Chris has been playing guitar since he was 12 years old. At 16 he started studying jazz guitar with a local instructor Bob Wall who prepared Chris for the Bucks County Community College music program. There he studied with Ed Flanagan and Joseph Federico and continued his studies while establishing a teaching career at Music Services Unlimited in 1985. During that time he played in several commercial rock, and top 40 bands and was also presented the opportunity to acquire Music Services in 1989. He continued teaching and playing professionally while running Music Services and in 2000, moved to our current location and changed the name of the store to Music Forte. Chris' priority since 1985 has been to offer legitimate, comprehensive instrumental instruction in a comfortable, relaxing environment. He and his highly qualified instructors teach an exciting, enjoyable curriculum of all styles without sacrificing basic fundamentals and technique.
Cheech Iero (Drums)
Cheech
Iero's professional life seems to move as fast
as his hands and feet when playing his drums and
cymbals. His career can be traced from his Las
Vegas playing, to his work as one of the music
scene's most in demand studio session musicians,
to clinician and writer, to Associate Editor of
"Modern Drummer Magazine". He was hired
as Staff Drummer/Project Coordinator of Record
Plant Recording Studios in New York. It was there
Iero met John Lennon during recording sessions
for the slain Beatle's final album "Double
Fantasy". Cheech went on to teach Julian
Lennon, the famed Beatle's offspring, drums. Iero
appears on Julian Lennon's Website www.julianlennon.com.
Cheech Iero accepted the position as head of The
Trenton Community School's percussion department,
and now the world renowned educator has been appointed
to Director of Education of BlackBall Music, LLC.
Music Forte is proud to add Cheech to it's list
of qualified music instructors.
Cyndee Lee Rule (Violin)
Cyndee
has taught at the NJ School of Music. Also, she
worked as a Soloist for the debut concert of the
Medford Community Choir, performed in the Pit
Orchestra for "South Pacific", and with
the Main Street Pops Orchestra, as well as, the
Greater Chorus of Southern NJ. She attended USDAN
Summer camp on a full scholarship and studied
violin performance at West Virginia University.
Cyndee also took a Master Class with violinist
Stephanie Chase. She is a member of the American
Federation of Musicians and is involved in several
community activities such as the Philharmonic
of Southern NJ and the SJ Pops. Cyndee continues
to study to improve her already seasoned skills
on the violin and can teach beginners, as well
as, advanced students. She focuses on technique,
sight-reading, and ear training. Cyndee's students
learn not only impressive repertoire, but also
how to create a beautiful, full sound from the
violin.
Aaron Irwin (saxophone,flute,clarinet)
In 1996, Aaron moved to Chicago, Illinois to attend DePaul University and to study with Mark Colby and Susan Cook. It was in Chicago, where he was immersed in the music and culture of the city, that Aaron became focused on practicing and refining his playing. While at DePaul he played a few gigs around the city with various groups that included Charles Cameron and the Sunshine Festival, World Class Noise, and the Michael Lerich Orchestra. While playing in the DePaul University Big Band, he got to record a live CD with trumpeter Tom Harrell, perform on a Trans-Atlantic jazz cruise with drummer Louis Bellson, as well as playing with a host of jazz greats including Dick Oatts and Joe Lovano! During this time, he spent his summers working on various cruise ships through Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines. In 2000, Aaron moved to Miami, Florida to attend graduate school at the University of Miami, where he recorded a commissioned work (Three Romances) by Maria Schneider with the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, as well as playing gigs in and around the greater Miami area.
In 2002 Aaron moved to New York and has since established himself as a much in demand musician in the thriving New York music scene having performed and/or recorded with many of New York’s finest musicians and bands. Along with his work as a sideman, he has also recorded two CDs of his own for the Fresh Sound/New Talent record label based out of Barcelona, Spain. His first CD, Into the Light (featuring saxophone guru Rich Perry) received many critical accolades and was heralded by the New Yorker magazine as being one of the ten best jazz recordings of 2006 alongside such artists such as Ornette Coleman, Joe Lovano, and Paul Motian. His playing has been described by Jazz Times as “generat[ing] thoughtful dialogs, crunchy little grooves, and moments of great emotive power”. He has toured Europe, Japan, and much of the United States playing jazz festivals, Broadway productions, and other various types of shows. In September 2008, his second CD, Blood and Thunder was released again through Fresh Sound/New Talent featuring both well renowned saxophonist Chris Cheek (Charlie Haden, Bill Frisell) and guitarist Ben Monder (Maria Schneider, Paul Motian). Aaron has been on our faculty since Sept 2009 and has thoroughly impressed us not only with his virtuosity but equally with his teaching ability.
Dave Morrison (guitar)
Dave has a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education from Temple University. His guitar studies
emphasized
classical music but also is very familiar with modern rock and blues styles. He teaches a solid rudimental foundation while making the lesson fun and interesting.
Steve Montenegro (bass,guitar)
Steve has a Bachelors degree in Music Performance at theUniversity of the Arts. He studied jazz improvisation, theory/counterpoint, composition, world music, philosophies of the east and west. Steve studied bass with Gerald Veasley, Steve Beskrone and Craig Thomas, composition with Donald Chittum, Andrea Clearfield and Norman David. He currently plays in a kind of punk/hip-hop project called Patty Crash. Over the years he has participated in avant-garde jazz and classical groups, traditional jazz gigs, theater gigs, rock bands, soul/funk/hip-hop.Steve enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for music and helping students understand musical concepts and physically perform an idea. He teaches the basics of music but also encourages to improvise and experiment, to play with sound and most of all to love music.
Eileen Belluscio (violin, viola)
Eileen has a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education from the College of New Jersey. She received Outstanding Scholars Recruitment Program Scholarship, TCNJ ,
New Jersey Bloustein Scholar, Edward J. Bloustein Scholarship,
and the College of New Jersey Merit Scholarship,. She currently works as a conducting intern for the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County and is the string director for Orange Avenue School, K-6 in Cranford NJ. Eileen teaches students of all ages and is particularly good with children, providing a relaxed , no-stress atmosphere that makes learning violin or viola very enjoyable.
Kale Good (guitar)
Kale has a Bachelor of Music degree from Esther
Boyer College at Temple University, He majored in Classical Guitar Performance and Music Theory . Although his emphasis is in classical music he is also very well versed in modern and classic rock. He has taught private guitar lessons
at the Wissahickon Art Center and has students of various ages through Temple's Voices Program.
He is an energetic and engaging individual with over 9 years of guitar studies and uses innovative ideas to teach students of all ages the joys of having music in their lives.
Edward Hoenisch (guitar)
Ed has a Bachelor of Music degree from Esther
Boyer College of Music at Temple University. He
has performed with various jazz ensembles and
rock groups in the Philadelphia area for the past
several years. He is currently working on his
solo guitar repertoire to play in the local area.
Ed is well versed in jazz, rock, and flamenco
guitar styles and has a modern approach to teaching
students of all ages. While providing students
with a solid musical foundation he will focus
on a particular style a student may want to learn.
Francis Danis (piano)
Francis has Bachelor of Music degree from Esther
Boyer College of Music at Temple University. He also has a B.A. in Music Education that he completed in 2002 and in 2005 became certified in Special Education "Teaching of Children with Disabilities". He is a freelance piano performer in Philadelphia and surrounding areas, his expertise is in Jazz Piano, Cuban music, and Latin Jazz. Fran teaches students from age 6 to adult. He has an exceptional ability to relate and connect to students of all ages while keeping them motivated and excited about learning how to play the piano.
Randy Speidel (piano)
·Randy
has studied piano and music theory with Roger
Dunkel 1961 to 1972 focusing primarily on classical
styles. He has played professionally with several
classic rock bands over the years including,"Roadhouse",
"Modern Dinosaur", and "Solid Gold.
He is currently playing the Philadelphia area
with the classic rock group "Legend".
Randy concentrates on the fundamentals of technique
and theory while keeping his student's, interest
by focusing on the style of music they enjoy the
most. His laid back, relaxed teaching style creates
a very pleasant learning environment for his students
of all ages.
Adam Hershberger (Trumpet)
Adam graduated from Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music in Philadelphia 2005, where he studied with trumpeter/educator Terell Stafford for 4 years. Since then, Adam has been very active in the Philadelphia music scene, playing gigs and teaching lessons full time. Making as many connections as possible has led Adam to collaborate with projects spanning the genres, from New Orleans dixieland (Hoppin' John Orchestra...hoppinjohn.net), to Balkan (West Philadelphia Orchestra...westphiladelphiaorchestra.com) to Afro-Cuban (Leana Song...myspace.com/leanasong) and Brazilian Samba (Philly Bloco...www.myspace.com/phillybloco), to name a few. When Adam is not in the recording studio, playing a wedding or in the pit for a musical production, he teaches the fundamentals of brass playing, theory, ear training and jazz improvisation to students of all levels. Wonderful Sound) to Dixieland (Hoppin' John Orchestra) to hip-hop (Philadelphia Slick). Adam began teaching private lessons in 2003 and came highly recommended by the faculty at Temple University.
Tom Cullen (drums)
Tom Cullen grew up in a musical family surrounded by the strong pulse of Rhythm and Blues, Soul music and Jazz. He received his first drum set at age 8 and began to play in his school's bands. By middle school he was a full fledged drummer sharpening his skills at school, studying privately with Frank Gattis at Music Services Unlimited (now Music Forte), and also forming bands with his friends. This continued into high school where he encountered his first recording sessions and an appearance on the radio station 94.1 WYSP.
After high school his love of music took him to Bucks County Community College where he studied music theory, Jazz and percussion. Tom graduated with an Associates degree in 2004. Around this time he began his teaching career at local music stores. He has developed a dynamic , effective teaching style that works well with students of all ages but especially with young children. He has performed all across the Tri-State area (and beyond) in many different venues with various artists from many different genres. He has just recently graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance and continues to work and play in the Philly music scene. He currently hosts a weekly Jazz jam session at The Fig Cafe and takes pride in his own project called iNFiNiEN, who have two independently released albums under their belt and two successful summer tours.
Cheech
Iero's professional life seems to move as fast
as his hands and feet when playing his drums and
cymbals. His career can be traced from his Las
Vegas playing, to his work as one of the music
scene's most in demand studio session musicians,
to clinician and writer, to Associate Editor of
"Modern Drummer Magazine". He was hired
as Staff Drummer/Project Coordinator of Record
Plant Recording Studios in New York. It was there
Iero met John Lennon during recording sessions
for the slain Beatle's final album "Double
Fantasy". Cheech went on to teach Julian
Lennon, the famed Beatle's offspring, drums. Iero
appears on Julian Lennon's Website www.julianlennon.com.
Cheech Iero accepted the position as head of The
Trenton Community School's percussion department,
and now the world renowned educator has been appointed
to Director of Education of BlackBall Music, LLC.
Music Forte is proud to add Cheech to it's list
of qualified music instructors.
Cyndee
has taught at the NJ School of Music. Also, she
worked as a Soloist for the debut concert of the
Medford Community Choir, performed in the Pit
Orchestra for "South Pacific", and with
the Main Street Pops Orchestra, as well as, the
Greater Chorus of Southern NJ. She attended USDAN
Summer camp on a full scholarship and studied
violin performance at West Virginia University.
Cyndee also took a Master Class with violinist
Stephanie Chase. She is a member of the American
Federation of Musicians and is involved in several
community activities such as the Philharmonic
of Southern NJ and the SJ Pops. Cyndee continues
to study to improve her already seasoned skills
on the violin and can teach beginners, as well
as, advanced students. She focuses on technique,
sight-reading, and ear training. Cyndee's students
learn not only impressive repertoire, but also
how to create a beautiful, full sound from the
violin.
the city, that Aaron became focused on practicing and refining his playing. While at DePaul he played a few gigs around the city with various groups that included Charles Cameron and the Sunshine Festival, World Class Noise, and the Michael Lerich Orchestra. While playing in the DePaul University Big Band, he got to record a live CD with trumpeter Tom Harrell, perform on a Trans-Atlantic jazz cruise with drummer Louis Bellson, as well as playing with a host of jazz greats including Dick Oatts and Joe Lovano! During this time, he spent his summers working on various cruise ships through Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines. In 2000, Aaron moved to Miami, Florida to attend graduate school at the University of Miami, where he recorded a commissioned work (Three Romances) by Maria Schneider with the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, as well as playing gigs in and around the greater Miami area. 
Eileen has a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education from the College of New Jersey. She received Outstanding Scholars Recruitment Program Scholarship, TCNJ ,
New Jersey Bloustein Scholar, Edward J. Bloustein Scholarship,
and the College of New Jersey Merit Scholarship,. She currently works as a conducting intern for the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County and is the string director for Orange Avenue School, K-6 in Cranford NJ. Eileen teaches students of all ages and is particularly good with children, providing a relaxed , no-stress atmosphere that makes learning violin or viola very enjoyable. 
Francis has Bachelor of Music degree from Esther
Boyer College of Music at Temple University. He also has a B.A. in Music Education that he completed in 2002 and in 2005 became certified in Special Education "Teaching of Children with Disabilities". He is a freelance piano performer in Philadelphia and surrounding areas, his expertise is in Jazz Piano, Cuban music, and Latin Jazz. Fran teaches students from age 6 to adult. He has an exceptional ability to relate and connect to students of all ages while keeping them motivated and excited about learning how to play the piano. 
Adam graduated from Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music in Philadelphia 2005, where he studied with trumpeter/educator Terell Stafford for 4 years. Since then, Adam has been very active in the Philadelphia music scene, playing gigs and teaching lessons full time. Making as many connections as possible has led Adam to collaborate with projects spanning the genres, from New Orleans dixieland (Hoppin' John Orchestra...
