Our Music Educators
DAVID SCHWIND
Dave has taught instrumental music for over 40 years to students in grades 4-12. Earning both his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College, he went on to become a
Band Director at Waterloo Jr. High School and the Director of Bands at Newark High School for 30 years. He directed the award-winning Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Band. Dave has been the coordinator of the Wayne County Solo Festival for the past 19 years and is also a Instrumental Music teacher at Urban Choice Charter School. Dave is currently a member of the Eastman Community Music School’s Music Educators Wind Ensemble. In his spare time he enjoys gardening and home repair projects.
DENNIS REPINO
Dennis brings over 20 years of teaching experience to Mobile Music. He offers guitar lessons that encompass a variety of styles such as classical, jazz, folk, plectrum, fingerstyle, and rock. He caters to children of all ages, adults and all experience levels. Dennis earned his BA, MM and DMA in classical guitar performance and literature. His other training includes Music Theory, Music Composition and Improvisation.
GREGG CHRISTIANSEN
Gregg Christiansen is a music educator, composer, conductor, and performer. He has been teaching piano to students of all ages in college and private settings for thirty years . Christiansen holds a B.M. with Honors in Composition, and also a M.M. in Composition. When not engaged in teaching and music-making, he enjoys spending time with family, reading, playing chess, and outdoor activities.
JASON LEACH
Jason has 30 years of experience teaching drum set and rudimental percussion. He has taught at Mobile Music for 20 years, prior to which he was the assistant band director for the award-winning Naples High School marching band. Over the years, he has performed with various groups including the Rochester Crusaders drum and bugle corps, Feadsn Or Scottish pipe band and other various Celtic groups. At Mobile Music Jason enjoys teaching students of all ages and repairing instruments. Outside of Mobile Music his favorite past time is enjoying as much time as he can with his wife Sarah and three children Rowan, Opal and Autumn.
JEAN BENDIX
Jean teaches both voice and piano at Mobile Music. She enjoyed 33 years as a vocal music educator in the public school system at the senior high level. Jean prepared hundreds of singers for NYSSMA adjudication over those years. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Vocal Music Education and Performance from ITHACA COLLEGE.
“Teaching music spreads joy”
MARGARET MURPHY
Margaret Murphy holds a BA from Roberts Wesleyan College in Music Education, where she won a concerto competition. Following graduation, she has taught since 1995. She works as a freelance musician for weddings, funerals, and more. In addition, plays an integral role in the Penfield Symphony, and plays in several local musicals every year. Ms. Murphy toured with a chamber group in Italy with Orvieto music. and was in the RPYO for 4 years. As an avid horse lover, Margaret loves to spend time in nature.
MICHAH SCHMIDT
Micah has been teaching 5-string banjo at Mobile Music since 2016. He enjoys teaching both 3-finger picking (Scruggs, bluegrass, melodic, etc.) and clawhammer/frailing styles, from old-timey/traditional to modern/progressive. He prefers to teach in the aural, traditional way, by ear and uses written material as a supplement. Micah encourages his students to attend jams and go out and play music with others. He weaves music theory into the lessons when appropriate. He desires his students to learn “like a child”, with active listening, trial-and-error, making mistakes with no worry or judgment, and always making sure that they are playing (having fun.) He loves to transpose music from other instruments and genres to the banjo and has fun with his students’ special requests and projects, such as a 6-year-old banjo student’s Disney tunes from her favorite animated movies, or a new-to-banjo, but talented organ and piano player’s Bach pieces, and duets with harmony banjo. Micah also enjoys playing bari sax and performs Zimbabwean music with Simba Marimba.
MIKE CIRANNI
Mike Ciranni has been performing and teaching guitar for nearly four decades. He studied jazz and contemporary music at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA, and earned Bachelor's and Master’s Degrees in Music Education at SUNY Fredonia, where he studied classical guitar.
Mike started playing professionally at age 16, and has performed in numerous groups with many amazing musicians throughout the Rochester/Finger Lakes area. He currently plays guitar with the Greater Finger Lakes Jazz Orchestra, classic rock group, Covers Exposed, Top 40 group, Lakeside Sound, and pop and jazz duo, Mike and Angie. He has performed at the Rochester International Jazz Festival, has been the guitarist for over 50 high school musicals, and has performed with the Greater Rochester Music Educators’ Jazz Band.
He has been a guitar teacher at Mobile Music for eight years, and a music educator in the Newark Central School District for 28 years. Mike enjoys teaching various styles of guitar to students of all ages and abilities.
ROBERT PICKERT
Robert has been offering lessons to both beginners and advanced students at Mobile Music for over 25 years. His teaching draws from a lifetime of experience as a performer, educator, arranger, music director and studio musician. He was a member of the Finger Lakes Community College music faculty for 14 years, elected twice to FLCC's "The Center for Teaching Excellence", instructor of guitar & bass, director of student ensembles and was the faculty assistant for the Finger Lakes Concert Band and Chorale. He was a guitarist at Crosswinds Wesleyan Church for five years and served as music director for a number of holiday musical presentations. Robert spent a decade as a touring musician, performing with bands all over the US and Canada and continues to appear regionally. He is the owner of Finger Lakes Music Studios, a recording studio, and has produced a number of albums featuring local artists.
STEPHANIE MERCER
Stephanie has over 20 years’ experience in teaching piano. She holds a BS in Music Education and MA in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. Stephanie’s teaching philosophy is based on what the great piano pedagogue Francis Clark wrote “There is music in every child. The teacher’s job is to find it and nurture it”. Stephanie ensures every student is realizing his or her unique talents during piano lessons. Stephanie’s students participate and excel in extracurricular activities including Gold Cup adjudications, American Composer recitals and holiday recitals.
In addition to teaching, Stephanie is an active member of Music Teachers National Association where she serves as director of membership for New York State and the Rochester Piano Teachers Guild where she serves as treasurer. Stephanie has had several articles published in the American Music Teacher journal and has presented at the national and state level conferences. She is also the Music Director of Newark First United Methodist Church.