ISLAND MUSIC CENTERFor Education and Performance
IMC
Faculty Music Instructors
Click on the instrument links on the left or scroll down the page to read more about our instructors who are all experienced and qualified music professionals with a broad range of performing, teaching and music industry experience. We are committed to providing quality music education and to helping our students get the most from their developing skills - be it further education, the pleasure of playing a few tunes with friends and anything in-between.
Our philosophy of music education is to promote the concepts of musicianship and recognize the value of applying these skills to benefit your lifestyle. Important concepts of musicianship include technical competency, general music literacy, underlying theoretical structures, sight reading, ear training, exposure to relevant literature, opportunities to perform and play in ensembles, opportunities to participate in competitions and exams, selection and care of musical instruments, the importance of practice and self-learning.
Akiko Iguchi - Piano
Akiko
Iguchi, an Island Music Center piano teacher for the past 2 years, has
been an active performer both as a soloist and a collaborative pianist
in the Seattle area since 2005. A native of Yokohama, Japan, she began
her piano studies at the age of five. Ms. Iguchi has earned both
Bachelor and Master Degrees with full scholarship from Indiana
University School of Music, and is currently pursuing Doctor of Musical
Arts at University of Washington School of Music. She has studied piano
with Reitei Yoh, Jean-Louis Haguenauer, Edmond Battersby, and Craig
Sheppard. Ms. Iguchi won the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association
Competition and Indiana University Concerto Competition. She has
attended several summer festivals including Courchevel International
Music Festival in France, and won a full scholarship to Leipzig
International Summer Festival. As an active collaborative pianist she
was selected as an official pianist for International Clarinet
Association competition held in Japan, 2005. She also formed “Duo
Indiana” with Boston-based flautist Yuji Kano and gave their first
performance in Yokohama, Japan in 2006. They are invited back to Japan
to perform again in the summer of 2010.
Renee Hart - Piano
Renée
Marie Hart is a former Bainbridge Island piano teacher, having just
returned from a two-year sojourn in San Francisco. She has formal
training in classical and jazz piano, composition, theory, music history
and ear training, from Simon’s Rock College of Bard, the Oberlin
Conservatory of Music, the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, and Mannes
College of Music. She has many years of private music teaching
experience, as well as several years of experience teaching music on the
elementary school and high school levels. Her aim as a teacher is to
create an entrance into music that is enjoyable, engaging, and
inspiring. In addition to teaching, Renée is also an active composer and
performer, locally and nationally.
Marlys Burnett - Piano
Information to come...
Marcia Smith-Hill
Marcia Smith Hill studied piano from her early, entering college as a
piano major, but changing to voice early in her freshman year. She holds
a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and was one of only seven
majors awarded a performance certificate on graduation from the State
University of New York at Potsdam where she attended the Crane School of
Music. She began her career teaching elementary and high school music
before establishing a private studio for both voice and piano. She also
sang with the Pacific Chorale touring Europe and China, and appeared in
many other chorale presentations, before moving to the Pacific North
West in 1994. Marcia has continued her full time music career as both a
teacher and music director, and has found time to add a new interest: in
2002, with her husband and three others, she founded “Caring Clowns
International” a philanthropic organization that has donated to many
projects and organizations in underdeveloped countries. Marcia
believes that music is as essential to life as breathing – and learning
to sing properly begins with breathing. .
Jake Jacobson - Guitar
Jake Jacobson has been a musician, singer, actor and dancer since a very
young age. He had his first guitar lessons also at this age, and has
continued these pursuits for the past 42 years. Since then Jake has
appeared in numerous stage and film productions as well as Rock and
Blues Bands and pit orchestras. At the age of 40 he decided to put aside
his rock roots and focus exclusively on Classical and Flamenco Guitar
playing. He was guitarist and singer with Flamenco Pacifica in
Bellingham under the directions of Bob Clifton, and has been a teacher
of guitar and voice for 12 years. He has studied with Marcus Carmona,
Teo Morca, Bob Clifton and David Fiengold. About teaching music, Jake
says “Parent involvement and regular practice are imperative to the
growth of young musicians. Music teachers provide guidance and show you
how to practice effectively” .
Peter Spencer - Guitar
Peter Spencer is a fingerpicking guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Born
in Erie, Pennsylvania, he began his musical career in 1968 playing
harmonica in a blues band in Pittsburgh, but soon switched to solo
guitar. Peter spent the 1970s touring North America and Europe playing
old blues and ragtime. Then, in the early 1980s, he began writing songs,
co-founding the Greenwich Village Musicians Cooperative in NYC, where
he worked with artists like Suzanne Vega, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplanski,
Cliff Eberhardt, and Jack Hardy. After graduating from The Writing
Program at Columbia University in 1989, Peter retired from performing
and became a full-time music writer for magazines like Rolling Stone and
Sing Out. His book World Beat: A Listener's Guide to Contemporary World
Music on CD" was published by the Chicago Review Press in 1992. Peter
began playing publicly again in the late 90s and his 2000 release, "New
Hope and Wise Virgins" drew critical praise and radio airplay. In 2004
he moved to Bainbridge Island, releasing "Handsignal," another album of
original songs, in 2006. Later that year came "Gathering Light," an
album of Christmas music for solo guitar, and in 2007 he released "The
Blues Concert," a stripped-down album of original acoustic blues. His
most recent album of original songs, "From the Island," was released in
February, 2009.
Randy Parris - Guitar and Harp
Randy Parris began his musical career playing a variety of instruments
in a broad range of styles from a very young age. He followed his dream
and began studying general music and classical guitar at Central
Washington University where he also began to learn Lute and ancient
forms of music. After three years, an opportunity to own and run a music
store in Ellensburg interrupted his formal studies. It was at this time
as a store owner, he began his lifetime interest in the Harp and was
able to have a harp specially made, also developing his interest in
composing for the instrument. At the same time, his love of guitar
remained strong and as well running the store, he continued to play
regularly in touring bands and to do session work. Like many music
students, Randy had begun teaching while at college and now applied his
formal training and opportunity as an entrepreneur, to establish himself
as a music teacher with his own instruction studio based at his store.
Since then, he has never looked back and even during periods when
travelling with his harp, or busy with managing his business, teaching
music emerged as his central passion and profession by choice and he is
as comfortable teaching electric guitar to a budding rock star as he is
with the meditative and mellow harp, for which he composes prolifically.
Randy feels that teaching music theory and technique through the
student’s chosen style and preferences is very important approach.
Leah Gowers - Violin, Viola and Smart
Strings
Information to come...
Pat Strange - Violin and Chamber
Ensemble
Patricia Strange is an active performer of contemporary violin
literature and has concertized throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico and
Europe. With her husband Allen Strange, she co-founded two live
electronic music ensembles, BIOME and The Electric Weasel Ensemble. She
received a Bachelor of Music degree from California State University
Fullerton and a Masters of Arts degree from the University of California
San Diego. Ms. Strange has held positions in the orchestras of the San
Diego Symphony, Opera San Jose, San Jose Ballet, Mid Summer Mozart
Orchestra and was Principle Second Violin with the San Jose Symphony.
She has also taught violin and viola at San Jose State University. She
and her husband, Allen Strange have published a book entitled The
Contemporary Violin; Extended Performance Techniques available from
Scarecrow Press. Her current CD, “Ghost Strings” is available on the web
at www.cdbaby.com. She currently lives on Bainbridge Island, Wa. where
she is on the Board of Directors at the Island Music Guild as well as
teaching an evening chamber music class. "Music is such an important
part of our lives. It gives us a way to express our feelings without
using words."
Justinne Jeanotte - Violin and Viola
Information to come...
Carson Farley - Cello
Carson
became interested in music at a very early age and started playing
instruments in grammar school. After discovering classical music
in Jr. High School, he began playing the cello and was awarded a
scholarship. A few years later he moved to Los Angeles to continue
serious study in cello and composition. After becoming fascinated
with composition, theory and electronics, he decided to pursue that
avenue of music as his main interest. Carson has performed
with orchestras, jazz bands, pop bands, chamber groups as cellist or
bassist, arranger and bandleader. He worked for many years as a
full-time professional musician and continues to perform on a regular
basis. As a musician interested in sound, composition, theory and
structure, I tend to listen to how the individual parts relate to the
whole. A musician who does not understand the structure of music
is missing half the picture.”
Carey Rayburn - Trumpet
Trained
under world renown Trumpeter Allen Vizzutti as well as David Gordon,
Principal Trumpet of the Seattle Symphony, Carey attended the University
of Washington to receive a Bachelor of Music Performance in the field of
Trumpet Performance. Over the years he has performed in numerous
groups, touring through the West Coast and to Puerto Rico with Jazz
bands, several rock and roll groups and with the US Airforce Reserve
Concert Band as a guest musician. In Seattle he plays in
several ensembles including the Puget Sound Orchestra and
Everett Savoyards Theatre. In addition he is an
active freelancartist, doing studio recordings, musicals, and
performing and writing arrangements for several different groups. "In
order to grow as a musician it is imperative that a player must know
what they wish to sound like. Practicing will always create technical
improvement but it is through careful recognition of ones personal
playing that musical growth can be made. In this respect I strive to
make each student be self-aware of both the sound they are making of
the sound that they would like to make and for these two to become the
same. Strive for each note to be as beautiful as possible! "
Kate Kralik - Flute
Kate
Kralik is a native of southern Oregon, who came to Bainbridge Island
after completing a master's degree in flute performance at the
University of Arizona. While in Arizona, Kate was the resident flautist
at the annual chamber music festival "Music From Greer", as well as the
principal flautist of the University of Arizona Summer Arts Festival
orchestra. In the spring of 2007, Kate became the director of the
Seattle Fulte Society Flute Choir. She has workied with the Bellevue
Youth Symphony Flute Choir and is currently running a flute group at the
Island Music Center. kate has appeared with the Bainbridge Synmphony
orchestra and Penninsula Dance Company orchestra.
Dave Carson - Saxophone & Clarinet
Dave is one of the most well renowned saxophonists in the Northwest. He
has played with many greats, Mel Torme and Smokey Robinson just to name
a few and is a Graduate of the Armed Forces School of Music (Berklee
College of Music Subsidiary) performing for four years with the Navy
Jazz Band. He is a professional music instructor who develops young and
adult musicians who understand all types and styles of music. Many of
his students go on to play at the highest possible level as part of
school and community groups and as superb soloists. His students have
gone on to win or place at the WMEA state and regional level
competitions, becoming strong candidates for any college music program.
While his students continue to dominate the top bands in the area, as a
current performer himself, Dave now leads the "Dave Carson Band" and
Olympic Peninsula's premier rock band, "Soul Siren"
Terry Marsh - Percussion
Terry
is well known in the Kitsap music community and has the reputation of
being a very well rounded drummer and instructor. Terry got his
musical start in the Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps. He finished
his percussion performance degree at Washington State University in
1997. He then won an audition with the prestigious Air Force Band of
Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts. While in Boston, Marsh was a regular
with many local jazz and rock bands. He and his wife Tracie, were
members of the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra. From 2001 to 2004,
Terry and Tracie toured the world on board cruise ships. Being members
of theatre show bands, the couple backed up numerous performers and
entertainers. Moving to Poulsbo in 2004, Terry found a nitch amongst
advanced level drum students and school marching percussion programs.
Since 2004, the Den has produced 7 state champions and has helped many
students move onto college level music programs. Currently, Marsh is a
member of “Soul Siren”, “Hit Sensation”, the Jazz Ambassadors, and runs
the Drummers Den. .
Stuart Williams - Fiddle, Mandolin and
Claw-Hammer Banjo
Stuart
Williams of Seattle, WA has played fiddle for old time country, square
and contra dances in the NW for some 35 years - from Flash in the Pan in
the '70's to Pleasures of Home in the '90's with numerous duets, trios
and larger bands along the way. Inspired as a teenager by local
traditional fiddlers at square dances in southwestern Michigan, he took
up the fiddle in the early '70's. Seeking out the older local players,
first in Michigan, than Oregon and the NW, he's made a life's study of
the Midwestern and Northwestern dance fiddle traditions. These fiddlers
drove the dancers with age old bowing techniques which were adapted to
playing without the benefit of modern accompaniment or electronics. From
them he has absorbed a wide range of traditional styles. Northern jigs
and reels merge with driving Missouri hoedowns as well as Scandinavian
and Western influenced couple dances. A well known teacher in Seattle
and on Bainbridge Island, he has also conducted workshops and classes
throughout the Northwest and in Michigan, written for Fiddler Magazine
and produced fiddle events and recordings for The Washington Old Time
Fiddlers Association, Northwest Folklife and Voyager Music. His oral
history and music compilations, “The Washington Traditional Fiddlers
Project: Vols I - III” are among Northwest Folklife's perennial best
sellers. Most recently, he has co-authored (with Brid Nowlan) “Roses in
Winter- A Celebration of Fiddlers in Washington State” and “The
Evergreen Fiddler Tune Books - Volumes I & II.”
Jane Landstra - Violin, Fiddle
Jane
Landstra has K-12 CA & WA Teaching Credentials,and an Education
Major-Music minor from UC Berkely.She is an active recording artist and
professional musician (Country Capers, Berkeley Scottish Players).Jane
has an all round approach to teaching music with a unique speciality in
teaching Celtic & Nordic music. She draws from a broad perspective of
sources with rich musical experiences. Mentors include James O'Brien of
San Fransisco, quartet player violinist, UC Berkeley String teacher
Education program Suzuki style proponent, Mr.Starr and Mr.Suzuki. Also,
internationally acclaimed master folk musicians-mentors, Buddy
MacMaster, Jerry Holland, Kalle Almlov, Pal Olle Dyrsmed and Tom
Anderson among others. Her classical piano background allows her to
accompany her students and as a solo vocalist, Jane involves her
students in singing during the learning process. She offers her students
workshops with visiting master players, student/group performance at
dances and local festivals. Jane began working with students in 1975, &
continues teaching adults and youth as a Public District teacher,
professional musician & composer.
Dave Bristow - Digital Audio, Music
theory
Dave
Bristow was born in London and began to study music on the piano at an
early age. He graduated from university with a BSc in Psychology but
turned his musical talents full-time to piano and keyboards and has
worked both as a professional player and in the music business ever
since. He played a key role voicing the well-known DX7 synthesizer and
indeed most of Yamaha's FM synthesizers up to and including the SY99,
and is internationally recognized as one of the important contributors
to the development and voicing of FM synthesis, co-authoring a text-book
on the subject with Dr John Chowning. Dave has taught courses on
synthesis and related acoustics in Europe and the USA, and spent three
years at Pierre Boulez's IRCAM in Paris, working with composers,
teaching and running a MIDI and synthesis studio. He moved to the United
States in 1995 to work with the electronic music company Emu Systems,
Inc. producing sampling based synthesizers and following that in 2002,
he began working again with Yamaha as a consultant, supporting their MA
hybrid audio chip series for cell-phones and the SMAF mobile devices
format. He now lives and works on Bainbridge Island in Washington, as
executive director of the Island Music Center. He occasionally performs
jazz piano locally, plays the Chapman Stick (privately!) and teaches
keyboard improvisation, music theory, digital audio, electronic music
and synthesis. He continues to consult with companies on sound
development and synthesis and composes electronic music for multi-media.
www.islandmusic.org
Steve Newton - Bass, Guitar and MIDI
Information to come....