All of the lessons at The Musician Learning Center are taught one-on-one with private instructors. We currently offer classes in the following instruments:

• Clarinet
• Flute
• Guitar
• Piano
• Saxophone
• Violin
• Trumpet
• Percussion
• Music Therapy
• Euphonium

 

 
Le’Roy Barley, trumpet
A native of Washington, DC, Le’Roy graduated from Duke Ellington School of the Arts in June 1997. In 2001 he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from North Carolina Central University located in Durham, North Carolina. He is currently studying to obtain the Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from NCCU. While attending North Carolina Central University he studied under world renowned artists Tom Browne, Dr. Ira Wiggins and Jay Meachum. Le’Roy has performed with a variety of groups including but not limited to the Temptations, John Brown Quintet, NCCU Faculty Jazz Combo, NCCU Jazz Orchestra and Vocal Ensemble. Currently he performs with the following: North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra, John Brown Jazz Orchestra, The Groove Shop, and the Upper Room “Church House” Band. He has performed all over the world touring, recording, and performing in venues such as Euro Disney, Paris, France; Montreaux Jazz Festival, Geneva, Switzerland; North Sea Jazz Festival, Utrecht, Holland; Vienne Jazz Festival, Vienne, France; and the Virgin Gorda Jazz Festival in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. Le’Roy has performed with many notable artists such as: Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, Terrell Stafford, Wynton Marsalis, Wynard Harper, Davey Yarborough, Alvin Atkinson, Sean Jones, Eve Cornelius, Chip Crawford, Charlie Brown, Vincent Heiring, and Pete LaRoca Simms to name a few. He has had the opportunity to teach at North Carolina Central University as Adjunct Instructor of Trumpet and to be a clinician for the "City of the Arts" Annual Jazz Festival, North Carolina. Further, Mr. Barley holds the following teaching positions: Jazz Director at Green Hope High School and Music and Band Teacher at Upper Room Christian Academy. Mr. Barley's teaching philosophy is simple. Everyone should be exposed to music and have a basic understanding of it. The teacher must strive to meet the student where they are, in regards to their learning style and level, and encourage and challenge them as they grow. When a student studies music they should gain a basic knowledge even if they don't continue music for a long period. The discipline and skills required to play music can be used to better them in life. Recording credits include “Beyond the Horizon” by the North Carolina Central University Jazz Band, “Central Standard Time” by the North Carolina Central University Jazz Band, and both “Shiloh” and "Worship in the Upper Room: Standing in His Presence" by the Upper Room Church of God in Christ Music & Fine Arts Department.

Alyssa Baucom, percussion
Alyssa Baucom has been studying and performing music all her life, playing piano, violin, percussion and singing. She studied music at East Carolina University (http://www.ecu.edu/music/), graduating in 2003 with a BM in music education with a focus in percussion. During her time at East Carolina, Alyssa participated in nearly every instrumental ensemble offered including Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Marching Band, Pep Band, Percussion Ensemble, Zamba Yawar (ECU Afro-Andean Ensemble), and in the pit orchestra for musicals (http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cfac/music/ensembles/index.cfm). For the past six years she has been teaching percussion (primarily marching band) at a high school in Rocky Mount. Percussion lessons are structured around the needs of each individual student, including anything from rudimental snare techniques to playing mallets to NOT going insane counting numerous measures of rests. Alyssa stresses the importance of reading music but can also help students learn to write out rhythms and melodies they hear. Whatever students want or need to work on, Alyssa is willing to help. Instruction is available for snare, mallets, and various percussion techniques. Drumset is not available.

Jon Boisvert, guitar
Jon Boisvert has been heavily involved in North Carolina's Triangle music scene for the past eight years, both as a guitar teacher and performer. He has taught privately and in schools for the past eleven years. He employs a style that is a fusion of jazz, blues, classical, rock & folk - the culmination of more than 20 years of music study. This experience gives him the ability to adapt his teaching style to fit any student. His focus is on all aspects of the instrument including sightreading, theory, history, improvisation, composition, ear training and more. But whatever the direction, the effort is always geared toward making each lesson fun and challenging. You can find out how to see him perform at www.myspace.com/jonboisvertsologuitar.

Melissa Jeffreys, flute and piano
Melissa Jeffreys has been teaching flute and piano for seven years. She studied at Meredith College (www.meredith.edu/music) where she earned a B.M. in flute performance and music composition (’03). She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota (www.sai-national.org) and Raleigh Area Flute Association (www.raleighflutes.org). Melissa is also a member of The National Flute Association (www.nfaonline.org), Music Teachers National Association (www.mtna.org), and Raleigh Piano Teachers Association (www.raleighpianoteachers.org). Melissa structures the lessons to fit the student’s individual needs and musical tastes. Lessons are planned to make each student a well-rounded musician by focusing not only on learning songs, but also on learning music theory, history, composition, sightreading, and general musicianship. Melissa is available for school flute sectionals and contest preparation. She is available at The Musicians Learning Center Monday through Thursday and also on Saturdays for private lessons.

Mike Minguez, clarinet and sax
Mike Minguez has been playing woodwinds for almost 50 years, and teaching about half of that time. He is currently the Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Band Director at North Raleigh Christian Academy (www.nrcaknights.com), and holds a B.S. in Music Education from Bluefield State College (www.bluefield.wvnet.edu) in Bluefield, West Virginia ('77). Mike has performed with the North Carolina Theatre for shows such as “Annie,” "Guys and Dolls", "Funny Girl" and “The King and I.” A jazz artist, he performs regularly at The Irregardless Cafe in downtown Raleigh. Mike is available at The Musicians Learning Center on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for private lessons on the alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones and the clarinet.

Nkem Nwosu, violin
Nkem Nwosu is a violinist who has studied with some of the state's top teachers. He has performed as a member of the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra and as first violinist with the Raleigh Civic Symphony Orchestra. His teachers include Joseph Genualdi, of the UNC School of the Arts, Yang Xi, assistant concertmaster of the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra, and Phyliss Garriss, associate professor of violin at Meredith College. Nkem is confident in teaching the Suzuki method 1-10, as well as the traditional method. Growing up in Raleigh, Nkem has participated in the All state orchestra programs, as well as the orchestras of the Philharmonic Association. Nkem is proficient in teaching students from beginning to even more advanced students. Nkem is also able to teach students of various ages. Nkem believes a proper violinist's technical diet consists of Sevcik, Kreutzer, Rode, Dont, and Galamian or Flesch Scales. Upon becoming students of Nkem, Nkem encourages students to seek orchestra and chamber music experience in the local area.

Amanda Rutter, MT-BC, Music Therapy/Adaptive Lessons, Group Music Classes, Flute, Guitar, Piano
Amanda graduated from Appalachian State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and a minor in Psychology. Amanda is available for private music therapy services (both individual and groups); creative arts play groups and private lessons on flute, piano and guitar. She has 6 years of experience working with special needs populations and especially enjoys working in physical habilitation settings with children. She also has experience working in psychiatric settings, nursing homes, schools and with adults with developmental disabilities.

While at Appalachian, Amanda’s primary instrument was the flute. She has been playing the flute for over 11 years now and during that time has played in numerous ensembles as well as performing solo works. Amanda has been teaching flute privately since 2008. Through her training as a music therapist she has learned to play both piano and guitar and can offer beginner lessons on these instruments as well. As a music therapist, Amanda is also able to offer specially adapted music lesson on any of these three instruments if your child has special learning or physical needs. Amanda is a national board certified music therapist.

Terrance Sykes, clarinet/sax/euphonium
Terrance S. Sykes has been playing the clarinet and saxophone for 15 years. He is skilled on Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, Euphonium, Clarinet and Bass Clarinet. Through high school in Norfolk, VA he participated in Marching and Concert Bands. Continuing his education at Shaw University (www.shawu.edu) in Raleigh, NC he broadened his skills by participating in the Marching, Jazz, Concert, and Pep Bands throughout his college career. In this time he expanded his musical talents by taking up a brass instrument, the Euphonium (Baritone). During his last two years of college he was promoted to Section Leader for the Euphonium section and Director of the Shaw University Pep Band where they traveled to Virginia, South Carolina, and Arkansas. His leadership skills helped him become a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. He has also participated in numerous Band Conferences, Consortiums and Showcases such as the National Band Directors Consortium in 2008, The Intercollegiate Music Association of HBCU’s Conference in 05, 06, and 07 and The 2008 Honda Battle of the Bands in Atlanta, Ga. He loves teaching and helping others expand their knowledge of the instrument, music, and technique. He is available Monday through Friday for private lessons.

Fred Westbrook, piano
Fred Westbrook is a retired teacher and principal and has been a performing musician all of his life. He takes great pleasure in teaching others to enjoy and embrace music, especially the piano. He has performed in ensembles as diverse as the Susquehanna University band and choir during a tour of Europe and as the keyboard player for Big Rick & the Bombers as they competed in the International Blues Competition on Beale Street in Memphis. Fred, the lead singer and piano player, performs now with Jon Boisvert, a Musicians Learning Center guitar teacher, as Blue T (www.myspace/bluetmusic) in various restaurants and clubs in the area, and also sits in occasionally with the West Street Band (www.weststreetband.com).

His experience and the instincts honed in public school classrooms have proved invaluable in working with piano students one-on-one. Fred stresses that music should be, indeed, must be fun, first and foremost, and is adept in working with young beginners, adolescents, and adults who may be revisiting their desire to play piano, or who are finally starting for the first time. He has a special interest in helping students learn to play songs they enjoy by ear, if possible; teaching them the common chord structures, the variety of bass lines that might be used, and techniques for making the song enjoyable for the player.

Tuition Policy
Advance payment reserves the day and time of your lessons. Payment for lessons or classes must be made at least one day prior to your first lesson or class. Payment for continuing lessons or classes must be made by your last scheduled paid lesson. If your payment is not made by your last scheduled paid lesson, The Musicians Learning Center will assume that you wish to discontinue your lessons. We will make your lesson day and time available for other students to enroll.

All lessons are either private, 30 minute lessons or private, 60 minute lessons unless special arrangements are made. The price is $110 per month for 30 minute lessons and $200 per month for 60 minute lessons, payable before lessons begin.

Lesson Credit and Refund Policy
No lessons, once paid, will be refunded. The more notice that The Musicians Learning Center is given about student cancellations, the more options we have to schedule make-up lessons. If you do not show up for a lesson, you will not receive credit. You will only be allowed to make-up a limited number of same-day cancellations. Once paid, cancelled lessons must be rescheduled. The teachers will be as flexible as possible with rescheduling. If a teacher cancels, the lesson will be rescheduled.
 
Severe Weather
Lessons cancelled due to severe weather will be rescheduled if the following occurs:

1. School (not after-school activities) is cancelled in the school district local to The Musicians Learning Center.
2. School is cancelled in the school district local to where the student is coming from.
3. School is cancelled in the school district local to where the teacher is coming from.

If any of the above situations should happen, call The Musicians Learning Center. Do not ever assume that lessons or classes are cancelled.