Rock Island Sound - Music Lessons

Music Lessons

Rock Island Sound provides music programs for guitar, bass, ukelele, banjo, mandolin, piano, drums and voice! We accept students from ages 5-105 and turn them into real rock stars.

Rock Island Sound students receive 50 minute private lessons on the instrument of their choice. We find that the combination of private lessons and group band practice with other musicians is the best way to motivate kids to practice hard, overcome stage fright, and become amazing musicians.

“Paul’s versatility and enthusiasm as a teacher inspired me, as an adult student, to continue with my childhood interest in the piano. My sons rock on the electric and bass guitars and my husband is pursuing his interest in acoustic guitar. We have moved from a household of instrumental noise to one of varied styles of Music! Music fills the house, much to our delight.” ... Kim Gillespie

Our teaching staff:
Dave McNamara is a Holland Patent, NY born singer/songwriter and multiple instrumentalist who has released and toured three albums of original material in the past 4 years. He is featured on records by L.E. Rubin, Allessandra Conti, Russ Barnett, The Candy Hearts, and many other NYC based acts. Dave is a graduate of SUNY Purchase's Studio Composition program and has been teaching guitar, piano, bass, and drums since 2007.	Keith Sayles is a guitar, piano, and bass instructor with Rock Island Sound. Keith majored in music at Carleton College, and while in college played in various bands, covering funk, blues, jazz, and rock styles. Keith’s primary instrument is guitar, though he has had musical training on the piano as well. Teaching experience includes afterschool programs, as well as individual and group lessons. Keith loves all styles of guitar‐based music, early blues to funk, rock to metal and everything in between.	Francisco Corredor is a classically trained tenor with background in musical theatre, piano and dance. He's been a member of the Collegiate Chorale since 2006 and has performed at many of the major New York City venues and Verbier festival in Switzerland. Mr. Corredor is also a former participant of the Martina Arroyo foundation's Prelude to Performance. He's been teaching piano and voice for the past year while he finishes his Bachelor of Fine Arts in vocal performance from the conservatory of music at Purchase College.
Lindsay Rubin, teaches piano. She is in her senior year as a Studio Composition major in the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College. She has recently released and toured her first full length album. She has appeared on albums by Dave McNamara, Mikhail Pivovarov, The Boomerangs, and Eric Gerhardt.	Dave Schimansky teaches drums. He is back in New York after many years playing, teaching, and recording in Los Angeles with many acts, including Spencer Davis and Gregg Wright (Michael Jackson's former guitarist). Dave is now performing in the NY/NJ/CT area with various groups, and teaching at Rock Island Sound.	Isaac Assor is a music major at Columbia University. He specializes in voice and piano instruction with many years’ experience teaching pop, rock, jazz, and classical music, as well as songwriting and music theory. He has had the privilege of performing at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden. He currently sings with and arranges for Columbia’s award winning a cappella group, Nonsequitur. He is thrilled to be part of the Rock Island Sound teaching staff.
Dave Valle began playing drums at the age of three. He joined the band in elementary school and continued to be active in school music programs through his senior year in high school including percussion ensembles, marching, jazz, and concert bands. After high school, Dave studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. He has performed in clubs and venues from L.A. to London and has years of recording experience with various musical groups. While Dave has been teaching on and off for the last few years, he has found a home at Rock Island Sound where he has been a full time teacher for over two years. His favorite part of teaching is getting to share his love of music with his students.	Russ Barrnett is a guitar, drum, piano, voice, and songwriting instructor who has been with Rock Island Sound since April 2010. Russ has had years of experience in professional musicianship and teaching since his early teens, through college and beyond. In May of 2011 Russ graduated from the esteemed conservatory of music at SUNY Purchase with a bachelor of music degree in studio composition, and is now teaching music full time. Besides teaching Russ leads a songwriting career, and can be seen behind the drum et of the increasingly popular Westchester band Wyldlife.	Christopher Reising, teaches guitar, piano and flute. He was introduced to the guitar by jazz guitarist David France who was playing with The Major Boyd Jazz All‐stars in Germany at the time. His first chord was a ‘7+9th’ and he’s been hooked on Jazz ever since. Chris also plays flute, which he learned while playing and singing in a group in Cleveland. Chris knows piano as well, and has studied with Dave Rio (music theory), Bill Gidney (piano), and John Steeble (guitar). Chris is a frequent performer in Tarrytown and the greater Westchester area.
Taylor Kirk, teaches voice and intro piano. She recently completed her senior year at the Purchase College Conservatory of Music, where she has earned her Opera Performance degree. In 2011 Taylor had a wonderfully challenging role as Micaëla in George Bizet’s CARMEN, and performed a very successful senior recital. As much as she loves performing beautiful, classic music, she have been writing her own, and is eager to start performing her own originals. Until she can record her next album, she has rereleased Simple Gifts, her CD from 2005. Taylor teaches voice and piano for Rock Island Sound, and has performed Queen and other songs at Rock Island Sound concerts.	Sam Allen is a Guitar, Bass, Theory, Recording, and Intro to Piano teacher at Rock Island Sound. Sam has worked at RIS since October of 2009. He has taught students of all ages in individual, semi-private, and group lessons, as well as Rock n’ Roll summer camps and after school programs in the Rye area. He enjoys giving young and inexperienced students the foundation to become life long musicians, and helping more advanced students fine tune their skills. Sam began learning guitar at the age of 10 at a music school where he would later teach. Sam is currently playing guitar and writing songs in his up and coming Rock n’ Roll band, Wyldlife. Sam produced and engineered Wyldlife’s self-titled debut album, released on Merrifield Records. Sam Allen has a passion for creating and sharing music with people, and loves to share that passion with his students.	A TNT native and graduate of SUNY Purchase College Arley has been playing the guitar for over a decade, the harmonica for half a decade, and combining the two for over two years now. He is still learning new skills and is passionate for conveying those skills to others who are willing and ready learn. His musicality originated at young age in the form of singing. He learned the language of music in the pews of churches and choral risers in school as well as musical theatre. He is thrilled to be a part of a team at rock island sound where he can share his passion and gain from others as much as he imparts.
Mario Andreola, guitarist and composer was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since his early years he was captivated for symphonic, jazz and popular music. He studied classical guitar at the National Conservatory of Buenos Aires with maestro Elias and later with guitarist professor Garcia Lorenzen. In addition, he studied orchestration with Rodolfo Alchourron and later in USA he took composition master classes with John David Earnest. He also devoted very much of his time learning and playing jazz. He studied with guitarist Eduardo Ravera and legend guitarist Chuck Wayne. Searching for new frontiers, he studied flamenco guitar with Mario Escudero and participated in seminars with Paco Peña.

What if I never played before, can I still join?
Absolutely! We believe we're among the best in training both beginners and advanced students, and we accept students of all experience levels. Beginners also participate in the concerts along side of more advanced students.

What if I want to sing in addition to learning an instrument - do you have voice teachers ?
All of our instructors are professional musicians that teach several instruments (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and voice).

How are students paired up?

Rock Island Sound will do its best to pair up students by skill and age level, however it is not guaranteed that every student can be paired with another.

We are offering the following discounts:
-5% off for each sibling registered*
-5% off for all other referrals*

*Siblings and referrals must register for

full ten-week session.

A prorated fee is available for students

starting in between sessions.

Our Policies:
Please read about our policies < click here >

Do you have a summer camp?
We run a regular summer semester (private lessons and coached band practice, culminating in a show).
For additional information < click here >

619 Milton Road Rye, NY 10580 ... 914-417-2541 | email: Paul Bessolo | 6 Main St Tarrytown, NY 10591 ... 914-333-0420

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