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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