Mary Jane Cope

Piano | Santa Cruz | (831) 295-2972 | mjpiano@sbcglobal.net

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M.M. in Piano Performance, Indiana University; Certified Master Teacher. Holistic approach to musical pianism, emphasizing anatomical and psychological considerations, strength through balance (observing the rules of gravity and motion), integration of the physical and musical gesture, and elimination of unnecessary tension, both physical and psychological. Special interests: ensemble and chamber music performance and coaching; piano pedagogy mentoring; the development of a healthy, injury-preventive technique; and strategies for dealing with performance anxiety. Decades of experience as a performer, teacher, and coach at all levels, from pre-school to professional.

Ben Dorfan

Piano, Composition | Santa Cruz | 831-588-9835 | https://bendorfan.com/contact/

Ben Dorfan (B.A. Music, Oberlin College) believes the primary role of a teacher is to help the student reach their goals quickly and effectively. Employing a patient and kind teaching style, he recognizes that each student learns differently. Ben serves as President of the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Santa Cruz County Branch, and Musician Liaison for Santa Cruz Chamber Players. Currently, he is pursuing a D.M.A. in Music Composition at UC Santa Cruz.

Roger Emanuels

Cello | Santa Cruz | (831) 423-6107 | remanuels@gmail.com

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Formal studies at Oberlin Conservatory, Paris Conservatory, and Indiana University. I retired after many years with the San Jose Symphony and Cabrillo Festival Orchestra. National Cello Institute faculty for 30 years. I accept cello students of all ages and levels in my home in Westside Santa Cruz.

Rose Georgi

Piano, Musicology | Scotts Valley | (831) 227-5484 | allegronew@hotmail.com

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Rose Georgi is a concert pianist, teacher, accompanist and arranger for classical and jazz piano. She is a Graduate with Honors of the State Music College and Conservatory of Music, Russia. She studied advanced jazz under Dr. Joe Gilman in American River College. She has 30 years teaching experience for Piano, Music Theory, Ear Training and Sight Singing in Russia, Germany and the USA. She teaches children and adults a wide variety of styles, from beginning to advanced levels. She currently performs as a soloist and in several Santa Cruz area classical musical ensembles.

Colin Hannon

Piano | Santa Cruz | (831) 345-4372 | colinhannon@cruzio.com

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Colin Hannon is a staff accompanist at UCSC, musical director for the United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz, and he regularly performs as pianist and music director for local theatrical productions (SCS, Jewel, Cabrillo Stage). He maintains a private teaching studio on the Westside of Santa Cruz and also at his home in Davenport. Colin received an MA in music from UCSC in 2004 and works with students of all ages to find joy in playing and learning about all styles of music. Musicianship, performance, reading, improvisation, technique, theory, accompaniment.

Barbara Jirsa

Piano | Santa Cruz | (831) 423-9658 | jirsabsc@cruzio.com

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Barbara Jirsa has been teaching piano in the Santa Cruz area for over 20 years. She has a B.A in Music and History from the University of California, Santa Cruz and studied with Mary Jane Cope, Barbara Wilkens and studied Taubman technique with Marc Steiner. Her home studio, equipped with a computer and media lab, accommodates elementary, middle and high school students, and adults in both private and group lessons. She is a member of MTAC, MTNA and CAPMT.

Nicki Kerns

Piano | Boulder Creek | (831) 338-1215 | pianonicki88@gmail.com

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Nicki Kerns holds a piano performance degree from Dominican College of San Rafael, where she studied piano with Robert Hagopian and Robert Shultz. She also studied with Sylvia Jenkins. She became a piano teacher quite by accident in the early 80’s and discovered she loves it. She specializes in beginners and intermediates, emphasizes theory, improv and duets, and her studio participates in Certificate of Merit each year. She accepts credit cards. Special Note: Her studio, located in her home, has pets, so those with pet allergies may want to use caution.

Lynn Kidder

Piano, Accompaniment  |  Santa Cruz  |  (831) 332-9789  |  kidderpiano@hotmail.com

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Lynn Kidder teaches teens and adults at all levels, in the past specializing in adult beginners and advanced students. She teaches classical, ragtime, pop and simple improv, and coaches vocalists and chamber groups. She performs as a soloist, duo-pianist, chamber musician and accompanist locally and in the greater Bay Area.

Ms. Kidder has a M.Mus. in Piano Performance from the Univ. of WA in Seattle. She has retrained in the Taubman approach with Elizabeth Swarthout, John Bloomfield and Edna Golandsky.

Nancy Kvam

Violin, Viola, Piano | Santa Cruz | (831) 426-6443 |  nkvammen@gmail.com

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Nancy Kvam, certified music teacher with a B.A. and M.M.E. in violin performance, teaches private violin/viola students and chamber ensembles in her studio, at Cabrillo College, and has taught in many public/private school programs in Santa Cruz County. She specialized in Suzuki violin Training 1-8 and early childhood music. She is the Cabrillo Youth Strings Artistic Director, conducts string orchestras and directs/coaches the Chamber Music program. Nancy plays in the Santa Cruz Symphony, has been Concertmaster of Cabrillo Stage, and performed in the Monterey Symphony. She studied with Concertmasters of St. Louis Symphony and San Francisco Ballet.

John Orlando

Piano | Aptos | (831) 539-0000 | joorland@gmail.com

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John Orlando graduated summa cum laude with a DMA performance degree
from USC and is former Piano Department director at Cabrillo College.
“I love teaching piano students of all ages. When I teach, the world fades away. Teaching involves science, math, history, spirituality, philosophy, everyday life and most importantly, the uncovering of beauty. Every lesson and every student is unique. No matter how many times a piece is taught, for me, the learning goes both ways. Beauty in music is unfathomable and worthy of a life-long pursuit. And, it’s fun.”

Carol Panofsky

Oboe, Piano | Santa Cruz | (831) 566-2954 | panofsky@cruzio.com

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Carol teaches oboe, piano, recorder, and music theory. She is passionate about music literacy and includes age-appropriate theory in every lesson. Carol, Theory Director of Ragazzi Boys’ Chorus, has developed teaching materials that are friendly to both children and adults and which make no assumptions of knowledge of a musical instrument.
She is also passionate about performance and plays regularly on both coasts.
Carol received a MM from the New England Conservatory, and has been on the faculties of the University of Idaho Music School and at UCSC.

Tatyana Rekow

Oboe | Ben Lomond | (831) 713-8191 | trekowmusic@hotmail.com

Tatyana Rekow studied oboe from age 12. At 15 she entered musical college, and at 19 she entered the music conservatory in Almaty, Kazakhstan where she graduated with honors in 1992. After conservatory she embarked on a distinguished career both in teaching and performing. She played principal oboe in the Theatre of Musical Comedy in Saint Petersburg, Russia; Shore Lyric Opera in Santa Cruz, Monterey Symphony, Bend Symphony, Oregon and in a local jazz band “Velzoe and Upbeats”. Since coming to America she has also added flute, clarinet, and saxophone to her musical repertoire. Since 1995 she has lived in Santa Cruz and loves it. She actively plays with several local groups, teaches music in a private school and gives private music lessons at her studio.

Ivan Rosenblum

Piano | Santa Cruz | (831) 479-1968 | irpiano@yahoo.com

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Education: B.A. Queens College, City University of N.Y.C; M.A. in Musicology and Ed.D. in Education-Harvard University. Former UCSC Professor. Studied Piano and Chamber Music with Menahem Pressler of the Beaux Arts Trio; Composition with Hugo Weisgall and Vittorio Rieti.
Teaching possibilities-piano, theory, composition, analysis, musicianship, chamber music coaching. Many years of “student-directed” individualized teaching (see website wrduo.org). Accompanying also available.

Vivian Simon

Flute, Saxophone | Santa Cruz | (831) 539-8581 | vsimonQ@aol.com

Vivian Simon teaches beginning to advanced flute (classical, jazz, improvisation), saxophone and beginning clarinet. Her approach is individualized to your needs, drawing from her varied education and experience. She works well with all ages, helping students to reach their musical goals and further their understanding of musical concepts.
She’s a versatile musician, plays classical, jazz, Brazilian, salsa, musical theatre. Co-founded Samba Cruz, played with Bay Shore Lyric Opera, Cabrillo Stage, Charanga Nueve, and more. Education: M.A. Music Education/SJSU in progress; B.A. Music Performance/UCSC; CA Music Teaching credential. www.sambacruz.com

Kiefer Taylor

Piano | Aptos | (831) 251-1695| pianokiefer@gmail.com

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Kiefer Taylor received his B.A. in Piano Performance from UC Santa Cruz and his M.M. in Music History from San Jose State University. Kiefer has a student-centered approach to piano, adapting lessons to fit the various interests and levels of his students. He accepts students of any level and age for both jazz and classical piano lessons out of his Aptos studio. He is currently the accompanist for the Santa Cruz City Schools, the piano instructor at Kuumbwa Jazz Camp, and pianist for the Santa Cruz Symphony

Heather Thompson Smits

Piano  |  Scotts Valley  |  (831) 239-1367  |  heather.pianist@gmail.com

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Heather Thompson Smits is an MTNA Nationally Certified Teacher of Music and serves as a board chair in the Santa Cruz Branch of MTAC. She is a concert pianist and has performed at Carnegie Hall, The World Piano Conference, numerous state and international music conventions and with the BYU Chamber Orchestra. Heather has been teaching piano in her private studio since 1992 and utilizes her psychology degree to emotionally connect with her students. She inspires them with the latest technology and popular music while incorporating the essentials of classical training.

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