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our teachers

Music lessons, tailored to you.

 

At Waddell's School of Music, student success is our top priority. Our teachers are experienced and ready to help you learn, no matter what your specific needs or goals may be. Whether you're picking up a guitar for the first time or you've been playing for 30 years and just want to sharpen your skills, we have the instructor for you.

We have lessons available for:

Guitar | Bass Guitar | Ukulele | Piano | Drums | Voice | Saxophone | Clarinet | Violin | Viola | Cello

Meet our teachers.

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John Baker

Guitar, Bass

John has been teaching acoustic, electric, and bass guitar for over 25 years. He’s played with several bands in the Pittsburgh area. His teaching styles include blues, rock, jazz, and contemporary music. John believes students need to learn how to read music, play chords, and keep steady rhythm. He studied guitar with a cohort of Joe Negri and holds a Master of Science degree from La Roche College.

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Wayne Bartley

Guitar, Ukulele

Wayne is an international recording artist who has worked with various bands and artists over his career. He is presently recording with the “Apologetix”.  Among the other international recording artists/bands Wayne has worked with are Mark Zonder (percussionist for prog metal band “Fates Warning”), DC Cooper (vocalist for Royal Hunt, Silent Force, & DC Cooper), & Jim Dofka.  While Wayne’s influences include Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Randy Rhodes, he teaches all styles of guitar.

Wayne has worked as an entertainer on Royal Caribbean cruise ships where he played Top 40 Rock, Jazz, Big Band, Country, 50s & 60s Rock n Roll, Motown, Disco, Ballroom Dancing, etc.  Wayne teaches sight reading, chart reading, ear training, song writing, improvisation, theory, & music production (including programming, production software & devices, and running equipment).  He’ll teach nearly any song you want to learn provided you bring a recording, and will customize your lessons to achieve your specific goals!

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Mark Demeno

Guitar, Bass, Piano

Mark is a multi-instrument musician who teaches guitar, bass guitar, and piano.  He started learning guitar at 8 years old and is an accomplished lead and rhythm player.  His education includes classical guitar studies at the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University and piano and bass studies at the Community College of Allegheny County.

Mark has played for the Dave Iglar Band since 1999 and performs regularly in the Pittsburgh area.

Video of Mark playing congas

Video of Mark playing guitar

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George Elliott

Guitar, Bass, Upright Bass, Ukulele

George was born and raised in Washington, Pennsylvania. He received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Performance from Duquesne University. In 2005, he was awarded Honorary Mention in the Bass Extremes International Solo Bass Competition at Coastal Carolina University for his arrangement of the Beatles’ “Michelle”. Judges of the competition were Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, John Patitucci, Will Lee, Anthony Jackson, and Gregg Bissonette. He has studied with Jeff Berlin, Jeff Mangone, Tony Janflone, Sr., Joe Negri, Eric Kloss, Mike Tomaro & William Purse.

George is currently the bassist with the modern country band North of Mason-Dixon (NOMaD), playing concerts and festivals throughout the U.S. In 2012, the band was the grand prize winner of Mello Yello’s “One Track Find” online competition.

George teaches bass guitar, upright bass, and guitar. He has maintained a teaching studio for over 20 years, and has had many students who have went on to study music at the collegiate level, and have their own careers in music.

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Cody House

Guitar, Drums

Cody is a Pittsburgh based multi-instrumentalist and instructor. He graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Commercial Music Technology.  Cody plays a wide variety of genres from progressive metal to classic funk and r&b.

Cody is an experienced teacher on multiple instruments, including guitar and drum set. He plays guitar with multiple Pittsburgh-based acts including Haven State, Space Weather, Sierra Sellers, Cam Chambers, Joziah Council, Twan Moore & the Party Train, and many others.  Cody also coordinates and teaches our "Rock School" program here at Waddell's!

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Dave Katalin

Drums

Dave has been teaching in the Pittsburgh area for more than 20 years. His education includes classical percussion training from the University of Montana where he majored in percussion and minored in musical theory.

Dave has been playing drums for the Dave Iglar Band since 2006. Previously, he toured the Northwest for five years and was a member of No Foolin’.

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Lindsay McGinnis

Voice, Piano

A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native, soprano Lindsay McGinnis has been seen performing with local groups such as Resonance Works, the Pittsburgh Savoyards and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh (the partnering choir to the Pittsburgh Symphony). Lindsay has also performed in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with Emerald City Opera (now Opera Steamboat). She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from The Ohio State University and her Master of Music degree in Voice Pedagogy and Performance from Penn State University, where she served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. While at Penn State, Ms. McGinnis had the opportunity to perform various roles in both full stage productions and scenes including Sister Constance of St. Denis in Dialogues of the Carmelites and Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore. Lindsay was also seen on the concert stage as the soprano soloist in the premier of "Unwanted War" by Mürsel Yavuz. Lindsay's singing has also taken her abroad to Graz, Austria where she performed in concerts of Schumann's Myrthen and Spanisches Liederspiel.

 

A versatile and knowledgeable voice technician, Lindsay specializes in not only classical technique, but musical theatre and CCM (contemporary commercial music) techniques as well. While at Penn State, she took extra time to study with the musical theatre faculty in addition to focusing on her classical studies. Lindsay also completed sessions I and II at Shenandoah University’s CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute. 

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Tucker Muetzel

Guitar, Bass, Upright Bass

(Ethan) Tucker Muetzel is a singer-songwriter and musician from the Pittsburgh Area. He is familiar with many genres of music, and is most experienced in folk, blues, and country guitar styles. He also has six years of classical and jazz training on guitar, bass guitar, and upright bass. 

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Antonio Pagano

Guitar, Piano

Antonio is a Pittsburgh based multi-instrumentalist who has quality experience performing and teaching a wide variety of styles. He personally focuses on music theory/instrumental technique. Antonio currently plays Jazz Guitar with the HR Department, Bass/Keys for DiLisio and Foamer, and a Folk/Variety set with Prosperity Gospel. You can check out his website antoniopaganomusic.com for more info and videos of him playing.

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Evan Yester

Drums

Evan is a 2016 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania where he received his Bachelor's degree in Commercial Music Technology. While at Cal U, he studied under Pittsburgh Ballet percussionist Jan Fung and played in many university bands and ensembles including Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band, and Pit Orchestras. In college, Evan also played as a session musician on many student recordings, developed a music technology portfolio, and earned his Pro Tools User Certification. 

 

As a 2012 graduate of North Hills High School, Evan served his alma mater's marching band as a percussion instructor/graduate assistant for 5 years.

 

When he's not teaching, recording, and performing, Evan enjoys collecting vinyl records. He is also an experienced audio engineer and enjoys recording and mixing in the studio environment. 

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