Gerry Diamond - Founder, Piano Instructor
Raven Ridge - Monday through Saturday
Education: BA in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music
Areas of Specialization: Music theory, improvisation, songwriting, playing by ear
Philosophy: I try to help students of all ages and levels see the underlying structure of music so that it is easier for them to approach and conquer new material. All music boils down to some very basic components, and I believe an instructor's job is to help their students learn to recognize those components.
Tamara Peters - Piano and Voice
Raven Ridge - Monday through Friday
Education: B.M. in Music Education and Voice from Westminster Choir College
Areas of Specialization: Preschool and elementary aged students; tweens and teens; vocal health; pop and classical; college audition prep (for voice)
Philosophy: Learning music is about more than the instrument. I want my students to leave their lessons feeling confident and with skills that will transfer to other areas of their life, no matter where their journey leads!
Keith Lewis - Piano, Bass, Guitar
Raven Ridge - Monday and Thursday; Virtual - Tuesday and Wednesday
Education: B.A. in Music with a concentration in Audio Production from Case Western Reserve University and The Cleveland Institute of Music
Areas of Specialization: Music Theory, Composition, Arranging
Philosophy: The only difference between a right note and a wrong note is the confidence with which it is played. I help my students learn to play with musical understanding and technique so that they can back up every single one of their notes with confidence and intention.
Kelly Craig - Piano
Raven Ridge - Tuesday and Wednesday
Education: B.S. in Child Development from East Carolina University with a Music Minor
Areas of Specialization: Elementary, middle, and high school aged students; church music; accompaniment
Philosophy: I want my students to develop confidence as an individual, to develop accuracy in note reading and theory, and to play with expression. I encourage my students to think of each song as a story that they are meant to tell rather than a collection of notes on a page.
Myles Veney - Piano
Raven Ridge - Wednesday
Education: B.A. in Music Studies with a concentration in Piano Principles and Minor in Psychology from UNC Greensboro
Areas of Specialization: Classical piano studies, gospel music, performance, music production (FL Studio and GarageBand), songwriting, and music composition.
Philosophy: Above all else, my primary goal is meeting every person where they are at. I like to focus on discovering unique aspects of each student's learning style and find out what will make studying piano an enjoyable experience. I believe making music should be as fun as it is challenging and will put in every effort to ensure lessons with me reflect this core value. Whether we learn by the book or have to find a more innovative approach, everyone under my instruction is bound to teach me as much as I teach them.
Pam Patterson - Piano
Glenwood (Maus Piano) - Monday through Thursday
Education: BA in Music with a concentration in music composition from UNCG
Areas of Specialization: Classical, Folk, Liturgical, Composition
Philosophy: Music is a journey, where each new skill acquired unlocks a new level of beauty and enjoyment. From the first handful of notes learned on the very first day of lessons, many familiar tunes can be made. I work with each student to play music that is meaningful to them at whatever skill level they have achieved.
Rick Zayas - Piano
Raven Ridge - Wednesday (Yo hablo Español)
Education: 50+ years of professional work as a freelance keyboard player, studio musician, arranger, composer, and music director in New York, Philadelphia, and Atlantic City; extensive private study with experts in the fields of theory, composition, and jazz/latin styles
Areas of Specialization: General piano performance; playing in ensembles; jazz, rock, R&B, blues, Latin, and Brazilian music; music theory, chord studies, advanced lead sheet studies; music recording and composition; instruction in Spanish
Philosophy: Music has to be fun. The more you practice, the more fun you will have. Music is NOT the dots on the page - it is the beautiful sound you create. Play the kind of music YOU want to play. Write your own music. Play in front of an audience. Have fun, then have more fun.
Ryan Burdett - Piano
Raven Ridge - Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; Virtual, Wednesday
Education: Degree in Music Therapy from Appalachian State University
Areas of specialization: Songwriting and composition; pop, rock, and classical; singing while playing
Philosophy: I teach students how to be their own best teacher by giving them a foundation in individualized practice habits and strategies, reading and writing music, and technique so they can pursue music they are passionate about!
Tonia Mazilu - Piano and Violin
Raven Ridge - Tuesday and Friday (Vorbesc Romaneste, Я говорю на Русском)
Education: M.F.A. in Violin Performance from University of California, Irvine
Areas of specialization: Classical violin, classical piano, music theory; instruction in Russian and Romanian (in addition to English)
Philosophy: I enjoy teaching the wonder of music to the students of preschool ages to the teenage years. While teaching violin or piano, I individually tailor the lessons according to each of my student’s needs so they would feel confident and achieve their maximum potential.
Tony D’Ambrosio - Piano and Guitar
Raven Ridge - Monday through Saturday
Education: B.A. in Professional Music, Composition, and Arranging from Berklee College of Music
Areas of specialization: Beginner, elementary, teens, tweens, and adults
Philosophy: I provide a strong musical foundation in technique, sight reading, and music theory so a student may pursue any genre of music.
Valentina Palanciuc
Raven Ridge - Monday and Friday (Vorbesc Romaneste, Я говорю на Русском)
Education: B.M. in Piano Performance
Areas of specialization: classical; students of all ages; advanced students; ABRSM exam prep; music theory and technique; instruction in Russian and Romanian (In addition to English)
Philosophy: I am excited to pass on my knowledge and appreciation for classical music to my students.