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I learned to play the piano when I was 8 years old.  But like most kids I quickly gave it up.  In my late teens, a friend introduced me to Chopin’s music and I have been working diligently at the piano ever since. While my college training was in engineering and mathematics, I had the good fortune to study the piano for a couple of years with Professor Robert Helps at the University of South Florida. Professor Helps was a world-class pianist and composer who had  studied with Roger Sessions, a Princeton professor of composition, and Abby Whiteside a well-known piano teacher.  Professor Helps was a big proponent of Whiteside’s ideas of efficient piano technique.    I try to bring these ideas to my students.

For me, teaching the piano is about giving my students a tool to explore music.  It is not surprising that most great composers are piano players.  The piano is the best human interface ever invented.  It was invented to generate music.

I take a very broad approach to teaching the piano involving learning good technique, harmony, aural theory, how to improvise, and how to perform.

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Cathy Starnes studied piano with Dr. Watkins, formerly USF Piano Department Chairman and Mrs. Parisot, associate professor of piano at Yale School of Music.  Cathy Starnes graduated from Yale University. She won the Florida Orchestra Young Artists Competition and placed first in other competitions.

Cathy Starnes has performed many piano pieces in recitals; including five solo recitals at colleges.  She has also been piano accompaniment for many singing groups and even sang with Living Water at Yale.

Cathy Starnes has been a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs as a student and later as a teacher.  She has been composing,  arranging and teaching with the aim of J.S. Bach:

“… to the glorification of God and the refreshment of the spirit.”

ABOUT ME
I have played violin since 1990 and guitar since 1996. I also do professional videography and audio recording, mixing, & mastering.  From Florida to California, I have worked in recording studios and on TV/Film productions as talent and behind the scenes.  I am always writing, performing, and recording music whenever I am not teaching.  I also volunteer with church music ministries either playing guitar, bass, drums, and/or singing.

ABOUT YOU
Yes, anyone can play!  After years and years of teaching all different types of people with different levels of experience and learning styles, I have figured out the fastest and easiest way to understand and play violin & guitar.  Whether you are just starting out or have been playing for a little while, I’ll create a lesson plan that will meet you where you are at.  I love playing and creating music.  I want to get as many people as I can to enjoy it as much as I do!

A spinto tenor from Sonora, Mexico, Guillermo López has been hailed as one of the promising voices in Mexico and the United States. Beginning his musical journey as a pianist before college, Mr. López decided to pursue a professional singing career after the quality of his voice was discovered. He has participated as a soloist in the International Festival Alfonso Ortiz Tirado in Álamos, Mexico.

In 2014 Mr. López performed in the world premiere of the opera Ilegal Alien by the Mexican composer Alfonso Molina. He also participated in the world premiere of the opera El pajecillo de Felipe V by the Mexican composer Antonio de María y Campos in Sonora, México.  He worked with the Hermosillo Opera company on the production of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale as Ernesto.

In 2012 he was invited to perform Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata with the University of Arizona as an artist-in-residence. In 2011
he was selected to perform as a soloist in Beethoven’s Mass in C major with the Bowling Green Philarmonia in Ohio. Mr. López has been recipient of prizes and grants, including 3rd place in the
competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing at the Great Lakes region and a grant given by the Mexican government of the Sonora state.

Most recently, he was selected as a soloist for the Anton Coppola’s 100 year gala and was a semifinalist on the first edition of the International Francisco Araiza Vocal Competition. He also performed Leandro in the Zarzuela La Tabernera del
puerto and Julián in La Verbena de la Paloma with Spanish Lyric Theater.

With Saint Petes Opera Mr. Lopez performed the role of Gastone in La Traviata and Parpignol in La Boheme with Opera Tampa.

Hailing from Bradenton Florida, Isaac is a classically trained violinist with a passion to share his love for music. Isaac also has studied piano, guitar, electric bass, and the ukulele

He obtained a Bachelor’s of the Arts in Music Studies from the University of South Florida. Isaac has gone on to perform at Busch Gardens, and teach general music to private schools. He has been teaching for 4 years alongside doing some production work with his YouTube channel.

Isaac has also traveled to Brazil, and Thailand. His dream is to travel around the world and see the beautiful world we live in.

Jose Cabrera is currently a guitarist at Grace Family Church, as well as the lead guitarist of the Video Game Music band CREDIT: 0. He is also an audio engineer, composer, and one of the Guitar/Bass instructors at Music Showcase.  His interest for these instruments started at age 14, back when he lived in the Dominican Republic (D.R.).  After a year of being self-taught, he decided to pursue music seriously by taking private lessons from the local guitar instructors, such as Grammy Award winner Socrates Garcia, and later gigging semi-professionally in a couple of the local rock bands. Besides the Guitar, he also played Bass and Drums at his high school’s church.

At age 18, he was accepted into the National Conservatory of Music of Santo Domingo (D.R.), were he studied classical guitar for two years under the tutelage of professor Rafael Scarfullery.

In 1998, he moved to the United States to expand his musical horizons, first studying at Hillsborough Community College (Ybor City, FL), with author and educator John Demas, and later graduating Cum Laude with a B.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida (UNF), where he had the privilage to learn from world-class guitarist, Barry Greene.

​After graduating from UNF in 2003, he began gigging professionally with several of the local wedding/club bands in the Tampa Bay Area, playing everything from Bossa Nova, Jazz, Rock, Country, Reggae, Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, R&B, Funk, etc.  Some of the bands he has performed with include Son Salvaje, Bay Kings Band, Evangel, Bossamba, The Amanda Keller Band, From Me to You, and more.
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In 2010, Jose joined the Music Showcase roster. As a Guitar/Bass instructor, he aims to help his students reach their goals. His musical versatility, combined with the skill to communicate in an easily understood manner, are key components that enables him to teach practically anyone willing to put the effort needed to learn this amazing instrument.

José Cochez started playing drums at the age of 15 with Metal bands in his home country of Panama. During his early years as a musician, he started playing violin and viola, started composing music using MIDI, and became obsessed with the music of Frank Zappa. He soon turned his attention to Jazz, Fusion, and Modern Classical Music.

Pursuing musical studies, he enrolled in the University of South Florida, in Tampa. He studied Jazz Drums with Steve Davis, and Composition & Electronic Music with Paul Reller, earning a triple degree in 2009. Since then, José has been very active musician in the Tampa Bay Area, playing a range of musical styles as well as writing and arranging music for the projects he is involved with. He currently arranges and plays for “Credit: 0”, a band that performs live renditions of Video Game Music.

Besides music, José ’s other hobbies include: Video Games, Chess, and Yoga. He has been very involved in Tampa’s Retro Gaming community, and has been running a chess club for over 5 years.

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