| Violin, Piano & Voice Kathy Ratka email: Kathy Ratka |
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Kathryn Ratka teaches violin, piano and voice to students of all ages and levels. After immersing herself in music at the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, she received a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia. As a violinist, she has played in many professional and community ensembles. A few highlights are the Cheektowaga Community Symphony Orchestra, the Artpark pit orchestra, and the New York/Pennsylvania tour of The Irish Tenors. As a singer, she has been a featured soloist at the NYSSMA Conference All-State Choral Festival and has sung with numerous choirs in a variety of styles, ranging from madrigals and motets to Broadway and jazz. When she isn't making music, Kathy enjoys cake decorating and babysitting an emormous rabbit named Trey. |
| Clarinet, All Levels Flute & Saxophone through Intermediate Tania Weber email: Tania Weber |
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Tania Weber is a recent graduate of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in music education. She began studying the clarinet in 4th grade and eventually added the flute and saxophone to her repertoire. As a student of Williamsville North high school, Tania participated in annual NYSSMA solo festivals, All-County, Area All-State, and was a member of the Wind Ensemble. In college, she participated in a wide variety of solo, chamber, and large ensemble groups including: Symphonic Band, Orchestra, Clarinet Choir, Saxophone Quartet, and Pennsylvania Annual Intercollegiate Band. Tania is currently planning to stay in the area and teach music. She is also an avid horse rider. |
| Violin, Piano & Voice Margot Lane email: Margot Lane website: MySpace.com |
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Margot Lane began her love for music at the very early age of 7. Her first instrument was a Fisher Price keyboard which later turned into 6 various keyboards. Around the age of 13 she begane taking opera and classical piano lessons at Woodshed Music School . During that year her love for her mothers ability to play the violin became the second instrument she would undertake to learn. In her later teens, she joined Cheektowaga Community Chorus, where she sung at various locations including Lancaster Opera House, Amherst Historical Society-Spring Festival, and Cheektowaga Town Hall . She grew with a music fascination that led her through a teaching/certification degree in music business and education through Bob Jones University . To this very day, Margot broadens her musical knowledge and ability through research and practice. The methods she uses to teach range from Suzuki to Alfred. In voice instruction she uses the very simple yet complex tools passed down by the wonderful Caruso.
Previous musical projects include fronting a band called Caberet as the singer and Keyboardist at the Falls View Casino in late 2004. But, lately she has been steering toward recording, which will be released late 2007. Along the way, she has been the instructor at the Buffalo Music School and around the area for close to 3 years. Starting in January of 2008, she will be broadening her music field of influence to Crossroads Music Center. There along with Buffalo Music School, Margot teaches Piano , Violin , and Voice. This has encouraged her new project of an electric violin duet, which started in may of 2007 at various locations, which include Roswell Park Cancer Institute as part of the " Music in the Lobby " program , Clarence Coffee House, and Main Street Coffee House. Currently she is looking for dedicated musicians to begin original projects only. |
| Guitar/Acoustic Joe Childs email: Joe Childs website: JoeChilds.NET |
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Joe Childs is a professional musician that has made his start as many musicians do, in a talented yet under exposed garage band. By maintaining the highest level of dedication to his art form, Joe has grown from garage band Guitarist to an accomplished Songwriter, Recording artist, Guitar Instructor, and Producer. While attending the State University of New York at Buffalo Joe studied classical music under world renowned classical guitarist Joanne Castellani and is current taking instructions under Frank Gerard a well known jazz player in Western NY. At the beginning of 2004 Joe was the inspiration and one of the founding members of JCM Entertainment's TRUE MUSIC NETWORK, a website dedicated to exposing and promoting independant bands. The TRUE MUSIC NETWORK features full song mp3 files from Western New york bands, Contact information, show dates for each band and links to their homepages. Joe is also the host of an open jam on Tuesday nights at Broadway Joe’s. Broadway Joe’s is one of Buffalos most established music venues’ and has been a landmark for touring bands for over a decade. Childs has turned what many consider a hobby into a sucessfull professional career. He is the director of the guitar program at Sacred Heart Academy, a private high school in Buffalo, NY. |
| Piano/Synthesizer/ Brass/Accordian Oren Hollasch email: Oren Hollasch |
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Trombone and trumpet teacher Oren Hollasch also plays piano, organ, synthesizer, bass trombone, sousaphone and recently became the proud owner of a Wurlitizer 111 –bass accordian. He is a longtime Buffalo Public School classroom music teacher at Schools #82 & #3 and is a permanently certified NYS music teacher. Oren has been a church organist/director since 1979 and is a member of the A.G.O. His pro trombone experiences include pit work at Artpark, Studio Arena, and Melody Fair, and he has appeared with the Chuck Mangione Orchestra and at the du Maurier Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival. He has subbed recently as ‘rally’ organist for the Sabres and has also cheered on the Bisons. He has produced two independently released cds, Sabre Dance Merengue by his own Latin world band Orengue (or- en’- gay) and Sunny Someday by African-Caribbean ensemble Outer Circle Orchestra, both of which are available at Crossroads Music Center. |
| Guitar/Bass Eric Hankinson email: Eric Hankinson |
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| Guitar/Acoustic Bass Classical/Folk/Pop Peter Zalocha email: Peter Zalocha |
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Peter Zalocha has been a student of the guitar ever since he was six years old, and has been seen in a variety of performances since he was sixteen. As a native of Buffalo, he studied guitar privately throughout his youth. His focus at this time was electric guitar and he embraced the music of the progressive rock and fusion groups. In 1996 he traveled overseas to spend a year in London, England where he attended the Thames Valley University and received his introduction to the classical guitar. When he returned to the States, he settled in Colorado to study under Charles Wolzien, head of the guitar department and dean of undergraduates at the University at Boulder. It was in Boulder where he made his debut as a classical guitarist. He has performed as a soloist and in ensembles throughout the states of Colorado and New York. He taught guitar at the university for three years teaching classical as well as other styles, and received his Bachelor in Music Performance in May of 2003. Peter moved back to Buffalo in 2004, and is currently a Masters of Music candidate at the University of Buffalo. He is studying under Joanne Castellani of the Castellani - Andriaccio Guitar Duo. Peter looks forward to his life back at home, and is excited about the wealth of musical activity in Buffalo. Currently, he is open for instruction specializing in classical guitar performance techniques. Lessons are held under the philosophy that no body is at the wrong age to learn, and with the right level of passion and commitment, anything can be achieved. |
| Guitar/Acoustic Bass/Drums Gregory Skulicz email: Gregory Skulicz |
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I have been performing on the guitar for the greater part of my life. My performance experiences range from classical environments, to the theatre, to main stages, and bar rooms alike. I understand that good music is best without the restrictions of genre or style. I mix the best elements of guitar technique from yesterday and today. This allows me to teach students with varying interests. Rock, baroque, classical, jazz, Carnatic, heavy metal, polka…whatever. I have studied with a variety of teachers at a variety of schools and colleges. Dr. Ken Meyer, Dr. Nathan Fischer, Mike Moser, Mir Ali, Joanne Castellani, are a few that helped me become what I am today. My personal interests include music composition and the theory of how music is heard and understood over time. Aside from guitar technique I also teach the drum set and bass guitar. I am also interested in obtaining students that wish to study composition. Beginners are welcome at any age. I am also available for college preparation, and help passing entrance auditions. |
| Guitar/Bass Nick Norton email: Nick Norton website: Nick Norton website: Seize the Soul website: FireBorn |
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| Keyboards Jimmy Wozniak aka; Dr Sweet Daddy J aka; The Flyin' W email: Jimmy Wozniak website: Bitter Sweet Rose |
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Having played his first paying job at the age of 4 years, Jimmy has become an icon in the local and regional music scene, having wowed audiences with his Hammond B-3 organ sound and his groove bass lines. But Jimmy's contributions to the local scene are far deeper than his performances. As a teacher, numerous students have considered his lessons a "rite of passage" to the next level.
Jimmy has played gospel, bluegrass, R&B and rock music - all with a flair that defined that genre. But his best and most recognized work is in the field of blues. The WNY Blues Society has honored him countless times including their 199 Muddy Awards/Class Act. In 2004, he and Donna Rose joined to issue the CD, "Let It Slide" that highlighted other area musicians as well. In his lifetime he has moved so many other by choosing to not hold the ball, but to pass it on it. |
| Percussion Nicholas Plant email:Nick Plant website: Nicholas Drums band: Within Days |
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My name is Nicholas Plant and I am a twenty six-year old resident of Depew, NY. I began playing drums at the age of thirteen and was instructed by Greg Grzankowski at Edwin's Music Store in Buffalo, NY. Greg taught me the fundamentals of rock drumming for three years where I gained a great appreciation for the dynamics of the drumkit.
I decided to share my knowledge with others when I turned twenty years-old when an opportunity came along through a friend.
After being in many local bands and working with various local artists, I have been able to spend countless hours in my favorite environment; behind the drumkit.
I have been educating Western New York drummers for over six years and look forward to continuing to educate for many years to come.
If you or your son/daughter are interested in learning how to play the drums please contact me below. |
Student Lesson Policy 2004