Faith Bamford Mike Bastian Carla Carpentier Brian Ho Doris Harry Paul Hyun James Vaughn Anna Turkova Mika Wang Robin Costa Rebecca Dhand Mila Ovsankin Dan Nieckarz Lisa Evans Susan Ogren Pat Isham Margaret Collar Anne Peterson Kirk Tamura Chantelle Urbina Shen-Ling Chuang

Shen-Ling Chuang Piano Teacher	One aspect you'll notice immediately after meeting Shen-Ling is her sparkling eyes when she talks about teaching. It's the delight of her heart to inspire her students' love for music, and her students enjoy her creative teaching methods and good sense of humor. She has been teaching piano since 1981and holds a Masters Degree in Piano Pedagogy, the study of teaching piano, from Butler University at Indiana where she won several educational awards for her creative approach to teaching from the youngest child to college level students. While living in Indiana she also participated in the Indiana Music Teachers Association, serving as a judge for the piano adjudication of students who hoped to attain certification for their musical accomplishments. For over ten years, Shen-Ling was involved in designing and organizing courses to stimulate students to study the development of music for Families with Children from China Association. And she also implemented teaching methods for the Youth Music Group Camp of Butler University. While these diverse experiences have helped form her teaching style and philosophy, Shen-Ling believes it will continue to evolve as she experiences new students and teaching situations. She is always actively searching for innovative ideas, technologies, and methods, which have the potential to improve her skills as an educator and further develop her teaching methods to interest, motivate, and excite students. Shen-Ling is married, has two adult children and speaks both Mandarin and English. Shen-Ling teaches private piano at The Music School.
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Chantelle Urbina Adventures, Kaleidoscope, Singing Children, Entertainers	Chantelle Urbina started her musical education with violin lessons at the age of five, and eventually added lessons in piano, flute, cello, and voice. She began work at The Music School as a teaching assistant at the age of fourteen and never left! Chantelle began teaching summer classes at The Music School between college sessions. She went to the Conservatory of Music at University of the Pacific, and received a Bachelor’s of Music in Education, vocal concentration. Chantelle was the Assistant Director of The Music School for seven years, working full-time in administration and teaching. She has taught classes in every age range, from twelve months through high school students. Chantelle’s recent occupations include working with Jill Denny and her MVHS choirs, as well as being the Concert Manager for the Santa Clara Chorale. She is devoted to her husband Anthony and her son, Nakoa.
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Lisa Evans Woodwinds Teacher	Lisa Evans began teaching at the Music School in 1993. She earned her Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance and her Professional Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. Lisa is the clarinetist for Paul Price’s Society Orchestra which performs for vintage dances held by the Varsity Dance Club at the Masonic Lodge in Palo Alto. She plays woodwinds and sings for Encores on Wheels and the Continental Harmony Singers. Several of Lisa’s students have gone on to study music in college and play in local youth symphonies.
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Margaret Collar Flute Teacher	Margaret Collar received her degree in Music Education and Flute Performance from California State University Fullerton. She has taught group keyboard, preschool music, flute and piano at many local schools. Performances include Fullerton Civic Light Opera and Orange County repertory Theater. Margaret has taught for many years at The Music School. Her experience includes preschool classes and flute lessons. She currently teaches private flute and flute majors from our Kaleidoscope classes. Her students are known to receive high scores and honors at youth competitions and performances. Doris Harry frequently describes Margaret as “The teacher I would love to clone.” Her two children, Rober and Lauren are enthusiastic students and excellent musicians.
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Kirk Tamura Piano Teacher and Pathways Instructor	Kirk started taking classical piano lessons in his youth: in high school, he started playing in the jazz band and has continued playing in jazz bands, combos and trios since then. His parents are music lovers and encouraged Kirk and his sister to play piano and other instruments. Kirk's love for jazz comes from his parents' love of Broadway musicals, jazz singers and the jazz big bands. Kirk's love for music eventually led him to earn a BA in music from San Jose State. Currently, Kirk teaches private piano lessons and the Tuesday Pathways class at the Music School: outside of the school, he can be heard leading his trio at the Los Altos Grill on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9: he also appears at "A Perfect Finish" in downtown San Jose once a month with his trio. Being exposed to the wonderful teachers and working with students has helped him to grow as a musician and as a teacher: these are lifelong lessons that he hopes to pass onto his students and fellow musicians. In approaching music in the jazz trio context, Kirk strives to create the sound of the big band: the Count Basie Orchestra is one of the many jazz bands that has influenced and shaped his piano style.
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Paul Hyun Violin and Cello Teacher	Starting at the age of 9, Paul picked up the cello and has played since then to the present time. He has studied with many different teachers which included Stephen Geber, Geoffrey Solow, Meta Watts, Felix Wong, Jean Michel Fonteneau, Emilio Colon. Paul has performed in different master classes by cellists such as, Laslo Varga, David Raquerio, Geoffrey Solow, as well as his former teacher Jean Michel from San Francisco Conservatory. He also participated in various youth symphonies such as, Houston Youth Symphony, El Camino Youth Symphony, All State Orchestra and San Francisco Youth Symphony. Paul has been a featured soloist with the Palo Alto Philharmonic, as well as the Prometheus Symphony. He just finished his Bachelor's degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied cello with Stephen Geber, the longest serving but now former principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra. He has participated in various music festivals such as, California Summer Music Festival, ARIA International Summer Music Festival, Angel Fire, ENCORE School for Strings, Hidden Valley Music Seminars, Round Top Music Festival, and National Orchestral Institution. He also training and coachings from San Francisco Conservatory of Music as well as received the Coaches Award for Chamber Music Coachings during his time as a member of Prep Division. Currently Mr. Hyun is teaching cello, piano, guitar as well as violin to people of all ages and is also part of the HOHE organization serving as their Music and Education Director. Mr. Hyun’s vision is to eventually give the special and autistic need children their own school to attend for music, art, and physical activities. Mr. Hyun also is coaching other various groups such as Homestead High Orchestra, St. Francis after school string ensemble, Joy Chamber Orchestra and the Silicon Valley Korean Youth Symphony. Here at The Music School, Paul is teaching violin and assisting with Pathways and Adventures. He currently has openings for cello students, ages 8 through adults, through our classes or in private settings. Contact Hoa at The Music School (408-739-9248) to schedule your lessons.
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Dan Nieckarz Guitar Teacher	Dan is a native of the San Jose area and currently resides in Los Altos. He has been studying music since early childhood. Starting out with piano lessons, he was soon playing various instruments in the school band. In his early teens he got his first electric guitar and began playing with friends in local groups. After high school he became more and more interested in jazz music, ultimately pursuing a major in jazz guitar. Teaching Experience: Dan has been a private guitar teacher for over ten years. He has also taught jazz theory, jazz combo classes, and beginning guitar classes. Playing Experience: During 2009-2010, Dan worked in the show band for Princess Cruises backing up entertainers and playing in production shows. While with Princess, Dan also played solo jazz guitar at different venues around the ship. Dan played at the San Jose Jazz Festival and for five years at Garden City Restaurant in San Jose with house guitar trio Strings Attached. He also was an accompanist for De Anza Jazz Singers, Modern Voice, Brazilian singer Claudia Villela, and other top Bay Area vocalists. Dan has worked with a wide variety of musicians in various dance bands, Latin jazz groups, big bands, jazz-rock / funk-fusion bands, and in straight ahead jazz groups. Credentials: B.A. Music, San Jose State University, 1985. Private Studies: Steve Erquiaga, Rick Vandivier, Bruce Forman. Dan currently teache private guitar at The Music School, and is here several days per week.
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Faith Bamford French Horn Teacher and Band Director	Faith received her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Music Education from the State University of New York College at Fredonia and her Clear California Teaching Credential through San Jose State. She completed further graduate study at Ithaca College, Ithaca NY. In addition to offering private lessons through her own studio, she has taught elementary and middle school instrumental music and band in Arlington Central School District, Poughkeepsie NY, Cupertino Union School District, Sunnyvale School District, and the Alum Rock Unified Elementary School District. She has been a member of The Music School Faculty since 1982 and is currently providing instrumental music lessons and directing the band at Resurrection Catholic School in Sunnyvale. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI), the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), and the California Music Educators Association (CMEA).
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Susan Ogren Early Childhood and Piano Teacher	A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Susan studied piano at The MacPhail School of Music in Minneapolis. Susan has always loved music: playing piano and guitar, singing in groups small and large, and composing. She has worked with autistic students teaching both music and art, and has also produced numerous musicals at local children's theaters. Susan continues to teach pre-school and Adventures classes, as well as private piano lessons for beginners to intermediate students.
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Mika Wang Violin Teacher	Ms. Wang has her Dr of Music Arts in Violin and has experience with young students, as well as with advanced students
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Brian Ho Early Childhood and Piano Teacher	Brian’s love of jazz and children starts in our Pathways class and continues with private piano lessons. Brian has taught most of our curriculum here at The Music School…from early childhood through Kaleidoscope. His jazzy accompaniments at our Spring Musical bring smiles to the audience as well as our students. In the jazz world. Brian now specializes in Jazz Organ, and performs on a Hammond B3 organ with his quartet.
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Mike Bastian Percussion and Early Childhood Teacher	Mike gets an early start with rhythm and instruments in early childhood classes…and continue the beat in private percussion lessons. Mike is an accomplished musician with performance experience in both jazz and classical music. He teaches private and small group drum lessons, Music for Young Children, Music Box, Pathways, and Young Musicians here at The Music School. Mike performs with his Pentimento Jazz group, and is featured on drums and vocals. Check out his web site for performance dates.
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Carla Carpentier Flute teacher	Carla has been a tremendous asset to The Music School Faculty. Her students enjoy her enthusiasm, good musicianship, and focus on contemporary music. Carla received her music education at San Francisco State University. She has taught general music and early childhood music in addition to group and private flute lessons. Look for her at the California Academy of Sciences where she is a docent. She is truly a Renaissance personality, and we are happy to have her as part of our faculty. Carla will have openings on Tuesday in January. 2011, and would welcome new students.
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Doris Harry Director of The Music School	Doris has been a teacher and director of The Music School since its beginnings in 1977. Doris' Bachelor and Masters of Music were earned at The College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati in Ohio. She has additional hours in the M.B.A./Arts Administration program at Golden Gate University. Doris has taught students from preschool through the university level. She has made two educational music television series and multiple recordings for children. Her published works focus on music curriculum and songs for children. She directed children's choirs for many years and still does workshops across the country.
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Anna Turkova Piano Faculty	Anna Turkova came to The Music School from Riga, Latvia. She graduated from the Odessa Conservatory of Music, and ha a master’s degree in art. She worked in Riga-Latvia as a piano teacher and Concermaster at Elgava’s Music College. Anna’s piano students demonstrate her skillful teaching by placing well in piano competitions, and they perform beautifully on our recitals. Anna teaches here at The Music School on Saturdays only, as she also works full time in San Francisco.
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James Vaughn Communications Consultant	James has been associated with The Music School since 1997 when he originated the first website for the School. He was formerly the Operations Manager for the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View during its transition into new facilities. Now that he has retired from a bioscience career, James is active as a volunteer at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center where he also originated a website for the more than 800 volunteers at that facility. He currently maintains the site content and introduced online applications, which has recruited more than 2000 volunteers since 2008. Jim studied piano and organ through secondary school, and he has directed church choirs and played English handbells in the Sunnyvale area. His wife, Joyce, was a piano accompanist for The Music School for many years. He is very pleased to be associated with the School again and he looks forward to a continuing relationship with Doris, her staff, and all of the faculty members.
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Pat Isham String Faculty	Pat Isham has a music degree from Pomona College, a master's degree from Columbia University and has studied at the Dalcroze School of Music, as well as at Freiburg Hochschule fur Musik in Germany. Pat has played in numerous string ensembles including the San Jose Symphony, Mission Chamber Orchestra and Master Symphonica. In addition to The Music School, her teaching experience includes Harpur College in New York, San Jose City College and Metropolitan Adult Education. Pat has been teaching private lessons in violin for more than fifty years.
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Anne Peterson Piano Faculty	Anne Wallace Peterson can be found in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, and Who's Who of American Women ... She attended MacPhail School of Music (for piano and voice), Minneapolis, MN, where she went on to minor in Music at the U of MN, where Rho chapter of Phi Beta (Music/Drama/Dance Fraternity) had gone, from MacPhail. From there, she went on to an MA in Music at Lone Mountain College, SF, CA. She specialized in harpsichord repertoire and 18th-Century women composers and discovered the death date for Elizabeth Gambarini while doing research in London. Groves' Dictionary of Music & Musicians now carries that date. At The Music School, she has taught Music Box, Musical Treats, Kaideoscope, and worked on the musical, Day at the Beach, before specializing in private piano lessons. Twice, she has taught summer harpsichord workshops .She especially enjoys adult students, but that is a recent discovery ... all ages are welcome!
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Mila Ovsankin Piano Faculty	Mila Ovsankin teaches private piano and early childhood classes at The Music School. She was raised in a musical family in Moscow, Russia, where her grandfather was a professional violinist at the age of 17 and her father was a performing musician, teacher and Mila’s piano teacher. Ms Ovsankin is a multi-linquist, graduated in music education at the Moscow Music College and has taught music to children for 20 years in 3 different countries.
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Robin Costa Voice Teacher	Soprano, Robin Costa, has been singing and teaching private voice lessons, group classes, and choir throughout the Bay Area since completing her masters degree in 2005. She has sung as a member of the Opera San José chorus from the fall of 2004 through the beginning of the 2009-2010 season. During OSJ’s 2010-2011 season, she has performed various roles in the Hansel and Gretel outreach program, bringing opera to schools throughout the bay area. She also had the opportunity to sing in the San Francisco Festival Chorale for the 2009 Grand Teton Music Festival, under the baton of Donald Runnicles. In addition, Ms. Costa maintains an active role on the concert stage, having performed Nadia Boulanger’s Les Heures Claires for the CSUEB Musica Delle Donne series and the soprano solos in the Messiah for the Ohlone Chamber Orchestra. Roles performed include: Gretel in Hansel and Gretel for Townsend Opera, The Sandman and Dewfairy in Hansel and Gretel with OSJ, Susanna Walcott in OSJ’s production of The Crucible, the Josephine cover in HMS Pinafore with Lamplighters Music Theatre, and several roles in Goat Hall’s production of Dioclesian in 2009. Other roles portrayed are Mariane in Tartuffe, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte. In 2005, miss Costa had the honor of singing as one of seven finalists in the Stewart Brady Competition and was given encouragement by Carol Castel of the New York Opera Studio. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master of Arts degree in music from San José State University. Currently, Robin Costa sings with a volunteer group of musicians, which brings music to senior centers and is working on a solo recital. She is also attending San Francisco State University, pursuing her master’s degree in speech-language pathology to further expand her knowledge of the voice. Ms. Costa has been teaching at The Music School since January of 2006. Robin teaches voice students at the Music School.
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Rebecca Dhand Early Childhood Teacher	Rebecca Dhand received her Bachelor of Arts in Music with Choral Music Education and Spanish from Northern Arizona University. Her music education experience includes private teaching in violin and voice, and as a choral director. She has performed with the Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale and the Ohlone Chamber Ensemble. At the Music School, she is currently teaching and assisting in early childhood classes, Music Box and Pathways. She also teaches private violin, and will be adding private piano in the near future. We are so happy to have this experienced teacher who is passionate about music and education.
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