Instructors
Tony Bonelli ; Guitar, Bass, Drums, Voice, Audio Engineering, Rock Band Class
Tony Bonelli has been immersed in music for 20 years and is considered by many to be one of the areas most capable guitarists, and well rounded musicians. He stays very much in tune with today’s pop culture and his ability to communicate music to his students builds a sincere sense of enthusiasm and real results.
Tony grew up surrounded by classic rock as most of his family members are musicians and/or avid listeners. From age 13 through high school, he practiced and studied music 3-5 hours a day and aced his music theory classes. During that time, Tony performed as a lead guitarist in several bands including an original progressive rock band called Deviation. Later he performed 3-5 nights a week as a lead guitarist/lead vocalist in retro show band Daughter Judy for 3 years. Tony has studied guitar and music theory with Kevin Murphy, drums with Martin Vasquez and voice with Donna Prypin.
In 1997, Tony began his initial 8 years of teaching experience aiding director Kari Lee as a driving force in the development of her local music school Score Music Studios. He carried up to 70 students per week and developed his rock band class curriculum coaching up to 5 rock band classes per week.
Tony has performed in and conducted business for regionally successful live bands. He has experience with recording studio session work as a guitarist, bassist, drummer, and vocalist. He has been running his own recording studio for 8 years producing several album projects and numerous demo projects. He also has owned a successful live sound reinforcement company for 8 years which has worked with some high profile entertainers.
In July of 2005 Tony opened Mode 4 Music Studios and now keeps busy teaching 70 students and 9 band classes a week. Since 2007 he has been a partner in the School To Careers program through Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School taking in an intern 4 days a week during the school year. Tony is maintaining a 3.73 GPA with the BerkleeMusic Online classes he is taking toward a production and guitar masters certificate for credit with Berklee College of Music and has received a certificate from Digidesign for passing their Pro Tools 101 Exam.
Corey Russo; Piano
Corey has been playing piano since age six. She took private piano lessons for ten years, and also participated in theory, chorus and jazz chorale classes while in high school. She was trained in a classical style of playing, but also enjoys playing ragtime, pop and rock.
Corey's love of music can be traced back through her family lines. Her grandfather was in a band and played many instruments including clarinet, mandolin and accordion. Her aunt plays clarinet in a local Cape Cod band, while her sister, mother and father all play piano. Her niece is a singer who teaches voice and piano in Florida.
Corey has been teaching locally for ten years. She has students of all ages, and specializes in beginner/intermediate piano. She welcomes children and adults alike, and feels that you are never too old to take up an instrument!
Bill Jamieson; Guitar, Bass, Piano
Bill has been a musician for more than fifty years. In elementary school he began learning piano and played trumpet in the school band. Inspired by seeing Elvis Presley on television, he started strumming his guitar at age 12 and took two years of private lessons. Bill has since employed a variety of resources to further his study and considers himself modestly and conversely a student of the guitar. Bill joined his first rock band in college in 1965 and has since enjoyed playing in many different bands over the years in locations such as Bennington Vermont, Seattle Washington and now Cape Cod. In these bands Bill has gained valuable performance experience playing guitar, bass, piano, banjo, mandolin, drums, and trumpet. Currently, Bill plays guitar for a rock band called Shain Reaction. He enjoys writing and recording original songs in his home recording studio and has had his songs played on several radio stations that feature local musicians. Bill feels it is important to pass on the knowledge to anyone interested in learning the joy of playing a musical instrument. He believes that teaching music to one person will not change the world, but it will change the world for that one person.
Liz Robert; Voice, Piano
Liz Robert is a west coast-born transplant to Cape Cod. Before settling in Harwich with her family at age 10, she lived in California, Mexico, Costa Rica, and finally, Colombia. There she began studying piano and voice privately and performing before large audiences through her church. In high school Liz won local fame when she took first place in her school’s talent show, two years running. She excelled in music theory classes and participated in All Cape, Southeast, and All State chorus. She drew on her experience there at age 26 when she formed and led an adult choir at First Unitarian Church of Milford, Mass. At Cape Cod Community College, Liz later explored her interest in writing. She took music composition classes and private lessons in the styles of jazz and blues. She continues to write and record her original music and can be seen locally, performing classic hits and light favorites. A mother of two and a licensed daycare provider, Liz incorporates her knowledge and love of music into every aspect of teaching.
Brian Sances; Guitar
Brian has been involved in the Cape Cod music scene for over a decade. Picking up the guitar at age 15, he was fortunate to reap the benefits of a solid music program at the H.T. Wing School in Sandwich, and soon started learning privately with then music director, Andy Troyanos.
While studying at Sandwich High School, Brian was an active member of both the concert band and elite jazz band, where he was able to participate in large ensembles at times, learning the importance of playing music with others, writing, listening, and improvisation skills.
With this knowledge and influence Brian began writing his own original material, and has written over twenty songs to this day. Currently, Brian plays Cape Cod clubs and venues on a weekly basis with his band, TRIPL3CROWN. From learning hundreds of cover songs, Brian has become not only an accomplished guitarist, but an experienced vocalist fronting his band.
Music has brought much joy into Brian’s life. He enjoys sharing his knowledge with students and watching them progress. He feels that getting involved with music can be a life changing experience.
Amber Newton; Voice
Amber Newton has been studying music for 11 years. At just 11 years old she performed at Symphony Hall in Boston and since then she has continued to perform at many locations around Cape Cod. Amber has taken a wealth of private music lessons with several fantastic teachers studying voice and piano for 7 years and guitar for 6 years.
For the last month of her senior year in high school she spent eighty hours volunteering at The Laurel School in Brewster, MA where she taught different aspects of music such as reading and performance to children between the ages of 5 and 13. Amber is currently attending Berklee College of Music in Boston where she is taking courses that include the fundamentals of arranging, composing, and performing music, harmony, ear training, and music technology. At Berklee she plans to complete a five year dual major of vocal performance and music business / management
Mathew Withrow; Drums, Audio Engineering
Matthew has been drumming in the Massachusetts area since the age of 15. With ten years experience keeping time for local acts such as Highland and After The Fall, he now takes the helm behind the local original band Spectacular Spectacular.
Meghan Schaffer-Hamilton; Violin, Piano
Meghan Schaffer-Hamilton has been studying music since her first violin lesson in the third grade. Since her early childhood, she has studied music through the Cape Cod Conservatory and taken private music instruction to further her skills. While attending college she began studying the piano as well.
Meghan spent six years directing the Praise Team at Covenant Community Church in Sandwich. She has also performed with the New England Philharmonic in Boston. Since 1996 Meghan has taught piano and violin lessons as well as directing student ensemble groups.
Meghan believes music should be a fun experience for her students. She encourages them to play the music that they love and also introduces them to songs that they have not encountered before. She feels that music can be an enriching and rewarding experience.
Mode 4 Music Studios ~ 11 Enterprise Road, Unit 9 ~ Hyannis, Ma 02601 ~ 508-771-7181
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