boston area. He loves performing, writing, producing, and teaching music. Performance credits include opening for the Jacksons on their 50th Anniversary Tour, Alice Cooper, Heaven & Hell (Black Sabbath), Queensryche and backing up Billy Gilman of NBC's The Voice . Peter teaches guitar, keyboards, ukulele, and music theory to all students interested in learning.