Paul (Scooby) Dubenetsky
Teaches: Bass Guitar, Guitar, Music Theory, Piano/Keyboard
Paul has played since he was nine years old and has played professionally since the age of thirteen. He has studied at the Wood Music School as well as under such notable teachers as Ron Ciccarelli, and Alden Mitchell.
He has been teaching for more than ten years and also continues to play out professionally. Paul believes that a solid foundation of theory and technique are necessary to all styles of music and can work with a student to develop in the style or genre that they prefer.
Skip Neumann
Teaches: Bass Guitar, Guitar
Skip is a graduate of The Hartford Camerata Conservatory of Music. He has taught guitar and bass for twenty-five years with many of his students continuing their pursuit of music at The Berklee College of Music.
For five years, Skip taught evening classes at the EASTCONN Adult Education program in Beginner's Guitar, Guitar for Baby Boomers, Finger style Guitar, and Advanced Guitar Improvisation.
Skip allows his students to learn in a low key and fun atmosphere while still developing an understanding of the fundamentals necessary to truly express themselves musically.
Domenick Perrone
Teaches: Brass Instruments, Woodwinds
Domenick began playing professionally at the age of thirteen and as a teenager traveled from New London to Boston to study Trumpet with John Coffey of the Boston Symphony and Pops Orchestra. While in the Navy he played with several Navy bands and upon leaving the service studied at the Hartt School of Music under such notable teachers as Sigmund Hepring and Gilbert Johnson, both of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra.
He has been teaching since his last year of High School and is a former co-owner of the Music Center and advisor to the NFA All Girls Drum and Bugle Corps.
Tom Perrone
Teaches: Bass Guitar, Guitar
Tom started studying Classical guitar at the age of thirteen. He comes from a family of professional musicians and plays professionally himself as well as teaching. He has attended both the Central Connecticut State University School of Music and the Hartt School of Music as well as studying under noted Jazz guitarists Lucien Williams and Jim Hall.
He has been teaching in the Southeastern Connecticut area for twenty-two years and has also worked with the National Guitar Workshop where he has given lessons and clinics on guitar improvisation. Tom teaches most styles of guitar and bass including Jazz, Rock, and Classical. His teaching experience helps him to work with a student at any level and to gear a program for the student that is both interesting and challenging.
Hank Schaeffer
Teaches: Percussion
Hank started teaching at the Music Center thirty years ago to fill in until a permanent teacher could be found. Needless to say, hundreds of happy students later, we're not looking very hard for his replacement.
Hank is one of the most well respected percussion and drum teachers in Eastern Connecticut. and has had students go on to some of the most prestigious music schools in the country.
He is able to teach a multitude of styles, as well as the fundamental techniques and theory that keeps his students both engaged and inspired.
John Stahl
Teaches: Banjo
John Stahl has been playing banjo since 1984. While by day, a mild mannered dentist, at the end of the day he turns into a super talented banjo picker and teacher. When we took on the Deering line of banjos last year, we knew we needed a teacher who would be true to the 5-string banjo tradition and we were thrilled to find John.
John studied banjo under John Lawless (an IBMA award winner and the founder of the Acutab system). He has played in various Bluegrass bands since the 80's and is currently the banjo player for Out On a Ledge, a local Bluegrass and Newgrass band. John is a traditionalist when it comes to the banjo and teaches Scruggs style banjo.
He believes there is no substitute for technique and encourages his students to work on timing and precision, at the same time sharing his own passion and joy for Bluegrass banjo.