Accent Music offers private lessons in the following disciplines:

Composition and Theory

Guitar

Piano

Percussion

Strings

Theater

Voice

Woodwinds and Brass

Composition and Theory

John Arrigo-Nelson (Composition and Theory, Guitar, Piano) has taught music in both the private and university setting for over 15 years. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelor of Guitar Performance from Rhode Island College, as well as a Ph.D. in Composition from Stony Brook University. Performing in both popular and classical styles, he has appeared with a variety of ensembles, and is currently a member of the contemporary music group ALIA MUSICA Pittsburgh. John’s compositions have been performed and broadcast throughout the United States and in Europe and he has received numerous awards and recognition, including Fellowships from the MacDowell Colony and the Wellesley Composers Conference. John has served on the adjunct faculty at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University South Bend, Suffolk County Community College, and Stony Brook University teaching theory, analysis, and composition.

Guitar

John Arrigo-Nelson (Guitar, Composition, Piano, Theory) has taught music in both the private and university setting for over 15 years. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelor of Guitar Performance from Rhode Island College, as well as a Ph.D. in Composition from Stony Brook University. Performing in both popular and classical styles, he has appeared with a variety of ensembles, and is currently a member of the contemporary music group ALIA MUSICA Pittsburgh. John’s compositions have been performed and broadcast throughout the United States and in Europe and he has received numerous awards and recognition, including Fellowships from the MacDowell Colony and the Wellesley Composers Conference. John has served on the adjunct faculty at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University South Bend, Suffolk County Community College, and Stony Brook University teaching theory, analysis, and composition.

Percussion

Nick DeAngelo (Percussion) brings nearly two decades of experience and practice to Accent Music. With training in various genres, Nick is skilled in teaching multiple idioms, such as rock and pop styles, as well as  marching band and school ensemble music. Formerly, he has served as a percussion section leader and Drum Captain. Professionally, he has written, produced and recorded on numerous independent albums and EPs. An avid performer, he has previously been featured with groups such as Red Team Blue Team, The Olympians and Thistle Town. Currently, Nick works with the groups Grand Piano, A Lot and A Lot and Round Black all of which released records this past year. This fall will see the release of a recording with another group, Barons, in addition to two more recordings in 2014. Notable local performances have included the Northside’s Deutschtown Music Festival, Lawrenceville’s RANT festival and a prime time mainstage performance at the Three Rivers Arts Festival this past summer.

Piano

David Cooke (Piano, Voice, Executive Director)  founded Accent Music nearly 10 years ago for the purpose of educating area youth and giving them performance opportunities outside of school. An experienced performer, David has performed extensively throughout the area. He has been featured in main stage productions with Pittsburgh Opera and Opera Theater of Pittsburgh in addition to performing in outreach programs for children. Past roles have included Little Bat in Susannah, Belfiore in La Finta Giardiniera, Edgar in Wuthering Heights and Lechmere in Owen Wingrave. Having held soloist positions in several area churches, he has performed a varied repertoire of sacred and secular music. Mr. Cooke earned his undergraduate degree in vocal performance from Duquesne University, holds Master’s in Arts Administration from Carnegie Mellon University, and has completed the equivalent of a Master’s in Vocal Performance. With over twenty years of experience as a singer and educator, he has developed a unique approach to teaching which has allowed him to apply classical vocal technique while instructing students in many different styles of singing. David has served as music director for hundreds of area youth in a multitude of fully staged productions, recitals and concert presentations.

John Arrigo-Nelson (Composition and Theory, Guitar, Piano) has taught music in both the private and university setting for over 15 years. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelor of Guitar Performance from Rhode Island College, as well as a Ph.D. in Composition from Stony Brook University. Performing in both popular and classical styles, he has appeared with a variety of ensembles, and is currently a member of the contemporary music group ALIA MUSICA Pittsburgh. John’s compositions have been performed and broadcast throughout the United States and in Europe and he has received numerous awards and recognition, including Fellowships from the MacDowell Colony and the Wellesley Composers Conference. John has served on the adjunct faculty at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University South Bend, Suffolk County Community College, and Stony Brook University teaching theory, analysis, and composition.

Rocky Youhon (Piano, Strings) has been making music for as long as he can remember. He began his studies with his mother, who gave him his first piano lessons. In elementary school he picked up the violin and has not put it down since. As Rocky grew up, his musical inspiration led him to study the bass at Duquesne University with a regimen of jazz and contemporary styles. Currently Rocky can be found performing through Pittsburgh as a violinist with the blue grass group Shelf Life String Band and as a bassist with The Hitmen on the Gateway Clipper Fleet.

Strings

Rocky Youhon (Strings, Piano) has been making music for as long as he can remember. He began his studies with his mother, who gave him his first piano lessons. In elementary school he picked up the violin and has not put it down since. As Rocky grew up, his musical inspiration led him to study the bass at Duquesne University with a regimen of jazz and contemporary styles. Currently Rocky can be found performing through Pittsburgh as a violinist with the blue grass group Shelf Life String Band and as a bassist with The Hitmen on the Gateway Clipper Fleet.

Voice 

David Cooke (Voice, Piano, Executive Director) founded Accent Music nearly 10 years ago for the purpose of educating area youth and giving them performance opportunities outside of school. An experienced performer, David has performed extensively throughout the area. He has been featured in main stage productions with Pittsburgh Opera and Opera Theater of Pittsburgh in addition to performing in outreach programs for children. Past roles have included Little Bat in Susannah, Belfiore in La Finta Giardiniera, Edgar in Wuthering Heights and Lechmere in Owen Wingrave. Having held soloist positions in several area churches, he has performed a varied repertoire of sacred and secular music. Mr. Cooke earned his undergraduate degree in vocal performance from Duquesne University, holds Master’s in Arts Administration from Carnegie Mellon University, and has completed the equivalent of a Master’s in Vocal Performance. With over twenty years of experience as a singer and educator, he has developed a unique approach to teaching which has allowed him to apply classical vocal technique while instructing students in many different styles of singing. David has served as music director for hundreds of area youth in a multitude of fully staged productions, recitals and concert presentations.

Woodwinds and Brass

Sean Alan (Woodwinds, Saxophone) will soon be a graduate  of Seton Hill University where he studies music education with a concentration on saxophone.   During college, he discovered his great passion for jazz music while performing in the Seton Hill University Jazz Ensemble led by Mr. Kevin McManus. Sean served as the jazz ensemble’s lead alto saxophone for two years and was the second chair alto saxophonist in the Westmoreland Symphonic Winds.  Also during this time, he studied classical saxophone under Miss Kathleen Campbell (Seton Hill University) and jazz saxophone/improvisation under Mr. Eric DeFade (Carnegie Mellon University).  He has had the opportunity to perform for the Westmoreland Jazz Society opening for Harold Better’s most recent Birthday Concert, and alongside local jazz great Benny Benack II.