About Us

;

Please click on this link for lesson rates and attendance policy

Amber Simpson - Piano Teacher

Amber Simpson has been teaching piano at the Guitar Guild for several years now, and is a graduate of Rowan University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, as well as a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Subject Matter Teaching for grades K-12, with a Piano Concentration. Amber is pursuing a career in elementary general music in the public school system, but loves working with students one-on-one in a private music lesson setting. She currently teaches a wide range of students of all ages and abilities, as well as a Music Theory class, which runs periodically throughout the year based on enrollment. She believes in approaching music from a serious academic standpoint, while making it fun and enjoyable for her students.

Amber teaches at The Guitar Guild Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

Mike Howell - Woodwinds

Mike Howell has been teaching private lessons at The Guitar Guild for two years now. He holds a Bachelor of music in Music Education with an instrumental emphasis from West Chester University. He currently teaches elementary and middle school band at Providence Creek Academy Charter School in Clayton, DE. Mike feels that music can be played with a better feeling and meaning when it is understood by the player better, and incorporates this philosophy into both his classroom teaching and private teaching. If the player does not enjoy what they are playing or it does not have any meaning, they will ultimately become frustrated and not want to continue. Mike strives to help his students truly understand their music and have fun doing just that.

Eileen - Voice and Acting

Eileen has been teaching at the Guitar Guild for two years and offers private singing lessons as well as private acting lessons and group acting classes. All ages and levels are welcome! Eileen tailors each lesson to fit the student's experience and goals. She feels that proper technique presented in an entertaining way is the key to successful lessons. She specializes in audition and performance preparation as well as introduction to singing for children as young as 5 years old.

Eileen has been involved in the arts since early childhood, landing her first professional musical theatre job at age 16. She attended a performing arts high school, was involved in All-South and All-State Jersey choirs, and went on to obtain a degree in Theatre Performance at Rowan University. She has won a great deal of awards and competitions for vocal performance and acting, including The Governor School of the Arts vocal award, several ACTF acting awards, and has held numerous pageant titles. Eileen's first love is performing, but has found teaching to be one of the most rewarding experiences that one could ever have.

Eileen is available Mon-Thurs from 4pm to 8pm

;

Warren Wenger - Violin

Mr. Wenger began has been playingviolin for over 40 years. He attendedthe Philadelphia Musical Academywhere he received a Bachelors ofMusic degree in Musical Performanceon the violin.Mr. Wenger played in the LansdowneSymphony, the Philharmonic ofSouthern New Jersey and with thePennsport String Band in Philadelphia.He plays in church and professionallyfor weddings and special occasions.

Mr. Wenger has been teaching musiclessons for over 30 years.

David Brown

Profession: Private Brass Instructor (trumpet, trombone slide and valve, baritone/euphonium, tuba)/

Education: Finishing up degree in Elementary Education from Rowan University, High School graduate of Delran High School (2 time Western Burlington County Honors Band)Teaching Method: I believe that music is for everyone of all ages. I adapt my curriculum to each student’s particular interest and level. There is no experience needed in my classroom and I handle students of all ages and experiences.

Line up:

Antonio--started October, 2008 (5^th grade)-recently joined school band, top seeded trumpet playerAndrew--started July, 2008 (9^th grade)-5 yrs. Experience on trumpet, 1 yr. experience on trombone (current instrument)-1 time Olympic Conference Band (first tryout)-currently in training for All South Jersey Honors Band

Katie--started October, 2004 (7^th grade)-5 yrs. Experience on trumpet, 3 yrs. Experience on baritone/euphonium (dual instrumentalist)-1 time Western Burlington County Honors Band-currently in training for All South Jersey Honors Band-section leader Palmyra High School Marching Band

Matt--started July, 2004 (6^th grade)-8 yrs. Experience trombone, 2 yrs. Experience on baritone/euphonium (dual instrumentalist)-2 time Western Burlington County Honors Band-Drum Major for Maple Shade High School Marching Band-currently in training for All South Jersey Honors Band

Anthony DeSante - Drums, Persussion

(photo added soon)

Anthony has been teaching at the Guitar Guild for a over year now. He has studied percussion and drum set theory with Dr. Robert Brosh, (Head Percussion director, University of the Arts,) for over 13 years. Studied in Jazz, rock/funk, Latin, and world percussion, Anthony incorporates all styles into both his playing as well as teaching. Anthony has been playing around the Philadelphia area with numerous bands for the last 6 years and has shared the stage with some of the hottest acts in town. He teaches his students the essentials in technique and rudiments and focuses highly on developing the students own style of playing. Anthony’s lessons incorporate both traditional and new innovative ways to approach the drum set to both enlighten and excite his students.

Michelle Rospopa - guitar/bass guitar

Michelle began studying guitar at the age of 9, eventually coming to The Guitar Guild in 1981 and after spending 11 years there, left to tour with her band Friendly Fire.

The band released two well-received indie albums and received a great deal of airplay on American college radio, as well as independent radio in Europe, Australia and Great Britain

In 1994, Michelle began teaching at The Guitar Guild, taking over for her teacher who had left to perform overseas.

She taught until 2001and in the meantime has taken courses and attended conferences on copyright law, music business management, music technology as well as music history and theory.

Michelle still performs in New York City with Friendly Fire and side project Five to Midnight, has composed music for several independent films and worked as a producer/engineer.

She is happy to be back at The Guitar Guild with the hope that she can pass on her knowledge and enjoyment of music to as many students as possible.

Check out some songs from Michelle's band Five to Midnight.

Lauren Athey - Voice

Lauren Eleanor Athey, soprano, is a prominent voice teacher in the Southern New Jersey region. She teaches private voice instruction for Pennsville High School’s Music Academy, Fusion Academy of the Performing Arts in Cherry Hill and the Friends School of Mullica Hill. Lauren also has two private studios in Southern New Jersey, Mount Royal and Palmyra.

As a performer, recently sang Mozart’s Vesperae with orchestra. She has also sung with the Amici Opera Company of Philadelphia, including Delmonte in Verdi’s Un Giorno di Regno. Lauren portrayed Une Pastourelle in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges with Westminster Opera Theater under the direction of Daniel Beckwith and Marc Verzatt.

Lauren lives in Florence, Italy every summer, singing and studying the Italian language. Lauren sang with New York Opera Studio at Vassar College, coaching with Nico Castel. She sang with the Florence Voice Seminar in Italy for two seasons and at Rising Star Singers in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Lauren has participated in opera scenes as Manon (Manon), Clorinda (La Cenerentola), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Annina (The St. of Bleeker Street), Alexandra (Regina), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), Laurie (The Tenderland), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Marie (La Fille du Regiment), and Yum Yum (The Mikado). She has placed in Boston and NJ NATS competitions.

In 2008 Lauren graduated with a master of music degree in voice performance and pedagogy at Westminster Choir College, where she was granted a graduate assistantship. She then won a graduate music scholarship in 2006. She is currently a student of Margaret Cusack and previously studied with Laura Brooks Rice. Lauren has worked with Dalton Baldwin at WCC. She has coached with J.J. Penna, Marco Balderi, José Melendez, Daniel Beckwith and Akiko Hosaki. Lauren sang in Handel’s Messiah in 2005 under Richard Hickox with the NY Philharmonic.

Lauren received an undergraduate degree in voice performance from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts with a full scholarship. While in Boston, she studied voice with Penelope Bitzas.

Lauren was an active soloist for the choirs at Boston University. She also had the opportunity to sing under Dr. Ann Howard Jones in great choral works, such as Brahms’ Requiem, Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, and Britten’s War Requiem.

Lauren’s musical theater roles include Cinderella (Into the Woods), Phyllia (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Agnes Gooch (Mame), and Maria (The Sound of Music). Before her high school years, Lauren sang in community musical theater companies and choirs from the age of 5. Lauren is a New Jersey native.

laurenathey@yahoo.com

"Know music, know life. No music, no life."

Lauren is a private contractor with The Guitar Guild and not a full time teacher as she has teaches at other locations. Please contact her at The Guitar Guild for available times.

Melissa Mack -- Woodwinds

Melissa Mack has been teaching private music lessons throughout the South Jersey area for just over a year now. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with an instrumental concentration from West Chester University. She currently teaches for Northeastern Music Programs, running band programs at several different private schools in Southern New Jersey. Melissa believes that everyone can benefit from involvement with music and that everyone should be given the opportunity to play an instrument. She tries to make lessons as educational as possible while still having fun, becasue without the fun, the students will not gain anything from lessons. Melissa is currently available for lessons with the Guitar Guild on Tuesday evenings, with some flexibility for other evenings if necessary.