Our Staff Of Professional Teachers (scroll down to see the complete list of biographies)
*Paul Bailey-Trombone. Classical, Jazz, Popular Styles.
*Jose Becerra-Drums, Percussion. Rock, Jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban.
A Los Angeles Music Academy graduate, Jose has been teaching and performing in the Los Angeles area for the last 9 years. His musical versatility has kept him in demand as a drummer and percussionist performing for Bombachante, Conjunto Oye, Timba-6, Domingo Siete, East L.A. Sabor Factory, Bayou Brass Band and Sanora Santernera.
*Genevieve Birchman- Piano, Keyboard, Trumpet, Theory, Improvisation. Classical, Jazz, Pop.
Genevieve received her music degree from Occidental College with an emphasis in composition. She has been a student of the trumpet and piano for over fifteen years in both classical and jazz styles. Prior to graduation, she received the Warren Award for Composition. Her effort as a young professional composer is largely focused on classical music and pop. For a number of years she was the front woman for the rock band, Trophy Room, and is now recording her debut solo album to be released this fall.
*Marisa Rawlins-Bradfield-Voice. Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Country.
Marisa received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from California State University Northridge and a Master and teaching credentials in Music education from USC. She has directed the Los Angeles Music and Arts School’s choir for the last six years. While attending The Los Angeles Co. High School for the Performing Arts, Marisa performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Playboy Jazz Festival. She won the Jazz Vocalist of the Year award from Barbara Morrison’s organization, The Young Educated Singers. Marisa has studied with vocal notables such as Sheila Jordan and Billy Taylor. She performed with the vocal jazz group "Singcopation" which won the 2001, 2002, and 2004 Downbeat Magazine title as the No.1 college jazz vocal choir in the United States. Marisa has sung for radio, television and movies. You have heard her voice on The Osbournes, Newlyweds and Apollo 13, to name a few.
*Sue Bray- Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Banjo, Ukulele, Mandolin, Applied Music Theory, Improvisation. Rock, Folk, Blues, Fingerstyle, Bluegrass, Classical, Jazz.
Sue, a graduate of the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, is a credentialed teacher. She started teaching when she was in high school, and has been teaching in the Los Angeles area for 25 years. She has performed in rock, jazz, blues, country, bluegrass, Celtic and classical combos. Recognizing that much can be neglected by the average teacher, Sue bases her teaching style around filling the gaps that are so often present and unknown to the student and parents of the student.
Sue also has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders and has worked in therapeutic situations with children and adults (often involving learning issues). She has a Master’s degree in Audiology (hearing science) and is a licensed audiologist.
*Aaron W Chavez-
World Percussion, Drums*Dave Cipriani-
Acoustic and Electric Guitar
Dave received his Master of Fine Arts in music from California Institute of the
Arts. He is a highly accomplished guitarist, songwriter and composer from
Maryland who performs on classical, electric, and (20-string) Indian slide
guitar. Dave has produced 3 CD’s and has received awards from the Maryland State
Arts Council and the Baltimore Office of Promotions and the Arts for work with
Satabdi Express, the Indian/Jazz/Americana fusion group. Dave's diverse
background includes studies with jazz great Charlie Byrd and classical guitarist
Christopher Parkening In 1998 Dave began studying North Indian Classical Music,
on slide guitar, first with sitar Maestro Jay Kishor, then in 2003 with Indian
slide guitar master Pandit Barun Kumar Pal, one of the senior most disciples of
Ravi Shankar. He traveled to India three times to study with Pal, and currently
plays Indian and Indian influenced music on a 20-string guitar custom built by
one of the top luthiers of India. He has studied Indian music with Maestro
Aashish Khan and Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, as well as studying jazz, Arican and
Balkan music with guitarists Miroslav Tadic and Larry Koonse
*Daniel Corral-Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Keyboard Accordion.
Daniel received his Bachelor of Music from UPS in Takoma Washington, and his Master of Fine Arts in Composition from Cal Arts. He performs with numerous groups around LA, including Timur and the Dime Museum, OK Music, Killsonic, and The Accordionaires. He has accompanied avante-garde puppetry all across the USA, had his music performed by an orchestra riding the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel, been featured at a USC faculty concert of original player piano music, displayed his massive multi-movement music boxes at galleries all over Los Angeles, composed for a number of films and dance performances, and much more.
*Hope Kikuchi-Flute, Recorder, Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe. Classical, Jazz.
Hope received her Bachelor of Arts in Music and postgraduate performance studies in flute from California State University in Los Angeles. She studied teaching, performance and application-techniques with master woodwind professor, Dr. Vito G. Susca. Hope has 23 years of private teaching experience and has 19 years teaching experience in public schools.
*Will Johnson-Upright and Double Bass. Classical, Jazz and Popular Styles.
Will received his Masters Degree from the USC Thornton School of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Bass Performance from Oberlin Conservatory. He is a studio session player and is affiliated with multiple local orchestras including Southeast Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Riverside Philharmonic, Redlands Symphony and Santa Monica Virtuosi Chamber Ensemble.
*George Malek- Bass Guitar, Electric and Acoustic Guitar. Jazz, Rock, Funk, Reggae, Country, Blues.
George received his BS from Pennsylvania State University. Before joining our staff at ERMS, George was a staff member at The Music Academy. A versatile guitarist, George has played in big bands, jazz combos, rock, funk and reggae bands. Some of his credits include working with Center Dimension, Tokyo Vertigo, Outgroove, STAQ, Juno Bass and the Jackson Byrne Band.
*Joanna Malfatti: Drumset, Hand Drums
Joanna received BFA and MFA in music from California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts) where she studied with drum masters Joe LaBarbera, Randy Gloss, John Bergamo, and Alfred Ladzekpo. She has performed with various jazz, R&B, rock, Afro-Cuban, and African ensembles throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties. Joanna is an experienced, patient instructor and teaches students of all ages and levels. She provides a positive learning environment while also challenging students to reach his/her potential. Students also gain skills that reach beyond drumming, such as self confidence, mindfulness, focus, how to set and attain goals, and how to overcome negative thinking/behavior that impedes on one’s success.
*Timothy Maloof-Violin. Fiddle. Classical, Arabic.
Timothy received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Thomas Edison State College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from the college, as well. He is an alumnus of University of Tennessee Knoxville, Cal State of Los Angeles University, Los Angeles City College and Colburn School of Performing Arts. Timothy is director and head of the Rainbow Music Academy Strings Department. He has received commendation from the City of Los Angeles and Council person Bernard Parks for work with the academy. He has been awarded the Elizabeth R. Mayer Scholarship for chamber music instrument. Timothy has performed with many bands, ensembles, and orchestras – Los Angeles City College Orchestra, Kan Zaman Arabic Orchestra, Youm A’thalaatha Arabic Ensemble, the Saffron Parade Arabesque Band, and the Space Twins (whose 2003 independent release was voted one of the top ten albums by Rolling Stones, John Laursen). He composed three songs on this release. In addition to his work in the classical field, Timothy has toured nationally with various bands.
*Lou McMullin-Voice, Piano. Classical, Broadway.
Lou received his Masters degree in music from California State University at Los Angeles. While attending, he won the Outstanding Pianist Award. He was twice the winner of the Nova Scotia Music Festival. Lou performs throughout the Los Angeles area. He can be seen every Saturday night at Stoney Point Restaurant in Pasadena. He believes that lessons should be a combination of fun and hard work. He enjoys sharing the music of J.S. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Cole Porter, and a host of other fine composers with his students. Lou accepts beginning to advanced level students.
*Jason Myers-Guitar, Banjo, Lap Steel, Ukulele, Cuatro
Jason received his Bachelor of Arts from California Institute of the Arts after studying with guitarist John Carlini (of the David Grisman band). A versitile player, Jason has performed everything from jazz & popular music (Al McKibbon, “Tootie” Heath, Al Martino, Dave Carpenter, et al), zydeco (Kenny Menard), african highlife (Jimmy Fotso), hawaiian (King Kukulele), to funk and soul (the Electones). Jason also plays solo acoustic guitar and has an eclectic array of arrangements for the instrument, including early ragtime, eastern european folk, and Beatles tunes. Jason is an experienced teacher (teaching since the age of 16) who enjoys working with students of all ages and levels.
Pietro Nicassio-Cello
After graduating with full honors in
Violoncello Performance from the Niccolo’ Piccinni Conservatory of Music in Bari,
Italy, Pietro actively and extensively collaborated for many years with numerous
artistic organizations such as:
- Orchestra Filarmonica della Provincia di Bari
- Orchestra Sinfonica del Conservatorio Niccolo’ Piccinni
- Orchestgra Musical ARS del Maestro Vincenzo Pannarale
- Quartetto Da Camera di Locorotondo
- Orchestra dell’Universita’ di Bari
- Sedile Chorus dell’Universita’ di Bari
- Harmonia Association
- Mediterranean Philharmonic Orchestra
- Orchestra da Camera “Apulian Soloists”
Pietro has an innate passion for his instrument and a fervent desire to nurture
and develop students of all ages who share his interest. Languages spoken:
Italian, English and Spanish.
*Pat O'Brien-Guitar,
Harmonica, Lap Steel, Mandolin, Ukulele, Banjo, Balalaika, Autoharp, Dulcimer,
Recorder. Bass. All Styles.
A truly versatile musician, Pat began playing in Pittsburgh clubs when he was seventeen years old. He has been working as a session/casual player in the L.A. area since the late 1970’s. In addition to literally thousands of performances in the United States, Pat has toured Japan, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Spain and the Czech Republic. He has recorded with dozens of artists’ ranging from Englebert Humperdink to fusion guitarist, Scott Henderson. His band is an icon in Arcadia, playing classics from Django Reinhart, Charlie Christian, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson, The Rolling Stones, and the list goes on. He has packed the house every weekend at The First Cabin for over fifteen years. Pat is an experienced, supportive teacher. He welcomes students of all levels and ages.
*Mark Ross-Piano, Keyboard, Music Theory. Composition. Classical, Jazz, Rock, Blues, Country. R&B.
Mark received his B.A. for studies in Piano Performance and Composition from the Conservatory of Music, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA. He studied film scoring at UCLA. Mark’s musical credits are abundant: EMMY AWARD 2007 AND 2008 WINNER-Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Dramatic Series-Guiding Light Composer EMMY AWARDS NOMINATION 2005-Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Dramatic Series-Guiding Light Composer-TELEVISION [Score and additional Music]-Guiding Light, Extra, Entertainment Tonight, TMZ, Celebrity Justice, Bedtime Stories With Shelley Duvall, Spin City, Boston Public, Six Feet Under, The Bachelor, Felicity, Young and The Restless, Days of Our Lives, One Life To Live, Bold And The Beautiful, The Jamie Foxx Show, Tyra Banks Show, Judging Amy, Chris Isaak Show, 20/20, Dateline, Candid Camera, Roswell, 3rd Rock From The Sun, Home Improvement, Dr. Phil, Stir Of Echoes [film].
RECORDINGS: [Composer/Producer]-Dream Patrol / Phoning The Czar / CBS/Pasha Records-An American Tail / A Musical Adventure With Fievel And Friends / MCA Records-Brent Bourgeois / Dare To Fall In Love / Charisma Records-Hello I’m Shelley Duvall / Sweet Dreams / Merry Christmas / Kid Rhino Records-Mark-Almond Band / Best Of Live / Pacific Arts Records-The Animal Express / MCA Records-KEYBOARDS [Performance and/or Recording]-Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Brian Wilson, Brenda Russell, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Delbert McClinton, Ronnie Laws, Mark-Almond Band, Stephen Bishop, Rick Springfield, Roger McGuinn. Mark welcomes students of all ages and levels.
*Katrina Saroyan-Harp. Piano, Voice. Violin, Improvisation, Music Theory
Katrina Saroyan began her music
career at the age of 11 teaching piano and guitar lessons.
Katrina won a piano scholarship to Calif State University Fresno where she began
her harp studies. She soon began playing harp professionally for events in the
local area. As a singer, she was signed to Columbia records under the
production of Mike Post (Composer/Music Director for "Law and Order"). As a
songwriter, Katrina signed on to Warner Bros publishing and many of her songs
were signed to Motown's publisher as well. A seasoned professional pianist,
harpist, violinist, and soloist, Katrina sings in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and
Italian.
Katrina is a studio musician with countless movie and TV appearances to her credit including a recent appearance on "Million Dollar Listing" on Bravo TV. She also played harp for Scott Baio's reality show wedding, and MTV's "Cribs" with Melissa Joan Hart, as well as thousands of other events.
Katrina enjoys passing along her vast repetoire and strong impovisation skills to her students. Regardless of age or prior musical background, her students are delighted to find that they can not only sight read music and play with proper positioning, but also improvise and transpose.
*John Stephens-Sitar, Indian Voice, Harmonium, and Indian music applied to western instruments.
John received his MFA from CalArts in North Indian music and his undergraduate degree in Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music. While living in Varanasi India, studied sitar from Pandit Amar Nath Mishra. John has a background in many styles of music including jazz, rock, western classical, vocal music, and Balinese and Javanese gamelan. His recent compositions like String Quartet in Ragas Miyan-ki-Todi and Lalit draw on this diverse musical training.
A disciple of sarod maestro Ustad Aashish Khan, John has given many performances including programs at Cornell University, Ithaca College, Pasadena City College, the 24th Annual Indian Music and Dance Competition at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the Otis College of Art and Design, and the California Institute of the Arts. He has given private recitals in Boston, Ithaca, Baltimore, Seattle, San Francisco, and Varanasi, India, and has also appeared as tanpura accompanist for Ustad Aashish Khan, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri and Alam Khan.
*Jim Youngstrom-Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Improvization. Classical, Jazz, Rock, Country, Blues, R&B.
Jim graduated cum laude with a bachelor in music from CSU Northridge. He studied clarinet with David Howard and Charles Bay. Jim studied flute with Bill Calkins and Sax and Improv with Don Raffell. Jim tours internationally with the Brian Setzer Orchestra. He has recorded with Steeley Dan and LeAnne Rimes. Jim has appeared on many T.V. shows including Conan O’Brien, Jay Leno and David Letterman. He has accompanied Jerry Lewis on 2 U.S. tours. Also an experienced teacher, Jim works with students of all ages and levels.