Accent Music’s instrument rental program allows aspiring musicians to begin playing without a large initial investment. All of our rental instruments are from quality manufacturers who have years of experience designing instruments with the beginner in mind and come packaged with everything you need, including cases.

These instruments all meet the MENC requirements and will serve you well as you progress to an intermediate level.  By this time, a student is usually best served by purchasing a higher quality instrument from our selection.

Payment for rentals can be made monthly or quarterly, by cash, check, or credit card.

David Mills has been in the music industry since 1984.  He graduated from the acclaimed Grove School of Music in Studio City, CA with a degree in recording engineering in 1986 and began his career working for Mike Post Productions - the most sought after composer for prime time television.  David helped facilitate recordings for L.A. Law, Magnum P.I., Hill Street Blues, and Doogie Howser, M.D. on the soundstages of Twentieth Century Fox and Universal Studios as well as various studios in the Los Angeles area. 

David then worked for Pete Robinson (film composer) managing the day to day affairs of Pete’s private studio, acting as MIDI design consultant and helping him sample and design his own unique flavor of sounds. 

After moving to Pittsburgh, David pursued further education and completed a degree in Music Technology from the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University.  Beginning with an internship at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, he ended up staying for 14 years as the Production Manager for MCG’s Jazz Concert Series.  David has personally produced the local performances of Jazz greats Herbie Hancock, Nancy Wilson, George Shearing, Tito Puente, Billy Taylor, Rufus Reid, Ray Brown, Marian McPartland, Spyro Gyra, Jimmy Heath, Gerry Mulligan and the Yellowjackets.

On Monday and Tuesday evenings, David is also proud to see the improvements of his 22 private piano students.  He’s been a piano instructor for the past 25 years focusing on beginning and intermediate pedagogical development.  David is also a licensed Kindermusik instructor and has introduced children as young as 18 months old to the Values of music. 

David is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Secondary Education with a certification in math and keeps busy spending time with his wife and playing in the worship band at Norwin Christian Church.

Krissy Penn graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School where she was involved in many activities including theatre, marching band, and concert band.  In 2001/2002 she was named in the Who’s Who Among American High School Students.  She continued her education at the Community College of Allegheny County, South Campus, earning Associate’s Degrees in Theatre and Liberal Arts and Sciences.  While at CCAC, she was an officer of the Drama Club, and was twice named to the Dean’s List. 

Some of Krissy’s favorite roles inlcude:  Celia/Kitty Casini in Cannery Row, Vera in And Then There Were None, a showgirl in Copacabana, Mary Helen in I’m Sorry the Bridge Is Out, You’ll Have to Spend the Night, and Connie in Love, Sex, and the I.R.S.  Last year, she was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at McKeesport Little Theater.  She has also performed with CCAC South, the Bethel Park Heritage Players, the Grand Theatre, the Baldwin Players, the Rockwood Players, South Park Theatre, McCaffery Mysteries, and Nancy Mosser Casting.  Krissy can also be seen in The Kill Point and Adventureland, both which were filmed here in Pittsburgh.  This spring, she  co-directed Accent Music’s production of Holka Polka! with Christy Kuehn.

Ms. Emily Wardle has been teaching piano, woodwinds and brass at Accent Music since March 2008 and is a Pittsburgh area native, having grown up in Belle Vernon.  She has taught all levels of students, ranging from four-year old children to high school students preparing for college auditions, and has also worked with and taught special needs students.  Ms. Wardle is the music director and pianist for the Olivet Presbyterian Church in West Elizabeth, and has participated with music ministry positions at Rostraver’s St. Anne’s Parish and the First Presbyterian Church of Fayette City.  Additionally, Ms. Wardle has served as the Woodwind Instructor for the Belle Vernon Marching Band, and has played for a variety of local ensembles and productions, including high school musicals, community bands, and professional ensembles.  She will soon graduate from Duquesne University with a music education degree and two minors: one in Psychology and the other in Technology In Music Education.  Ms. Wardle regularly plays the bassoon in concert with the Duquesne University Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, and Symphony Orchestra, as well as other collegiate chamber ensembles.

We Offer Classes in Acting, Dance and Musical Theater throughout the School Year.

 

Class Schedule

If you see a class you would like to take, but it is not at a convenient time, please let us know.  We will form additional classes based on demand.

 

Fundamentals of Acting (age 7 – 12)                   Tuesday 5:30 – 6:15

 

Voice (age 7 -12)                                                  Tuesday 6:15 (not yet running)

Ballroom (age 18+)                                               Tuesday 7:00 – 8:00

 

 

Dance Combo (age 3 – 6)                                     Wednesday 5:15 -6:00

 (Tap, Jazz, Ballet)

 

Dance Combo (age 6 – 12)                                   Wednesday 6:00 -6:45

 

Music Time (age 1-3)                                            Wednesday 6:00-6:45

 

Acting (age 7 – 12)                                                Wednesday 6:45-7:30

 

Music Time (age 3 – 5)                                         Wednesday 6:45-7:30

 

 

Musical Theatre (age 10+)                                    Thursday 5:00-6:00

 

Musical Theatre Dance (age 10+)                         Thursday 6:00-7:00

 

Improv and Dramatic Acting (age 10+)                  Thursday 7:00-8:00

  

 

Class Descriptions

Each class is offered in two 15 week semesters (Fall & Spring) with the Spring semester being an extension of the material covered in the Fall.  The Fall semester will have a definite ending so that it can be taken by itself.  However, it is to the student’s advantage to take both semesters. This is especially true if they wish to move on to more advanced classes.

Music Classes

 

Voice (Ages 7-12)

This class will progress from fundamentals, to intermediate skills and techniques.  In this class, students will learn the basics of breathing and tone production while also discovering the beginning fundamentals of music important to singing, such as rhythm and intervals.  This will be combined with the singing of group songs to help facilitate a fun learning environment.  In the later stages of the class, there will be more of a focus on songs for the individual singer.  There will still be some group singing, but students will also be encouraged to get up in front of each other and perform solos.  

 

Music Time Toddler (Ages 1-3)

This is a wonderful class that will help your child to develop many important skills at a critical age.   It has been proven that learning music also helps a child to develop other abilities such as speech, motor and social skills.  In this class, children will be exposed to many fun songs and will be encouraged to hum, sing, and move to the beat.  They will use basic rhythm instruments, in addition to their bodies, to learn concepts about rhythm, tempo and body control.  At this level, parents are strongly encouraged to be a big part of the learning experience.

 

Music Time Preschool (Ages 3-5)

This class is similar to the Music Time for Toddlers, but the concepts are more advanced.  Parents are not involved as much, so students gain more independence in terms of working together and working directly with the teacher.  Students in this more advanced class are also exposed more to musical instruments and are encouraged to begin to actually read music at a very basic level.  Also, the use of language is more emphasized in the singing of songs. 

 

 

Theater Classes

Fundamentals of Acting (Ages 7-12)

This class is perfect for the young beginner who wants to explore their talent and creativity in acting.  Students will focus on acting games and exercises which are both fun and highly developmental.  In the later stages of the class, students will be introduced to new acting techniques and styles including improv, musical theatre, and scene work.  In addition to acting skills, this class is a fun and effective way for students to improve social and public speaking skills, which will help them in many areas of their lives.

   

Musical Theatre (Ages 10+)

Musical Theatre is a form of theatre that combines music, songs, spoken dialogue and dance. This class will focus on putting acting and singing together and helping students to be well rounded performers.  It is recommended that students have some sort of exposure to all acting and singing before signing up for this class.  Students will need to have songs that are memorized and ready to work on.  In addition to being able to audition for our bigger productions, students in this class will perform at the end of each semester as well.

 

Improv and Dramatic Acting (Ages 11+)

This class will focus on several types of theatre, including Shakespeare, Classical, and Modern and will expose students to a variety of scenes and monologues from these genres.  An additional, exciting component of this class is the development of improvisation skills.  Learned through a variety of games and exercises, these skills can apply to many different abilities in artistic, scientific, physical, cognitive, academic, and non-academic disciplines.  Students will be given the opportunity to perform what they have worked on in front of an audience at the end of each semester.  This is an essential class for anyone into “straight” comedic or dramatic acting.   It is also a very good class for those interested in musical theatre, as it will help to prepare the student for a variety of acting roles that exist in that genre as well.   

 

Musical Theater Dance

See description in Dance Section

 

 

Dance Classes

 

We are excited to begin offering a complete dance program.  As with everything we do, we will be bringing in highly qualified instructors.  Since, at first we will cater mostly to beginning students, we will be offering combo classes of tap, jazz and ballet for several different age groups.  As part of our musical theatre program, we are also offering 2 levels of musical theatre dance. Individual classes in Hip-Hop, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Modern will be offered as soon as students develop and/or there is a demand. In the meantime, if you are interested in taking dance and you don’t fit into one of the classes listed, please let us know.  We will start additional classes as soon as there are enough students.  We are open to establishing a class for just about any style of dance, so don’t be afraid to ask!

 

Dance Combos (Tap, Jazz, Ballet)

Preschool Combo (Ages 3-4)

Kinder Combo (Ages 5-6)

Mini Combo (Ages 7-10)

Junior Combo (Ages 9-12)

 

Musical Theater Dance (Ages 10+)

This class focuses on the third element of musical theatre:  dance.  Many styles of dance - including tap, jazz, modern, and ballet - will be used to teach students dance routines from a variety of popular musicals.  This class will range from basic technique to more difficult routines, and is a fun and essential class for the student interested in developing a complete, and well-rounded understanding of musical theatre.

 

 

Ballroom Dance (Ages 18 +)

This is a great class for adults who would like to improve their skills on the dance floor.  Ladies, come work with Thomas Kolos on some of the dances you see on the popular TV show Dancing with the Stars.  Come by yourself to learn and have fun, or bring your husband for the same price!  This class is great for all levels.  Thomas is very flexible and can tailor the class to fit just about anyone’s situation. 

Composer and guitarist  John Arrigo-Nelson has taught music - from private lessons to university courses -  for over 15 years.  He holds Bachelor’s degrees in both music education and guitar performance from Rhode Island College, as well as Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in composition from Stony Brook University. 

Performing in both popular and classical styles, he has appeared with symphony orchestras, rock bands, and jazz ensembles in addition to his work as a solo recitalist.   John’s compositions have been performed and broadcast throughout the United States and in Europe.  Recent seasons have seen the premieres of solo and chamber works in Oviedo, Vienna, New York City, Boston, Miami, and Santa Cruz.  He has received numerous awards and recognition, including a MacDowell Colony Fellowship, Stony Brook University’s Ackerman Prize, and Honorable Mention in the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer’s Competition.  John has served on the adjunct faculty at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University South Bend, Suffolk County Community College, and Stony Brook University, teaching theory, analysis, musicianship, and composition.

To view John’s composition website, please visit www.arrigomusic.com

David Cooke, Director of Accent Music, also gives voice lessons and piano lessons at the school. He has extensive experience as a singer and voice teacher.  He received his undergraduate degree in Vocal Performance from Duquesne University in 1991.  He has a Master’s Degree in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University and has also finished  most of the coursework for a second Masters Degree in Vocal Performance. 

In addition to his education, Mr. Cooke has performed with both the Pittsburgh Opera and the Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh.  He has been involved in both mainstage productions and in theatre outreach programs for kids.  He has also held singing positions at several area churches for most of the last 20 years.  In addition, he has worked often as a singer for special concerts and weddings.

Mr. Cooke has been teaching voice for over 12 years, consistently maintaining a schedule of 30-60 students.  During that time, he has worked with students in many diverse styles, including classical, opera, musical theatre, pop, rock, country and sacred. What sets him apart from many teachers is his ability to train different types of voices with a classical approach, while also helping them to maintain their basic style and sound. He has also taught many classes and private students for several performing arts/dance studios, including the Maryanne Lorraine School of Dance in Penn Hills and the Sewickley School of Performing Arts in Sewickley.  Most of this work focused on preparing students for auditions for broadway style singing. Mr. Cooke’s teaching style is relaxed, yet challenging and thorough.  He believes in getting the most from his students; but also in having fun while you’re at it.