Music Loft Teachers

At The Music Loft we feel that we have the best teachers in the Triangle. Some have been with us for over 15 years. Each of our teachers is a professional musician and has developed his own unique style of playing and teaching.The lessons are taught here at the Loft and are available all hours of the day or evening. Kids to adults, beginner to advanced players, let us help you learn to play. Contact Music Loft at 919-286-9539.

Tim Bjorklund - Guitar
I have been teaching music in the Durham-Chapel Hill area for almost 20 years. Retail salesperson for 15 of those years. In 1995 I started setting up concerts for different local venues in Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh NC, were I have worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry .I have also tuned pianos at Alltel Pavilion since 1997 for such artist as James Taylor, Tony Bennett, Lyle Lovett, Joe Sample, Lillith Fair 97-98 and others.

I teach guitar at the Music Loft Monday through Thursday in the evenings between 5-9p.m. as well as sell behind the counter part time. You can reach me at
Guitarlessons@aol.com.

Joe Izzo - Drums
Joe began playing piano at the age of six and switched to drums at 12. He studied percussion at Western Connecticut State University; meanwhile playing in numerous rock and jazz bands in and around New York City. Since relocating to the Triangle in 1996, Joe has drummed for The Dave Youngman Band, Susan Reeves Quartet, Chris Reynolds Swing 'n' Jazz, The Casablanca Orchestra, North Carolina Central Big Band, Richard Tazewell, Raleigh Jazz Orchestra, Mitch Butler Trio, Alexis Cole Quartet, Dry White Toast, Soul Candy, and the Greg Brink Trio among others. He is currently completing his degree in jazz at North Carolina Central University.

Brad Newell - Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Bass. All ages welcome.
Brad has a long standing career as a musician and instructor, teaching guitar, bass, banjo and mandolin. He studied music performance and composition at the acclaimed Berklee School of Music in Boston, The North Carolina School of the Arts, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has performed extensively with bands from North Carolina to California, including The Graphic, Sigmund Freud, Workbook, Eight Eyes, and Butter. His band Eight Eyes a "renaissance pop" band has won accolades for it's recordings and live performances from local and national publications including Spectator Magazine, New Music Informer, Option Magazine and the Record Exchange's Music Monitor.

Brad also owns Groovy Cellar, a 16 track studio equipped with the most up-to-date equipment at affordable rates. he has produced many recording projects for individuals, bands and short and full length films. Eight Eyes has released it's fourth cd on the local label Neonpie Records. (www.neonpie.com) His jazz-funk band Butter will be releasing a cd later this year and plays weekly gigs at Papa's Grill and Pizza Palace in Durham. (info/audio@bradsjazzpage.com) His duo Workbook performs classical music at many weddings and restaurants.

Ben Palmer - Guitar and Bass. All ages welcome.
Ben Palmer is a musician born in Austin, Texas now living in Durham, NC. He plays bass, upright and electric, with a wide variety of ensembles from straight ahead jazz to R+B, rock, funk, latin, theater, singer/songwriter, and bluegrass and has recorded 20+ CD's. Ben also has been teaching private and group lessons on guitar and bass at the Music Loft in Durham for 15 years. He currently plays with The Raleigh Jazz Orchestra, Susan Reeves, Rebecca and the HiTones, and Mambo Crew to name a few. He usually runs out of fingers counting the bands he currently has gigs with.

In the years since he began playing professionally, Ben has played almost every night club, country club, swing dance, bar, hotel, recording studio and festival in the Triangle area. Ben has played the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland every year between 2000 and 2004. There he hosted and attended many jam sessions with local and international musicians as well as performed on stage with Peter Cincotti, George Benson, Jon Anderson of Yes and many other main stage musicians sat in on Ben's street performing.

Back at home, Ben hosts an open jazz jam session at Cinelli's in Durham on Wednesday nights. Ben's goals include performing at music festivals, domestic and foreign. He plans to continue teaching at the Music Loft until guitar isn't the most popular instrument, which will never happen. Check Ben's website for details and new shows! www.benpalmermusic.com

Todd Proctor - Drums and Percussion
Todd received a scholarship to study at East Carolina University which has one of North Carolina’s most prestigious music programs. Todd studied privately under Mark Ford, who is currently the head of the percussion department at North Texas State University. Louis Pragasam, a Full-Bright Scholar from Malaysia also taught Todd privately. Pragasam influenced Todd to study many styles from other countries and regions. Todd also studied with the world-renowned bassist, Carol Dashiell and jazz great Peter Erskine. While attending East Carolina University, Todd had the fortunate opportunity to play with some of the world’s finest musicians: Sedatrius Brown, Mulgrew Miller, Christian McBride, Grady Tate, and Maceo Parker.

Todd has an active freelance career performing varying styles of music with artists throughout the Southeast. These styles include pop, country, rock, Cuban, blues, funk, R&B, straight-ahead jazz, electric- jazz, calypso, soca, reggae, and symphonic/orchestral percussion.

Todd has opened for many popular artists such as Edwin McCain, The Wailers, Yellowman, Third World, Culture, The Derrick Truck’s Band, and Bobby Watson and the New Horizon. He has also shared the stage with The Hartford Symphony, Gogi Grant, Amy Grant and Vince Gill (Duke Children’s Classic pit-ensemble), and The Duke Chorale. Todd currently plays with the Triangle Chamber Orchestra, Performance Edge inc. ,and Panyelo a North Carolina based steel drum band.

Todd’s work is best represented on the following recordings: Mother Nature, Mother Nature (1995), East Carolina Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Directions 2 (1997), Armand & Bluesology, Everything I Need (1997), Rusty Adams, Windows to the Soul (1997), The Crooked Smile Band, Debut (2000), Van Zant/Palmer, Sessions (2001), Laura Ridgeway, Triple Dog Dare Ya (2002), Dave Youngman Quartet, Usual Suspects (2002), Jim Crew, Shimmy Shack (2002), House Arrest, House Arrest (2002), and Mark Williams, Hold On (2003)& Soldier (2004).

Todd currently teaches 20-30 students a week at the Music Loft in Durham, NC, applied lessons Ravenscroft Fine arts Department, and a few select students at his home studio. Prior to teaching private lessons, Todd taught several drumlines throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. These include Patrick Henry High School, Havelock High School, Kellam High School, Williamston High School, Thomas Dale High School, Cheraw High School, John Randolph Tucker High School, and Little Washington High School.

Todd’s philosophy regarding the teaching of his students includes mastering the fundamentals of music – the reading and counting of basic rhythms, which are the ABC’s of music. Without these essential elements, the performances of students as well as artists will be flawed. Todd feels that mastering these concepts will stick with them for a lifetime.

Bryon Settle - Guitar
Bryon Settle has a 25 year history on the music scene in North Carolina. He has toured the US and beyond with the Pressure Boys. Played guitar with Trailer Bride, Tift Merrit, The Patio Kings and many more. Bryon has also engineered and produced dozens of recordings as owner operator of the now legendary Yellow Recording. Bryon is currently playing with his Band Lud and has recently joined the new instrumental band Killer Filler.

Bryon's Day gig for the last ten years has been with The Music Loft in Durham, NC where he is also a guitar instructor. He teaches most styles to beginners, intermediates and he also helps the advanced guitarist with tone and execution. Bryon's hours of instruction are: Monday through Thursday, 1pm-6pm. Give him a call if your guitar playing is in a rut.

Store Hours · Monday - Friday 10:30am to 6:30pm, Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm
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