Lessons

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First String Music provides instrument and voice instruction for the beginner to advanced musician. Below is a list of our current in house instructors. Please contact us for further information or to reserve your lesson. 1-970-871-4661

Music Instructors

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Neil Marchman
	Neil is currently the on-staff guitarist for the Steamboat Christian Worship group. He also plays locally for Little Laura and the Nude Blues Band and the Brian Smith Project. He has four semesters under his belt as the jazz ensemble director at Colorado Mountain College and four years as the the music teacher at Strawberry Park Elementary School. Neil began playing professionally in Colorado Springs in the early 1970's with various rhythm and blues groups, top-40 bands and rock ensembles. He studied music theory at Olive-Harvey City College in Chicago, where he toured with the the school's gospel choir as their guitarist. He eventually earned a bachelor of arts degree from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He moved to Steamboat Springs in 1996. Neil has played in numerous bands, written and recorded several original songs in the past thirty-five years. He has taught guitar just as long. He currently teaches guitar, bass and keyboard at First String Music.
Elissa Greene
	Elissa Greene received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Colorado College in 2004, where she studied with Katharine Knight and was a member of the Orchestra, Collegium Musicum and Bowed Piano Ensemble. Elissa currently lives in Steamboat Springs, CO and is a member of the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra, String Ensemble and Cello Choir. She is the Education and IT Director for Strings Music Festival and directs an extensive outreach program in the schools of Northwest Colorado. Elissa is a certified Suzuki cello teacher through the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Jen Terhune
	Jen Terhune is an early music educator in piano, vocal and children's developmental enrichment through music education. She specializes in conventional and non conventional approaches to musical learning to match a variety of learning styles. In a warm, nurturing, setting directed at fostering a lifelong love of music, Jen's programs include small group children's piano classes and adult and children's beginner private piano lessons. Jen will be offering similar vocal programs in the near future. She is a certified Kindermusik educator and takes part in vocal and piano performances locally.
Paul Potyen
	Paul Potyen has been in the music business longer than he is willing to admit. Experienced music teacher at all levels; beginning to advanced, and K thru adult 25 years as a private instructor teaching basic piano, jazz piano, modern piano harmony, improvising techniques, composition and arrangement, and the computer as a music tool. Former Adjunct faculty at Colorado Mountain College, Alpine Campus in Steamboat Springs, CO, teaching History of Jazz, Music Appreciation, and Group Keyboard Instruction Former Faculty, The Jazzschool, Berkeley Former Faculty, Perry Mansfield School of Performing Arts, Steamboat Springs, CO Composed, arranged, performed and produced music for countless CDs, radio and TV commercials, films and production music libraries, including three CDs by jazz singer Madeline Eastman, who was nominated "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition" in the 1995 Downbeat Jazz Critic's Poll. As a keyboard player, credits include Chet Baker, Tony Williams, Mark Murphy, the Headhunters, Bobby McFerrin, Jimmy Witherspoon, and his own progressive latin band, Cañoneo. Featured pianist with the Bay Area Latin/Jazz band, Soul Sauce, on recent CD, “Got Sauce?” and recent debut CDs for vocalist Pam Pierce. Played in all the major venues in San Francisco, and has also played keyboards with The San Francisco Symphony, as well as for many musical theater productions. During the ‘80’s co-led the San Francisco Forty Niners Band, which played at Candlestick Park and other Bay Area venues.
John Fairlie
	John Fairlie has a Master’s degree in Woodwinds from the University of North Texas, and is a certified Suzuki piano teacher. John was a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in New Orleans for 16 years, playing bassoon, contrabassoon and saxophone, prior to moving to Steamboat in 2005. A conductor as well as performer, he was founder and Music Director of the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra.  He is an avid jazz saxophonist, currently playing on Fridays at Mambo’s with the Steamboat Jazz Quartet and playing lead alto with Steamboat Swings Big Band. John is also the principal bassoonist of the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra. He plays and teaches all woodwind instruments and piano.
Stephanie Blake
	Stephanie Blake has been singing since the age of 2. She began voice lessons in 9th grade and studied privately all through college. She was a music major at College of Eastern Utah and Weber State University. Her private voice instructors include Jay Andrus, Russell Wilson and Kenneth Plain. Stephanie is experienced in a wide variety of musical styles. She continues her education through independent study. Stephanie has been teaching voice since 2006. The study of voice with Stephanie will focus on a very thorough foundation of basics: breathing, tone quality, range, power and agility. Vocal health and anatomy will be taught. Stephanie teaches all ages beginning at age 8, adult students are welcome. Anyone can learn to sing well! Middle school and high school aged students who want to go on and study voice in college will develop a wide repertoire of classical and Broadway music. Her curriculum is based on the Italian School of Singing and is applicable to most styles of music.
Dan Caro
	Dan, at the age of twelve, began drumming in spite of his loss of fingers. He plays by using the left thumb to grip one drum stick, with the other drum stick attached to his right wrist by a wrist band and rubber bands. With this simple device and an undying passion for music, Dan has become a very respected drummer in the New Orleans area. His unique personal style and musicianship has landed him countless gigs with some of the world’s greatest performers such as Ashish Khan, Michael Ray, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Karl Denson, Marshall Allen and Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey.