TEACHERS
CLICK NAME TO SEE TEACHER BIO
VOICE
GUITAR
​
PIANO
​
BASS GUITAR
​​
DRUM & PERCUSSION
​
STRINGS (orchestral)
​SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT
UKULELE
​
ACCORDION
​
MANDOLIN
​​
SONGWRITING
OUR TEACHERS ARE PROFESSIONALS. EXPERIENCED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE.
MARCELLE GAUVIN
Marcelle is an internationally recognized jazz recording artist and music educator. With two albums to her name, The Edge of the Pond and Faces of Love, as well as multiple collaborative projects within the jazz community, she is an experienced recording artist. Currently, she is faculty at Berklee College of Music where she serves as the resident voice re-trainer for vocalists experiencing vocal dysfunction. Marcelle was also head of the UMass Dartmouth jazz voice department until 2017, when she retired. She has been teaching privately in the
Bristol County area for the last 18+ years.
KELSEY JACOBSEN
Kelsey is a respected voice instructor who has studied under Marcelle Gauvin and Jeanette LoVetri. She is level III certified in Somatic VoiceworkTM, the LoVetri Method, which specializes in all contemporary commercial music styles, including rock, pop, r&b, jazz, musical theatre, country, and folk. She also has years of experience coaching bands in sound development and stage performance. Kelsey performers regularly with her own two bands, The Moldy Suitcases, a 1940s style jug band, and Snotty Pippin, a contemporary cover & original band. www.kelseyjacobsen.com
DAVID ALVES
Dave is a classically trained pianist native to Dartmouth, MA, who began studying at the age of six. He has accompanied choral groups, brass/woodwind ensembles, orchestras, jazz bands, musicals and solo performances. Dave went on to study music theory and composition at UMass, with a focus on jazz piano and voice. While there, he also developed his understanding of electronic composition. He has been performing his original compositions as pianist, vocalist, and guitarist around the New England area. His private instruction consists of an equal focus on classical training, jazz improv, music theory, and performance.
ROBERT CONLON
Robert is a southcoast based guitarist and bassist holding a BA in music performance from UMass Dartmouth. He has spent over a decade studying music and has a passion for experimental music and the avant-garde. Robert has played in groups ranging widely in style including jazz, funk, fusion, latin, folk, and beyond.
GRACE COOPER-HALL
Grace is a pianist, keyboardist and singer from Lincolnshire, U.K. She received instruction for classical piano starting at 8 and continued until her late teens. Grace used this classical training to explore popular music, and eventually started performing with multiple bands as well as solo across the U.K. She moved to the U.S in 2019 before marrying her husband, the founder of Railroad Park Recording Co. Grace has completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music at Newcastle University, U.K and a Masters Degree in Music Industry Leadership at Northeastern University, Boston. She is currently a member of the New York based pop-rock band Karis Owen, in which she plays keys and vocals.
JOHN FERNANDES
Guitarist John Fernandes graduated from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, receiving a Bachelor of Music Degree with a concentration in jazz guitar performance. Since 2000 he has taught Guitar to all ages and levels of students in areas of Rock, Pop, Jazz, and Blues while focusing on note reading, chords, and music theory. He performs professionally, in a variety of styles with a number of musicians across New England.
OWEN FLANAGAN
Owen is a Southcoast based Guitarist and Educator. In 2021 he graduated from UMass Dartmouth with a degree in Music with a concentration on Education. A DESE certified Music teacher in the State of Massachusetts, Mr. Flanagan has both taught and assisted in K-12 classrooms in New Bedford and Seekonk public schools. Mr. Flanagan has been playing guitar since he was 11 years old, and studied both Jazz and Classical styles in his time at UMass. In his spare time Mr. Flanagan enjoys running, cooking, and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
ALYSSA FORGET
Alyssa started singing at the age of 7 under the direction of Kelsey Jacobsen. At the age of 13 she started her first band and was playing shows at the Madeira Feast, Rhode Island Seafood Festival, and New Bedford Oktoberfest within a few years. Alyssa attended Jacqueline M. Walsh High School for the Performing and Visual Arts where she studied classical voice and music theory. A Double Bar alumnus, she has been through the infamous Summer/Winter of Rock as well as It’s Your Voice. She currently is working on writing and recording and performs regularly in an acoustic duo “Double A”.
MARC PIRES
With over 40 years of experience as a drummer and percussionist, Marc brings a deep passion for music and a strong background in performance and education.
He began his musical journey under the guidance of the legendary Al Mello, and later continued with respected drummers including Jackie Santos, Herbie King, and Tris Imboden. Marc started performing professionally at the age of 10 and has since built a diverse career touring and recording with a wide range of artists.
In addition to performing, Marc also has a long history of teaching drums and percussion—both privately and through several area music shops. His approach to instruction focuses on building solid fundamentals, fostering creativity, and tailoring lessons to meet each student’s unique goals and interests.
IAN PROVOST
Ian is a lifelong musician with experience playing guitar, bass, and drums. His musical journey began at the age of 11 when he started learning the bass. Ian began touring and traveling before graduating high school with his band War Games and he has developed a passion for experimenting and pushing himself creatively. With an emphasis on ear training and exploring, he is well positioned to help you find your voice in music.
DAVID VALERIO​
Dave stared playing music professionally and teaching at the age of 16. He received his Bachelors from Berklee College of Music, and is extremely comfortable starting his students young, with lots of experience in preschool, elementary, and secondary public schools. Dave is a multi-instrumentalist, playing piano, organ, bass, sax, tin whistle and accordion on top of the full range of drum set and percussion. Dave enjoys writing music and recording and serving as his church's organist and choir director.
BRIANNE VIEIRA
Brianne, a Violinist/Violist & Vocalist, has trained classically and non-classically, having studied at Hofstra University and UMass Dartmouth. She has performed with New Bedford Festival Theatre and, over the last 5 years, has recorded two albums with the group Hemlok. She has also made many guest appearances with a number of local artists.
JEREMY BLIVEN
