Lessons

Kevin Collins – GUITAR Kevin began teaching guitar in Amherst in 1969. He is a graduate of the Hartt School in Classical Guitar. In New York, he appeared at Windows on the World in the World Trade Center and at The Rainbow Room, and taught guitar at Columbia University. Before starting the Red Barn, Kevin was Guitar Faculty at the UMass Music Department Performing Arts Division. Kevin teaches Classical Guitar in the Segovia tradition and all kinds of music and uses songs to teach music theory.

Alan Geyer – PIANO & COMPOSITION Alan holds a B.I.S. in piano performance from Georgia State University (magna cum laude); and an M.A. in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College in Santa Fe. Alan encourages his students to play the music that they love, whatever that may be. He helps you make sense of how you play piano, and, most of all, he makes lessons fun!

Carol Hutter has taught violin and viola in the valley for over 40 years, and now her former students are bringing their own children to her to experience the same joy of music. Starting at an early age, when Carol was 19, she played principal viola at the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood where she earned a fellowship as a soloist under Leonard Bernstein. Carol founded the Suzuki program at NCMC and teaches both traditional and Suzuki methods. Carol never forgot how much fun playing music is and will help you make music fun.

Claudia grew up in a musical home where everyone played and was a Piano Performance Major at UMass where she was a student of Estelle Olevsky. For her, music is something you have all your life. She loves seeing people grow into their music, and sharing her love of music with you. She is a kind and patient teacher.

Hannah Howell graduated with her BMus Magna Cum Laude in Commercial Voice from Belmont College in Nashville. In Nashville, she was an in-demand studio backup singer and you have probably heard her sing without ever knowing it. Hannah started singing and playing piano at an early age and brings all that love and fun to her teaching.

Zhen comes from a musical home and started piano when she was four. She practiced until she played with the Minnesota Orchestra in high school. Zhen graduated from Yale in History where she continued her piano studies. She recently completed the MM in Piano Performance at UMass under Gilles Vonsattel. Zhen believes that anyone with the desire should be able to have fun and succeed at whatever they put their heart to.

Scott is an adjunct faculty member at Mount Holyoke College and trombone professor at Smith College. He holds degrees from the Crane School and New England Conservatory. Scott performs with the Pioneer Valley Symphony, Brass Attack of Springfield, and the Berkshire Big Band. He brings the fun of playing music to his lessons.

With a DMA in music composition from Columbia University, Stephen brings 30 years of experience teaching in the community music school setting. He is a patient teacher who engages his students and shares his love of music.

Susan moved to our Happy Valley from New York City where she taught at Crestwood Music Education Center for over 20 years and sang in many churches, synagogues, and choral concerts. She started piano lessons at the age of 8 and has two degrees from Trinity College of Music London. Susan brings an incredible richness to her lessons and will help you make your music sing.

A talented multi-instrumentalist, Tom’s MMus degree is in Bass, both acoustic and electric, from the University of Arizona. He plays the Gerry Garcia part in his band, The Dead Collective and he is an accomplished jazz guitarist, as well as folk, acoustic, and electric styles. Plus he has played and taught piano for many years. So, whatever your interest, Tom will help you have the most fun with your instrument.

Tristan Sullivan teaches drums, keyboards, and music therapy at the Red Barn. Tristan has played in jazz, funk and rock bands extensively throughout New England, on drums and keyboards. Tristan graduated Cum Laude from Westfield State University in Music Ed. and he is a MCLA K-12 certified classroom teacher. He has taught Middle School music and also teaches at the Berkshire Music Center.