Instructors

15238 East Hampden Circle
Aurora, Colorado 80014
(303) 693-2696

Quality Music Instruction since 1987!

Click on an instructors name to be taken to their bio.

Drums & Percussion	Fretted Strings	Brass	Orchestral Strings	Piano	Voice	Woodwinds
Kevin Smith	Ben Cantu	Dr. Erik Erickson	Debby Funk	Lina Hatem		Kerry Bruner
	Nessa	Steve Lehn	Lynne Glaeske	Phillip Howard		Larry Nathan
	Jim Montgomery			Eileen Nuttall		Michael Vigliotti
	Karl Specht					Fran Piazza
						Debbie Wilbur

Kerry Brunner - Oboe

Kerry holds Bachelor of Music degrees in oboe performance and music education from the University of Colorado. He has played with several ensembles throughout the Denver area and has been Principal Oboe of the Arapahoe Philharmonic for over twenty years. Kerry has appeared many times as a soloist with several local symphonic orchestras. Kerry has taught instrumental music in the public schools in Adams and Jefferson counties and is a regular clinician for the Arapahoe Philharmonic Youth Orchestra woodwinds. He has taught successful students at all levels from elementary school through college.

Ben Cantu - Guitar

Ben received his Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and his Master of Music of Music degree from the University of Denver, both in Guitar Performance. Ben has been active as a teacher since 1997. He has had private studios in Ohio and South Carolina. Since 2003, Ben serves as an adjunct faculty at Colorado State University in Pueblo. His responsibilities at CSU-Pueblo include directing the Jazz and Classical Guitar programs. Ben has played concerts in Maine, Ohio, South Carolina, and Colorado. In 2000 and 2001, Ben traveled to Shanghai, China on a brief concert tour. Recently, Ben has performed in Boulder, La Veta, and at Red Rocks Community College.

Erik Erickson- Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone & Tuba

Dr. Eric Erickson holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Colorado, a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from the University of Arizona where he studied with the late, great trumpet soloist, Frank Simon and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado with an emphasis in special education. Professional experience includes being a trumpet player in the Nellis Air Force Base Band in Las Vegas, Nevada and playing with various bands in the Las Vegas area. Dr. Erickson also performed with many bands in the Tucson, Arizona area including the band of the famous Mexican composer, Lalo Guerrera. He was a trumpet soloist with the Denver Municipal Band in Denver, Colorado for several years and has played performances with Trini Lopez and Nancy Ames. Symphony orchestra experience includes the Las Vegas Symphony, the Tucson Symphony, the Brico Symphony in Denver, Colorado and first trumpet with the Community Arts Symphony in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Erickson has performed under the batons of Leopold Stokowski, Howard Hanson, Walter Hanson and Horace Jones. Teaching experience includes 31 years as band and orchestra teacher in the Denver Public Schools, one year as a trumpet teacher at the University of Arizona and many years as conductor of the Denver Public Schools Junior High Honor Orchestra. Dr. Erickson has been the brass teacher at the Music Lesson Place for 19 years and he enjoys his one-on-one experience with brass students of all ages.

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Debby Funk - Violin, Suzuki Violin and Viola

Debby has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana. She also has a Masters of Music degree in String Pedagogy from the University of Colorado at Boulder where she worked with William Star, one of the leading Suzuki specialists in the United States. Debby has taught music in the public schools in Ohio, Wyoming and Colorado. She has performed with the Arapahoe Philharmonic Orchestra for well over twenty years, where she is also currently the orchestra librarian.

Lynne Glaeske - Violin and Viola

Lynne has a Bachelors degree in violin performance from the University of Colorado, where she studied with Wilfred Biel, James Maurer and Oswald Lehnert. She has been a member of the Colorado Springs Symphony, the Denver Chamber Orchestra and the Columbine Chamber Players, performing both as a violinist and as a violist.

Currently she performs with Confluence String Quartet, Central City Opera Orchestra and The Playground Ensemble, and freelances extensively in the Denver area. She has over 30 years experience teaching violin and viola.

Lina Hatem - piano

Lina Hatem started to play the piano at the age of five. Her first public performance was when she was fifteen with the Syrian National Orchestra playing Beethoven’s piano concerto No. 1. At the age of eighteen, she was accepted at the Higher Institute of Music where she studied with Victor Bunin. In addition to piano, Lina studied organ and voice in her undergraduate program and performed a number of concerts in St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. Also, she was a member of the Chamber Choir at the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus, Syria.
Ms. Hatem recently graduated from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver with a Master’s degree in piano performance, where she studied with Alice Rybak and Professor Theodor Lichtmann. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant she taught private piano lessons and a piano group class in the music lab. In January 2005, Lina won the Solo Honors Competition and later in March she performed Brahms piano concerto with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Golan conducting. Her performances include many solo concerts and collaborations with other instrumentalists and chamber groups.
For more than eight years now, Lina has been teaching piano on both private and group lesson basis, working with students of different backgrounds and ages.
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Phillip Howard

Phillip holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance. He works regularly as an accompanist with the Colorado Children’s Chorale, Colorado Symphony Chorus, The Central City Opera’s outreach ensemble, and chorale ensembles at Metropolitan State College of Denver. He has also been a guest artist in the Boulder Bach Festival. Phillip also has several recordings to his credit.

Steve Lehn - Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, & Baritone

Steve has both a B.M. and an M.A. in trumpet performance from the University of Denver. He has 15 years experience in private instruction, as well as 13 years of classroom experience as a Para-educator. While he primarily specializes in trumpet, he is comfortable working with students on the French Horn, Trombone and Baritone. He is currently the principal trumpet with the Arapahoe Philharmonic as well as free-lancing extensively. Past performance experience includes the Denver Brass, C.S.O, and the Colorado Ballet. He has also played for big names such as Johnny Mathis and Linda Ronstadt

Nessa - Guitar
I teach "Guitar, Bass Guitar, Music Composition and Theory". See my full biography at www.nessamarquez.com

Teaching Philosophy - Guitar students learn the following skills: Note reading, reading chords charts, strumming patterns, reading off lead sheets, sight reading, all major and minor sales as well as modes, improvisation, theory as it applies to the instrument, proper technique, performance skills and playing by ear. I typically do not teach using tablature. There are textbooks that students use depending on their age and skill level, plus I have numerous handouts.
Bass guitar students learn the following skills: Note reading, reading off lead sheets, sight reading, all major and minor sales as well as modes, improvisation, theory as it applies to the instrument, proper technique, performance skills and playing by ear. I typically do not teach using tablature. There is a textbook that students use depending on their skill level, plus I have numerous handouts.
Piano students learn the following skills: Note reading, reading off lead sheets, sight reading, all major and minor sales, theory as it applies to the instrument, proper technique, performance skills. There are several textbooks that piano students use depending on their skill level.

For more information on Private Lessons with Nessa, click here.

Jim Montgomery - guitar

Jim began playing the guitar at the age of 13. After learning the basics, he became intrigued by the sounds of the blues, rock, R&B, jazz, and pop. As a music major at the University of Kentucky, he absorbed the concepts of music theory. He later attended Bellarmine College as a classical guitar major and attended jazz classes with instructor/performer, Jamie Abersold.

Jim has been the guitarist in bands covering the hits by artists such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen, Dire Straits, etc. He enjoys playing blues and rock and is skilled in the ability to improvise. His teaching style is a combination of the basics (reading and counting correctly), as well as music theory, then applying these skills to actually performing songs. (That's why we become musicians, isn't it?!)

A member of the faculty at the Music Lesson Place since 1989, Jim is a patient instructor, comfortable teaching beginners or more advanced students of any age. His teaching method includes learning to read (standard notation or guitar tablature), learning songs from a CD (ear training), and knowledge of rhythms, theory, and scales in order to write songs, solo perform, and improvise.

Jim keeps up to date with current styles, techniques, and artists in the rock genre. A typical day of teaching might include finger picking on the acoustic guitar to playing some classic rock grooves to playing metallica or hardcore. He believes in catering to the interests and needs of each student individually to help them develop their talents and attain their goals.

Larry Nathan - Clarinet

Larry has a BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and an MA in Clarinet Performance from the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music. Larry taught instrumental music in Denver Public Schools for 23 years. He has been a member of many performing organizations in the Denver area. Larry has more than 30 years experience teaching music to children and adults. Eileen Nuttall Eileen is a lifelong musician with a B.A. in music from Brigham Young University. She has been teaching piano to both children and adults for over 17 years. She also frequently accompanies soloists, small groups, and choirs and currently plays piano and organ for her church. Her musical background extends to playing the violin and vocal work.

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Eileen Nuttall - piano

Eileen is a lifelong musician with a B.A. in music from Brigham Young University. She has been teaching piano to both children and adults for over 17 years. She also frequently accompanies soloists, small groups, and choirs and currently plays piano and organ for her church. Her musical background extends to playing the violin and vocal work.

Fran Piazza - Flute, Piccolo, Recorder

Fran received the Bachelor of Music in flute performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music. Relocating to Denver in 1980, Fran has performed with virtually every professional organization in the area including the CSO, Central City Opera, Colorado Ballet and Colorado Music Festival. She's performed with everyone from the Beach Boys to Andrea Bocelli, and throughout the United States. Fran has been teaching the flute since the mid 70s. A former faculty member of Metro State, she received the "Excellence in Teaching" award from the Denver School of the Arts in 1994 and teaches all levels of students at studios in Aurora, Louisville, Castle Pines and Golden. Fran's students consistently receive high honors in their pursuit of flute playing. Her students are members of Colorado Honor Band, All-State Band and Orchestra, CU Honor Band, Arapahoe Youth Symphony, Young Artist Orchestra, Western All-State, Jefferson All-County Band and Orchestra, Colorado Youth Symphony, Colorado Wind Ensemble and many other organizations. Fran's students have received partial and full 4-year scholarships to schools such as: Boston Conservatory, Harvard University, Denver University, UNC, CU Boulder, Metro State, and others.
Contact Fran at franpiazza@juno.com

For more information on Private Lessons with Fran, click here.

Kevin Smith

Kevin has been a professional musician for 35 years. A well-known member of the Denver music community, his talents shine in all genres - rock, jazz, blues, funk, swing, Latin, alternative, and classical. Kevin performed with, as well as recorded with, many greats including: Bill Cosby, Johnny Smith, Frank Sinatra Jr., and Charlie Pride. Kevin enjoys passing his experiences on to young upcoming musicians, helping them to advance in a very competitive industry. His approach to teaching is one of fun, balanced with technique, reading, and all the essential fundamentals.

Karl Specht - Guitar and Banjo

Karl has over 35 years of education and performing experience. He studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and the University of California at Santa Barbara. Karl makes frequent appearances on radio and television.

Michael Viglotti - Oboe & Bassoon

Michael received a Bachelor of Music in oboe performance at Stetson University and earned the Master of Music in oboe performance at Southern Methodist University. Before moving to Denver, Michael taught private lessons for 9 years in the Dallas and Ft. Worth area of Texas, teaching 70 double reed students per week. His students have excelled at solo and ensemble competitions including overall 1998 Best Oboe Solo at state. In addition, his students have held All-State Band or Orchestra positions in both Texas and Colorado. Michael currently teaches 30 students privately and maintains a double reed repair shop and reed business. He is on staff of the Colorado Honor Band as the Double Reed Sectionals teacher since 2002 and has been the Oboe Sectionals teacher for Arapahoe High School since 2005. Frequently requested to be a judge at solo/ensemble contests as well as All-City/Honor Band tryouts, Michael is also asked to teach Master classes at many local schools. Michael performs regularly on Oboe and English Horn with Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra and the Colorado Wind Ensemble. Michael was principle oboe of the Texas Wind Symphony for 8 years. He also toured the country as Solo Oboist with the Mantovani Orchestra for the 1988-89 season. He has performed in professional orchestras in Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Colorado. Michael Vigliotti may be reached at 303-399-4330 or MAVigliotti@juno.com.

Debbie Wilbur - Clarinet and Saxophone

I have been teaching and performing for over 25 years and have been at the Music Lesson Place since 1992. I received my Bachelor of Music Education Degree, with performing and scholastic honors, from Ohio State University. Recently, I was invited to become a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Northern Colorado on a full tuition scholarship and am working on my Master's Degree in Clarinet Performance, studying with Bil Jackson, widely-renowned performer and principal clarinet with the Colorado Symphony. After such a long time since college, it's been quite a ride - but it gives me even more of a sense of empathy with what students have to go through in juggling all their studies and activities, while still finding time to practice! As an active professional performing musician, I play with the Colorado Ballet Orchestra, the Cheyenne (Wyoming) Symphony and the Denver Municipal Band (one of a handful of professional concert bands in the country, and the oldest continuously performing arts group in the U.S.) I'm also a respected freelance musician and have played with the Santa Fe Opera and virtually every group from Colorado Springs to Wyoming, including the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Springs Symphony, Colorado Music Festival, Opera Colorado, Central City Opera, Denver Opera Company, Ft. Collins Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic and the Boulder Philharmonic, among others. This extensive and active performing career really gives me an edge in providing practical, real-world experience and problem-solving to my students. As a teacher of clarinet and saxophone, I believe in providing a well-rounded music education. I feel that my role is not only to teach students to push the right buttons on their instruments, but also to help nurture and encourage the next generation of music lovers. They learn to make and truly understand music! My personal style is enthusiastic, encouraging, interactive, and nurturing - but I also have high standards for my students. During the lesson process, students learn to problem-solve in creative ways and to listen carefully - after all, music is an aural art! Every student has some native ability. My role is to help develop that ability - to do that, we work on removing obstacles to success, so that their talent can shine through. I enjoy working with those who love learning - I truly like my students, and they know it. I am happy to work with students at all levels, from children to adults.

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