Lessons


MUSIC EDUCATION from Cameron's Music:
Beyond Music Lessons
Private study can greatly enhance the enjoyment of learning an instrument.
The one-on-one time and attention provided by private lesson teachers is a
tremendous aid to music students - whether they are just beginning their
study or have been playing for years.
With 14 newly built or remodeled state-of-the-art private studios in our lower
level, Cameron's Music has teachers on staff for flute, clarinet, saxophone,
oboe, trumpet, trombone, baritone, eupohonium, tuba, French horn, violin,
piano, guitar and voice. Most of our teachers have college degrees
specializing in their instrument of choice and/or music education; all of our
teachers have years of playing and teaching experience. Our teachers are
available to instruct beginners, experienced players, young children, older
musicians and everything in between.
At Cameron's Music, you aren't merely buying lesson time by the half hour.
You are investing in a relationship with a qualified, experienced,
professional teacher who has the knowledge, skills, patience and
individually tailored curriculum to help you soar as a musician. Take a look
at our staff:
Piano Teachers
Larry Celmer is our Director of Music Education. A former professional
baseball umpire, he has been studying and playing music for over 40
years. Mr. Celmer has taught in the Livonia area for 21 years, and has been
with Cameron's since our opening 15 years ago. He plays professionally
with several local bands. Mr. Celmer is currently a member of the American
Guild of Music and participates in yearly competitions with the group.
Gerald Goslin is an internationally recognized concert pianist and professor
of music. He majored in music at Cass Technical High School and Wayne
State University and went on to study with the leading maestros and
professors in Michigan. He is currently adjunct professor of piano, voice and
theory at Oakland Community College as well as professor of piano, theory,
and voice at Cameron's Music. In his 44-year career, he has played,
lectured and presented workshops the world over and made numerous
television and radio appearances. Professor Goslin has taught at
Cameron's for nine years.
Susan Oller graduated Cum Laude from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio
with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music specializing in Vocal Performance and
Pedagogy with a minor in Piano Pedagogy. Upon graduation she received
the Ferris and Dorothy Ohl Prize, awarded to the student who at Heidelberg
had best displayed musical talent, performing ability, and potential for
professional success. Mrs. Oller was a member of Heidelberg’s Concert
Choir, Chamber Groups and Opera Theater. Having worked as a choral
accompanist in the past, Mrs. Oller is available to accompany her vocal
students at recitals and competitions. She is currently a member of the
American Guild of Music and participates in yearly competitions through the
organization. Mrs. Oller has taught voice and piano for 11 years—including
the last 6 at Cameron's—and continues to enjoy sharing her enthusiasm
and love of music with her students so that they may become fine
musicians while enjoying its challenges.
Woodwind Teachers
Meredith Bonahoom graduated Magna Cum Laude from Oakland
University in 2005 with a Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music
Education with a concentration in woodwinds and specializing in the
saxophone. She plays professionally with the VanGuard Saxophone
Quartet. Meredith is currently the band director at Our Lady of Sorrows
School in Farmington Hills and also directs a saxophone ensemble here at
Cameron's. She specializes in classical saxophone technique and
performance.
Jeff Ponders comes to Cameron's with over 8 years of professional playing
experience, having shared the stage with such luminaries as John Legend,
James Carter, Randy Brecker and Kanye West. He has been teaching
music and mentoring musicians in Detroit and Philadelphia since 2004.
He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in
2004 with a Bachelor's degree and has enjoyed private instruction with
such Detroit jazz legends as Marcus Belgrave, Donald Walden and Leonard
King. He specializes in jazz instruction on the entire saxophone family.
Don Buckmaster attended Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, WI, where
he was involved in the College’s ensembles, and Schoolcraft College,
where he was a member of the wind and jazz ensembles. Mr. Buckmaster
has studied privately with Dr. Richard Saunders (President of OCC Auburn
Hills), Mr. Paul Schaller (Principal Clarinetist, DSO), Mr. Jack Horner
(Clarinetist, DSO) and Mr. George Benson (Former Professor of Jazz
Studies, Wayne State University). He spent 8 years serving as the Director
of Instrumental Music at Ladywood High School in Livonia. Mr. Buckmaster
has played woodwinds professionally with various bands for over 30 years.
He has been teaching clarinet, saxophone, and flute students at Cameron's
since our opening in 1994. His teaching emphasizes instrumental basics
beginning with music theory, technique, and rhythm and including work on
creativity and performance.
Norm Gladstone is a graduate of Wayne State University and has
completed graduate work at Eastern Michigan University. His career as a
professional musician has included work with Detroit Concert Band, the
Grosse Pointe Symphony, the Scandinavian Symphony, the Joe Vitale Jazz
Band, and the Edinborough Saxophone Quartette. He is currently a member
of the jazz saxophone quintet “Sax Alive”. Mr. Gladstone has taught
saxophone, clarinet, and flute for over 25 years, including the last 10 years
at Cameron's. His teaching emphasizes quality of sound, scales, and
rhythm.
Heather Koch earned her Bachelor’s Degree in General/Choral Music
Education from Michigan State University. She has also completed several
flute workshops and several courses in Suzuki Technique for Flute. Having
played and studied flute for over 30 years, Ms. Koch began lessons with
Edwin Lennig (former principal flutist with the Detroit symphony Orchestra)
and continued her studies under Israel Borouchoff (at MSU). Ms. Koch also
spent several summers at Interlochen’s National Music Camp studying with
Alexander Murray, former first flutist with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Her performance career includes work with symphonic bands, marching
bands, wind ensembles, college and community orchestras, flute choirs,
and early music ensembles. Ms. Koch specializes in flute instruction at
Cameron's.
Ernest Matchulat is a graduate of Wayne State University with a Master’s
Degree in Music Education. Mr. Matchulat worked for many years as a high
school band director in the Livonia Public Schools. Over his long
professional career he has played saxophone and clarinet with numerous
big bands, combos, and symphony and theater orchestras in the Detroit
area, including a long membership with the Detroit Concert Band. Mr.
Matchulat served with the U.S. Military in Europe, where he performed
concerts all over Germany with the 7th Army Symphony Orchestra. Mr.
Matchulat teaches saxophone, clarinet, and flute at Cameron's.
Brass Teachers
Glenn Andersen began his career with a stint in the US Air Force Band
program. Since then Mr. Andersen has established himself on the Detroit
area music scene as a low brass specialist. He has professional
performing credits at all the major performance venues and theaters in
Southeastern Michigan and Northern Ohio on tenor and bass trombones,
baritone and tuba. A ten-year veteran at Cameron's Music, his students
have won positions in the top youth orchestras in the area including the
Metropolitan Youth Symphony and the Detroit Civic Orchestra, which is the
training orchestra of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He maintains a studio
well stocked with music reading materials and recorded examples. Every
summer he directs a low brass ensemble workshop that culminates with a
public concert in August.
Howard Kagen earned his BME from Indiana University and his Master’s
Degree in Trumpet Performance from Eastern Michigan University. He has
studied with Mr. William Adam of Indiana University and Mr. Roy Stephens of
New York, NY. He taught in the Detroit Public Schools for 30 years, including
serving as the Cass Tech High School Band Director. He works currently as
a freelance musician. Mr. Kagen has taught all brass instruments, string
bass, and music theory for over 30 years. He specializes in trumpet and
French Horn instruction at Cameron's.
Jeff Oller has been a band director with the Detroit Public Schools for 8
years and also taught band in Ohio for 3 years. He has a Bachelors of
Music Education degree from Heidelberg College and is working towards a
Masters Degree at Wayne State University. He has taught privately for 5
years at Cameron's Music. He teaches all brass, mainly trumpet, but his
specialty is euphonium and trombone. He as performed in drum and bugle
corps, marching, concert, jazz and brass bands
String Teachers
Dorothy Toth has studied violin with Francis Harlow, Francis Peterson,
Adam Melone, and Orion Daley of the Michigan Youth Symphony. She has
also performed with the Dearborn and Rochester Symphonies. Mrs. Toth
studied medicine in college and worked in the medical profession for many
years, all while continuing her study of the violin and performing with her
church orchestra. Mrs. Toth currently works as a violin instructor, a Christian
Leadership instructor, a preschool director, and a Kindergarten teacher.
She specializes in violin instruction at Cameron's.
Kirsten Ann Samuelson-DeVault studied at Wayne State University and
with several top DSO violinists. She has also coordinated and rehearsed
several small chamber groups with the Livonia Public Schools.
Percussion
Brian Buckmaster earned his BMEI (close to a Master’s Degree) in Music
Education from Eastern Michigan University. Mr. Buckmaster currently
teaches music in the Ypsilanti Public Schools and works as a regular
freelance percussionist performing with symphonies, big bands,
community choirs, and community theaters. There is a wide range of
equipment available in Mr. Buckmaster’s studio at Cameron's, including a
drum set (used to study chart reading and song playing, learn about and
play different styles, play fills, transcribe music, etc.), a snare drum (used to
work on sight reading, short solos, and multiple percussion solos), a
xylophone (used to study note reading, sticking, technique, theory, and
repertoire), and a computer that Mr. Buckmaster uses for listening lessons,
music theory, composition, and instrument identification.
Guitar Teachers
Matt Drozdowski has studied with guitar teacher Scott Scrhoem. He has
performed professionally for over 8 years and has been teaching for the last
5 years. His playing and teaching styles include classical, jazz, blues, and
contemporary/rock and roll. His teaching style emphasizes technique and
reading music. Mr. Drozdowski also teaches piano at Cameron's.
Marc Michaud earned his Associate of Arts Degree in from Schoolcraft
College and his Bachelor’s Degree in Guitar Performance from Wayne
State University. He has also participated in three Suzuki Guitar Education
Seminars. His playing and teaching styles include classical, jazz, blues,
and contemporary/rock and roll. Mr. Michaud’s students are lucky enough to
participate in a monthly group playing session with a professional bassist
and drummer. He has been teaching at Cameron's for six years.
Brian Lima earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music with a concentration in
jazz studies from Wayne State University. Previously he earned both an
Associate of Arts Degree and a Music Foundation Certificate from
Schoolcraft College with classical guitar as his main instrument. He has
taught all styles of guitar since 2003 and has played in various local bands
since 1999.
Steve Thompson has taught guitar in the Detroit area for over thirty years.
He has also taught group lessons for Farmington Community Center and
Northville Public Schools. Steve studied guitar with Jo Fava at Wayne State
Universtiy, Nelson Amos at EMU and Jack Moncrieff at Schoolcraft College.
He went on to earn an Associates Degree at Schoolcraft College and a
Bachelors Degree at Madonna University. Steve has performed publicly at
clubs, wedding receptions and private parties as lead guitarist, lead vocalist
and group manager. He has produced two CDs and is currently planning
the release of future CDs of his own compositions in Classic/New Age and
Country styles. He teaches many styles but specializes in finger-style
techniques and classic guitar. He emphasizes note reading and music
theory but also teaches less formal methods as tablature and transcribing
music from CDs. He teaches beginning to intermediate in all styles
including rock and beginning to advanced in classical.
Voice Teachers
Gerald Goslin is an internationally recognized concert pianist and professor
of music. He majored in music at Cass Technical High School and Wayne
State University and went on to study with the leading maestros and
professors in Michigan. He is currently adjunct professor of piano, voice and
theory at Oakland Community College as well as professor of piano, theory,
and voice at Cameron's Music. In his 44-year career, he has played,
lectured and presented workshops the world over and made numerous
television and radio appearances. Professor Goslin has taught at
Cameron's for nine years.
Susan Oller graduated Cum Laude from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio
with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music specializing in Vocal Performance and
Pedagogy with a minor in Piano Pedagogy. Upon graduation she received
the Ferris and Dorothy Ohl Prize, awarded to the student who at Heidelberg
had best displayed musical talent, performing ability, and potential for
professional success. Mrs. Oller was a member of Heidelberg’s Concert
Choir, Chamber Groups and Opera Theater. Having worked as a choral
accompanist in the past, Mrs. Oller is available to accompany her vocal
students at recitals and competitions. She is currently a member of the
American Guild of Music and participates in yearly competitions through the
organization. Mrs. Oller has taught voice and piano for 11 years—including
the last 6 at Cameron's—and continues to enjoy sharing her enthusiasm
and love of music with her students so that they may become fine
musicians while enjoying its challenges.
To ask any questions or schedule lessons, telephone 734-513-7080.