Here at theHarmonyHouse.com, we have information about our music lesson program teachers. Please call us at (602) 493-1234 or e-mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information about our music lesson program.

The teachers listed are only some of the instructors that teach at the Harmony House, and there may be instruments that are taught that are not listed.  We currently offer lessons for the following instruments: guitar, bass, trumpet, drums, piano, vocal, violin, viola, cello, bassoon, flute, clarinet, oboe, sax, and trombone.  

Ryan Picone - Guitar Teacher

Ryan Picone is a classically trained guitarist that holds a Bachelor's degree in Guitar Performance at Arizona State University. He currently is working on a Master's degree in this same profession. To acquire this degree he has studied and attended lectures

from musicians all around the world. These skills have acquired him with knowledge of music theory from all different time periods and also an ability and understanding of piano and solfege. His musical styles encompass music from the Renaissance to modern day musical styles. He also holds an understanding of jazz, blues, bossa nova, rumba, flamanco, irish, blue grass, gypsy jazz, rock, folk, and other musical styles that are defined as classical repertoire.

Ryan was the teacher's assistant at Glendale Community College under the instruction of Charles Hulhan. Also, in 2009 he taught a lecture on Jazz improvisation at Glendale Community College. He currently

is under the teaching of Professor Frank Koonce at Arizona State Univeristy.

Joy Elaine - Piano Teacher

Joy was a typical musician's kid – she sang solos in church at age 5 while an older sister accompanied on the piano. She was involved in choirs and bands – singing, playing, and/or directing - all through grade school and high school. After high school, she played the piano or directed choir for small churches in town. She moved to NV in 19

98 where she served as choir director for four years at a small church in Henderson while teaching piano, flute, and clarinet out of her home. Joy moved back to Phoenix in 2005 where she continued teaching piano.

She completed her college education at GCC and Southwestern College (now called ACU) where she graduated with a degree in Music Ministry in May 2010, while fulfilling her internship as pianist at a small church from 2007 through 2010. Joy has taught piano since 1998, and has been at Harmony House since 2005.

John Antonelli - Drum Teacher

John began playing drums in 1984. He has been a full-time professional player and teacher since 1995 and has taught at the Harmony House since the summer of 2004. John has played in every conceivable type of band and playing situation. Highlights would include reggae with Grant Man & the Island Beats for the 2006 and 2007 Fiesta Bowls; his 10-year tenure as a percussionist with Dracula, the Opera; his 1995 and 2005 appearances at the Buffalo Drum Festival; performing on ice with skater Christian Conte at the 1998 Baltimore Ice World opening ceremonies; and performing with the advanced tap dancers of the Bender School of Performing Arts for their 2007 recital appearance.

John's teaching is based on his concept of Fundamental Universals of Drumming, which stresses 1) a mastery of rhythmic concepts, 2) an understanding of the mechanics of movement, 3) an ambidextrous approach to sticking, and 4) development of complete 4 limb independence.

Vicki Thai - Violin Teacher

 Vicki Thai has been playing and teaching violin, at an advanced level, for over 30 years. She is currently a violinist and partner with Allegro String Quartet, a violinist and board member for String Sounds, and has been a studio violin teacher through out her professional career. In addition, Mrs. Thai was also the director ofstring instruction at Acacia Elementary in Phoenix. Completing her formal education at the American Conservatory of Music (Chicago) and receiving her music education degree from Roosevelt University, Mrs. Thai holds a Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.).

Martha Irvine - Voice Teacher

Martha Irvine's first solo was in church at age five and ever since her love and joy of singing has grown.  Martha is a 2009 Vocal Music Education graduate of Arizona Christian University in Phoenix, Arizona.  Under the vocal instruction and pedagogy training of Karin Foglesong- Moody, she has studied and performed a diverse selection of music: Contemporary, Rock, Jazz/Blues, Musical Theater, Christian and Classical Repertoire.  She had her first opera debut as "Pitti Sing" in Arizona Christian's 2008 performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado."  She was also a featured soloist for the school's presentation of Rossini's "Petite messe solennelle."  She has also composed original compositions, and performed them for special events and churches all over Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson.  In 2007 she recorded her first CD of original songs, accompanying herself on guitar, called "Anthem To You."  Martha's love for singing, classical technique foundation, and years of experience in performances of all styles spill out into her passionate teaching.  Martha Irvine has been the worship leader at Pinnacle Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona for the past nine years.  She is currently an adjunct voice professor at Arizona Christian University and is pursuing her Master's degree in Ethnomusicology through Liberty University.

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Laurel Durham – Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass, Fiddle and Piano Teacher

Laurel graduated from ASU with a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Music Education degree.  She was a string orchestra director in the Phoenix area for over 20 years.  Her violin and viola studies began at age 11, and by high school she was actively playing four instruments.  She went on for professional viola study with John Tartaglia, Assoc. Principal Violist of the Minnesota Orchestra, and Phillip Lowry, Principal Violist of the Tulsa Philharmonic.  She apprenticed with the Symphony School of America to learn standard orchestral repertoire.

Her father was a songwriter in Nashville during the golden years of country music, so she spent time as a young girl back stage of the Grand Ole Opry.  This upbringing heavily influenced her love of American fiddling music; in particular, bluegrass, western swing and Texas style contest fiddling.  She learned improvisation and began to compete, winning multiple times at the AZ State Championship Old Time Fiddlers’ Contest in the adult and twin fiddling divisions.  She was a student at Camp Bluegrass, an immersion camp in west Texas, with fiddle legends Dale Morris, Sr. and Jim “Texas Shorty” Chancellor.  This love of dance music led her to become director of the Zuni Coyote Fiddlers in Scottsdale, an award winning student ensemble that performed for many years at Rawhide, Pioneer Living History Museum and the Scottsdale Jaycees’ Parada del Sol rodeo parade.
Laurel is a composer and published author, dedicating an orchestral piece called “The Fiddle Show” to the Coyote Fiddlers, and a music editor for the “American Fiddle Method” by Brian Wicklund and published by Mel Bay.  She volunteers in choir and orchestra at church. Her teaching style is very nurturing and positive.

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Adam Gonzales - Guitar Teacher

Adam Gonzales has had an appreciation for music from a very young age. Starting out in concert and jazz band on the Saxophone and trumpet, he received an early start on a never-ending quest of musical knowledge.  After High School, he further pursued music at Glendale Community College and Arizona State University. During his college experience he was exposed to such musical styles as Classical, Flamenco, Jazz, 20th Century and experimental music. During this time he began teaching privately and soon gained enough experience to work with Young Mozarts under the guidance of John and Suzie Renner. Young Mozarts allowed him to teach group classes in after school music programs for first through fourth graders in the Madison and Tesseract school districts. This also includes teaching one summer at the Glendale Aquatic Center. Adam began teaching at Harmony House in the summer of 2009. Here he has enjoyed the challenge of developing the musical talents of a wide array of individuals. Everyone from beginning to advanced players are welcome.

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Cindy Sparks - Woodwind & Brass Teacher