Lessons

JODI GRIFFITH- PIANO and VOICE: THURSDAY EVENINGS and SATURDAYS: Jodi is a Berklee College of Music grad in songwriting and piano, sharing her knowledge of playing and performing with students of all ages. She uses the Faber & Faber method book for piano for teaching adults as well as children. She also incorporates theory, harmony, and improvisation into the lessons. She teaches rock, pop, and alternative styles for the piano. She has released two CD’s and is currently performing her original music.

Raht has an A. Mus. T.C.L. from Trinity College in London, England and Diploma in Music Performance and Pedagogy from Yamaha Music Foundation in Tokyo, Japan. He also earned a bachelor degree in Economics (B.Ec.) from Sydney University (Australia) where he was a Colombo Plan Scholar. He has an M.A. in Economics and an A.B.D in Economics from Northeastern University (Boston, U.S.A.), and has also done graduate work in higher education administration at the University of Massachusetts Boston where he earned a Certificate of Basic Mediation. His award winning original composition “Australia” copyrighted by Yamaha can be heard on U-tube. “Australia” was composed as an original composition for the Yamaha GX-I synthesizer with 4 keyboards. It is a rarely seen musical instrument since it is “too complex and too expensive for the market.”

He worked as a pianist and organist and continued to teach music, coach concert performers, and train competitors in Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, The Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong from 1971 until his arrival in Boston in 1981. He was invited to join Piano Mill in 2005. He is a part-time faculty member in the School of the Performing Arts at Emerson College in Boston, and a staff pianist of the Harvard Dance Center within the Office For The Arts at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a staff pianist of The Boston Conservatory (TBC) in Boston, Massachusetts. He also regularly performs for The Brookline Ballet School and The Tony Williams Dance Center.

Raht has trained competitors and concert artists for various music competitions and concerts. He also has sat on the panels of judges in music competitions and auditions. He, however, does not encourage competition: Raht’s philosophy is that playing the piano is for everyone. He enjoys the opportunity to teach everyone interested in learning to play the piano.

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CYNDI WEATHERBY:  GUITAR- (acoustic/eclectric) We are thrilled to have long time performing musician, Cyndi Weatherby, teaching guitar here at Piano Mill. Long time veteran of the Boston performance and recording scene, Cyndi has been teaching guitar students for years at many music establishments on the South Shore.

 

 

 

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ASHLEY FINN- BASS
Ashley has been playing electric bass since the age of 13. She has experience working with ensembles, jazz bands, marching bands, and pit bands. She has worked at Rock Camp in Vermont in the summer of 2011, teaching children about rock music. She is a student at Berklee College of Music now. She works well with beginning bass players.

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ERIK CALDARONE- GUITAR (Mondays): Innovative Teacher/Trainer

Teaching Artist Statement

Music is an avenue for self-exploration and directed creativity. As a teacher, it is my goal to implement interactive and interdisciplinary teaching strategies that guide students on the journey to find their voice. I hope to motivate students to use the guitar as a medium for self-expression with (a) compositional teaching, (b) recorded lessons, and (c) a high energy approach.

Teaching Bio

Erik began studying music at Connecticut College where he earned a BA in guitar performance & composition. At Conn, he studied with a notably diverse faculty, resulting in Erik’s strong belief in interdisciplinary teaching and learning through composition. While still enrolled, Erik honed his teaching strategies at Thames Valley Music School for two years before graduating and moving on to begin both his private studio, and a studio at Piano Mill and South Shore Conservatory. SSC’s Director of Private Instruction Lorna Jane Norris noted, “I was extremely impressed with the paradox of his pedagogical and philosophical maturity and his youthful ambition and energy.”

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STEVE FINN-BASS: Steve has been playing drums since the age of 7. Growing up in a musical family, he has been exposed to music at a very young age. He started playing in different rock bands at the age of 15 and began his marching career around the same time. Since then, he has played in the Abington High school marching band and concert band, The Brockton Cosmo Legion Band, The Southeastern philharmonic Orchestra, The Southeast Alumni symphony orchestra, And the Mass Lions All state Band. He has received several awards during high school including the prestigious Paul K. Smith Award in his senior year. Since then, he has been accepted and enrolled in Berklee College of Music and made Dean’s list in his First semester. He has played with Names like his father Jon Finn, Dave Larue, and plays in rock, blues, and progressive instrumental bands around the south shore. As a drummer, he specializes in Rock, Metal, Progressive rock, and funk. His playing incorporates a lot of double bass drum techniques, odd time signatures, and a solid pocket. Also as a tuba player, Steve specializes in bass cleff reading, treble cleff reading, and how drummers can use theory to their advantage. Steve looks forward to Dual majoring and Music Education, playing in more bands around the south shore, playing with more high profile artists (such as Guthrie Govan) and to beginning teaching.

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JEFF KING- PIANO, VOICE, SONG-WRITING and THEORY

Braintree native Jeff King will be joining Piano Mill as a piano, voice. song-writing and music theory instructor. Jeff graduated from Thayer Academy in 2004, and graduated cum laude from Wheaton College, MA where he majored in music and received the 2008 Helen Zoe Duncan Prize in piano performance. During his studies, he was a member of the Wheaton Jazz Band and served as President of the Band Club. In 2006, he studied abroad for a year at the University College Cork in Cork City, Ireland. Jeff performs all over New England with his Boston based band The Van Burens. Their debut EP, “The Eager EP” was released in December of 2009. Jeff is also an active member of ProjectGreenSchools working with his group “The Reducers” performing for children everywhere stressing the importance of living a healthy and creative lifestyle. Jeff has been teaching private lessons for the past four years.

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Dennis Calnan- SAXOPHONE, CLARINET, FLUTE: Mondays A Berklee College of Music graduate, Dennis comes to Piano Mill with years of teaching and performance experience. 1968-1970 Utopia, 9 piece soul band

• 1970-1972 USMC Band, San Diego
• 1973-1982 Lewis & Clark Expedition, 10 piece show band
• 1983-1991 Al Halliday and the Hurricanes, Original and Cover Rock Band
• 1995-2002 Bruce Peterson Orchestra, 18 piece swing band

 

 

 

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Acoustic/Electric, ROCK-FOLK-CLASSICAL-POP.  We are fortunate to have Boston veteran musician, Steve Thorsen, teaching here at Piano Mill. Part of Boston’s highly acclaimed rock history in the 70′s and 80′s Steve is still on the forefront of the music scene as a sought after studio musician and on-stage performer. His guitar style reflects that of a versatile player that can adapt to many genres.

ARE YOU A MUSIC TEACHER and want to join our team here at Piano Mill.  Contact us today to get started! 781-217-1678 or email Angel at lessons@pianomill.com