Hi, I’m Matt!

I graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2022 with a degree in Contemporary Writing and Production. I am a guitarist, primarily, with around 17 years of experience, but I also play piano and bass. I have been writing and producing my own music since high school, and this ended up propelling me into my major. To me, music is the ultimate universal language. My goal as an instructor is to help you understand and communicate that language in the way you would like.

My Approach to a Typical Lesson:

My teaching approach is centered around finding your own unique creative voice. Any supplemental materials I give you will be tailored to your personal musical interests and goals. I always want to ensure you are engaged and, more importantly, having fun! Each week, we will be learning sections of songs you personally select to further develop your techniques and explain new skills. This setup will be our framework for finding your own creative voice!

My Advice for Students:

Today, it can be very easy to be immediately overwhelmed if you are trying to learn an instrument and also function online. My best advice when you are trying to navigate this new endeavor is to never compare. Music is never a linear path for anyone, and unfortunately, you can’t really see that online. You usually only see the end point.

My Favorite Local Places:

(Not really local, but close by!) Starland Ballroom — catch an artist you love there; it is a really great time!

Three Tips for Success:

• Small, focused practice sessions go much farther than longer, wavering practice sessions.
• Learning songs can be just as effective as learning individual techniques, if you know how to analyze them.
• Try to expand your music taste as much as possible.

My Music:

Among the Stars — “Looming Uncertainty” In Color — “Willows (Redux)”

Education

Berklee College of Music ’22 — Contemporary Writing and Production

Specialties

Guitar, Production, Composition, Mixing, Piano, Bass

Influences

The Contortionist, Pat Metheny Group, David Maxim Micic, Animals as Leaders, John Petrucci

Hi, I’m Shelley!

I’m an Artist, Astrologer, Speaker, and Coach. As a producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist (voice, oud, percussion, piano, guitar), I take inspiration from my multicultural experience and passion for alchemical healing to create an ethereal blend of World Chamber Pop. With an M.A. from Berklee College of Music, I fundraised $16K to record my album DREAMTIME, and I’ve been supporting talented young musicians with expert coaching for over ten years. I’ve recorded with artists such as Equanimous, Residente, and Yo-Yo Ma on two Grammy-winning albums, and had my music placed in the Paramount+ show CIA. My brand, The Mystical Creative, offers bespoke music production for film + TV, intuitive astrology and tarot, and Dream Fulfillment Coaching. My mission is to uplift and inspire others to fulfill their potential through the healing power of creative expression. www.themysticalcreative.com

My Approach to a Typical Lesson:

My goal for each lesson I teach is to help the student develop a strong rhythmic and melodic foundation for the material they’re working on. We focus on developing a good ear for listening and tuning, timbre, getting a good sound, proper posture, scales, warmups, and other technique fundamentals. We’ll also dive into your book of choice, special repertoire, or even your own songwriting to work on specific music while methodically building a strong understanding of music theory. Throughout the process, we’ll work on playing or singing in a relaxed, confident way while developing lifelong skills and musicianship!

My Advice for Students:

The two most important qualities to cultivate in a creative life, as well as for success in general, are Confidence and Resilience. If you don’t believe in yourself and your dreams, you can’t expect anyone else to. You have to have the tenacity and courage to go for it. Whatever is calling to you in your heart, just don’t stop, no matter how long it takes (and I’m talking years and years!) or how much rejection you experience. Which leads to the second quality: Resilience. Failure and rejection are simply part of the process in business as well as in creation. The sooner you wrap your head around this, the better. Stop taking things personally, pick yourself up, and keep going!

My Favorite Local Places:

I absolutely love New Jersey. I’ve lived here for four years, and I’m still discovering hidden gems. I love Battello in Jersey City, Waterbar in Montclair, and Finlay & Gage Music Shop + Repairs in Maplewood.

Three Tips for Success:

1. Believe in yourself.
2. Develop positive and healthy routines for mind, body, spirit, and practice.
3. Never stop learning, and be resilient!

My Music:

Listen to Shelley’s music

Hi, I’m Angelica!

I was born and raised in New Jersey. Music has always been a big part of my life — I remember listening to Billy Joel CDs in the car with my dad as a kid.

I attended a performing arts high school, where I studied theatre arts. While in college, I decided to pursue my passion for music education. I hold a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Science in Instructional Design, and I have six years of K-12 classroom teaching experience as a music educator.

Recently, I have performed in local and international gigs as a vocalist. In August 2025, I participated in an opera seminar in Italy, where I performed the role of Marcellina from Figaro. I am also a member of the Continuo Arts Foundation Civic Chorale and Sonaré professional choir in Summit, NJ.

In April 2026, I performed the world premiere of conductor Mark Hayes’ Psalmos at Carnegie Hall. In May 2026, I returned to Carnegie Hall to perform John Rutter’s Requiem and the world premiere of I’ll Make Me A World.

When I’m not teaching music or in the studio, I enjoy acrylic painting, yoga, ballet, and traveling.

My Approach to a Typical Lesson

I love to integrate the latest technology into a typical music lesson. Whether we are using music games or educational websites to enhance learning, I like to combine an instructional plan both on and off the screen.

Additionally, I am a big proponent of music theory. I want my students to understand the fundamentals of how and why things work the way they do when learning how to sing or play an instrument.

My Advice for Students

• Never give up — the biggest risk is the risk you do not take!
• Don’t let anyone or anything discourage you from living your dream.
• Hard work will be rewarded one day.

My Favorite Local Places

• Old City Cafe and Grill
• AIR Aerial Fitness & Yoga
• Asbury Park Boardwalk

Three Tips for Success

• Create a schedule and stick with it.
• Be open to learning something new.
• Form connections in the music industry — you never know how they may help you succeed in the future.

My Music

• Listen on Spotify
• Listen on Spotify
• Listen on Spotify

Hi, I'm Will

I'm a producer, audio engineer, and songwriter for multiple genres. I have a bachelor's degree in music production and have plenty of experience working with artists to bring their ideas to life. My passion for music and art can be seen in the various skills I possess, from playing multiple instruments and writing lyrics to beat-making as well as mixing, and mastering.

My typical approach to a lesson

When I teach lessons, my number one priority is to allow students to have fun while learning more about the music they enjoy listening to while also encouraging exploration into other styles of music and art. I believe a solid knowledge of theory, technique, and music history goes a long way in both playing songs you like as well as creating your own original music.

My advice to students

Remember music is a journey. Just like all art forms, music is a tool for self-expression. Whether you’re learning more about what you enjoy, exploring other genres, practicing your instrument, writing lyrics, or recording, it is all part of this ever-changing process of you growing and learning to express yourself and find what makes you unique. If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask. Don't give up in the face of challenges. And most importantly enjoy the journey, have fun, and make it yours.

My favorite local spots

Crossroads in Garwood NJ is one of my favorite local venues. A lot of bands I personally like play there as well as various local acts. They even have weekly karaoke nights and sometimes they host film festivals!

My three tips for success

1. Trust the process and be patient. Like with any new skill, learning music takes time and consistent practice.
2. Keep an open mind. Music is a vast subject with many different aspects to learn about and enjoy. Always try new things and never stop broadening your horizons.
3. Collaborate with other musicians. Music is meant to be shared with others and is the most exciting when playing and creating with fellow musicians.

Hi, I'm Tim!

I grew up playing and exploring as many instruments as possible to get a feel for the language and nature of music. As an informed multi-instrumentalist, I pursued an education in the Recording Arts in order to understand how to be a producer and engineer. My explorations taught me that a huge passion of mine is relating to others on a more personal level. As such, I furthered my education to become a Music Therapist. My life mission is to help others achieve their goals through music.

My Approach To A Typical Lesson

I like to ask students to share with me the type of music that most interests them. Preferences guide the learning journey every day and can especially inspire us to continue persevere through difficult challenges.

My Advice For Students

Listen to music every day. Find out exactly what appeals to you and what doesn't so you can talk to a teacher or mentor about how to best help you along your musical journey.

My Favorite Sources of Inspiration

I find inspiration from being in nature and with people. I love meeting new people and helping them along their musical journey anyway I can. I go to concerts about three times a month to discover new artists, and support musicians I already listen to. Movie and Video games are also hugely important sources of music. I find myself exploring YouTube for content from all around the world to share with others.

Hi, I'm Andrew!

I studied Jazz Performance at Montclair State University with a concentration in trumpet. While I was in my undergraduate studies I was able to meet six other musicians who shared a similar philosophy of creativity. We formed a band called Thank You Scientist and through that I was able to tour the country for 8 years. I was fortunate to have shared the stage with amazing bands such as Yes, The Dear Hunter, Coheed and Cambria, Periphery and many more! Although I was fully invested in the rock scene at the time, this did not stop me from composing and performing jazz around the New Jersey and New York scene. I was a part of the New York Youth Big Band in which I was able to play along side Terell Stafford, Phil Woods, Nir Felder and more. Over the years, I've strived to not pigeon hole myself into one style, genre or instrument in the pursuit of my expression. The theory knowledge learned from the jazz and rock scene helped me to excel in the learning of many other instruments which now gives me the ability to teach at a deeper and more concise level.

My Approach To A Typical Lesson

Since jazz is my background, I emphasize the use of the ears in lessons. We do a lot of listening and ear training to better understand what we hear. This being said, I also love to play with my students so they get a good sense of what to sound like. I also love to work on songs and music that my students are listening to and make it as hard or easy for each individuals level. This being said, I do spend some time developing technique through scales, exercise books, and theory knowledge.

My Advice For Students

Make sure you keep your ears open at all times! Listen to yourself and the greats!

My Favorite Local Places

I love getting into the city and heading to the Village Vanguard and the 55 bar for jazz. But I also head to the Bowery Electric and the Knitting Factory to check out some up and coming rock music.

My Music

I recorded three records with my old rock band Thank You Scientist (7 piece prog rock band) I currently play in a band called First Mountain I also love pop music - check out this track I'm featured on!

Hi, I'm Nick!

With over 10 years of teaching experience, Nick is a passionate music educator specializing in piano, percussion, and music theory. Since 2014, he has worked with students of all ages and skill levels, teaching in both group and one-on-one settings. Nick holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory and Composition from Montclair State University, where he was recognized with the Outstanding Undergraduate Composer Award. His expertise spans piano (Western Classical, Pop, Rock), drum set (Pop, Rock, Progressive Rock), and concert percussion, as well as marching percussion. Nick takes a patient, methodical, and student-centered approach to teaching. He believes in building strong fundamentals and encourages critical thinking through the use of open-ended questions, allowing students to reach conclusions on their own terms. Through both his teaching and music arranging, he has elevated numerous high school band and percussion programs across New Jersey, leading many of them to great success, including winning multiple national championships. Whether guiding beginners or advanced musicians, he tailors his lessons to meet each student’s unique needs, ensuring they grow confidently and enjoyably.

My Approach To A Typical Lesson

I believe in giving my students the resources and building blocks to learn and understand concepts on their own. This can help them to grow organically and not feel as if they are simply being spoon-fed information. I also love posing questions to my students to encourage critical thinking. I am a huge proponent of the fundamentals: a good foundation in technique and music theory can support the student as they grow into the type of musician that they would eventually like to be!

My Advice For Students

Discover what you like about music, and strive to learn more about it. Exploring new concepts and developing your taste can become a huge part of the fun! We have an incredible amount of music both past and present available at our fingertips. Even if you spent your entire life playing, you would never run out of things to learn. It may seem intimidating, but everyone needs to begin somewhere!

My Favorite Local Places

NJPAC in Newark, NJ Rockwood Music Hall in NYC The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC

My Music

I'm a composer who loves percussion, electronic music, and minimalism. This is a recording from my Senior Composition Recital of a jazz piece titled "Frazil". It was written about ice crystals that form under moving bodies of water called "frazil ice."

Hi, I'm Rob!

I am a multi-instrumentalist specializing in Drums, Piano, Guitar, Voice, and Music Production. I have been playing drums since I was 12 and piano since I was 8. I have performed in many different bands as a drummer, keyboardist and songwriter/singer. I have a lot of experience performing on stage and working in recording studios. I graduated from Music College in a degree in performance and music theory. I have been teaching for many years and love to share my passion and knowledge with my students. I have studied many different genres. From jazz and rock to classical and funk. I personally like to combine all styles and create music that is interesting and innovative. Also, having a good beat and catchy melody is most important! I think it's important to be influenced by many different styles and sounds. I look to instill this in my students and encourage them to think outside the box and explore different types of music that they normally wouldn't listen to.

My Approach To A Typical Lesson

Whether you're a beginner or experienced I like to start slow and get a sense of the instrument. We do this through fun warmups! For me it's all about music so I also try to get a sense of what kind of music the student enjoys. Listening to songs and understanding what the musicians are doing is a great way to becoming better at your chosen instrument.

My Advice For Students

Remember music is all about having fun. Relax, it's okay to make mistakes. Actually making mistakes is the only way to get better.

My Favorite Local Places

Rockwood Music Hall Newark Museum Smalls Jazz Club QXT's Night Club The MET

My Music

I currently play in a band called Moon Rabbit Retreat. If this doesn't showcase my skill set,I don't know what will. In the band I play drums, keyboards and sing. It's easier than it sounds!

Sean Killary graduated Berklee College of Music in 2010 with a dual major in Music Production and Music Business. After graduating Berklee, he started a recording studio in Boston where he produced a variety of musicians and albums. In 2012, Sean reconnected with a fellow Berklee classmate and band member, Sam Morgan, to create the plan that would become So i Heard Music. Outside of So i Heard Music, Sean is an avid outdoorsman and mountain biker and enjoys spending time with his dog, Ollie.