Lessons

Over 500 music students come each week to study with our highly qualified teachers. We have eight studios in the back of our store for individual and group lessons. Whether you are a vocalist or instrumentalist, we have an experienced teacher to teach you!

The Music Box has approximately 25 instructors on its teaching staff. We offer private instruction on most band and orchestra instruments as well as piano, voice, and guitar. Our staff includes certified Suzuki instructors on various instruments. With 2/3 of our staff holding graduate degrees, these professional musicians are active, performing in various groups and ensembles. These range from the professional Colorado (Denver), Boulder, and Colorado Springs symphony orchestras to rock groups, jazz, church, and classical solo and ensemble activities. Many of our instructors have taught, or are currently teaching, in public schools or at the college level.

TMB also offers music classes/group lessons for children from birth to 10 years of age. These include: Musikgarten (music and movement for ages birth to 3 years old); piano, rhythm, and ear training (a fun approach for ages 3-4 years old); and piano prep classes (an enjoyable, fun group environment for ages 5-10 years old). Several early childhood music methods are used including Yamaha, Suzuki, and Orff, and class sizes are no larger than 6-8 youngsters at one time.

While the lessons are in our store, our teachers run their own businesses. This means that they set their own rates and schedules. However, they are all happy to answer any questions you may have and will do their best to find a convenient lesson time to fit your busy schedule. Just give them a call and speak with an experienced teacher who will help you become the musician you want to be!

FLUTE/PICCOLO ONLY

Name: Isabella Ubertone (Suzuki/traditional; also recorder & pennywhistle)
Lesson Days: W/ & by appt
Phone: 720-436-4023
Isabella received her M. M. in flute performance from the University of Northern Iowa. Isabella performs regularly with area chamber groups and is an active member in the Colorado Flute Association. She is a certified Suzuki flute instructor and teaches private and group flute lessons as well as pennywhistle lessons.

CLARINET AND SAXOPHONE

Name: Lance Acker (also Flute and oboe)
Lesson Days: M/W/Th
Phone:303-753-9160
Lance received both his Bachelor and Master Degrees from C. U. Boulder. While he is classically trained, he is an experienced jazz teacher and active performer in the community. Lance teaches clarinet, saxophone, flute, Japanese flute, and Irish flute. His playing experience includes 20 years with the Queen City Jazz Band.

Name: Toni Yagami (also Flute and oboe)
Lesson Days: W/Th
Phone:303-753-9160
Besides teaching the saxophone, clarinet and flute, Toni also performs and teaches Japanese drums (taiko) and Japanese flute (takebue). Toni has taught in the Nebraska Public Schools. Please visit "Taiko with Toni" at www.dmamusic.org/taikowithtoni for more information.

BRASS

Name: Dallas Mathews (all brass)
Lesson Days: M/T
Phone: 303-283-9612
Dallas received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Arts in trumpet performance from the University of Denver. He was a member of the United States Air Force band in Washington D.C. and performs regularly in the area. He taught in Denver Public Schools for 30 years and has taught privately for over 35 years. Dallas teaches all brass instruments except advanced French horn.

PERCUSSION

Name: Anthony Pantelis
Lesson Days: M/T
Phone: 303-320-0514
Anthony has been the drum instructor at D.J.’s Music Box since 1995. An active performer along the Front Range for more than 25 years, Anthony has performed in almost every conceivable musical situation, including the world premier of "Almost Heaven: Songs and Stories of John Denver." Anthony holds a Bachelors Degree in music from the University of Colorado Denver and is a member of the American Federation of Musicians as well as the Actors Equity.

ORCHESTRAL STRINGS

Name: David Block (violin)
Lesson Days: by appt
Phone: 216-798-2634
David received his Bachelor's degree in violin performance from Florida State University and his Master's degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. David has performed in many chamber and orchestral groups during his 25 years of performance experience and has recently relocated to the Denver area. He currently accepts violin students from age 6 and up who wish to learn in the traditional style. For more information, please contact David at cloveman@aol.com.

Name: Laura McDermott (Suzuki violin/viola, ages 4 & up)
Lesson Days: M/Sat
Phone: 303-487-7124
Laura has a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Denver and is a certified Suzuki violin and viola instructor. Laura has performed in many local symphonies including the Westminster Symphony Orchestra, the Timberline Symphony Orchestra, and the Lakewood Symphony. She is also very active in local Suzuki and viola associations including the American Viola Society, the Rocky Mountain Viola Society, Front Range Chamber Musicians, the Suzuki Association of Colorado, and the American Suzuki Association. Laura has over twenty years experience teaching private violin and viola lessons and accepts students from four years of age.

GUITAR

Name: Joel Christie (ages 10 & up)
Lesson Days: T/W/Th
Phone: 303-744-1056
Joel specializes in teaching classical guitar but teaches all levels of guitar playing. He has a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy from Cambridge College in England and a Masters Degree in Guitar Performance and Theory from the University of Denver. Joel has been on the faculty at the University of Northern Colorado and at Arapahoe Community College.

Name: Miguel Espinoza (5 & up, also Flamenco/Spanish guitar, & bass)
Lesson Days: by appt
Phone: 303-518-1062
Miguel is an internationally acclaimed master flamenco-recording artist who performs extensively throughout the area. Miguel teaches all levels of guitar from beginning to advanced and all styles of guitar while focusing on finger style techniques, scales/speed scales, arpeggios, rhythms, theory, harmony, and improvisation.

Name: Mark Stookesberry (ages 5 & up)
Lesson Days: M/W/Th/Sat
Phone: 303-916-6853
Mark has a Masters Degree from the University of Denver in guitar performance where he was also a graduate teaching assistant in the guitar department. Mark is happy to take guitar students as young as 5 years of age. He has taught at D.J.’s for the last 5 years.

Name: Wayne Sturdy (ages 11 & up, bass)
Lesson Days: M/T/W
Phone: 303-778-8321 http://www.guitaristmentor.com/Guitarist_Mentor/Home.html
Wayne has a Bachelors and Masters Degree in classical musical performance. Wayne has 32 years of teaching experience and teaches acoustic and electric guitars as well as electric bass guitar. He specializes in foundational musical tools such as rhythm, scales, and harmony and teaches a variety of styles of music including popular, classical, and jazz with an emphasis on theory as it applies to composition and improvisation.

Name: Tim Johnson

Lesson Days: SAT/Weekends

Phone: 720-280-9037

Tim recently joined TMB as a guitar teacher and specializes in country, rock and classical instruction. He is also the inventor of guitar accessories and has one on the market called the "guitarrest". Tim plays professionally in the Denver area and has a great report with his students.

PIANO

Name: Ginny Arnold (ages 5-10 group lessons)
Lesson Days: M/T
Phone: 303-722-8794
GINNY ARNOLD MUSIC- Fun and Learning together! Group lessons for children ages infant to 10. Age appropriate activities ranging from rhythm & ear training games, songs, and movements for younger children to piano prep and note reading for older children. Day and evening classes.

Name: Veronica Mehalic (also organ, digital piano)
Lesson Days: Sat/Sun/ & by appt
Phone: 720-771-9499
Ellis Music Studios - specializing in piano, organ, voice, and digital piano. Instruction for all ages and abilities. For more information, e-mail at indulcijubilo@msn.com

Name: Dorane Subjack (also high-tech piano)
Lesson Days: W & by appt.
Phone: 303-306-1342
Dorane has a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with a piano major and a voice minor. She has taught privately for over 20 years. Whether you want to play jazz, musical theater, religious, spiritual, rock, new age, folk or blues piano, Dorane can help you achieve your goal. Learn on an acoustic piano, digital piano, or by computer games. Call Dorane to discuss what you would like to learn and how you’d enjoy learning it!
Please visit Dorane's website at www.PianoDenver.com/?source=DJ"

Name: Danny Mallon

Lesson Days: Wed & by appt.

Phone: 720-434-5671

Danny holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Arranging, Piano Performance and Sound Reinforcement from the University of Colorado, and an Associate Degree of Arts from Arapahoe Community College. Danny really stresses theory, so that his students can read and memorize faster, use leadsheets, tablature, and even transcribe by ear. Danny has been performing for audiences around the country and Canada since 1973, at clubs, hotels, casino shows, weddings, churches, and concerts. He also uses his talents for TV and radio production. You can find his music on cdbaby.com, Apple iTunes, and other internet sources.

E-mail him at: danny@dannycolfax.com

Name: Beth Secrist

Phone: 303-564-8340

VOICE

Name: Jackie Garner
Lesson Days: by appt
Phone: 303-794-3826
Jackie received Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music vocal performance degrees from CU Boulder. She has maintained a private voice studio for over 30 years, teaching teenagers through adults. Jackie has considerable choral experience and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Name: Jeff Ellis (teaches voice, piano, drums)

Lessons at Ellis Music Studios: ellismusicfoundation.org

Starter pack - instruments provided. Scholarships awarded based on financial need.

Phone: 720-771-5333

The Music Box
5048 E. Hampden Avenue, Denver, CO 80222
303-756-9461 info@djmusicbox.com