OUR BURLINGTON MUSIC DOJO instructors
click “availability and booking” to see our INDIVIDUAL schedules and book
From all over, we are a collective of outstanding independent Vermont music instructors with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Active in the Green Mountain State community music scene and well beyond, we've, played the venues, made the road trips, and spent hours upon hours studying music theory, earning the accolades and degrees, and we continue to live the experience. Music is amazing and we're here to share that with you.
Each one of us can help you with learning songwriting and theory in addition to an instrument!
ARAM BEDROSIAN
-Bass
about Aram
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced bass lessons for all ages!
Aram’s bass lessons are for all ages, styles and levels with a strong focus on the goals, personality and learning style of the student. Beginners are absolutely welcome, as are very experienced students. Topics range from introductory scales and songs, to advanced technique and soloing and much more... He is also the resident bass guitar instructor at Johnson State College and has taken part in and directed numerous music camps for Burlington Parks & Rec.
Born and raised in Burlington, Aram graduated from BHS, UVM and has established himself as a world class bassist and instructor. Well known locally and worldwide, he's appeared in Bass Player Magazine, has numerous international endorsements and has over 100k social media followers.
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Available Tuesdays through Fridays - please inquire to schedule
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $40
-45 minute lesson - $55
-60 minute lesson - $70
Multi-lesson discounts available
Teaches all ages
Remote lessons available
Gift certificates available
bre Valdez
-voice
About Bre
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced voice lessons,, as well as songwriting and composition lessons. (Available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) For ages 8 and up!
Bre Valdez is a voice instructor that has performed at Carnegie Hall and abroad, and is now offering voice lessons for all ages! Bre received her education and music from Westminster Choir College, the Crane School of Music, and Castleton University. When she is not teaching, she performs regularly with Opera Vermont, Barn Opera, and the Opera Company of Middlebury. Bre made her solo Carnegie whole debut in 2024 and her international debut in Longiano, Italy in 2023. As well as being an in demand performer, she is also known for her holistic, teaching methods and has served on the faculty of the prestigious Belvoir Terrace arts camp in Lennox, Massachusetts. Bre teaches all musical styles and caters her lessons to the dreams and aspirations of her students.
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Rates:
-30 minute voice lesson - $40
-60 minute voice lesson - $75
-30 minute songwriting lesson $30
-60 minute songwriting lesson $50
Teaches ages 8 and up
Alice Schroeder
-Voice/Ukulele/piano/guitar
About Alice
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced ukulele and voice lessons, as well as beginner and intermediate piano and guitar lessons for ages 6 and up!
Alice is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter happy to be offering lessons in piano, voice, ukulele, guitar, and songwriting. A Berklee College of Music graduate, Alice specializes in songwriting and harmony. She was a featured songwriter in the Eurovision 2020 song contest and was awarded first place in the 2019 Songs For Social Change Competition at Berklee. During her time at Berklee she studied under award winning songwriter Bonnie Hayes. Since graduating, Alice has been recording and performing often in Vermont and beyond.
In her lessons, she individualizes each student’s lesson plan to focus on their goals and to keep things fun! She teaches for students aged 8 and up and focuses on contemporary styles (pop/jazz/rock/folk).
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $40
-60 minute lesson - $70
Remote lessons available
Teaches ages 6 and up
Francesca Napolitano
-voice
About Francesca
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced voice lessons for ages 14 and up!
Francesca Napolitano (she/her) is a performer and educator based in Burlington, VT. She started singing when she joined her first choir at the age of three and never looked back! Francesca holds a Master of Music degree in Opera Performance from the Maryland Opera Studio at the University of Maryland, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan. Throughout her studies, she has been mentored by world-renowned performers, coaches, and pedagogues such as Carmen Balthrop, Gran Wilson, Martin Katz, Justina Lee, Carmen Pelton, and Stanford Olsen. She has many years of performance experience in opera, classical voice, and choral singing, in addition to contemporary genres such as musical theater, jazz, a cappella, pop, rock, funk, and blues.
With such a diverse background in her own training and career, Francesca is well-equipped to teach students of all voice types in any genre. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes versatility by focusing on developing a strong, healthy, and effortless technique that is uniquely suited to each student’s voice. She firmly believes that with a technically sound foundation, singers will have the tools to successfully branch out into any style they choose. Francesca also specializes in audition preparation and dramatic coaching for singers, and finds joy in working with students to build on their individual strengths to cultivate not just their singing voice, but their identity as a performing artist.
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $40
-45 minute lesson - $60
-60 minute lesson - $75
Remote lessons available
Teaches ages 14 and up
Matt Weinstein
-piano/keys
About Matt
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced piano lessons for all ages!
As a lifelong musician from New York, Matt’s deep passion and experience are what have allowed him to succeed as a professional musician and instructor. He began gigging and studio recording in elementary school which later developed into playing in wedding bands, creative projects, and a charity concert series throughout middle and high school.
Matt moved to Burlington in 2017 where he attended the University of Vermont to study philosophy and music.
He continues his journey by touring the country with jam band and musical theater artist, Hayley Jane, as well as several Burlington local projects such as Lazy Bird (funk/fusion), Small Talk (jazz, funk, pop, country), AHOF (wedding band series), and more. These experiences have allowed Matt to understand the art of music in a much more detailed and wholistic manner, as the well as gain perspective on the industry and it’s people.
Matt’s main goal as an instructor is to inspire and bring out the passion and creativity that everyone holds within them. This ranges from basic technique and theory practice, to ear training and transcription, and advanced improvisation, composition, and advanced harmonic/rhythmic concepts. Matt preaches nothing more than to learn what you like, to learn what inspires you, and to learn what really makes you feel something.
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $35
-45 minute lesson - $45
-60 minute lesson - $55
Remote Lessons Available
Teaches all ages
Justice Gilbert
-Voice/piano
About Justice
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced voice lessons, as well as beginner and intermediate piano lessons for ages 5 and up!
(she/her) Justice graduated from Liberty University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Music degree and specialization in Songwriting. She is classically trained in voice and has been singing in choirs and bands for the last fourteen years. In recent years she has returned to Vermont from Colorado Springs where she primarily taught voice and piano at a music school. Justice enjoys teaching voice in a variety genres including contemporary, classical, pop, folk, musical theater, and blues. She also teaches songwriting and beginner to intermediate piano and enjoys teaching students how to write original music and accompany themselves while singing. When she’s not teaching, Justice can be found drinking coffee or at the comedy club attempting to be funny.
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $35
-60 minute lesson - $60
Remote lessons available
Teaches ages 5 and up
Kevin Boyea
-Guitar
About Kevin
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced guitar lessons for ages 7 and up!
Berklee College of Music alumnus Kevin Boyea has been playing guitar professionally since he was a teenager. He has played all over New England in the bands Toy Chest, Last Kid Picked and Sideshow Bob to name a few. He is currently playing in the function band A House on Fire and a busy "on call" guitarist, subbing for a variety of projects ranging from rock, jazz and funk to musical theater and country.
Kevin has been teaching as many as 40 students a week for the last 25 years, specializing in many different styles, acoustic and electric guitar, beginner to advanced. His teaching style will show you what you want to learn, while teaching you what you need to know, including music theory, improvising and technique.
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson info
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $35
-60 minute lesson - $70
Remote Lessons Available
Teaches ages 7 and up
Gina Glenbowski
-guitar
About Gina
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced guitar lessons for ages 5 and up!
(she/her) Gina is a versatile guitar instructor with 15 years of experience in many aspects of the music world, from teaching and performing to songwriting and recording. She studied guitar performance at Berklee College of Music, music theory at Montclair State University, and graduated in 2015 from Northeastern University with a degree in music business. Gina teaches beginner/intermediate acoustic and electric guitar to students of all ages, specializing in rock, blues, pop, and alternative genres. Her unique approach to teaching centers around each student’s individual interests and aspirations. She is driven to help her students achieve what’s important to them, whether that’s learning to serenade their friends around a campfire or preparing for a professional career in the music industry.
Gina recently relocated from Los Angeles, CA, where she was performing, booking and coordinating shows and tours for musicians and bands. Her passion for fostering community through music inspired her to create monthly pop up shows to give artists from all around the world a chance to share their music, and she is excited to spread these experiences to the Burlington area while sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for music with her students.
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $35
-60 minute lesson - $60
Remote Lessons Available
Teaches ages 5 and up
DAN RYAN
-drums/percussion
About Dan
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced drum and percussion lessons for ages 8 and up!
Dan has been a fixture in the Burlington music scene since 2004. His performance experience includes playing and touring with some of the state’s most popular groups including Madaila, Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band, Craig Mitchell and Motor City, Strength in Numbers, The University of Vermont Big Band, and the Vermont Jazz Ensemble. His overall knowledge of the music language and attention to detail make him one of the more sought-after drummers in the area.
Dan Ryan has been teaching private lessons for almost 20 years, sharing his knowledge with musicians of all ages and ability levels. His three-pronged approach to his lesson plans is simple; learn the rudimentary techniques, use them to learn what YOU want to learn, and most importantly make it fun. Dan is patient and compassionate while also having an undying fire and passion for musical knowledge. It is this combination that he brings to the table and makes him confident that his students will be getting a unique learning experience from taking lessons with him.
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Information
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $40
-45 minute lesson - $50
-60 minute lesson - $60
Remote lessons available
Teaches ages 8 and up
Sam Atallah
-piano/trumpet
About Sam
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced piano and trumpet lessons for ages 6 and up!
Sam is a pianist and trumpeter who graduated from University of Vermont in 2020 with a degree in music. When not teaching, he performs with several musical groups, in Vermont and throughout New England. His focus through school was on jazz, but he has performing experience in rock, classical, country, hip hop, and pretty much any genre you may have interest in! In addition to teaching the fundamentals, Sam includes theory and ear training in lessons to help students understand the ideas behind what they are learning. When not playing music, he loves a good sci fi novel.
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $40
-60 minute lesson - $65
Remote lessons available
Teaches ages 6 and up
Van garrison
-piano/drums
About Van
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced piano lessons, as well as beginner drum lessons for all ages!
Van Garrison is a 22 year-old multi-instrumentalist that takes music seriously, but loves to take musical risks. Upon taking lessons with him, you will encounter a familiar style of teaching with some new twists. Rhythm, Harmony, Melody, and Intent are the backbones of any musical escapade so be ready to do a deep dive into each component. Van plays in many musical outfits around Burlington and the New England area.
His journey in music began as a 3-year-old taking piano lessons and continued to explore music as a drummer in middle and high school. Now with his UVM education behind him, he is ready to help others explore their own musicality and broaden their musical horizons! Focus is on Blues, Jazz, Funk, and Fusion, but happy to help with any style!
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $35
-60 minute lesson - $55
Remote Lessons Available
Teaches all ages
MJ Patchett
-Sax/Clarinet/Flute/
piano/recorder
About MJ
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced saxophone, clarinet and recorder lessons, as well as beginner and intermediate flute and piano lessons for all ages!
MJ has been teaching woodwinds (saxophone, clarinet, flute and recorder) in private and group settings since 2006. Her patience, compassion and kindness for students of all levels helps them feel welcome and gain confidence on their instrument. MJ meets all of her students where they are at, and helps them to teach themselves how to learn, so they can be self-sufficient in not only music but in any subject. She incorporates music that the student wants to play along with the necessary nuts and bolts that improve playing technique and music comprehension. MJ is enthusiastic about teaching both children and adults, and believes anyone can learn to play an instrument.
As a performer, MJ has played saxophone on both coasts of the US and has toured in western Europe. For many years MJ performed professionally in contemporary music ensembles in the Boston area. She also helped found and direct a choir of unhoused folks living in Boston. MJ has commissioned numerous works for saxophone, and has collaborated with multimedia artists and dancers. Although her education is in classical music, MJ has also played and recorded with jazz, soul/R&B and indie pop bands as a saxophonist and backup vocalist. She received her Masters in Music from Eastman School of Music (2010) and Bachelors in Music from the New England Conservatory (2008). MJ currently resides in Richmond, Vermont, and is excited to be offering lessons at the Burlington Music Dojo!
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Availability: Inquire!
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $45
-45 minute lesson - $60
-60 minute lesson - $70
Remote Lessons Available
Teaches all ages
Cal McCandless
-drums
About Cal
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced drum lessons for ages 8 and up!
(he/him) Cal’s passion for the drums began in the 2nd grade, tall enough only for the concert snare drum. Now, though, Cal is no stranger to the band-stand; school bands, travelling around the country for weeks of jazz, funk and rock camps, and competing in regional and all-state jazz competitions throughout middle and high school have rocketed his adult musical career. Now in college, Cal’s foundational jazz experience has made him a versatile drummer, touring all over the east coast in the successful funk band “Lazy Bird” (funk/fusion) over the last two years, keeping busy with jazz gigs, musical pit bands, his own band, “Small Talk” (jazz fusion/funk), as well as a constant influx of more temporary projects and subbing for other drummers. Despite making Cal feel more like a “drums-operator” than a true drummer, Cal travels to play weddings in “The Supremes.” He also operates a successful music instagram account.
Cal conceptualizes drumming as such: alterations of uniform, fundamental conceps create every head-banging rock solo or tasteful jazz idiom. This “wholistic” perspective of drumming legitimizes Cal’s belief that it’s most important to practice and learn what excites you; If you learn the craft, you learn it all.
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Schedule: currently fully booked
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $35
-45 minute lesson - $45
-60 minute lesson - $55
Remote lessons available
Teaches ages 8 and up
Jennifer Phillips
-voice/piano
About Jennifer
Offering beginner, intermediate and advanced voice and piano lessons for ages 7 and up!
Jennifer has been teaching private piano and voice lessons since graduating with her bachelors degree in Music Education from Southeastern College in 2017 where she studied both vocal and piano pedagogy. She has been playing the piano since she was 9 years old, and has sung in choirs and vocal groups since middle school. She has experience teaching beginner voice lessons, and enjoys teaching piano lessons for all stages from beginners to intermediate and early advanced students. While in college, she traveled as the piano accompanist for a vocal group and sang alto in a ladies trio. Jennifer just recently moved to Burlington with her husband and baby daughter. They are her inspiration and joy, and when she’s not teaching music, she can be found making memories with them.
Contact
Phone: (802) 540-0321
Lesson Info
Schedule: currently fully booked
Rates:
-30 minute lesson - $35
-45 minute lesson - $45
-60 minute lesson - $60
Remote Lessons Available
Teaches ages 7 and up