ANTHONY AMODEO
Anthony earned a degree from the Musicians’ Institute in 2000, studying with a long list of drumming luminaries: Elvin Jones, Steve Smith, Peter Erskine, Dave Weckl, Joe Porcaro, Mike Clark, Maria Martinez, Dave Allen, Fred Dinkins, Gary Hess, and Chuck Silverman. Anthony applies teaching techniques taken from each of them into his own instruction. He performs as a session drummer throughout the tri-state area. He also performs live and tours with a number of acts from around the country. Anthony teaches all music styles and bases his instruction on blending classic techniques with real life situations because for him, “making music comes first.” Anthony says, “If I can tap into something in each student that creates the two most important things: curiosity and desire, I’ve done my job.” 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.
BEN SCHWARTZ
Ben has been a freelance drummer for 30 years. He holds a B.M. in Music Education from Mason Gross School of the Arts and an M.A. in Music Education from New Jersey City University. He’s been schooled by some of the top drummers and percussionists in the world, including Bernard Purdie, Tim Horner, She-e Wu, Chris Hanning, Greg Giannascoli, Audrey Puzyr Spies, Tommy Igoe, Dennis Delucia, Ralph Peterson, and Quincy Davis. Ben has played multiple genres of music across the tri-state area with such groups as the Peter Duchin Orchestra, The Joe and Al Elefante Quartet, Van Davis, The Nat Janoff Trio, and Men of Jazz. For the past 16 years, he has been a music director at Elizabeth High School, directing the jazz, concert, and marching bands, as well as music technology and chorus. He is also an in-demand music arranger and composer for several high school marching bands across the country. In addition, he also enjoys creating drum covers on his YouTube page. Ben has taught music to thousands of students over his career and looks forward to teaching 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.
