Guitar and Vocal Teacher

Grant is the founder of Inspiring School of Music. While growing up in Freeport Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas, he watched the islanders play music on the beaches daily and fell in love with the joy of making melodies. Grant graduated with a degree in Music Performance from University of Bridgeport. He studied with jazz guitarist legend, Sal Salvador. He has toured and performed with bands in some of the most notorized night clubs in NYC. I've taught guitar to WIllie Nelson's personal manager and transcribed Willie Nelson's guitar arrangements.

Violin and Strings Teacher

Carolee Finney graduated Summa Cum Laude from Adelphi University in music education and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Music Education program at the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford. She has been teaching string instruments for eight years and working as a public school music teacher for four years. Carolee has an extensive background in the Suzuki, Kodaly, and Fierabend methods of music education and is a strong believer in differentiated, personalized instruction. She is currently the first violist in the New Westchester Symphony Orchestra and enjoys performing with local ensembles. Carolee is also a K-12 certified music teacher and the Orchestra Director at Peekskill Middle School in Peekskill, NY. 

Drums and Percussion Teacher

Matthew is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University where he earned a bachelor of music degree in Jazz Performance. Matt has experience playing a variety of musical styles, including reggae, funk, rock, and jazz and others. He has been teaching for several years in addition to doing studio work and being the drummer in local and National bands, including Tales of Joy (reggae/soul/funk), Sub-Urban (hip/hop/neo-soul/funk) and International recording artist Samantha Cole. 

Piano Teacher

Ever aince she could sit up, Noelle sat at the piano. She started formal lessons around age five and has continued to study piano into her adult years.  At Newtown High School (Class of 2015), Noelle became a leader in the marching band and percussion ensembles, and eventually originated her own weekly group to teach technique to her peers. She was awarded the role as an instructor in the Newtown HEMMA program 

(High School Elementary Musicianship Mentoring Association). In this leadership role she mentored and taught  piano, mallet percussion, and ukulele to High School, Middle School and Elementary School aged students. After years as a musician in pit orchestras for Newtown High School, Sabrina's Encore Stage Productions, and NewArts. She began teaching at Inspiring School of Music in 2018, and made her music directing debut at the Newtown Town Players in 2019. She is currently studying music and composition at Western Connecticut State University.

Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Piano, Drums Teacher

Derek picked up the saxophone when he was 9 years old. He received his Bachelor’s degree in saxophone performance from Western Connecticut State University and was a member of the All New England Inter-Collegiate Band for several years. Derek has worked with a variety of groups which include Lewd Buddha (All Original Jam Band from NYC), The Groove Merchants (3 piece jazz combo), Chronic Fatigue (jazz, rock, funk, blues, covers), The Brand New London Blues Production, pit orchestras for several shows and has performed with various opening acts for Cypress Hill, Big Fuzz, Deep Banana Blackout, The Bomb Squad, Fungus Amungus, Rusted Root, Randy Jackson (Zebra), John Scofield, Dub Is A Weapon, Project Object (Frank Zappa Tribute), George Clinton and the P-Funk, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and The Mickey Hart Band. Mr. Currier has been teaching all ages for over 20 years in saxophone, flute, clarinet, guitar, trumpet, drums, and piano. In 2016 he moved to the greater Tampa Bay area and started the music program at The Discovery Academy of Science where he teaches general music, chorus, and band. He is also a founding member of the Dunedin Music Society, Program Manager for the Pinellas Community Players (Adult Beginning Band), and Program Manager of the Dunedin Music Society’s summer band camps. He currently holds his K-12 Music Education certification and is an active member of the FSMA, FBA, and FMEA.

Trumpet and Clarinet Teacher

Kevin Sandler has been involved with Music in CT for 35 years.  Mr. Sandler holds a B.A. in Music from Western Connecticut State University.  For over the past 25 years, Mr. Sandler has performed as a soloist throughout Connecticut including Stamford, Norwalk, Danbury, Waterbury, New Haven and Hartford.  Kevin has been heavily involved in the community performing with many ensembles including The Danbury Symphony Orchestra, The Danbury Brass Band, Park City Pride Combined Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps as well as performing with Musicals at Richter and other Community theatres. 

Mr. Sandler has been teaching throughout CT for the past 25 years.  He has been involved in Marching Bands and Drum Corps in the community over these years. Kevin has been a Brass instructor for the Bridgeport P.A.L. Buccaneers, Park City Pride Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps as well as the CT Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps.

A highly sought after teacher, Mr. Sandler’s students have consistently won positions in auditions to participate in Middle School and High School Regional and All-State festivals. Currently, Mr. Sandler is the Music Teacher for ST. Augustine Academy in Bridgeport, CT.