The Four Hour Day

Piano, Irish flute, Composition, Music Theory

Tyler is a cheerful multi-instrumentalist and instrument-maker, and co-founder of the Four Hour Day.  He has a degree in piano from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he studied under the illustrious pianist and all-around great human Brian Ganz.  He was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nicaragua and an apprentice wooden flute-builder with master craftsman Rodger Young.

Tyler’s musical upbringing centered around quite rigid Suzuki piano pedagogy, and consequently his approach to teaching is organic, flexible and tailored to each student’s particular interests and strengths.  He loves to complement core piano instruction with forays into composition, improvisation and new musical styles, to help his students become happy, well-rounded musicians for life.

 

 

Classical/Electric/Acoustic Guitar, ukulele, cello

Todd has over 25 years performing experience in a variety of styles, including big band and combo jazz ensembles, classical chamber ensembles, folk bands, and many original rock bands and musical projects.  He holds a BA in Classical Guitar Performance from Frostburg State University as well as a Master’s Degree in Classical Guitar Performance from Towson University.  Todd is currently active composing, performing and recording for his original instrumental project Pergola, as a solo classical guitarist and as part of a mandolin and guitar duo called Duo Dyad.

Todd teaches steel string acoustic, electric and nylon string guitar. He also teaches beginners bass guitar, ukulele, mandolin and cello, as well as classical guitar ensemble and music theory. Todd welcomes students of all ages, backgrounds, skill levels and looks forward to collaborating with you on your musical journey.

 

 

Banjo, Guitar, Voice

 

Rooted in Americana, swing, Oldtime and bluegrass music, Jonathan has traveled quite a crooked road to arrive in Baltimore six years ago. A passionately curious musician and fairly adventurous type, he has explored and made music all over the world. During the pandemic, he took the opportunity to delve deep into two-finger banjo while alone in his basement. In 2021, with he help of some friends, released his debut solo recording, Spotted Pony. He enjoys playing groovy tunes, dancing, singing, stacking rocks one on top of another, and eating apples with peanut butter.

As a teacher, Jonathan is primarily focused on helping students with the fundamentals around

-rhythm

-ear training and learning by ear

-basic music theory

-being able to play music with others

-general musicality

-preventing injury through good technique

-repertoire as a way to learn and grow on your instrument

-good practice techniques informed by research and experience

 

Guitar, Improvisation

Guitarist Michael Raitzyk is currently playing, creating and exploring the world of solo guitar music. His latest recording, entitled “Everything Must Change” takes an inspired look at his love of Jazz & pop music and mixes it into a unique blend of harmonic explorations. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Raitzyk grew up listening to the sounds of funk, classical, blues, rock…all things guitar. He has been a guitar educator
for over 30 years and currently teaches at the Baltimore School for the Arts and the Waldorf School of Baltimore.
Raitzyk has recorded four CD’s as a leader, has lead a Klezmer band (Charm City Klezmer), co-leads a duo project Seeds of Joy with violinist Rebekah Geller, plays a ton of Jazz within the Bmore Jazz community and can be found busking on various street corners on Baltimore when the muse and weather offerings are available.

Cello, Music Theory, Improvisation

Thillman Benham is a multi-genre performing cellist who cultivated his love for the cello with classical study. He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts and holds a degree in cello performance from Ithaca College. Through the guidance of the wonderful staff at both schools he was immersed in traditional classical study where he developed a love for telling a story and communicating raw emotion through sound and sound alone. In the time since, his interests and horizons have expanded to include Folk, Americana, Rock, Chamber Rock, Pop, Jazz, Soul, Hip Hop, and ever more. While he still plays and performs classically (especially the Solo Bach Cello Suites), he loves nothing more than getting a new song to plan parts for at a recording session.

As a teacher, his ultimate goal is to help students find what speaks to them about the cello while firmly grounding them with strong classical technique. Using techniques from every style of music at his fingertips, he crafts individualized lessons that encourage exploration, meeting challenges with creativity, all while fostering a lifelong bond between student and cello.

Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele, Bass Guitar, Improvisation, Songwriting, Music Theory, Composition

Joel is a professional mandolinist, guitarist, and strings specialist based in Baltimore. He is an experienced and friendly teacher who will teach you what you want to know, how to make it your own, and deepen your understanding and enjoyment of music. An in-demand, virtuosic performer and collaborator, Joel plays and teaches a wide variety of music with a flair for unique fusions.

As a teacher, Joel is focused on discovering and developing each person’s musical personality. Students develop their own goals, repertoire, and practice approaches by working collaboratively with him in lessons. Everyone has unique strengths in their learning style and musical imagination, and Joel’s teaching is focused on developing both.

Joel holds a B.A. in music performance and theory/composition from Goucher College (Cum Laude, Honors in Music), and has many years of teaching experience and boundless enthusiasm for it.

Reeds, Improvisation, Guitar

A native New Yorker, Brannock arrived in the area in the mid 90s as a military member.  He is an autodidact who learned music from self study and participation in a wide variety of musical acts over two decades. His areas of performance have included jazz, big band, rock and soul.   In his teaching, he seeks to help students learn to overcome problems and discover their own musical path.

Woodwinds

Dave Rybczynski earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Saxophone and a Master’s Degree in
Music Education at Towson University, with additional saxophone studies at Berklee
College of Music. He has toured nationally and internationally with swing music orchestras
and now freelances throughout the region playing jazz, musical theatre, orchestra pops,
and classic rock tributes.

Dave also directs the Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble at Johns Hopkins University, teaches
music at CCBC Essex, and was recently a church choir director. He can sometimes be
found singing with a community chorus or two.

Piano, Jazz/Blues, Improvisation

Cynthia Marie is a pianist & songwriter/arranger, with a background in classical piano, jazz & blues improvisation, and folk music. She studied classical piano with Bonnie Litten and Ann Tanabe, boogie-woogie piano with Caroline Dahl, and jazz piano with Debbie Poryes. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Washington School of Music, and is a recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council Independent Artist Award.   

With 20 years of teaching experience, Ms. Cynthia tailors each lesson to her student’s interests and creates a well-rounded and exciting repertoire to explore.  Students enjoy playing real songs, developing their ear, and understanding their music on a deeper level. She is a Maryland state certified teacher, and a member of the Music Teachers National Association, Maryland MTA, and Howard County MTA.

Piano

 

Born and raised in Southern California, James is a pianist, and he is currently pursuing a Master’s in piano performance with an emphasis in pedagogy at the Peabody Conservatory, having also completed his Bachelor’s there. His concert highlights include concert performances at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, the Musikverein in Vienna, and the Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria. In the past years, he has been invited to perform with the Haydn Symphony Orchestra and the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra.

James strongly believes that creativity and the arts are a crucial element in anyone’s development. Thus, teaching has become a great passion for James, and he welcomes all students from any skill level, age, or background into his studio.