Music Lesson Programs

Richard Abreau played music in school as a kid but got away from it during most of his professional career.  Then in 2001, upon his retirement, Richard returned to music!  Encouraged by a friend, he walked into Music Village and soon became one of the store’s greatest promoters!  The store was established by Joe Teixeina in 1964 and has served the greater San Jose area ever since.  For Richard's part, he knew all of the teachers, employees and most of the customers in the store and was first to point out that the group makes up a wonderful family! 

Bulent Akbay was born in Istanbul and was interested in playing the drums at an early age.  He played throughout school and like other drummers in the area he was always looking for a place to play.  This need led Bulent to form his own drum studio and school, which later included a retail element of the business.  His connections within the percussion world afforded him the chance to meet and get to know the cymbal master Mehmet Tamdeger, who later hired Bulent as a product tester.

Jim Anastasi served as the trumpet tester for the King Band Instrument factory in Cleveland, Ohio for nearly 40 years. While testing some 200 instruments a day, Jim worked with some noted musicians including Harry James and Dizzy Gillespie.  In addition to his factory work, Jim was a lifelong musician himself who played at clubs and dances for decades. He also taught trumpet and had dozens of students each week, many who met him at Stebal's Music for their lessons. His professional playing career began when he was a teenager and continued into his 90s.

Billy Arnold played drums behind several Motown recordings including those with saxophonist, Junior Walker. While he often played a Gretsch kit, Billy never fussed about having to set up his kit in the recording studio and gained a reputation for using the drums that were already set-up. After serving in the United States Army, Billy moved to Springfield, Massachusetts and hit the night clubs in the area and on up to Boston where he played with a long list of jazz musicians and singers. Billy is also a sought after drum teacher who has developed several methods that he uses for st

Gary Asher was working at Nuncie’s Music in Birmingham, Alabama when he provided a tour and interview for the NAMM Oral History program, just three years after the program began.

Glenn Axelton managed a few stores for the famed Jenkins Music Company in and around Kansas City before opening his own store in Manhattan, Kansas. Glenn’s Music soon became a music center for the town and surrounding areas and led to one of the largest music lesson programs in the area. As a repairman, Glenn saw to it that the store created and maintained a well respected band instrument repair service, which has been a key element of their success over the years.

Alan Barclay entered the music industry as a salesman, which is where his love of the industry developed. In 2003 he opened Absolute Music, an instrument retail store in England that incorporates a host of special services for his customers, helping set his store apart from his online competitors. Alan introduced a coffee bar in the lobby, so parents did not need to leave the store while their child took lessons.

Carma Lou Beck was an active musician and teacher when she began working in music retail in Iowa in the 1960s. She opened her own store in Cedar Rapids in 1967, after working for a few other stores, including one owned and operated by the Wurlitzer Company. By the time Carma Lou's House of Music expanded to three stores in the mid 1970s, she had become a local celebrity, due in part by her well-known TV and radio commercials. She was a proud advocate for music education and sponsored countless programs that encouraged music making for all ages.  

Joe Bergamini is a Broadway and rock band drummer who began writing about the art of percussion for magazines before becoming the Senior Drum Editor for Hudson Music. His own publications include “Turn It Up and Lay It Down” published by Alfred, “Drumming Out of the Shadows” published by Carl Fischer, and a series of books for Wizdom Media, an independent music publisher he formed with drummer Dom Famularo.

Jeff Berlin has always been surrounded by music and considers it the most important element of his life besides his family. The first instrument he picked up was the violin at age five, which he pursued for ten years before switching to the bass guitar. Jeff had the opportunity to see some legendary live music performances that inspired him to continue, including Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and Tommy performed live by The Who. He would go on to attend Berklee College of Music and ultimately play with such greats as Bill Bruford, Allan Holdsworth and Frank Zappa to name a few.

Larry Biernacki opened the first of three music stores in Deerfield, Illinois. Like with all three locations, he named it after the local community to provide a neighborhood feel to each store. Along with a strong focus on customer service, the stores have become the place to be for musicians and students. Over the years Larry has taken extra care in building the company’s music lesson programs, picking qualified and dedicated teachers and making sure books and accessories are available for all levels of students. Larry shared his ideas with independent retail groups as well as NA

Don Bindrim is the owner of Tooters Music store in Cleveland, Tennessee.  The store focuses on band and orchestra instruments with a strong focus on the local school band programs.  Don’s background is as a music educator and band director with a focus on retaining students between grades, especially from middle school to high school.  His ideas have inspired programs and countless students, which led to his involvement with school music retailing.  

Deena Bird began teaching piano while she was still a teenager.  She later established her own music school, which for a while was located in the Steinway Gallery of her hometown of San Antonio, Texas.  One day while walking in the hall she met Lyle Bird, the father of the store’s owner.  Well, the rest was wedding bliss for the two music lovers.  Before creating her school, she worked as a piano saleswoman at Alamo Music.  For years she worked with the Flores family, which she often has said was one of the highlights of her life.  Another was meeting Lyle!

Marvin Blickenstaff had an indelible mark on countless music students of all ages over his long career. As an educator, he taught at the college level and provided thousands of workshops, clinics, and masterclasses on many aspects of music, especially in the field of pedagogy. As a method book author, Marvin teamed with Louise Bianchi and Lynn Freeman Olson to create the Music Pathways Series for Carl Fischer Music. The series was innovative and created the foundation for many of Marvin’s well-attended workshops.

Craig Bosco is a musician and manager of Music Village, a retail store in San Jose, California. Craig's passion for music began at an early age and over the years he has become a professional bass player, all the while enjoying the thrill of working with fellow musicians and gear heads such as himself!  The store, which was established by Joe Teixeira in 1964, always provides a series of music lessons for which Craig also plays a part.  

Jim Botti always had a passion for music education and in fact taught most of his life.  In 1958, after he met Jim Kaplan, the two opened a teaching studio that would grow into a music store.  In fact, Brighton Music has two locations in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.  While the two Jims sold the business in the 1990s, they both continued to provide lessons in the store well into their 80s!

David Brock is a gifted violin and banjo teacher who provides private lessons at the Folk Music Center in Claremont, California. His long association with the musical instrument store goes back to the days when its co-founder, Dorothy Chase, provided instruction to David’s mother. David caught the music bug at an early age and played in local bands before touring professionally after high school and throughout his college years. He earned a PhD in musicology and sought the opportunity to teach music. Over the years he has created his own unique approach to teaching students (of al

Evelyn Brue-Roeder opened her music store in 1940! Her main focus in the early days was music lessons, however she soon added sheet music, accessories and musical instruments. She developed a passion for steel guitars as she witnessed their development over her career. When the pedal steel guitar was introduced she had to have one and had been playing and giving lessons on the instrument ever since. Evelyn and her husband George became active in various musical clubs including the Pedal Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.  

Cassie Brueckner is the president of Pete’s Music store and the daughter of the founder.  She grew up in the Anaheim, California store, where she learned to repair musical instruments and developed her skills as the store manager to take charge when Pete had a professional gig.  As a brass player, Cassie is also a music teacher in the store, teaching trumpet and trombone.

Joe Campana returned from serving in World War II to his native Oakland, California, with a dream-–and the GI Bill. While taking business classes, Joe established Campana Music in nearby Lafayette in 1947.

Bernie Capicchiano was coached from the Accounting world to manage a new music retail store for the Brash Group in Australia in 1973.His long career in the industry includes a strong relationship with the Hammond-Suzuki Company as well as Johannus Organs, Schimmel, Hailun and Bernstein Pianos. Bernie opened his own store in October 1977, Bernies Music Land in a shopping mall. Over the years he has developed a number of very impressive education and merchandising programs to encourage music making at all levels.

Joe Cecere established a small music school in 1967 in Southern Australia. As a teacher, he wanted to provide a safe and welcoming place for students at all levels to learn and appreciate music. Joe often provided meals for his students and even drove them to and from school so they wouldn’t miss their music lessons. The school grew into a store and later expanded into a music wholesale business all while keeping true to the basic philosophy that gave Joe the inspiration to open the school: supporting music education at every opportunity.

Claudio Cecere grew up in the music store his father established in Southern Australia. He learned to play drums at an early age and started giving music lessons while still in school. His part time job with the store expanded and he soon realized he wanted to make a career of it, working side by side with his father. Together they grew the music wholesale division of the business, which introduced several brands within their region including Evan Speakers, Peavey Electronics and Fender Guitars.

Robert Christie grew up listening to classical music at home and naturally gravitated towards percussion instruments. When he was five years old he began to play drums in church, and later on continued his studies in school. He went to Valparaiso University in Indiana where he was one of the first students to study Music Business, and later interned at Gand Music, which was his formal introduction to music retail. Robert was later introduced to A&G Central Music, where he worked for three years before purchasing the business. 

Stanley Clarke was influenced heavily by music teachers he had as a young student and felt blessed that there was a neighborhood music store that he could explore.  Stanley’s amazing career has covered many styles of music and he has witnessed the changes in acoustic and electric basses along with many innovations in bows, strings, and amps.  During his NAMM Oral History interview, he also spoke about the importance of teaching and passing along knowledge and inspiration, just as he had gained from his early teachers.

Erin Connelly is a dynamic musician and industry leader whose lifelong passion for music began in fourth grade, when she and her twin sister joined their school band. She went on to study trumpet in college, developing a deep love for jazz that continues to shape her musical journey. Performing alongside her husband on saxophone, Erin co-produced a jazz album that received praise from DownBeat magazine—a reflection of her creativity and musicianship. Beyond performing, Erin has built a successful career at Menchey Music in Timonium, Maryland, where she began as the lesson coordina

Rand Cook recalls his mother taking him into the Candyman Strings & Things music store when he was three years old. He was quickly disappointed at that young age that the store when he realized they did not have any candy. With his parents support and playing the clarinet in school band, Rand developed a love of music. When he was 21 years old, he was back at the Candyman store this time as an employee. Rand has been at the store ever since that time. In 2008 he and his wife, Cindy, purchased the store and have since expanded the depth of the products and services offered to t

Frank Corniola was born in Italy and moved to Australia when he was seven years old and he began playing drums professionally as a teenager. Like many gigging musicians, Frank took a day job at a music store when he was not out touring. That first job, at Sutton's Music in Melbourne providing drum lessons, lit a fire in Frank that continues to this day. Frank wrote a drum method book based on his lessons and the success of the book prompted him to open his own music publishing company, Musictek. He also opened Drumtek, a drum shop in Melbourne, and he soon realized the drum commun

Kevin Cranley grew up in the music industry and has a passion for all elements of the music business as if it were in his blood.  As a young man, he completed odd jobs around the Willis Music store and helped his father with the publishing side of the business.  Years later Kevin took over the business and became very active within industry organizations such as RPMDA and NAMM.  He served on the NAMM Board of Directors as well as on the Executive Committee before becoming NAMM Chairman in 2011.  Kevin has also been a strong and long-time supporter of the NAMM Oral History program,

Kevin Damm has held a deep passion for music for as long as he can remember. Inspired by his playing in garage bands with his brothers, he's enjoyed a lifelong dedication to the craft. After earning a comprehensive music education degree from the University of Kansas, he spent a year as a band director, where he came to appreciate the dependable, knowledgeable support of local music store road reps. That experience sparked the idea for his own venture, and in 2003, he opened a small, community-focused music store in Wichita.

Jon Dawkes talked about the long-term vision of music education promotion at Dawkes Music during his NAMM Oral History interview. With help from brother David, Jon puts great effort in to creating musicians within the local schools. One of Dawkes Music’s first promotional steps began with a partnership with the Chamberhouse Winds. These free music education events have allowed some children to become acquainted with the instruments and their sound for the first time.

David Dawkes is proud of his family's connection with the music industry. It was his grandfather who formed Dawkes Music. After losing hearing in one ear from playing in a band, his grandfather took to repairing instruments in his garage. This is where their family business began. From simple beginnings, the company grew over the years thanks to the dedicated family members involved, such as David and his brother Jon. They are now running 24 Dawkes Music retail shops throughout the United Kingdom.