Mike Rieder
Founder & Guitar Instructor
Virtual, In-Person in Seacoast of New Hampshire
Favorite Guitarists:
- Julian Lage
- Joe Pass
- Cory Wong
- Wes Montgomery
Favorite Music Genres to Play:
- Rock
- Jazz
- Blues
- Folk
Hobbies:
Running, Writing, Watching Movies, Talking about the Celtics for too long
I fell in love with guitar when I was 13 years old. I still remember standing on my parents living room coffee table pretending like I was in Nirvana. The imaginary crowds would always go wild! Quickly, the fantasy turned into a desire to make a career involving music.
I went to the University of New Hampshire for music education and spent the next 4 years deeply entrenched in the music world; writing songs for my rock band, playing in jazz combos, analyzing Beethoven, breaking down the sociological impact of the Beatles, and most importantly building a lifelong relationship with the guitar.
After graduating in 2016, I rushed out to Colorado to teach general music and orchestra in a public school, but only lasted 1 year in the system. I quickly learned that jumping into major life decisions because you think it’s expected of you doesn’t always lead to the right circumstances. I went back to school and received my master in music therapy from Colorado State University (CSU). Now I’m a board-certified music therapist who specialized with dementia, stroke rehabilitation and autism.
Through it all, I’ve been teaching guitar privately. Even after 8+ years in the field and a bunch of side gigs along the way, nothing has brought me more professional joy, meaning, and ambition than teaching guitar. It’s probably predictable to come from me but… I love the guitar!!! It’s so fun, cool, and filled with never ending surprises to explore deeper. I feel so lucky to make a living sharing my excitement for it.
Aly Zavestoski
Piano & Voice Instructor
Virtual
Favorite Piano Based Musicians:
- Sara Bareilles
- Norah Jones
- Frédéric Chopin
- Regina Spektor
Favorite Music Genres to Play:
- Pop
- Modern Jazz Fusion
- Folk
- Classical
Hobbies:
Hiking, Crocheting, Consuming bad reality TV, Cake Decorating
Aly spent her first 22 years soaking up the sun near the Pacific Ocean in Murrieta, California. Starting piano at 8 years old, she clearly had natural talent but didn’t find much thrill in the whole “practicing” concept. Eventually, the outlook changed and by the end of high school Aly was a flutist in the school concert band, roll-stepping to the beat with a euphonium in her hand in the marching band, dabbling with string instruments like the guitar and ukulele, finally gaining the courage to sing in public, and most of all taking the piano seriously.
Aly made the decision to dedicate her future to music and went to the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, CA for music therapy. In college, she continued to focus on classical piano and developed a deeper appreciation for pedagogy and tradition. While spending long hours perfecting songs like Chopin’s Nocturne in Eb, she was also developing her skills as a clinician in the field of music therapy. She learned what it really meant to use music as an intervention tool and how to utilize evidence-based research, holistic care, joy, and compassion to impact her future clients.
After graduating the College of the Pacific in 2017 with a BM in Music Therapy, Aly moved all the way across the country, from Southern California to Downeast, Maine. She spent 3 years in Bar Harbor hiking beautiful mountains in Acadia National Park and working as a music therapy intern then life enrichment coordinator at Birch Bay Retirement Village. Aly and I (Mike) met working together at Birch Bay, fell in love, and decided to move to New Hampshire to start a life together.
Since settling down in Dover, NH and becoming a seasoned New Englander, Aly has also become a board-certified music therapist and a piano instructor. In music therapy, she specializes with dementia, child mental health, and early elementary intervention. In the years since college, Aly’s true musical passions have been singing, performing, and teaching pop and folk music. If you catch a view of Aly in her free time, no matter what she’s doing, she’s doing it while singing.
Photos by Cole Hartnett