ANTHONY AMODEO
Anthony studied at the Musicians’ Institute and with a long list of drumming luminaries: Elvin Jones, Steve Smith, Peter Erskine, Dave Weckl, Will Kennedy, Keith Carlock, Joe Porcaro, Ricky Lawson, Ray Luzier, Mike Clark , Maria Martinez, Dave Allen, Fred Dinkins, Gary Hess, and Chuck Silverman. He recorded and toured extensively with NJ-based band All Parallels and performs as a session drummer throughout the tri-state area. He teaches all styles, focusing on the roots of rhythm and overall percussion technique. He has been teaching privately for over 20+ years: he taught for 11 years in Los Angeles and Boston before returning to New Jersey, where he teaches full time.
Video: Meet Anthony
Video: How Anthony Makes Virtual Lessons Work
DAVE HEILMAN
Dave studied at New Jersey City University and has garnered over 10 years of experience teaching privately. Dave mentored on Norway’s The Voice and served as a clinician for jazz ensembles at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. His Broadway performances include Swing!, Spring Awakening, American Idiot, Burn the Floor, and STOMP. He also collaborated and recorded with Grammy-nominated artists Regina Spektor, Lars Vaular, Bernhoft, and Sondre Lerche and has performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with David Letterman. He is co-founder of nationally touring synth-pop group Jupiter One, which signed a two-album deal with Warner Music Group. The group recently appeared on the finale of FX’s Pose.
Video: Dave describes “outside the box” drumming
AARON GEUSIC
Aaron holds a B.M. in Music Performance and Pedagogy from Kean University in Union NJ and is currently pursuing a MAT for Music from Montclair State University. On stage, Aaron has performed with the Woodbridge Community Players in West Side Story (Lt. Schrank), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour) and Cabaret (Herr Schulz), The Kean University Choir, and of course “The Wednesdays!” Aaron has been playing drums since 2006 and participated in many school ensembles including The Immaculata High School Spartan Marching Band from Somerville, NJ.
JOHN LEISTER
John is a graduate of Juilliard, Rutgers, and the University of Illinois. He has played behind artists Renee Fleming, Paul McCartney, Idina Menzel, Metallica, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, James Taylor, and The Paul Taylor Dance Company. He has toured in Europe and Africa with the musicals “West Side Story” and “Hair” and was a substitute drummer and percussionist for six Broadway musicals (Les Miserables, King and I, Little Shop of Horrors, Scarlet Pimpernel, Tommy, Blood Brothers). Recently, he performed with the Orchestra of St. Lukes, the Princeton Symphony, the Montclair Orchestra, and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. John had a 30-year career as a music educator and principal in area schools, including 18 as a band director. He helps students gain confidence and succeed in the school environment in areas ranging from marching band to jazz band to concert band to musical theater. John has helped countless students prepare for Jazz & Marching Band auditions, Region/All-State auditions, and college auditions. John has a methodical approach to assist students with snare drum, drum set, keyboard percussion, timpani, world percussion, and auxiliary percussion, focusing on reading, technique, style & groove, history/listening, composition/transcription. Of equal importance, John wants his students to have fun! In addition to private instruction, John also leads a number of percussion group classes at Elefante Music.
MARIANA RAMIREZ
Mariana studied at the National Conservatory of Mexico in Mexico City and Rutgers University. She performed with orchestras in Mexico and the US, including the National Symphony of Mexico, Orquesta de Minería, Dartmouth Symphony, South Florida Symphony, the first all-Women Orchestra of Mexico, New England Ensemble, Fairfield Orchestra, and most recently with The Dessoff Choir, premiering works for choir and orchestra at Alice Tully Hall. She has been heard on TV shows Stephen Colbert, Mozart in the Jungle, NBC Universal Upfronts at Radio City Music Hall, and others. Mariana is endorsed by Sabian cymbals, Pearl drums, and Innovative Percussion. Mariana was percussionist of the First National Broadway Tour of Once on This Island for which she also subbed on Broadway. This led to two more Broadway shows: Head Over Heels and Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations. Currently she is one of just two female Mexican drummer/percussionists performing on Broadway. Off-Broadway shows include Merrily We Roll Along and Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, and others. Mariana has collaborated with many ensembles such as The Pit Stop Players, Orquesta de Camara de Nueva York, and most recently the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Mariana is passionate about music education: “It is an effective way to share and learn traditions from my Mexican culture and other cultures.” She is currently the pit percussionist for Six on Broadway.
Upright bass, also called string bass or double bass, is a member of the orchestra family. Just as often, however, it appears in jazz, bluegrass, folk, and other genres. With a large hollow body and 4 thick strings, the tones produced by the upright bass are low and rich. The instrument is capable of long, expressive tones when played with a bow; and short, percussive tones when plucked with the strings. String bass is a dynamic and impressive instrument to play!
The oboe is a woodwind and a member of the double-reed family. It is played by blowing air through the reed, attached at the top of the instrument. The reed consists of two very thin pieces of cane, pressed together with a small opening to allow air to pass through. The sound can be high in pitch, but it has a variety of colorful tones, from bright and piercing to low and mysterious.
