GREAT SOUTHERN MUSIC: INSTRUCTORS

At Great Southern Music we are committed to providing a safe learning environment for our teachers and students. Choosing the right teachers is our highest priority and we check the references of all of our instructors. Everyone representing Great Southern Music is expected to maintain the utmost professional manner while in our store. This really is Where Great Musicians Begin…

BASS (ELECTRIC & ACOUSTIC) INSTRUCTION

JARROD DOLL:
Jarrod Doll received his BA with honors from the University of Florida in 2008. He currently performs with the University of Florida Symphony Orchestra, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, and the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra. In addition to his classical and jazz performances around the North Central Florida region, Jarrod has also recorded and performed with the popular Gainesville band, Select Start. In 2008, he thru-hiked 2,181 miles of the Appalchian Trail.

CELLO INSTRUCTION

HESTON MCCRANIE:
Heston McCranie holds a Masters of Music in cello performance from the University of Florida and Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance and a certificate in string pedagogy from Colorado State University, where she studied with Barbara Thiem. In addition to performing in orchestras, chamber ensembles and teaching cello Heston also enjoys spending time with her dog Lolly, the store’s unofficial mascot.  

 

DRUM INSTRUCTION

TIM MURRAY:
Tim studied jazz and contemporary drumset at the University of North Texas and has studied privately with Todd Walker, Ed Soph, Henry Oxtel and Dan Robbins, with additional lessons from Steve Davis, and Jim Chapin. Professionally, Tim has shared the stage with Jazz vocalist Denise Thimes, New York Pianist Danny Mixon and Los Angeles saxophonist Sal Lozano, as well as local greats: Ali Che'Ree, Frank Sullivan, Gary Langford, Dr. Dave Edmund and Scott Wilson. He has over 20 years of teaching experience and has taught drums and percussion at Martin County High school and Indian River Community College, as well as for the Zoo Music Stores in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.

FLUTE INSTRUCTION

HSIAO-WEI CHEN:
Hsiao-Wei Chen is a second year graduate student at the University of Florida, where she is pursuing her Master’s degree in flute performance under the instruction of Dr. Kristen Stoner. Hsiao-Wei holds a Bachelor's Degree in Flute Performance from the University of Miami. Her former teachers include Christine Nield-Capote, Jenny Robinson, and Trudy Kane. In addition to teaching at Great Southern Music, she has experience with the YAMAHA Institute in Taiwan and an established studio in Miami. As a music educator and musical communicator, Hsiao-Wei enjoys working with children and is creative in finding ways to keep their attention. She is also familiar with extended techniques for advanced flute students, as well as explaining concepts verbally and musically. Hsiao-Wei encourages creative thinking and expressing the self through music. Her focus is primarily on Classical music with an emphasis on theory, excellent practice habits, and the development of individualized performance presence.

FRENCH HORN INSTRUCTION

MIRANDA MORRIS (French Horn Specialist):
Miranda received her Bachelors from Valdosta State University and her Master’s from UF- both degrees in French horn performance. She has performed with regional orchestras and the International Youth Wind Orchestra. Miranda has been teaching privately for approximately 10 years and now teaches at GSM with students at all levels.

GUITAR INSTRUCTION

KEVIN BOGLE:
Kevin has taught guitar in Gainesville for over 20 years. His specialty is classical guitar, with particular skill in Latin American works, but he teaches all guitar styles. Kevin works with students of all ages and skill levels.

LOW BRASS INSTRUCTION

RACHEL MATZ:
Rachel Matz currently serves as the Principal Tuba of the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. She also performs with the Gainesville Brass Quintet and has performed with the Florida Orchestra, the Sarasota Brass Quintet. She is currently a semi-finalist for the New World Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Matz earned her B.M. from Florida State University and her M.M. from the University of South Florida.  While at USF, Ms. Matz won the school's concerto competition and performed as a soloist with the USF Symphony Orchestra.  She also conducted research about yogic breathing while she was at USF and is a co-author of a study that was presented this past summer at the Performing Arts Medicine Association Conference.    While her principal instrument is tuba, Ms. Matz also plays bass trombone.  She has taught studio lessons, masterclasses, specialty clinics and sectionals for all low brass instruments. Please check out Rachel's blog at http://tubarachel.blogspot.com

PIANO INSTRUCTION

GABRIEL FERRAZ:
Brazilian pianist/musicologist Gabriel Ferraz is a PhD candidate in musicology at the University of Florida, where he is a Teaching Assistant in Music History. Mr. Ferraz holds a Master’s of Music degree in piano performance from Miami University (OH), where he held a graduate assistant position in piano accompaniment and piano group classes. Mr. Ferraz also holds a Master’s degree in musicology and a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil. Among the honors he has received are the first prize in the 2011 Otto-Serra Meyer Award for Music Research and the 2010 University of Florida College of Fine Arts Outstanding International Student Award. Mr. Ferraz has performed extensively as a solo and collaborative pianist in several venues both in Brazil and the US. Besides his pianistic and musicological activities, Mr. Ferraz has been a committed piano teacher since 1996 and has taught children and adults of all different musical levels.

JENNA MCMICKEN:
Classically trained, Jenna studied  Piano Pedagogy at the International Academy of Music and was a student of Dr. Orr at the University of Florida.  She has received several Superior Awards from the National Young Pianists Festival and has performed in local and state competitions.  She is also a full-time church pianist.  Her church experience has taken her from solo performance to accompanying congregations, weddings, and solo performers. Jenna has over 15 years of experience and loves teaching students of all ages and is especially great at teaching young beginners.

CHARLIE REMILLARD:
Charlie Remillard has been teaching piano for over 33 years.  He has a music degree from the University of Rhode Island and owned and operated Remillard School of Piano.  He moved to Florida in 2005 and re-established Remillard School of Piano. LLC in Ocala in February of 2006.  He teaches jazz, classical, theory, and suzuki piano to students of all ages and skill levels.  Charlie also started The Charlie Remillard Jazz Ensemble and has performed in many venues throughout Central Florida.  He is also a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers.

TRUMPET INSTRUCTION

DAVE EDMUND:
Dr. David Edmund has actively taught and performed trumpet throughout the state of Florida for more than 15 years and has been the recipient of numerous teaching awards. In 2009, he earned his PhD in music education from the University of Florida, where he was a Presidential Fellow in the School of Music. He earned his Master of Music of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas. There he performed in the renowned One O’clock Lab Band and had the opportunity to tour Japan and Hong Kong with the band as well as record on the album, Lab ’96. While at UNT, David was a teaching fellow and directed the Six O’clock Lab Band. Currently, he can be found performing as a freelance trumpet player in Gainesville, regularly performing with his trio, Triple Entendre.

WOODWINDS INSTRUCTION & DOUBLE REEDS

JOSEPH MICHAEL TOMASSO:
Joseph holds two Bachelor of Music Degrees in music performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in both Clarinet and Classical Saxophone Performance. He also completed a Master of Music degree in Multiple Woodwind Performance and Pedagogy with an emphasis on Oboe from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Joseph remains an auxiliary member of the Louisville Symphony Orchestra (saxophone), has performed with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra (oboe/english horn), and is currently performing with the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra (clarinet, saxophone). He also maintains an active chamber music schedule with other members of the GCO, and faculty of both the University of Florida as well as the University of North Florida. Joseph teaches beginning to advanced oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, and chamber music at Great Southern Music. He also sells professional quality, handmade reeds and is available for a one-on-one consultation for those looking for quality performance reeds.

VIOLIN INSTRUCTION & SUZUKI METHOD

CRAIG HANDLEY, JR.:
Craig is a Gainesville area native and has played violin for over 15 years. He frequently performs at weddings and private events in the North Central Florida Region.. Craig teaches beginning adults of all ages, as well as children.

VOCAL INSTRUCTION

NATHALIE FARES:
Born in Lebanon, Nathalie Fares started her voice training at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music (Le Conservatoire Libanais national supérieur de musique) and now holds a M.M. in vocal performance from the University of Florida in Gainesville. The rich tone and the wide range of Nathalie’s voice helps her to swing between Mezzo and Soprano roles. As a part of the Opera program at University Of Florida, she played the witch role in Hansel und Gretel, “Marcelina” in Le Nozze di Figaro, “Suzuki” in Madama Butterfly, and “Mrs. McLean” in a University of Florida opera production of Susannah, spring 2010. Most recently, Nathalie she was cast as Maddalena Cover in the St. Petersburg Opera Company's 2011 production of "Rigoletto."