Our instructors are all highly qualified teachers, available six days a week to assist with musicians of all ages.  Whether you are just starting out, or moving onto bigger and better things, we want to be a part of your musical journey.  Flexible store hours and an array of packages and discounts make music lessons accessible to anyone.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES:

Stephanie Baer-Piano/Keyboards:  Mrs. Baer has over 25 years of piano experience. She began her studies with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Ontario, Canada and started teaching piano while still in High School. Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at Messiah College, and a Master of Science in Education at Brockport University.

In addition to her teaching experiences, Mrs. Baer has accompanied choral ensembles, performed with various music groups, and is currently a pianist for her church. She enjoys teaching children and utilizes patience, a positive attitude, and organization along with a variety of techniques to meet their needs. She is a firm believer in teaching children the fundamentals of piano and piano theory in order for them to become accomplished pianists.

Nick Randall-Electric and Acoustic Guitar: Nick first picked up a guitar when he was nine years old. After years of struggling to play Billy Joel tunes, he decided to pursue music professionally at the Berklee College of Music. A 2007 graduate, Nick can currently be found performing vocals and lead guitar for The Etchings, for whom he also writes and arranges music.

Nick is a master of improvisation, and uses an extensive background knowledge of music theory to help students gain insight into not only what they are playing, but how they are playing it. In addition to teaching at Akron Music, Nick is also a guitar instructor at Hamburg Music Center..


Dave Dillon-Electric and Acoustic Guitar:  Dave has spent well over three decades as a non-professional musician, performing with hundreds of groups all over New York State, too numerous to name.  Now a retired police officer, he can still be found playing on weekends with local groups from Buffalo to Alfred and everywhere in between.

Dave believes in a fundamentalist style of teaching; students need to learn the basics and the theory before they can truly become good players.  He encourages all students to learn how to read music, aside from just learning tab and riffs.  Dave is comfortable teaching all styles of music, including blues, rock, jazz and classical.


Karlyn Finucane-Flute/Voice:  Mrs. Finucane has been a member of the Akron Community Band for over twenty years, spending time in the flute, bassoon and saxophone sections.  She currently performs as Principal Flute.  A graduate of Wells College, she holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Arts & Performance, with a concentration in Music Performance on Flute and Voice. 

Mrs. Finucane performed extensively with the Wells College Chamber Orchestra, Renaissance Performers, Concert Choir and Chamber Singers in addition to several individual recital performances.  More recently, she developed an early introduction to music program for Peachtown Elementary School, located in Aurora, NY.  She also instructed the award winning Fife & Drum Corps at Akron Central School.

In addition to her role with the Akron Community Band, Mrs. Finucane can be found performing with  The Lutheran Chorale of the Niagara Frontier, Parkside Festival Orchestra and Parkside Festival Chorus.  Her teaching technique focuses on quality sound production, while developing a comprehensive understanding of musical genre and interpretation.

Erica Sagerman-Piano/Strings: Erica is an Adjunct Professor of Music Education at the State University of New York at Fredonia, where she teaches undergraduate courses in music education. She holds bachelors and masters degrees in music education from Fredonia State and has taught music in both public and private schools in New York State and Texas as well as at the American School of Madrid in Madrid, Spain.

Erica has presented at international education conferences in Madrid, Paris and Rome and has been an active member of The European League of Middle Level Educators, The Mediterranean Association of Independent Schools, The National Association of Music Education, and The American String Teachers Association.

Stacey Nicastro-Brass/Woodwinds:  Mrs. Nicastro was a band director for four years for grades 4-12 in the Elba Central School District, located in Elba, NY.  She holds a Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Nazareth College and a Masters Degree in the same from the University of Buffalo.  In the past, she has worked with students locally through the Akron Community Education Program and through the Akron Summer Music Program.  Mrs. Nicastro has taught beginning students ranging in age from six to sixty.

She additionally acts as webmaster for The Ladies First Big Band, and remains active on the local music scene.  Mrs. Nicastro can be found performing with local groups such as the Akron Community Band,The Ladies First Big Band and The Polished Brass Quintet.  She is also a NYSSMA certified brass adjudicator, and judges at several festivals each year.

Mrs. Nicastro is also the owner of Akron Music Studios!