Music Teachers of Children's Music Workshop

Larry Newman, Founder / Director of Children's Music Workshop

Larry Newman is the Founder and Director of Children's Music Workshop. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education, cum laude degree from Temple University's College of Music, a California teaching credential and a Master of Arts in Music Performance from Eastern Illinois University.

Formerly an instrumental music teacher in the Philadelphia School District, Los Angeles Unified School District, and Santa Monica-Malibu Public Schools, Mr. Newman has supervised music programs in more than eighty public and private institutions from the Kindergarten through college levels. His rich diversity of experience includes schools from East L.A. to Malibu and from South Central L.A. to the San Fernando Valley.

Larry Newman is the recipIent of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' 60th Annual Los Angeles area Emmy® award for Children/Youth Programming. Mr Newman wrote, directed and produced the 2007 All Schools Elementary Honor Orchestra show which aired nationally and featured students from more than two dozen Children's Music Workshop school programs.

Mr. Newman received the 2006 Lori Petrick Excellence in Education Award from the Palisades Charter Schools Foundation. The award is underwritten by the Boone Foundation - a philanthropic group whose mission is to support "passionate people who provide excellent programs to youth".

Larry Newman was also one of 40 teachers nominated for the 2007 25th Annual BRAVO Award, established in 1982 by the Music Center of Los Angeles County to recognize individuals for innovation and excellence in arts education.

And in 2008, Mr Newman was awarded a 2008 Best Buy Teach Award which rewards schools for engaging students through technology.

Mr. Newman served on the Leadership Committee for the 2009 NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Music Education Day at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.

Larry Newman formerly was the trumpet instructor at Glendale College and also taught in the jazz studies department of Eastern Illinois University as a graduate teaching assistant. At Eastern Illinois, Mr. Newman directed the University Jazz Lab Band, taught private undergraduate studio trumpet and was also a member of the EIU Faculty Brass Quintet and solo trumpet player in the EIU Faculty Jazz Combo.

As a professional trumpet player, Larry Newman has toured The United States, Canada and Japan with The Glenn Miller Orchestra® under the direction of Larry O'Brien (see video), performed in The Claridge Hotel Casino Orchestra in Atlantic City under the direction of Jack Six and sailed the Caribbean and Northwest with the S/S Norway Big Band (see video) and other cruise ship orchestras.

He has backed such star entertainers as Dizzy Gillespie, Jack Jones, Florence Henderson, Jerry Lewis, Billy Eckstine, The Fifth Dimension, Al Martino, Shirley Jones, The Lettermen, Jim Nabors, Jerry Van Dyke, Jim Stafford, Michel Legrand, Clark Terry, Cab Calloway, George Kirby, Margaret Whiting, Benny Carter, The Four Aces, The Modernaires, Bobby Rydell, Joe Williams, Roger Williams, Slide Hampton, The Smothers Brothers, Fred Travalena, Rita Moreno and others.

Mr. Newman worked as a trumpet instructor on the 2004 Universal release, Ray, starring Jamie Foxx as well as the 1999 movie, Anywhere But Here, starring Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman.

Mr. Newman is author of the Recorder Fun Book and Pre-Band Fun Book published by Brass Bell Publications. The books are fast becoming one of the top classroom recorder methods in the country and are used in hundreds of elementary schools throughout the United States. He is also the author of the Violin Fun Book and Beginning Band Fun Books - group method books used in all Children's Music Workshop music programs.

Larry Newman is leader of The Pacific Palisades Brass Quintet and is a freelance trumpet player in the Southern California area. ( Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 )

Gregory Alper

Gregory Alper received a BA in Jazz Improvisation from Indiana University and studied orchestration and film scoring at Mannes College. As a composer, he has scored music for film, television and a number of classic video games. He is professional woodwind player in Los Angeles and teaches woodwinds, brass, music theory and jazz improvisation. Gregory is founder and owner of the Gregory Alper Music School.

Desiree' Deasy

Desiree' Deasy teaches violin and cello. While majoring in violin performance at the University of Wisconsin, she studied under the tutelage of the internationally acclaimed Fine Arts Quartet. She recently returned from a world concert tour with the Yanni Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Deasy is also a certified Musikgarten® instructor.

Brenda Etterbeek

Brenda Etterbeek received her Bachelor of Music Degree from Miami University and her Masters of Music Degree from the University of Southern California. She has toured Europe with the Camerata Wind Quintet has been a featured performer with the Echternach Festival Orchestra in Luxembourg. She currently performs oboe with the Mestizo Trio. In addition to Children's Music Workshop, Ms. Etterbeek maintains a private teaching studio.

Dave Etterbeek

David Etterbeek received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Northwestern University and is near completion of a Masters of Music Degree from the University of Southern California. Mr. Etterbeek has performed trumpet with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Sacramento and San Francisco Symphonies, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony under Sir George Soti.

Mandy Fey

Mandy Fey holds a Masters of Music degree in clarinet from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Illinois State Universtiy. Before moving to California, Ms Fey taught elementary, middle and high school instrumental music in the Joliet (Il) Public School System and has served as a music instructor at Northern Illinois Universtiy She has performed with the New World Symphony, the Santa Barbara Grand Opera and others.

Leah Katz

Leah Katz received her Bachelor of Music degree in viola performance at Indiana University. Leah has performed professionally with numerous symphony orchestras including the Long Beach Symphony, Mozart Classical Orchestra, Riverside Philharmonic and West LA Symphony. She has recorded with artists such as Brittany Spears, Eve 6, Christina Aguilera, N'Sync, Mariah Carey, Backstreet Boys, Destiny's Child, and Jessica Simpson. Leah is a member of The Section Quartet and also performs with the house band on the Fox TV hit, American Idol.

Debbie Klak

Debbie Klak holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Violin from the University of California, Irvine and a Bachelor of Music in Violin from DePauw University. Her playing background includes principal violinist with the American Youth Symphony, assistant principal of the LA Camerata, associate concertmaster of the El Paso Opera Orchestra, and member of the Hollywood Pops Orchestra. She has mentored and coached violin for the Young Musician's Foundation and maintains a large private teaching studio in West Los Angeles.

Marisa Kuney

Marisa Kuney holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Eastman School of Music and was a graduate quartet fellow at Wichita State University. She has performed with the Long Beach Symphony, the Wichita Symphony, the Tulsa Philharmonic and others. Ms. Kuney performs locally and maintains a private teaching studio in Santa Monica.

Karolina Naziemiec

Karolina Naziemiec holds a Masters in Music degree from USC. Ms. Naziemiec has toured Europe, Japan and the USA. She has performed with the American Youth Symphony, the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra, the Jewish Symphony Orchestra, the Riverside County Philharmonic and others. Ms. Naziemiec's teaching experience includes very young children to aspiring professionals. She has taught for the Young Musician's Foundation and maintains a private teaching studio. Visit www.karolinanaziemiec.com

Mary Lou Newmark

Mary Lou Newmark is an electric violinist, composer, and poet. Mary Lou has a traditional classical background with undergraduate and graduate degrees in violin performance from Southern Methodist University and USC, and a masters degree in composition from UCLA. Mary Lou has extensive experience teaching elementary through advanced strings in group and private settings. She maintains a private teaching studio in Pacific Palisades. Visit www.greenangelmusic.com

Victoria Sabonjohn

Victoria Sabonjohn graduated Summa Cum Laude from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida with a Bachelor in Music Education. She also holds a music performance degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. Sabonjohn comes from a musical family, with both her parents members of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. She loves teaching and performs the oboe professionally in the Los Angeles area.

Emily Senchuk

Emily Senchuk teaches woodwinds and brass. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Music Composition from Wayne State University in Detroit MI, and was a finalist in the 1997 National Young Composer's Competition. She currently performs with the Los Angeles Flute Orchestra, Pacific Palisades Symphony, Bellflower Symphony, South East Symphony, Golden State Pops Orchestra, and the Santa Monica Symphony Woodwind Quintet.

Katherine Shaw

Katherine Shaw is a violin and cello specialist. She previously taught strings in two San Diego area magnet schools for music and the performing arts. She is an accomplished performer and since 1991 has been the assistant concertmistress of the Topanga Symphony. Ms. Shaw holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the University of California, San Diego and a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Cal State Northridge

Dan Ubick

Dan Ubick teaches guitar and holds a Bachelor of Arts in PanAfrican Studies from Cal State Northridge. He has recorded with Macy Gray and other top name artists. Dan has extensive experience working with elementary age students - both in guitar instruction and having been a classroom teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Charlene Welch

Charlene Welch holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Music Teaching Credential from Cal State Hayward. She also has a Master of Arts in Piano Performance and Music Literature from Mills College. Charlene has performed as a violist in the Berekely Symphony, has coached strings for the Oakland Youth Symphony and has been music director at schools in Colorado and California. She maintains a private teaching studio in West Los Angeles.

Ben Wendel

Ben Wendel is a woodwind and brass specialist. Born in Canada and raised in Los Angeles, Ben was educated at the Eastman School of Music in New York. Since graduating he has enjoyed success as a performer, composer and producer. As a composer Ben has scored multiple films and recently received an ASCAP Jazz Composer Award. Ben plays professionally in the Los Angeles area and is the proud owner of a Boston terrier named Elisie.

Karen Kay Woods

Karen Kay Woods holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree in both Instrumental and Vocal Music from the University of South Alabama where she attended on full tuition scholarship. She teaches strings, woodwinds and brass and in addition to her background as a music educator, Ms. Woods is an accomplished actor and writer. She recently wrote and starred in a one woman show entitled The Dance of the Lemons - receiving critical acclaim from the Los Angeles Times (Critic's Choice) and others.