Teacher’s Biography

MUSIC TEACHERS

Larissa Timochina - Early Music Education Specialist / Group Keyboard Classes / Piano Instructions and Prep. for a Certificate of Merit. Incorporative European, Suzuki and American Methods
Recitals, Shows, Workshops, Theory Classes, a Summer Program and more…

About The Teacher:  25 years of Teaching Experience. Bachelor's Degree, Moscow-Russia. Professional Training, United Federation of Teachers, NY. Member of Music Teacher Association of California, MTAC. High professional standards and goals. Quote: "... I teach my students how to love and understand music and learn how to express their feelings in music performance at any level of study."

Bill Fowler Bio

Bill Fowler was part of a world tour backing Raquel Welch and subsequently toured for 3 years with the Pointer Sisters, performing at venues such as The Universal Amphitheater, The Greek Theatre and the LA Sports Arena; television appearances included The Tonight Show, The Midnight Special, The Tomorrow Show, and he also toured New Zealand and Australia. He later spent 10 years as part of Ben Vereen's touring band, performing in both self-contained, 5-piece band contexts as well as Pops concert configurations with symphony orchestras. A highlight of this association was an appearance with the orchestra at Carnegie Hall in NYC. Other credits include television appearances with Jermaine Jackson and concert appearances with Lou Rawls, Marilyn McCoo, Lainie Kazan, Willie Bobo, Marvin Hamlisch, Anthony Newley, Nell Carter and Suzanne Somers. His work has been heard on TV and on feature film soundtracks composed by Gil Melle as well as on albums by Ray Charles and Johnny Halliday (the French Elvis!) respectively. He has appeared with the Jazz Tap Ensemble for the last 3 years as part of their Christmas performance broadcast live on KCET. He began teaching guitar both one-on-one and in classes over 20 years ago and has been associated with the LA Music Academy since 1996.

Dr. Wendy Mazon

Dr. Wendy Mazon holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts degree in Music Performance and a University Teaching Certificate from the University of Arizona. Other degrees include a Masters of Music degree in Music Performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from California State University, Northridge. While at the University of Arizona Dr. Mazon was the teaching assistant for the clarinet studio and taught applied clarinet lessons, clarinet techniques and clarinet pedagogy classes. She was also principle clarinet of the Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Opera, performed with the University of Arizona Faculty Quintet, and the Ratio H quintet and assistant conductor of the University’s clarinet choir. At Northridge, Dr. Mazon was the recipient of many awards including the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Graduate, the music department’s Outstanding Graduate Award and was one of four winners of the 2001 CSUN Concerto Competition.
Dr. Mazon is the founder of the Mazon Music Studio based in the San Fernando Valley where she has been teaching for over ten years. The studio’s lessons are held at Giannelli Square and recitals are offered once a year. In addition to private teaching, Dr. Mazon has also taught and coached with various instrumental music programs throughout the greater Los Angeles area and has performed with such groups as the Kadima Consortium, the Los Angeles Clarinet Choir, the Conejo Valley Symphony, and the Center Stage Opera Orchestra. Her clarinet teachers include Jerry Kirkbride, Hakan Rosengren, and Dr. Julia Heinen.

John Smith Acoustic and Electric Bassist

Education: CSUN Performance Major

Acoustic Bass Teachers
Classical-Albert Pollan and Nat Gangursky
Jazz - Ted Hammond.  Participated in Master Classes with Ray Brown and Red Mitchell.  Studied Jazz Theory and Improvisation with Dan Haerle, Professor Emeritus of Jazz Studies at North Texas State and a member of the IAJE Hall of Fame.

Electric Bass
Carol Kaye-participated in Master Classes with John Patitucci and Brian Bromberg.

Over 30 years experience as a freelance bassist and private teacher.  Over 50 recordings as a sideman.  Some of the more recent include Christine Ebersol Live At The Cinnegrill, Alan Paul's Another Place & Time and Rhonda Giannelli Quartet; It was Only A Dream.

Mary Keating Resume:

"A native of Southern California, Mary Keating has been classically trained on the violin since age eight. She has been a part of the San Fernando Symphony, the Vitamin String Quartet, and is currently serving as concertmistress in the CSUN Orchestra. She is also a freelancing musician for weddings, parties, and participates in various recording sessions for private films and recording artists. Coming from a family of musicians, she also grew up playing flute and bass guitar. Mary has experience teaching large groups of children from age 4 and up in classroom settings as well as one on one. Mary has had the opportunity to work with composers such as David Newman, Gary Schyman, and Mark Watters. Currently, she is pursuing jazz violin while also finishing up her BM in classical Violin Performance at CSUN."

Michael Dubin

I was born in Chicago, Ill., and am a world-class multiinstrumentalist known for playing a potent mixture of blues, jazz, rock n roll, and world music. As a professional drummer, I have played every type of gig imaginable from Los Angeles to Rome. I have been very fortunate to play great music with great musicians all over the world. I was a regular fixture at the infamous Atlas Bar & Grille and 5th Street Dicks Coffee Shop in the mid '90s playing hardcore jazz and be-bop. I am a longtime student of Master Teacher Freddie Gruber and Phil Stanger. I grew up at the legendary Franks Drum Shop in Chicago owned by my grandfather, drummer Maurie Lishon. From day one, I was surrounded by the world’s greatest drummers such as Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson. Currently. I teach drums, guitar, songwriting, bands and recording at Giannelli Square of Music in Northridge. I taught the jazz ensembles at the prestigious New Rhodes School in Santa Monica, Calif., working with music program founder Shea Welsh. I also taught at The Drum Connection in Sherman Oaks, Calif., for Soultone Cymbals owner Iki Levy. I’ve had the pleasure of subbing classes in music classes at USC and also been a guest artist at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, Calif., Privately, I have been teaching drums and guitar since the mid '80s. In addition to playing piano, bass and percussion, I have been in love with the guitar since 1983 - my mistress! I have produced and played on three CDs; Coming Back and The Little Red Box (engineer/mixer), both available on CD Baby & iTunes. And, most recently, Dennis Roccia & Holly Kane’s City Stops 2011. I’ve also produced an original music video for my song, "Do You Get Me?" directed by Jaret Sacrey and engineered/mixed by James Bennett. I also starred in my own Butterfly Baby video, produced and directed by Matthew Magnolia. Nothing beats playing music with family. In 2007, my brother B.J. and I played The Monterey Bay Blues Festival with our Chicago blues band 226 South Wabash. I’ve played on and produced many tracks for B.J.’s Recluse Records. I have also managed to keep a regular jazz/fusion jam session going for the past six years at my studio, Dubes. These sessions have been fulfilling musically, socially and spiritually with a myriad of fine musical guests from all over the world! I’ve produced film and commercial music for director Jaret Sacrey. The Sacrey-directed film "Tonight Only" earned an honorable mention in The Macedonian Film Festival for original improvised jazz score by The Dubin Collective. I also have a bachelor's degree in Radio/Television/Film from California.

Rhonda Giannelli - Piano Teacher - Biography

Rhonda Giannelli, pianist, composer and bandleader, as been performing and teaching in Los Angeles for more then 25 years. She has studied with many teachers, including Terry Trotter, Warne Marsh, Kent Glenn, Tad Weed and Michele Faber. She recently released her debut CD, “It was only a Dream." Nationally acclaimed “L.A. Jazz Scene” paper quotes: The pianist proves that she loves the inner drama that exists between performer and the music. As she expresses this relationship clearly." Rhonda and her husband, John, are the founders of Giannelli Square.

Shanon Garcia

A native of Southern California, Shanon Garcia is a violinist of both classical and alternative styles. She has acquired a BM in Violin Performance from CSUN and dabbled in studio music, playing for film scores such as "Removal" (2010). An active member of the community, Shanon has played in the orchestra for numerous musical theater productions at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, Moorpark College and California State University Northridge. Having fallen in love with orchestral music after listening to Mozart in fifth grade, she has played in the Moorpark Symphony, the Topanga Symphony, the CSUN Symphony, the Los Angeles Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra, and the New West Youth Symphony. As a “fiddle-player,” Shanon grew up learning old-time fiddle tunes right along with classical repertoire, and she has won bluegrass and old-time fiddle competitions around the state. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance at California State University Northridge and holds teaching positions at Valley Waldorf School, Gianelli Square and Music School To Go.

Giannelli Square of Northridge
19451 Londelius St.
Northridge, CA 91324
Phone: 818–772–1722
Fax: 818–882–9783
giannellisquare@sbcglobal.net