Instruments/Subjects: All brass instruments
Styles: classical and jazz
Ages: All ages
Years of Experience: 35
Education: Curtis Institute of Music
Rates: $45/30 minutes, $65/45 minutes, $85/60 minutes
Availability: Monday, Thursday
Tel: (919) 601-2858
Email:burntrumpet@gmail.com
Website:www.lisaburntrumpet.com

Bio

Lisa Burn is a music educator based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ms. Burn, originally from Wilmington, North Carolina, studied Trumpet Performance at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA. Upon graduation she joined the Winnipeg Symphony in Canada as Utility Trumpet. While there, she developed a private trumpet studio and began working as a brass clinician for music educators. In 2003, she accepted a position as Director of Bands at Franklin Academy in Wake Forest, North Carolina (teaching elementary, middle and high school band) where she developed both the concert and jazz band to levels of distinction; the Franklin Academy Jazz Band was recognized as the most Outstanding Band of the 2009 High School Essentially Ellington Regional Competition at UNC Chapel Hill. Since 2012, Ms. Burn has helped build the Triangle Youth Philharmonic Jazz Program and is currently the Director of the Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra. Alumni of the Triangle Youth Jazz program have continued to pursue their jazz studies at Juilliard, New England Conservatory, Michigan State University, William Paterson University, UNC- Greensboro, and the Peabody Conservatory. In 2019, Ms Burn was honored to participate as a guest director with Ligon Jazz Ensemble’s performance at the International Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic; Ligon Jazz Ensemble is the first jazz ensemble to represent North Carolina at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Most recently, the Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra was selected as the “Outstanding Community Band” at the 2025 UNC Chapel Hill Regional Essential Ellington Festival. Most notably, the Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra was selected for the 2025 DownBeat Awards “Outstanding Performance - Large Ensemble”.

In addition, Ms. Burn maintains a successful private brass studio, serves as a music education clinician for the Triangle area and engages as a freelance trumpeter, performing as Principal Cornet of The Triangle Brass Band. Ms. Burn is excited to continue as Director of the Wiley Elementary Band and looks forward to the opportunity to maintain the Wiley Band tradition.

Instruments/Subjects: All sizes and flavors of Saxophones and Clarinets, and Recorder too!
Styles: Anything that makes the toe tap or the heart sing! (Includes concert band/classical, and jazz styles:)
Ages: Generally 8-108. Feel free to call to discuss younger students.
Years of Teaching Experience: 28
Education: BFA in Music, BS in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, MS in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona
Rates: $40/half-hour. FREE INTRODUCTORY LESSON!
Availability: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Tel: (520) 304-5329, (919) 244-2004
Email: justinsberry@gmail.com
Website: www.justinberryonline.com 

Bio

Introduction
Hello! I am a saxophone/clarinet/flute player. After teaching and performing while based in Tucson, AZ for over 20 years, I relocated to the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC area in August of 2015. I have performed professionally in the United States and abroad with various groups since the age of 17.

I am the regular saxophone clinician at Athens Drive High School, and have taught as a guest woodwind instructor/clinician at Ligon GT Middle, Salem Middle, Apex Middle, Bunn Middle, and Cleveland High Schools.

My Teaching Background
I have been teaching music privately since 1993, and enjoy teaching people of all ages and skill levels. I have two bachelor's degrees from the University of Arizona. One degree is a bachelor of fine arts in music (2000), and the other is in speech, language, and hearing sciences (2012). I also have a master's degree in speech-language pathology (2014). In addition to being a music teacher, I am also a licensed speech-language pathologist in North Carolina. In the period from 2007-2010, I was given the opportunity to teach several children with Asperger syndrome, developmental disabilities, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The richly rewarding experience of introducing these children to the language of music inspired me to seek a degree in speech-language pathology to complement my skills as a music teacher. I enjoy the challenge of combining my music and speech-language pathology skill sets in order to provide specialized music instruction to individuals on the autism spectrum, those with attention, or developmental deficits, as well as typically developing students of all ages. Performing and teaching music are great passions in my life and I love to share my experience with anyone who is interested to learn!

My Teaching Philosophy
I believe that the most important thing to keep in mind when learning something new is to HAVE FUN. If you are having fun, you will be much more likely to go home and practice- and ultimately that is the key to your musical success! We will design an individualized plan for you to build on your strengths so you will WANT to go home and work on your weaknesses. Anyone can benefit from private lessons! Whether you are a beginner or have been playing for years, one-on-one instruction will allow you to progress more quickly.

Instruments/Subjects: Trumpet/Horn/Trombone/Euphonium
Styles: classical and jazz
Ages: All ages
Years of Experience: 35
Education: University of Maryland
Rates: $40/30 minutes, $60/45minutes, $80/60 minutes
Availability: Monday, Tuesday
Tel: (919) 210-7352
Email: rttrumpet@gmail.com
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/reneetoddtrumpet/

Bio

Renée is a retired band director with a 32-year career in music education, including 13 years as Director of Bands at Ligon GT Magnet Middle School. Under her leadership, the Ligon Band program grew to over 200 members, with three wind bands and two jazz ensembles consistently earning superior ratings at local and national music festivals.

During her tenure, the program achieved national recognition, including being named a National Blue Ribbon “Program of Excellence” by the National Band Association in 2024 and receiving Downbeat Magazine’s Award for Outstanding Jr. High Jazz Performance in 2025. Her ensembles also earned invitations to prestigious events such as the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and the Music For All National Concert Festival.

Ms. Todd’s contributions to the band community have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Central Region Jazz “Award of Excellence,” multiple “Band Director of the Year” honors, and four Citation of Excellence Awards from the National Band Association. In 2022, she was named one of School Band and Orchestra Magazine’s “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.” She has also been nominated for Wake County Public School System’s Magnet Schools of America Teacher of the Year and honored as Teacher of the Year at multiple schools.

Now focused on her work as a band clinician, mentor, and private brass instructor, Ms. Todd collaborates with school programs, conducts honor bands, and provides guidance to music educators and students across North Carolina and beyond. Her upcoming engagements include directing the North Carolina Middle School All-State Jazz Band in 2026 and the California All-State Junior High School Band in 2027.

In addition to her teaching and conducting, Ms. Todd remains an active performer, appearing regularly with the Triangle Brass Band and working as a freelance trumpeter throughout the Raleigh area. She also operates the RT Brass Studio, where she teaches private lessons and mentors developing brass musicians.

Ms. Todd holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the American School Band Directors Association, the National Band Association, the International Women’s Brass Conference, the North American Brass Band Association, and the North Carolina Music Educators Association.

Instruments/Subjects: saxophone, clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon
Styles: all styles
Ages: 10+
Years of Teaching Experience: 30
Education: BM and MM, UNC School of the Arts
Rates: $40/30 minutes
Availability: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Phone: (919) 612-4199
Email:leechfordmusic@gmail.com
Website:http://www.wayneleechford.com

Bio

Wayne Leechford is a multi-instrumental, professional musician and music educator from Raleigh, North Carolina. As a woodwind specialist, he performs with many of the area's top musical ensembles. He maintains a busy schedule of live performances and teaching.

He brings decades of performing and teaching experience to his work as a music educator. He is committed to excellence in teaching his students the fundamentals of music while helping them master their instruments.

He has worked for North Carolina State University, Meredith College, Wake Technical Community College, and Ravenscroft School. In addition, he has taught as guest instructor/clinician for Wake County Public Schools and several private schools in the area. And, he served as adjudicator for Governor’s School of North Carolina and Wake County All-County Band.

Please visit Wayne Leechford's website for more details on public performances and extensive listing of personal accomplishments in the music business.

http://www.wayneleechford.com

Testimonials

“Thank you for the great all-district results. William was quick to say he owes his success to you! He has never scored so high and your help has been tremendous. He is quite excited to be working with you! THANK YOU from some very proud parents!” - Darden and David Coe

“I cannot possibly thank you enough for all of the help and support you have provided for Matthew! He thinks very highly of you and has learned a great deal with your leadership.” - Cathy Kimble

“Thanks so much for working with Dusty.  I was amazed by Dusty's performance at the recital.  He has made substantial progress.  Much of that can be attributed to his working with you.  We appreciate it.” - Heidi Carter

"You have been a huge inspiration for Joslyn, and I appreciate all the time you've spent teaching her to play her clarinet and bassoon over the past few years. You've been a great role model for her!" - Tammy Parsons

“Thanks for all your help and guidance. I really don’t know how I would have gotten into college without it!” - Sam Carter

"You are a phenomenal musician and a patient instructor. Thanks to you my son has had much success playing tenor and bari saxophone." - JoMarie Holtshouser

Instruments/Subjects: Viola, violin, piano
Styles: Classical
Ages: Kindergarten through high school
Years of Teaching Experience: 9
Education: BM in Viola Performance, Appalachian State University
Rates: $35/30 minute semester lesson, $70/60 minute semester lesson, $40/30 minute single lesson
Availability: Tuesday, Wednesday
Phone: (919) 589-2964
Email:kgh.mus@gmail.com

Instruments/Subjects: Guitar
Styles: Rock, Blues, Metal, Pop, Jazz, Country. Basically anything played with a pick
Years of teaching experience: 35
Years as a full-time touring/recording guitarist: 30
Education: Oberlin College Conservatory
Rates: $32.50/half hour. $60/hr. INTRODUCTORY LESSON FREE
Availability: Monday, Tuesday
Tel: (919) 306-5919
Email: snakdad@aol.com
Website: www. reverbnation.com/jayrusnak for history, credentials, and recordings. You can also Google me and/or type my name in the YouTube search bar for live performances.

Bio

Originally hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Jay has been a resident of North Carolina for the past 20 years. With three decades of full-time professional musical experience including teaching, touring, recording, composing, producing, and managing Jay has a unique perspective on the guitar and all it entails. Jay attended Oberlin College where he studied advanced Classical Theory, Voice-Leading, and Jazz Improvisation along with earning a B.A. in English. Jay has been featured in publications such as Guitar World and Guitar 2001 as well as penning instructional columns for several others. Currently he is in the midst of authoring a book detailing fresh, logical, and concise theoretical and technical approaches to advanced lead guitar improvisation. Jay has recorded and performed with members of numerous million-selling artists such as KEEL, THE OUTLAWS, MARSHALL TUCKER BAND, EDDIE MONEY, .38 SPECIAL and many other artists and producers far too numerous to mention in major markets from LA to Nashville to Chicago. He has also spent decades on the road in the trenches performing an average of 100 dates a year in a wide variety of situations from original bands with record deals to corporate A-List cover bands. Jay is currently endorsed by In-Tune guitar picks, Rotosound strings and Morley pedals. He's also a valued member of the Morley team doing clinics and product demonstrations for them. As an instructor, Jay's decades of experience has allowed him to streamline his methods and utilize a wide variety of strategies to enable rapid progress, both technically and theoretically, in students of all ages and ability levels. One of Jay's top priorities is making sure you know the "why" as well as the "how" so that the guitar, and music in general, becomes something you understand intellectually as well as physically. This allows you to become self-sufficient and arms you with the tools you need to move forward and teach yourself--even as he is teaching and mentoring you. High energy, insightful, enthusiastic, and irreverently humorous....Jay's lesson are always entertaining as well as enlightening.

Instruments: Clarinet
Styles: Classical
Ages: All ages
Years of Teaching Experience: 10
Education: BM: Music Education, The University of Utah
Rates: $30/30 minutes, $45/45 minutes, $60/60 minutes
Availability: Monday
Phone: 919-592-5442
Email: rwingclarinet@gmail.com

Bio

Ryan Wing is the Director of Bands at Lufkin Road Middle School and grew up in Holly Springs, NC. Mr. Wing earned the Bachelor of Music in Music Education from The University of Utah. While in the state of Utah, his primary clarinet teachers were Dr. Jaren Hinckley and Kathy Pope.

During his time at The University of Utah, Mr. Wing was a performing member of the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Utes, and various chamber groups. He served as Drum Major for the Marching Utes for 4 years, including 2 performances in the "Tournament of Roses" Parade and "Rose Bowl" Game in 2022 and 2023.

Before Mr. Wing's appointment at Lufkin Road, he completed his student teaching at Ligon GT Magnet Middle School in Raleigh, NC under the direction of Ms. Renee Todd. In both North Carolina and Utah, Mr. Wing has taught privately on flute, clarinet, and saxophone and served as a woodwind clinician and technician for multiple schools on both the middle and high school level.

Instruments/Subjects: Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba
Styles: Classical and Jazz
Ages: Elementary through High School
Years of Experience: 4
Education: Bachelors in Trombone Performance From Arizona State University, Studying under Dr. Brad Edwards
Rates: $50/hr
Availability: Friday
Phone Number: (919) 592-1919
Email:ben.g.hazel7@gmail.com
Website:benhazelmusic.com

Bio

Ben Hazel is a freelance trombonist and brass instructor based in the Raleigh/Durham area. He studied under the premier Trombone pedagogue Dr. Brad Edwards at Arizona State University and graduated with a degree in Trombone Performance with a focus in classical music. As an avid performer Ben has performed in a large variety of both community and professional ensembles that boast a wide range of styles and instrumentation including the Scottsdale Philharmonic as the principal Trombonist and the Symphony of the Southwest. In addition to his performance career, he has taught a large range of students in both individual and group settings with ages varying from elementary school through high school. He began his teaching career at Ligon Middle School as a Brass Instructor and has since worked at several other institutions in similar roles like Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, Arizona. As a Raleigh native, Ben was raised in the flourishing music scene in the area, playing in organizations such as Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble and Watson Brass Band and is excited to be able to contribute to the growing community.

Instruments/Subjects: Piano
Styles: All Styles but am Classically trained, Theory, and Composition
Ages: All ages
Years of Experience: 24
Education: MM Piano Performance UNC-Greensboro,
BA Piano Performance Peace College
Rates: $35 for thirty minutes, $52.50 for forty-five minutes, and $70 for sixty minutes. Thirty minutes lessons only for beginners
Availability: Thursday
Tel: (919) 900-0472
Website: http://www.vivianmadams.wordpress.com
Email: vmadams829@gmail.com

Bio

Ms. Adams is a classically trained pianist, educator, and performer from Raleigh, North Carolina. She began private piano study at the age of five under her grandmother, Vivian Mooney – former Music Therapist at Dorthea Dix Hospital, pianist, and teacher. With credentials including Associate and Bachelor degrees in Music and a Master in Music Performance, Ms. Adams began her secondary education with a music scholarship at Peace College (where she studied piano under Dr. Ray Kilburn). She also began studying organ under Ms. Virginia Vance during this time. She continued graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (where she studied piano under Dr. Joseph DiPiazza) and the Universitat Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. After graduating from UNCG Ms. Adams continued her music studies under Dr. Milton Laufer from 2006-2010. In 2019, Ms. Adams resumed studying organ under Ms. Virginia Vance. Her professional life has included regional music competitions, study abroad, and master classes with world-renowned musicians, composers, and music educators. A music educator, Ms. Adams began her personal instruction of students while an undergraduate at the Raleigh Community Music School, a small, local education program dedicated to locating talent and fostering a love of music among all, regardless of socioeconomic background. From 2007-2010 she was summer music camp coordinator and instructor at The Lexington School in Lexington, Kentucky. As well, she has served as full time instructor at The Music Academy of North Carolina in Greensboro, Diamond Music Academy (an Explore Creative Learning Center), and Raleigh Community Music School. She has worked as Coordinator of the Summer Private Lessons Program at Ravenscroft School and as adjunct piano faculty at Ravenscroft School, created and Coordinated the Private Lessons Program at Trinity Academy of Raleigh, and Lower School Music Instructor at The Franciscan School. Ms. Adams also maintains a small private home studio, runs a studio in Cary, North Carolina, adjudicates for competitions and festivals, and her students participate in state wide piano festivals and competitions which include Federation, Royalty Competition, Royal Conservatory, ECU Piano and Organ Competition, and Guild. In addition to teaching she serves as accompanist and organist for Zebulon Baptist Church, Zebulon NC. Ms. Adams is also an active member of The National Guild of Music Teachers, National Federation of Music Clubs, Raleigh Piano Teachers Association, and North Carolina Music Teachers Association.

Instruments/Subjects: flute
Styles: classical
Ages: all ages
Years of Teaching Experience: 12
Education: UNC School of the Arts, Appalachian State University
Rates: $30/30 minutes, $45/45 minutes, $60/60 minutes
Availability: Wednesday, Friday
Contact: https://forms.gle/ZM7nxFL4rLc7wsY3A

Bio

Taylor is a flutist and flute teacher based in the Triangle Area of North Carolina.

Taylor’s students range from 6 to 80 years old, from those playing for fun to collegiate flute performance and everything in between. They are regularly named winners at RAFA’s Review and Contest, awarded superiors in RAFA’s SoloFest and NCBDA’s Solo and Ensemble Festival, participants in All-County and All-District Band clinics, members of Triangle Youth Music orchestras, and attend summer music programs such as Governor’s School of North Carolina and University of Michigan’s MPulse Flute Institute.

In addition to maintaining a large studio, Taylor works as a flute clinician in Triangle-area schools for marching and concert bands, and was formerly a middle school band director in Southern California.

Currently, Taylor can be heard playing locally with her chamber music group, Winded. She has previously performed with the Raleigh Civic Symphony, where she served as a board member, and with the Cary Town Band, where she was also an assistant conductor.

Taylor studied with Nancy Schneeloch-Bingham, Tadeu Coelho, Brooks deWetter Smith, and Julie Frederick. She has performed in masterclasses for Greg Patillo, Goran Marcusson, and Jim Walker.

Taylor’s teaching philosophy focuses on developing the whole musician by cultivating musical instincts, laying a solid technical foundation, and building a routine of sustainable music-making through healthy musicianship and body awareness.