Meet our ever growing band
At Real Brave, we offer an incredible experience like no other place in music lessons far everyone by guiding them from the beginning stages of getting to.
Meet the band
Yazan Al Hajari
Yazan started playing piano and making his own songs at the age of 9. He later attended the Fine Arts College in Damascus, and then studied Jazz Piano and Music Studies at William Paterson University. He made a variety of art and music workshops and taught music for several years. He has performed and recorded music with his jazz band and made compositions for media. His interest in music covers a large scale of genres from classical music, jazz, improvisation, songwriting, composition, folk and world music. He has written many songs for different singers and has won funding and prizes in the Middle East. Music and teaching for Yazan is creative, discovery and fun with limitless horizons.
Yazan
Al Hajari
Meet the band
Don Albert
Bass, Drums, Guitar, Trumpet, Piano
Don Albert studied music at Queens College and has been teaching guitar, voice, bass, trumpet, performance and composition for over 30 years. He also teaches test prep and essay writing to high school and college students. Don is an intregal part of Real Brave’s PracticePad developement and implementation.
Don
Albert
Meet the band
Jonathan Archer
Bass Guitar, Guitar, Piano, Violin
Jonathan Archer is a Queens, NY native with a deep love and passion for music. He is studying Music Education at the Aaron Copland School of Music at CUNY Queens College and began playing the violin at age 2 1/2. He also plays the guitar, Hammond organ, bass, and piano. Jonathan firmly believes that music has the ability to teach transferable life skills and is honored to be a part of the Real Brave staff.
Jonathan
Archer
Meet the band
Kevin Bagar
Guitar, Piano, Ukulele, Bass, Mandolin, Banjo, Saxophone
Kevin Bagar is a Bergen County native who has played music for his entire life. He holds an Associate’s degree in general music from Bergen Community College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music Studies from William Paterson University with plans to continue towards a Master’s in Arts and Teaching. Music has always been his first passion, with education as a close second. Kevin is a multi-instrumentalist with years of experience teaching composing and performing in various styles including classical, jazz, blues, rock, funk, latin, and bluegrass. While the guitar is his forte, he is also proficient on bass, piano, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, saxophone, and flute. Having given private lessons since he was in high school, Kevin is excited to be a part of the Real Brave Audio team to help guide the next generation of musicians.
Kevin
Bagar
Meet the band
Inessa Banayan
Piano, Vocals
Inessa began studying piano at the age of 7. She attended a specialized children’s music school where she realized that it would become her future career. By the age of 18, she graduated from the Vzshno-Sakhalinsk College of Music with a degree in Piano and Music Theory. A native of Kazakhstan, she earned her B.A. with Honors from the National Conservatory of Kazakhstan, specializing in vocal performance. She was offered a prestigious position as a soprano soloist with the National Opera and Ballet Company of Kazakhstan. Inessa has performed in major opera roles in many former Soviet nations and France. She sang lead in various productions, including Carmen, Madame Butterfly, Eugeni Onegin, Dido and Aneas, Paghliacci, and many others. She completed her M.A. at SUNY Binghamton in 2000. Some operas Inessa has performed in include Don Giovanni, Carmen, Faust, Handel’s Messiah, Faure’s Requiem, and Mozart’s Missa C-moll. She became a member of the Manhattan City Opera in 2004 and performs in choirs throughout the city. She is currently a piano and vocal instructor right here at Real Brave in Queens NY.
Inessa
Banayan
Meet the band
Jimmy Bou
Drums
Jimmy is a self-taught drummer and vocalist. With his contagious laugh and positive energy he inspires his students to approach learning the drum set with passion and excitement. Using Real Brave’s PracticePad in his drum classes, he is truly able to capture key moments which shape young and successful musicians.
Jimmy
Bou
Meet the band
Dan Jose Cabredo
Drums, Guitar
Dann Jose Cabredo a.k.a. ‘DJ’ is most known for his boisterous personality and his eagerness to teach students in a fun and attentive manner. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Education from Queens College, he is well accustomed to teaching all manner of students, whether they be older or younger. Having spent a decade working for Real Brave, he holds a closeness to all staff and students treating them similar to family. DJ’s students will tell you that he is fun, attentive and direct resulting in a honest enjoyable class experience which will leave you wanting to learn more. Especially with PracticePad and the Real Brave method employed.
Dan Jose
Cabredo
Meet the band
Carolina Campero
Piano, Vocals
Carolina has been singing since she was 5 years old, having her first performance debut at 7 years old at her middle school holiday show. Carolina graduated from Frank Sinatra School of Arts where she specialized in Voice and Musical Theatre. She was also involved in the Carnegie Musical Exchange while in school where she had the opportunity to write and perform a composition at Carnegie Hall. She has performed in various venues across NYC. Carolina was part of MasterVoices (formerly known as the Collegiate Chorale) for several years, traveling with them on scholarship in 2014 to Switzerland to the Verbier Music Festival to perform.Carolina currently attends the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, where she is majoring in Vocal Performance and French. Some of her performance credits include Marianne in Tartuffe, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro, Wendy in Peter Pan, Mary Lou in Cowgirls, Ronette in Little Shop of Horrors and Diane in Sealed for Freshness. Carolina is dedicated to helping her students develop a love and understanding of music, while passing along all of her fundamental knowledge in order to help them on their musical journey. She hopes all of her students get to experience the fun and power of music!
Carolina
Campero
Meet the band
Kristen Cheung
Piano, Violin
Kristen is a Queens, NY native and started learning the piano over 15 years ago. She participated in NYSSMA and ABRSM and later became involved in Orchestra and Jazz Bands in high school. Her interests include Classical, Contemporary, and Jazz music. As a student of the Macaulay Honors Program at Queens College, she is studying Pre-Health. As an instructor, she wants to guide her students into experiencing music as a language to express themselves. She also encourages her students to develop their own style and play the music that they want to play! Having been a student at Real Brave before she knows the systems and methods that make Real Brave special.
Languages: Cantonese
Kristen
Cheung
Meet the band
Joe Cilento
Joe is a multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer and composer. His love of music blossomed when he was given his first guitar (a $100 Yamaha acoustic from CostCo…and it still plays great!). He started learning pop songs and classic rock riffs and soon was writing blues songs and playing at local theaters in New Jersey. Whilst studying acoustic and electric guitar through private instruction, he was performing in local ensembles trying to hone his skills as a live musician. Being able to play rock music live and study other styles outside of that really helped Joe advance as a musician and not just a guitar player. The lessons learned during his formative playing years came to fruition when he attended Berklee College of Music. After 5-years of intensive study he graduated with a dual degree in Film Scoring and Music Production/Engineering. Joe has since worked in Film/TV and the recording arts, working for Pixar, Dreamworks, and Netflix. He has recorded in studios around the country as well as overseas. Joe’s teaching approach tries to meld simple day-in-and-day-out tasks and a real world application of the instrument. Experience has led Joe to see that anyone can express themselves through music with the right know-how. This means making music a part of life and in turn the rewards are frequent and abundant!
Joe
Cilento
Meet the band
Dylan DeFeo
Clarinet, Saxophone, Piano
Dylan is a self-taught keyboardist, started on the clarinet in the 4th grade, and learned the alto saxophone in the 7th grade. His passion for Jazz, Funk, Blues and Rock is exemplified on all of his instruments. As an alumnus of St. John’s University, he currently works as the Assistant Director of the St. John’s University Jazz Band. When not at Real Brave, he can be found playing with numerous bands in the New York City area. After covering the basics, he focuses on his student’s favorite tunes. He works to develop their skills and help solidify new concepts with familiar melodies. Dylan believes that patience is a virtue and allows his students to learn at a comfortable pace while encouraging them in the right direction. “Playing music is fun and so should learning it.” Dylan is passionate about teaching the history, theory and philosophy of improvised music. If you seek to improve your improv, Dylan’s the teacher for you!
Dylan
DeFeo
Meet the band
Alex DeLazzari
Alex De Lazzari is a professional woodwind player on the New Jersey and New York scene. Starting with clarinet and then saxophone in middle school, Alex began winning numerous awards on both instruments in high school, such as first prize at the US Navy Band jazz soloist competition (2016) and outstanding soloist for multiple years at the Mid-Atlantic Jazz festival. After participating in regional orchestras and honor bands in high school, Alex now attends the prestigious jazz program at William Paterson University where he studies with Mike LeDonne, Vincent Herring, and Bill Charlap to name a few. In addition to performing regularly at venues in New Jersey and New York, Alex enjoys teaching and imparting knowledge to students young and old. One of his major teaching philosophies is to learn music both by ear and by reading, thus establishing a stronger connection to the instrument and to enable more rapid improvement. Alex teaches all saxophones, clarinet, flute, and piano, and can teach any genre, from classical, to jazz, to pop/rock. Students will be able to learn the basics of the instrument and technique, and be able to advance rapidly to a high level.
Alex
DeLazzari
Meet the band
Mike DeProspo
Mike is a Passaic County resident who has been a musician for 20 years. He started out early in school learning the trumpet, but quickly switched to saxophone after listening to Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man” when he was in 4th grade. In terms of instrumental ability, Mike has been able to play almost anything he can get his hands on. This includes electric and acoustic guitar, bass guitar, piano, drums and ukulele, as well as saxophone, flute, clarinet, oboe and bassoon. Outside of Real Brave, Mike plays bass and sings in the NJ local band Flounder, which he’s been a member of since 2016. He studied general music at Bergen Community College, as well as Classical Music Education at William Paterson University. His favorite genres are rock and metal (and most of their sub genres,) but he also enjoys listening to and playing jazz, hip-hop, R&B and classical music. Having taught private lessons for years before joining the Real Brave team, Mike is ecstatic to be able to share his love of music and playing instruments with all of his students, and he hopes to be able to continue teaching music for a long time.
Mike
DeProspo
Meet the band
Stefano DiLorenzo
Drums, Guitar, Piano
Stefano started his musical studies almost twenty years ago in his native country, Italy. After moving to the US, Stefano graduated from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College with a Bachelors of Music and Summa Cum Laude. He has been performing in a wide variety of genres ranging from classical music to rock and jazz. Along with his performance experience, Stefano has been teaching since he was a high school student in Italy over a decade ago. As a musician and an instructor, Stefano promotes a healthy approach to the instrument by teaching techniques based on proper use of physics and natural body motion. He tries to incorporate theory and ear training into lessons and believes in learning and performing pieces as a complete experience, which is both fulfilling and educational for the student. At the Queens NY location, Stefano enjoys sharing his passion for music with his students and is committed to accompanying and supporting them every step of the way in their learning process using Practice Pad and the Real Brave Method.
Stefano
DiLorenzo
Meet the band
William Duffy
Bass, Brass misc., Guitar, Piano, Ukulele
Born and raised in New York City, William has been a musician for more than 15 years. William possesses a Degree from the New School For Jazz and Contemporary Music and has over eight years of teaching and performing experience.
William
Duffy
Meet the band
Sanchez Fernandes
Guitar, Bass, Piano
Hi, I’m Sanchez. Born into a musical environment, my earliest memory is of me rocking out on a toy guitar. By third grade, I was taking part in singing contests on a local level. It wasn’t until ninth grade when I started to feel a pull towards music. I began teaching myself the guitar and immediately fell in love with it, emulating my heroes. By the age of 18 I was playing at reputable venues in Mumbai, performing original compositions while also being a sideman for other groups. I attended an engineering school but instead, I found myself teaching group lessons between classes and that is how I realized my passion for teaching. I moved to Manhattan to further my music education and graduated from LaGuardia Community College with an Associates in Liberal Arts: Music Concentration. I will soon graduate from City College of Manhattan with a BM in Jazz Studies. I like all genres of music and always try to make my performances enjoyable and exciting for my audience. I strive to maintain a similar environment with my students. I love the challenge of explaining musical concepts to my students, since every student is different and will resonate with music in a completely different way than another. At Real Brave I teach guitar, bass, and piano. I am thrilled to be part of this school and look forward to meeting you.
Sanchez
Fernandes
Meet the band
Regina Fierro
Piano, Voice
Regina Fierro is a New York City-based singer and pianist hailing from Queens, NY. She began her musical training at age 6 after begging her parents for piano lessons and hasn’t stopped since! As a teenager she studied at the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s High School Singers Intensive and she has recently graduated summa cum laude with a B.M. in Classical Vocal Performance from New York University. She has performed in operas, musicals, concerts, and new works in the NYC area (NYU, Anina Art Events, Make Music NY), regionally (Winter Harbor Music Festival), and internationally (Villa La Pietra, FAVA Young Artist Program).
Regina is passionate about music education and accessibility for students of all ages. Outside of private lessons, she has extensive experience teaching choir, music theory, and early childhood music training. At NYU, she served as the president of the Classical Voice Collective, an independent chamber opera company dedicated to producing operas and concerts with primarily female casts and creative teams – an effort towards equity in the arts. As an educator, Regina encourages students to embrace the music that inspires them while also fostering thoughtful, efficient technique in order to reach their personal musical goals. She is excited to join the Real Brave team!
Regina
Fierro
Meet the band
Jamie Graves
Jamie is one of the newest members of the Real Brave team. She has long been a lover of music, enjoying many different genres. Jamie’s goal is to help YOU find the best fit instructor to help you acheive your musical goals!
Jamie
Graves
Meet the band
Andrew Gyselings
Bass Guitar, Drums, Guitar, Piano, Ukulele
Andrew has been teaching music for six years. His skills cover a variety of instruments including guitar, bass, drums, piano and ukulele. And his musical tastes are even broader. His approach to teaching is to get students playing songs that they want to learn, all while learning and building a foundation of the music theory and technique behind them. He makes each lesson fun and engaging for all students and always illustrates the lessons being taught by playing real songs along with the student. As a singer/songwriter, he strives to empower each student with the knowledge to compose their own musical works at the Queens NY location.
Andrew
Gyselings
Meet the band
Amanda Hamilton
Piano, Vocals
Amanda Hamilton holds a Bachelors of Music in Music Education/Performance from William Paterson University as well as credits towards a Masters in Music Education. She has been a vocal music director in the Verona Public Schools for more than 20 years, mainly working with the middle school and high school levels. She has taught in the summer music program, served as the musical director for many of the middle school musicals, directed the high school vocal ensembles, accompanied the elementary choirs, has had many students accepted into the North Jersey Region and All State Chorus, and has taught many piano and voice students. She is looking forward to working with students at Real Brave to achieve their musical goals.
Amanda
Hamilton
Meet the band
Monica Kang
Violin, Piano
Monica Kang began playing violin at 7, and has continued studying music her entire life. Her undergraduate work in physical education helped her understand mechanical movement at the heart of musical performance. She earned a master’s degree in music in Seoul, and a Suzuki Teacher Certification for teaching violin at all levels. She has been teaching music for more than 10 years, participating in music camps for her students and conferences to improve teaching methods. Many of Monica’s students have won awards in music competitions. Monica’s goal is to teach music in an approachable, enjoyable way so that her student gain confidence in music, and in life. She embraces the enthusiasm and friendly environment at Real Brave, where she is honored to be an instructor for violin and piano.
Monica
Kang
Meet the band
Jerod Kaszynski
Bass, Clarinet, Drum, Flute, Guitar, Piano, Sax, Ukulele, Voice, Woodwind misc.
Jerod Kaszynski has been a professional musician for over 12 years. He has performed on many instruments including: saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo, piano, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, ukulele, and recorder. Starting piano and guitar as a small child, he enjoyed playing along to all types of music he was exposed to. When it came time to learn a band instrument, saxophone was his first pick and ran with it. His first ‘gig’ was sitting in with Minnesota local band GB Leighton. That was the true spark that burned for performing. Jerod went to UW Eau Claire to get a degree in classical saxophone while filling out his musical knowledge with every genre he could find. He and his friends started many groups of differing styles to satiate his hunger. By the time he graduated, he was one of the most sought after saxophonist in Wisconsin. He played in several bands and was asked to join the Steel Bridge Songwriting Festival where he has collaboratively written many songs, arranged horn lines, and performed on even more. In 2017, he was offered a position in the Glenn Miller Orchestra. This is the last full time touring big band that can date it’s founding back to when Glenn Miller himself was alive. With the band, Jerod performed in all 48 lower US states and all of the southern provinces of Canada. They also did 2 tours of Japan. Jerod left the band when he was offered a spot in the Masters program at the Aaron Copland School of Music under the tutelage of Antonio Hart in New York City. He just finished the program this past spring pursing a Masters in Jazz Performance. During this time, he has played and performed in a variety of bands including his own jazz quintet “The JKQ”, his rock trio “The Dark Sky Hustlers,” other friend groups including “Parlay,” “The Alex LoDico Ensemble,” “Kate Vargas,” “Tim Armacost Orchestra,” and many more. Since joining the Real Brave team in December of 2018, Jerod has enjoyed sharing his love of music and performing with a great many students. He welcomes anyone and everyone who has any interest in exploring this beautiful series of sound waves that coalesce in the ear drum to create the pantheon of emotional breadth that we call music.
Jerod
Kaszynski
Meet the band
Liam Kerekes
Bass, Drum, Piano, Ukulele
Liam Kerekes is a drummer, producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Growing up in Red Bank New Jersey, he was exposed to all sorts of music at an early age. Mainly self taught, his first years of playing focused on rock drumming, but later in life he found an appreciation for Jazz and proper drumming technique. He eventually worked his way up into the esteemed Jazz Program at William Paterson University. Whilst there he studied the art of Jazz drumming and was fortunate to play at the famous Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in New York, and also on jazz radio station WBGO 88.3. When he wasn’t playing for jazz artists he was found recording for all artists, from Country to Pop. He also liked to explore larger productions, having done an 80’s themed show which gave him the chance to play with legends such as Darryl McDaneils from RUN DMC, and Grammy Award winning producer Rob Fusari. Aside from performing, Liam also enjoys the likes of teaching and hopes to inspire young students to get interested in the beauty of rhythm and music. He also plays Guitar, Piano and Ukulele, as they help him with songwriting. Some of his areas on these instruments include Pop, Country, Rock, Classical and more. His goal is to teach students songs they want to learn, while also incorporating proper technique to lead them in the right direction on their musical journey!
Liam
Kerekes
Meet the band
Josh Lombardi
Drums, Guitar, Piano
Music has always been my life. I played the drums for the first time when I was 4 years old and I picked up a guitar not long after that. When I was 8 years old I got my first drum set and started taking private lessons. By the time I was 10, I was already playing gigs every weekend and playing percussion in the school band and orchestra. In high school, I discovered a passion for teaching and I decided to pursue my degree in education at UMASS Amherst. My education became my primary focus, but I never stopped performing. Playing drums for the band Tensor, I became very immersed in the Boston music scene. We recorded a great deal of music in a short time and played constantly all over the east coast. The first time we played in New York, I remember thinking “this is where I need to be.” When I finished college, I moved back home where I was offered a teaching position at Music Elements. It was a full circle moment when I began teaching at the school where my music career began and I am extremely grateful for that time in my life, as it helped me become the teacher and person that I am today. I have lived in New York now for over 4 years and played with countless musical projects across a broad spectrum of musical genres as a drummer and also as a guitarist and vocalist. I currently play drums for the The Goodnight Darlings and the up and coming hip-hop group, Hippie Tribe. I feel so at home at Real Brave. It is a musical community that continues to inspire myself, just as much as it does my colleagues and our wonderful students.
Josh
Lombardi
Meet the band
Eddie Lyon
Cello, Guitar, Piano, Violin, Viola
Eddie began playing violin at the age of 6. Loving the instrument and music, he continued to play all through middle school and high school, playing in small chamber groups and orchestras as well as a soloist. He later attended Adelphi University and obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance. He learned piano and guitar while in college. Currently, Eddie is studying Music Education as a Graduate Student at Hofstra University. While keeping a comfortable, relaxed and fun classroom, Eddie pushes his students to their full potential and shows them what they are capable of. Teaching how to practice and different ways to practice at home really makes a difference. Theory is infused in with the learning of the instrument so a wholesome knowledge is learned.
Eddie
Lyon
Meet the band
Terence Ma
Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Terence started music lessons at an early age, with extensive training in both voice and classical piano. Despite a promising start to his musical career, he decided to settle into the financial sector in New York City. Eventually, he grew tired of the rat race, and set out on a soul-searching journey across the country– often traveling by foot. After temporary stints as a farmhand and a cob mason, he finally returned to the stage, and soon after found his calling in teaching. Through the years, he has done classical performances in world-renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Steinway Hall, and took to more contemporary stages at NYC such as the Bitter End, the Mercury Lounge, and the Duplex. As an instructor, Terence believes in a rounded approach that encourages students to find their own voice while offering technical advice to help along the way. He loves to see new students coming for lessons, and strives to give them the confidence and voice to unlock their true potential. When not teaching, Terence enjoys listening to Motown while chowing down on a slice of pizza… or six.
Terence
Ma
Meet the band
Kathie Mai
Piano, Violin
Kathie has been playing the violin since she was 5 years and has never stopped playing ever since. She held her very first violin recital when she was just 11 years old! She thengot to to play with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (MYO), CYCNY Youth Orchestra (紐約幼獅管弦樂團) and CPSM string camp at the Queens College Aaron Copland School of Music. She started teaching in 2007 by coaching her orchestra peers. With all this experience she then attended pre-college at Carnegie Mellon for violin studies. She later graduated the University at Buffalo with a Bachelors for Music Performance and now she currently plays with Litha Symphony Orchestra. For her students in Queens NY, she wants them to have fun and memorable moments in their very own musical journey just as she did. She is looking forward to provide guidance to every student at their own pace. She believes if her students have the passion for music nothing is impossible.
Kathie
Mai
Meet the band
Dallas Palumbo
Brass Misc, Drum, Guitar, Piano
Hi, my name is Dallas. I’ve been playing music for over 15 years. I started out on the drum set, learning the foundation of rhythm and then branched out to play the piano, guitar and the trumpet. In 2020, I graduated with an associate’s degree in audio engineering and when I’m not at Real Brave, I’m working as a recording and mix engineer. I have been teaching with Real Brave for the last two years and I love helping people to understand the fundamentals of music and getting them to a place where they can play some of their favorite songs. I am patient, positive and ready to play some great music with you.
Dallas
Palumbo
Meet the band
Jordan Pesola
Bass, Drum, Guitar, Piano, Ukulele
Jordan began playing the drums at the age of six. From there, he added piano, concert and jazz percussion, guitar, bass, and ukulele to his repertoire. Throughout grade school, Jordan was involved in as many musical groups as he could be, including concert band, wind ensemble, jazz bands, marching band, and pit orchestra for the school musicals. He was also involved in the local music scene, playing charity events, fairs, restaurants, and other venues. Currently, Jordan is completing his degree in Popular Music Studies at William Paterson University. When not teaching or attending class, Jordan can be found playing with the band Wishbone, for which he mixes and plays keyboards, guitar, and sings backup vocals. He also enjoys working on solo projects and playing in bands for other local musicians. As a primarily self-taught musician, Jordan understands the value of allowing students to use their intrinsic motivation to learn. At Real Brave, he teaches everything including improvisation, classical performance, music theory, songwriting, contemporary playstyles, and more. By encouraging people to play music in a way that is fun and engaging for each student individually, Jordan feels confident that every student can learn no matter the age, skill level, or genre.
Jordan
Pesola
Meet the band
Nick Saia
Brass misc., Guitar, Piano
Nicholas Saia is a New York and Baltimore based guitarist, composer and teacher. An active performer throughout the United States, he has both led and collaborated a multitude of varied and genre-defying ensembles. Projects that he currently participates in include Liam Hurlbut’s Ephemera Quartet, as well as a large number of swing and gypsy jazz ensembles. His main project as a leader is U.H.H.M, an improvising jazz and new music trio with Christopher Frick on piano and french horn as well as Jack Naden on drums. UHHM self-released its debut album in September 2018, which was described as “[throwing] progressive rock and free jazz into a dizzying, heavily improvisational mix of satisfying songs… a promising debut and a worthwhile listen for fans of free jazz and progressive rock.” (John Bricker, All About Jazz©). Their second release (a compilation of studio and live recordings from 2019) will be available in late October 2019, and a third studio album is set to be recorded in April 2020 and will feature multiple guests and new sounds. He also frequently performs a set of solo guitar material that ranges from original compositions, to fully improvised/prepared guitar, to contemporary compositions by artists including Füting, Finck and Berio. Nick graduated from the Peabody Institute of Music with a Bachelors Degree in composition. There, he studied with Felipe Lara as well as Oscar Bettison, Michael Formanek and Paul Bollenback in areas ranging from composition, improvising and arranging. He is deeply steeped in improvising traditions beginning with jazz-manouche, American folk music, all the way through more modern and experimental worlds. In addition to Peabody, he is a two time alumni/attendee of Brooklyn’s School of Improvised Music and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz where he was selected to tour from Los Angeles to the Mendecino Jazz Festival as a member of the All-Star Quintet.
Nick
Saia
Meet the band
George Schaefer
Drums
George grew up in Oakland and began studying drums at 10 years old, playing in the local circuit for a few years. He put the sticks down when life started cookin’, raising a family and developing a professional career in medical sales. As the career progressed and the family grew, George realized that his love of music and playing never left him and it was time to rekindle his real passion. In addition to taking up intensive drum instruction which continues to this day, George shook off the rust at local blues and rock jams in the northern Jersey area. Currently George holds the drum chair in 3 local bands, playing covers and originals throughout the metro area. He has shared the stage with Big Brother and the Holding Company, John Mayall, Michael Burks, Ian Matthews from Fairport Convention and Ray Manzarek from The Doors. His mission as an instructor at Real Brave is to create a fun and relaxed teaching environment with students, stressing fundamentals and using musical examples, allowing them to develop the skills to play drums in any musical situation!!
George
Schaefer
Meet the band
Beth May Seldin
Cello, Clarinet, Flute, Piano, Recorder, Trumpet, Violin
Beth May began playing recorder in the 3rd grade. It was a magical experience and inspired her to audition for her first recorder ensemble in the 6th grade. This gave her the confidence to audition for beginner band in the 7th grade where she began to learn the flute, her first band instrument. Since then, she has had many wonderful experiences and instructors which have helped to decide to pursue a professional career in Music Education. Beth May later moved on to receive a Bachelors in Music Education and a Masters in Music Education from CUNY Queens College. She is a NYS Certified Music Teacher (K-12) — Certified in Orff Levels 1 & 2 — Music Together Training. She has taught in both public and private school systems as a music teacher, as well as an instructor for many years. Her approach to teaching comes from her background and experiences as a public and private Music Educator as well the Real Brave method & Practice Pad. Based on these experiences, she has learned to tailor lessons to the individual needs of all of her students. She is always eager to come up with new, creative and fun strategies to get the most out of each of her students.
Beth May
Seldin
Meet the band
Marc Seldin
Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano
Marc began playing the Clarinet when he was in the 5th grade and he knew immediately that Music Education would later be his goal in life. He later moved on to attend Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music for Art and Performing Arts. This is where he had exceptional teachers and unique learning experiences. This included the opportunity to perform on Baritone Saxophone with the Senior Jazz Band in the “Essential Ellington” competition at Lincoln Center. The band won first place in this nationwide competition, as well as best Saxophone Section. Later, obtained a Bachelors in Music Education from CUNY Queens College. His past music experiences have inspired him to conduct concert band ensembles. Since August 2015, he has served as the Director of the Pleasantville Volunteer Fire Department Band in Westchester County, Manhattan. For his students at the Queens NY location, Marc draws on his own personal experiences as an Conductor, Educator and Student alike. His goal is to create lessons that are geared toward the individual needs of all of his students. Not only will they learn skill and technique in a fun way but, they will also develop into a true musician which can serve them throughout their entire lives.
Marc
Seldin
Meet the band
Eve Seltzer
Guitar, Piano, Voice
Eve Seltzer has been performing in and around New York City for over twenty years. After attending the New England Conservatory of Music as a Classical Voice major, she moved to New York City and was part of the singer-songwriter scene in the East Village. In 2002, she started to study Jazz Vocals, and took lessons at the New School. Subsequently, she studied with Miles Griffith and Marion Cowings. She holds a Masters in Jazz Vocal performance from the Aaron Copland School of Music, where she worked under the tutelage of Monk Competition winner Charenee Wade. Eve has appeared at a variety of venues of New York, including the Metropolitan Room, ShapeShifter Lab, and the Bitter End, and can be seen regularly at Silvana in Harlem and in her local Brooklyn venue, Bar Chord. She often performs with the Gypsy Jazz Combo Franglais, which has toured nationally and abroad, has hosted the Brooklyn Djangology Festival and has appeared on the small stage at the Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois-Sur-Seine, France. In addition to her musical pursuits, Eve is a licensed physical therapist assistant with ten years of clinical experience, and has worked as a recording engineer for thirteen years. She has been nominated for two Grammy awards for her audio work.
Eve
Seltzer
Meet the band
Zachary Thomas
Drums, Guitar, Piano, Bass, Vocals, Ukulele
Zach is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn. He is 33 years of age. Playing with ensembles since age 11, Zachary has been formally recognized as a professional musician for 12 years and running… He has a decade of combined experience as a music educator, both in formal classroom and less formal “one-to-one” settings. Being signed to a major subsidiary of Sony Entertainment throughout his twenties, he was formerly sponsored by Pearl drums, Silver Fox drumsticks and Soultone cymbals during busy times in his performance career. His work has been licensed and featured on networks such as MTV, ESPN, Oxygen, and TRU TV. He has played over 500 shows, sharing national stages such as Irving Plaza, Gramercy Theater, B.B. King’s, House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, National Harbor and the Viper Room with acts such as Three Doors Down, Eve 6, Third Eye Blind, Ryan Cabrera and Fastball…to name a few. Over the past few years, Zach has realized that his true passion lies in educating people in music – how to play, how to appreciate, how to discuss, and how to stay inspired! He believes this aspect of the craft is the most essential, because educating and informing future generations perpetuate the ancient and sacred arts of composing and performing. Zach says he’s grateful to have connected with the Real Brave family — He is a big advocate of Practice Pad (Real Brave’s signature program that allows teachers to track the progress of students for the purpose of being referred to and accessed by parents, students and teachers). More importantly to Zachary, however, is his enthusiastic belief in what Real Brave stands for: Student-centered learning that is meant to be fun, educational, and confidence building. Also, it “rocks and rolls”…a school after his own heart!
Zachary
Thomas
Meet the band
Sean Thompson
Bass, Brass misc., Guitar, Piano, Sax
Sean Thompson is a life-long resident of Queens and has been involved with music for most of his life, beginning with violin lessons at the age of three, and piano lessons at the age of six. Sean graduated from Adelphi University with a BS in Music Performance – Trombone and has played with the Adelphi University Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band starting in 2009 as a student and has continued playing with them since graduation. He has composed several symphonies. Sean began playing guitar and bass guitar in high school and has been involved in Music Ministry in the Brooklyn Diocese, playing brass, guitar, and bass. His work in Music Ministry includes working with choir members and giving lessons in music theory, sight reading, guitar and keyboard. He is also proficient in music technology and software. Sean’s greatest enjoyment comes from sharing his love of music with others through teaching. His approach to pedagogy emphasizes helping the student express himself/herself while teaching fundamentals of theory and technique. He strives to give every student a strong foundation on which to build a lifelong love and appreciation for music.
Sean
Thompson
Meet the band
Loussana Tok
Piano, Voice
Loussana is excited to join Real Brave and welcome new students! Having lived and studied around the world, she has extensive classical training in both piano and voice, but is eager to help students learn whatever they are passionate about. She received an Associate’s Degree in Music with a focus in voice from North-Caucasus State Institute of Arts (Russia), and a Bachelor’s Degree in piano playing and teaching from The Music Faculty of Al Baath university (Syria). Loussana is Fluent in English, Russian, and Arabic.
Loussana
Tok
Meet the band
Marcin Waclawek
Cello, Mandolin, Piano, Viola, Violin, Voice
Marcin is a Polish-Irish violinist, vocalist, and pianist with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, having studied under the tutelage of Dr. Kathleen Butler-Hopkins. He leads the William Paterson University orchestra under the direction of Dr. Sandra Dackow, and has been featured on numerous recordings in a variety of genres.
Marcin
Waclawek
Meet the band
Vicki Warn
Guitar, Ukulele
Vicki began playing guitar at age 11, and has been a full time musician since the age of 22. She has studied jazz and blues privately with Leni Stern, a professor of music and composition at NYU. She regularly performs on lead guitar with the DCQ, a jazz fusion group, Reminisce, a 10 piece classic show band, and also with her own rock and originals trio. A highlight for Vicki was a performance tour of the UK, with top billing at the Rory Gallagher Festival in Glasgow, Scotland. Vicki wants all of her students to enjoy playing the guitar as much as she continues to do. She presents her knowledge of theory and different musical styles with enthusiasm and a genuine sense of fun. Vicki also offers ukulele instruction.
Vicki
Warn
Meet the band
Tiffany Willingham
Piano, Violin
Tiffany Willingham grew up on Long Island. She studies at Queens College in Queens, NY where she now resides as a Drama and Early Childhood Education Major. Tiffany also started playing violin at 7 years old and piano at 16. Music is her passion and she believes that teaching music and watching the individual grow as a person and a musician is the most rewarding thing in the world. She is excited and grateful to have the experience working at Real Brave.
Tiffany
Willingham
Meet the band
Sam Yi
Bass, Drums, Guitar
Sam is a self-taught musician and learned through books and videos online. He was inspired to be a teacher after he was became a praise leader in his church. During middle school and high school, he took music classes to hone his skills. In college, he declared minors in both Music Education and Music Theory to enhance his knowledge in both fields. His goal as an instructor at the Queens location is to find his student’s joys within the instrumentation. While teaching the instrument, he also wants his students to grow their passion for the instrument and music in general. Slowly but surely, he builds his students into profound musicians through his know-how, the Real Brave method and PracticePad.
