Meet the Dunwoody Music Teachers:
Enter the category for this item: Guitar
Isaac Bear, Acoustic, Electric & Classical Guitar
Mr. Bear can be found on numerous recordings and has toured the east coast as well as Japan with several groups. He is a graduate of the University of North Florida with a degree in Classical Guitar Performance.
Enter the category for this item: Violin
Nick Birchby – Violin
Mr. Birchby is a graduate of Juilliard, also has a Masters degree from NYU. For many years he was concertmaster of a German opera house, made solo tours in Europe and America, and was soloist in films made by North German Broadcasting and Bavarian Broadcasting. He has also taught for many years--colleagues, college students, and a great many beginners. His students range from 3 to 74.
Enter the category for this item: Piano
Sharon Camper, Piano
Ms. Camper has a degree in Elementary Education with minors in Art and Music. In addition to her experience teaching elementary and preschool music, directing children’s choirs, and founding and directing an elementary school band, she has also appeared in the Ft. Lauderdale area as a vocalist and keyboard player. Ms. Camper teaches private piano, voice, Yamaha group classes and Kindermusik.
Enter the category for this item: Violin
Marina Dmitriyev, Violin
Ms. Dmitriyev has over 30 years of teaching experience with Traditional and Suzuki methods. Her philosophy is that the gift of music is for everyone and strives to bring out the best in her students. She started playing violin and piano at age 5 and received her Violin Performance and Teaching degree at St. Petersburg (Russia). Some of the groups she has performed with include the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Buffalo Opera Company, and Fredonia Chamber Player in addition to other professional and community orchestra.
Enter the category for this item: Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano
Gabriel Feurdean, Violin, Viola, Beg. Piano & Cello
Mr. Feurdean is a native of Romania. He started playing violin at the age of six, and graduated from Gheorghe Dima music academy in Cluj Napoca. He has been part of many professional orchestras both in the US and Romania. Gabriel teaches students of all levels and ages, and he is proficient in classical music as well as jazz. His students enjoy being part of the musical experience and many hold positions in Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra, Fulton Youth Orchestra, & Carrollton Youth Orchestra.
Enter the category for this item: Piano
Jim Greer, Piano
Mr. Greer began teaching here in 1990. Previously Mr. Greer toured for 17 years in the U.S., Europe, and Asia as Founder and Director of the Internationals, a vocal and orchestral ensemble. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University in Music Education. His students benefit from learning all styles of music with emphasis on classical, using both Suzuki & traditional methods.
Enter the category for this item: Bassoon, Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute
John Grove – Bassoon, Clarinet, Sax, Flute
Mr. Grove is a local band director who enjoys starting new students and uses a lot of positive feedback and focus on creating good playing habits so that the student’s experiences success in playing with a good tone as quickly as possible. He plays as a professional on bassoon and contra-bassoon in the Columbus Symphony (GA) and subs in the Atlanta Symphony. He has a lot of experience in orchestral and Broadway music.
Enter the category for this item: Piano
Eriko Ishikawa, Piano
Ms. Ishikawa received her BM in Piano Performance from the Tokyo College of Music and later her MA from Arizona State University. Ms. Ishikawa is a certified Yamaha instructor and she is also a published composer. Her students constantly win local and state level competitions.
Enter the category for this item: Guitar, Piano, Drums, Percussion
Steve Johnston, Guitars, Piano & Drums
Steve received an Associate’s degree in Guitar Performance from St. Leo College. He tries to find the perfect balance of incorporating scales and theory along with the student’s interests into each lesson. Steve has taught piano, bass, drums, and guitar. He also has experience forming ensembles of students into Jazz and Rock bands.
Enter the category for this item: Guitar
Evan Krupa, Guitar
Evan received his degree from Atlanta Institute of Music. He plays with a local band and can be found at local venues. He teaches all styles but particularly enjoys Jazz & Blues.
Enter the category for this item: Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet
Matt Maher, Guitar, Saxophones, Flute, Clarinets
Matt graduated from Berklee College of Music with degrees in Music Performance. His teaching experience is vast. Whilst his degree includes emphasis in saxophone and other woodwinds, he has extensive experience in guitar as well. Matt’s styles include both classical and jazz.
Enter the category for this item: Violin, Piano
Huu Mai, Piano, Violin
Mr. Mai received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Kennesaw State Univ., and then continued his education achieving certification in the Yamaha Music Education System. He has been teaching and performing professionally for over 9 years. Mr. Mai believes that rhythm and technique are key in musical development and success.
Enter the category for this item: Piano, Voice
Scott Mize, Piano & Voice
Mr. Mize received a Master of Music degree from N. Carolina School of the Arts and a Bachelor of Music from Clayton State Univ. Scott strives to provide the technical and musical tools that help students succeed in any type of music. He tries to foster rehearsal and performance practices that demonstrate the rewards that hard work can bring. Overall his goal is to encourage a lifelong appreciation of music.
Enter the category for this item: Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Bass Guitar
Robert Martin, Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Bass Guitar
Mr. Martin attended Appalachian State and UNC, Asheville where he received a BA in Guitar Performance. A fixture in the Atlanta music scene, he plays with Kingsized, the Gusto Show, The Roy Owens Jr. and Crooked Fingers. He has recorded with Crooked Fingers and has toured North America as well as overseas.
Enter the category for this item: Piano, Violin, Viola
Ryan Ottaviano – Piano, Violin, Viola
A graduate of New England Conservatory, Mr. Ottaviano studied piano and composition and received his BM in 2006. With over a decade of experience and a passion for teaching, Ryan pursued independent study in music education and attained his Massachusetts K-12 State Certification in 2007. During his studies, Ryan worked with Dr. Larry Scripp, director of the MIE (music in education) department as a research assistant with a focus on early childhood development. His performance experience encompasses an eclectic collection of venues both local and abroad. He has performed in Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall, England, Italy, and Germany.
Enter the category for this item: Guitar
Maxine Parker, Classical & Acoustic Guitars
The author of six books on children’s guitar method, Ms. Parker attended Peabody Conservatory and graduated from Georgia State University with a BM in Classical Guitar Performance. She specializes in teaching children as young as three years old a rote method and advances to reading music with finger style playing including singing and chords with various strums. She enjoys teaching all age groups. She has been teaching for the past 30+ years.
Enter the category for this item: Voice, Piano
Will Suit – Voice, Piano
Will has a B. A. in Music with a Proficiency in Voice from Tennessee Temple University. He has taught both voice and piano since 1986. Mr. Suit spent more than twenty years as a music director of both choral and orchestral groups. He is an experienced composer and arranger. Will’s approach to instruction is designed to instill ownership in the student regarding his/her musical development. He enjoys teaching people of all ages and in a variety of musical styles.
Enter the category for this item: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone
Robert Trocina, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone
Robert received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Kennesaw State University and completed further studies at Georgia State University. Robert has over 17 years experience as a music instructor and enjoys helping young players develop and master their skills. A co-founder of New School of Music, Robert also conducts the Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra.
Enter the category for this item: Piano
Jennie Visscher, Piano
Ms. Visscher received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from University of West Georgia where she later continued studies through workshops in Pedagogy and Piano Performance. She has taught private piano lessons for more than 24 years to a spectrum of students ranging from beginner to college level. Jennie is a long-term member of MTNA, GMTA, and other festivals and competitions.
Enter the category for this item: Piano
Wade Wright, Suzuki Piano
Ms. Wright has been teaching for AMC/NSM for three years and is a graduate of Sanford University in Music Education. She completed her Suzuki internship with the AASPA and worked with Dr. Kataoka at the Louisville Institute and the Atlanta Suzuki Workshop. She has further training under Joan Kyrsinski, Ray Landers, and Elaine Edwards.