Learn from Great Strings Teachers

Hello! My name is Josh Mottley, and I have over 40 years of experience as a professional musician and music educator. I’ve toured nationally, recorded 100+ albums, and taught private lessons on guitar, piano, bass, vocals, drums, and more.

Veselin Ninov is a Steinway Educational Partner since September 2014 and Steinway Outstanding Teacher Award recipient in 2018 and 2023. His studio includes kids and adults of all ages and all levels. Many of the students prepare for the NYSSMA auditions, International Competitions, ABRSM Exams, and play solo recitals including an annual recital of the whole studio and Zoom Class…

I cut my teeth drumming in speed-punk bands, acting/singing in a traveling theatre troupe, and eventually fronting an alt-rock band, for over a decade. I’ve worked on a number of albums for independent artists as a session musician, co-writer, producer, engineer, or mixer; often all of the above.

Elyse is a professional violinist with over 30 years of playing experience and over 20 years of experience teaching students of all ages and ability levels. She holds a B.Mus. degree in Violin Performance from the School of Music at the University of British Columbia. --- Musically inclined from birth, Seattle native Elyse Jacobson began studying the violin at the age of five.

Guitarist, composer, producer, artist. Born in Maracaibo in December 1996 into a family of musicians. Educated at Academia Intervalo and partially at the José Luis Paz Music Conservatory. At 18, he became a full-time guitar instructor for the Banco Central Núcleo and Santa Lucia Núcleo, both part of Venezuela’s National System of Orchestras.

National Old-Time Fiddle Champion Jesse Maw has been performing since age five, moving fluently through old-time, bluegrass, swing, Gypsy-jazz, fusion and beyond. He’s shared stages with icons such as Mark O’Connor, Jerry Douglas, Brent Mason and Gonzalo Bergara, and has coached at the Shasta Music Summit, Crown of the Continent Guitar Festival and DjangoFest NW.

I am a GRAMMY Nominated educator, trumpeter, guitarist, bassist, pianist, singer/songwriter, composer/arranger, drummer and recording artist. I graduated from University of Indianapolis with a Bachelor’s of Arts with a concentration in Jazz Studies and the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music with a Master’s in Jazz Studies, specifically in trumpet.

I have been teaching since 2006 and run an in-person lesson studio in Charlottesville, VA called Redbird Cello Studio, who purpose is to build a community of cellists who support each other and connect through the shared experience of learning and playing the cello. I teach students aged 5 and up, with my current youngest at 6 and oldest at 78.

Born into a family of musicians in 2002, cellist Danielle Akta made her solo debut at age eleven with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, quickly garnering international attention. She has since performed in leading venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall, the Barbican Centre, Teatro Colón, and the Boulez Saal.

After graduating from Berklee in 1987 with a degree in Music Production & Engineering, I moved to NYC to help start the Sam Ash Music Institute. A year later, I moved to LA and began a 30+year career as a film and tv music composer, editor (Motion Picture Editors Guild), and audio engineer. See TonyDiMito.com/credits for a partial list of shows, CDs, and projects.