MockingBird Music employs 25 teachers - more bios will be added soon!
Chris Enright, Piano Instructor • Playing piano for 16 years • Bachelor of Arts, Berklee College of Music, additional studies at New England Conservatory and the University of Maine. • Has been teaching since 2004. • Specializes in jazz, jazz fusion and rock. • Has performed at Berklee Performance Center, the Isabella Gardiner Museum and the International Jazz Educators Conference. One of the primary skills Chris has gained from the study of music is the ability to see how things that are seemingly different are actually interrelated. “Music provides the student with a sense of perspective. A musician gains the ability to see what different styles of music have in common as well as their differences.” With tastes that range from the classic 60’s jazz of Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock to the more contemporary sounds of the Bad Plus, Brad Mehldau and Kurt Rosenwinkel, the pianist is looking forward to carving out his own niche as an original composer and performer. In the meantime Chris gets great satisfaction by teaching and “seeing the thrill students can get out of music.” He encourages his students to work through the tough parts of becoming a musician citing the challenges even professional musicians face as they develop their musical identity. In his words “it’s worth it.”
Adam Goldberg, Piano Instructor • Graduate of Emerson College • Playing piano for twenty five years, since the age of 3. Formal study for 15+ years. Has been teaching since 2003. • Musical specialties include classical, jazz, rock and pop. • As a singer/songwriter has appeared at Club Passim, the Orpheum Theater in Boston, the Blackthorne Tavern, the Foxboro Orpheum Theater and at MusikFest Pennsylvania opening for the rock band Live. He is currently planning his third CD release of original material. Adam’s approach to teaching focuses on enabling the student to have fun while learning. He believes that, in order to keep the student enthused about their instrument, lessons should at first be informal and include repertoire that the student is familiar with and enjoys. He then gradually shifts the focus to a more formal approach to include specific piano technique and music theory. Adam’s earliest musical memory is his dad singing BeeGee’s songs. His favorite artists include Bob Dylan, Tori Amos, Jeff Buckley, the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. He also enjoys sports, and recording technology. He dreams of someday owning a Bosendorfer piano.
David Hines, Piano,Bass, Guitar Instructor • Studied theory and composition at Berklee College of Music and Manhattan School of Music • Studied electric bass with Stanley Clarke • Recently released self produced CD featuring original music and guitarist Allan Holdsworth • Has been playing piano for 40 years, bass for 35 years and guitar for 14 years. Recently began playing upright acoustic bass. Dave Hines has lived his life in music. Born in New York City, both his mother and father were principal vocalists with the Metropolitan Opera. His first instrument was cello, then piano, but when he saw the Beatles on Sullivan he knew the electric guitar and bass were calling. Since then it’s been rock, jazz, fusion and even a little folk and country for this talented multi-instrumentalist. Playing in bands up and down the east coast, Dave has opened for Johnny Winter, Joan Jett, Savoy Brown and many others. On the bass Dave specializes in jazz, rock and fusion. On piano he focuses on classical, rock and blues. On the guitar, it’s rock, folk and country. His big influences include Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Victor Wooten. Among his favorite albums you’ll find Weather Report “Live”, Jaco Pastorius first record, “Book of Flame” by Michael Manring and the Beatles “Abby Road”. With all of this diversity Dave tells us that one of the great benefits he has enjoyed as a result of studying and playing music is increased powers of concentration and patience. He is currently applying those qualities to the production of a new recording that will feature fretless bass over a string section. Dave plays Ken Smith and Roscoe basses through Gallian-Krueger amps.
Mark Massery, Piano Instructor • Graduate of University of Massachusetts with a minor in music. Additional training under the tutelage of Michael Schiffer at the Berkshire Community Music School. • Playing piano for over 27 years. Also plays alto saxophone. • Has been teaching piano sine 2002. • Musical specialty: blues and jazz. • Has performed at locations throughout the Berkshire Mountains as well as First Night Boston and New York’s fabled Bitter End nightclub in Greenwich Village. • Favorite artists include Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Billy Joel and James Taylor. “I believe music is a means of self expression that brings the musician peace of mind,” states Mike. “It plays a key role in our humanity.” Mike encourages his students to not only practice on their own, but to get out and play with as many people as possible. “Every person one plays with brings a unique perspective and new experience. It helps us all to keep an open mind.” Mike also believes in the benefits that physical fitness brings to the musician. An avid golfer, he also plays soccer, SCUBA dives, hikes, rides horses and throws a mean Frisbee. He hopes to get into the recording studio soon to record some of his many original tunes.
Stella Owen, Piano Instructor • Masters Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University. Undergraduate Degree in Music from Carson Newman College. • Playing piano for 36 years. Also plays clarinet, guitar, banjo, various percussion instruments. Is currently a performing vocalist with various choral groups. • Has been teaching piano since 1987. • Has performed as a pianist in a wide variety of classical recitals as well as in a roots rock ‘n roll band. As a choir vocalist has appeared at Boston’s Wang Center, Jordan Hall and Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. • Favorite artists include Lang Lang, Ella Fitzgerald and Earth, Wind and Fire. Stella has been immersed in music ever since she can remember. “All Owen’s were required to play a musical instrument,” Stella explains. “It’s in the bloodline!” Her mom is a concert violinist, Dad plays harmonica, autoharp, clarinet and piano, her sister plays piano and flute and her brother plays trombone and harmonica. It’s from this environment that Stella distilled the main piece of advice she offers to all her students: “Play something everyday.” In Stella’s view, music demands the “antithesis of procrastination”. “There’s no such thing as cramming for practice. It just doesn’t work that way. It takes discipline to make a consistent daily effort.” She insists that the payoff is worth it. “There’s nothing I enjoy more than seeing the lights go on when a student reaches an important goal.” Stella’s own musical goal is to take up a new instrument: the cello. While she describes the overall future of commercial music as murky, she sees the rhythmic aspect of music continuing to come to the fore with the advent of world music, rap and hip-hop. “Even after all this time, music still holds a wonderful mystery for me. The more I study, the more I realize what I don’t know. That’s what keeps things interesting!”
Julia Roche, Piano, Voice, Flute, Clarinet, & Sax, Instructor • Has been studying and playing flute since 1997, has been studying and singing formally since 1997, has been studying and playing piano since 1999. • Bachelor of Arts Candidate, Music Major, Rhode Island College • Favorite artists: Mozart, Kenney Chesney, Bach, Justin Timberlake and Rascal Flats To say that Julia has lived a life in music is an understatement. At age four she dreamed of playing the French Horn. Since then she has studied not only that instrument, but also the clarinet, oboe, trombone, bassoon and drums. Her area of expertise, however, lies in the flute, piano and voice! From elementary school through high school she has been a member of the band, orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz band, drum corps and chorus. By the time she graduated she had taught music as a substitute teacher and was Assistant Choir Director in the Bellingham elementary, middle and high schools. Now in her third year at Rhode Island College she is studying flute under Maryellen Guzzio-Kregler, piano under Lila Kane and Modern Voice under Eric Whittaker. She is a member of the Rhode Island College Women’s Choir. “Music is a never ending learning process”, states the multi-instrumentalist. “Everyday I gain a greater appreciation for it. My favorite part of teaching is passing on the knowledge I have gained and seeing students apply it and love it.”
David Ropar, Piano Instructor • Playing piano for over 30 years • Also plays accordion and guitar • Specializes in pop, rock, and soul David Ropar has been playing piano, accordion and guitar for more than 30 years. He first fell in love with music at age seven, when he enrolled in accordion lessons. For the next nine years David focused on mastering the instrument. His efforts resulted in him winning several Ohio state accordion contests before the age of 12. Dave was so smitten with the ivory keys of his accordion that the next instrument he chose to learn was the piano. Thus began a lifetime of both playing the piano and writing songs for his family, friends and audiences around the country to hear and enjoy. Dave credits his interest in solo piano to artists like Elton John, Billy Joel, and Ray Charles. Over the years, Dave has mastered not only the keyboard, but also became and accomplished self-taught guitarist, composer and jingle writer. He played keyboards and guitar as a member of several regional bands in Ohio and California before settling in Massachusetts 20 years ago. In 1999 he produced his first CD, 30th Anniversary Collection” featuring 10 original piano songs. Dave’s music has been described as “refreshingly inspiring”, “emotionally uplifting” and “hauntingly beautiful”. His music is borne from the delicate compilation of extraordinary craftsmanship and a deep intuitive sense of lyrical composition. He is currently working on his next CD in the MockingBird Studio with the working title “Better Ground” which will be released in Spring 2008.