Larry Bigel, one of the owners of BIGEL MUSIC also teaches guitar, bass, and beginner piano. For the last 18 years, he has been perfecting the art and expression of playing music through various music classes, independent study and countless hours of playing. He has performed many local venues and festivals in Southern California, including the San Diego County Fair. His musical footage has been featured in a San Diego television show “Magical Moments”. For the last six years, Larry has been teaching guitar and bass to people of all ages, specializing in beginning and intermediate players. He is also experienced teaching basic music fundamentals to preschool children. He teaches all styles ranging from rock, blues, heavy metal, to classical, jazz, and bluegrass. His emphasis is on making lessons enjoyable so students can have fun learning the notes and techniques through playing their favorite songs. He especially enjoys working with kids. He’s discovered it to be one of life’s great gifts, because it ignites playfulness, creativity, and an abundance of energy - The characteristics that make his performances memorable to everyone. Larry is only available mornings Monday to Friday.

Sebastian started playing guitar at the age of 12. He has been studying jazz and classical guitar at Hillsborough Community College for two years. At HCC, he has performed in a recital, two jazz band concerts; and also performed Argentine folk songs for a guitar show in New York. He has also two years of music theory classes and will be graduating with a degree in music in May 2006. Sebastian has years of experience playing rock music, including grunge, and alternative styles.

Christie Lenee is an established singer/songwriter, bassist, and guitarist well-versed in jazz, classical, rock, funk, folk, blues, latin, and bluegrass. She has toured nationally and internationally performing original compositions at major music festivals and venues across the world with a wide range of media coverage, press reviews, live television performances and radio play. Christie recently was nominated 1st place in the Eddie’s Attic Open Mic Competition in Decatur, GA, where she competed with a variety of songwriters from all over the United States. She has recorded several CDs including original, classical and jazz, plus has played lead guitar for an abundance of local songwriters’ albums and performances. Currently a student at USF, the musician is completing her degree in jazz composition and performance while recording a new album. As a teacher, Christie encourages creativity by providing the tools to develop songwriting and performance skills, teaching rhythm, techniques, theory, reading, ear training, editing song lyrics, shaping open minds, and embracing various styles.

Dennis teaches guitar, mandolin, and beginner banjo.  Dennis grew up in a musical family outside of Cleveland, Ohio.  His mother on mandolin, grandfather on guitar, and various uncles on guitars and other instruments, played old country songs around the campfire and other family functions for most of his childhood.  He picked up drums at the age of 9, and soon added guitar, piano, and mandolin.  Musical training started early, first from family (especially mother), and then to formal training at age 12 from local legend Joel Navoyosky.  Dennis started teaching schoolmates, and playing out with his band at age 15 while learning theory and technique from other local greats such as Johnny DeMarco (one of Roland’s top players).  With a strong background in many genres, and 16 years of teaching and stage experience, Dennis is very capable of teaching a variety of styles to people of all ages.  Dennis can be seen sharing the stage with greats such as Jimmy Herring of Aquarium Rescue Unit, and Widespread Panic, Bluegrass great Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon, local Blues legend James Peterson, and more.

Luke Schwartz is a devoted local musician, in the process of attaining a B.A. in jazz studies at the University Of South Florida and performing regularly in the Tampa Bay area. He has been studying music seriously since he was 13 years old, when the results of a very musical upbringing sprang into effect. He can teach a variety of styles, including jazz, funk, rock, blues, folk, and bluegrass, but beyond that, he is a teacher of creativity. Luke is well versed in music theory, composition, and general guitar, having received years of professional training and mentoring from many of the area's most in demand artists and performers. It is his wish to share the knowledge he has with his students,  hoping they can be creative with the material that they are presented, bring out the artist within them, and above everything else, have lots of fun with music.