Music Lessons

Music Lessons

Private Music Lessons

Learning continues even after the school day ends. Our auxiliary programs provide all students the opportunity to continue their learning in various musical instruments.

 

Music Instructors

Music lessons are held on campus after-school for students of all ages.  If you're interested in private music lessons, reach out to:

John Austen - jausten@portergaud.edu
Assistant Director of Auxiliary Programs

Check out all of our private music instructors below!

Darlyne Cain: Piano, Guitar, Ukelele, Voice Lessons
Darlyne Cain is a singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist who has sung and played jazz standards on cruise-ships all over the world solo and with other musicians such as:
  • Electric guitarist/vocals for Dante’s Voodoo Cabaret in Chicago
  • Pianist with Liz Mandeville as a touring blues band based in Chicago
  • Honky tonk pianist with David Childers in NC
  • Guitarist & songwriter/singer with the celtic band, Carolina Ceili.

She taught piano and guitar to students of all ages in Oahu and Asheville, NC.

As a songwriter, she has played a round at the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN. Dennis Warner, MN singer/songwriter, recorded her song 'Find Love', and she co-wrote an inspirational CD with Kim Char Meredith in Chicago. She also co-wrote the song 'In Your Face Again'with Katie Herzog, who played & recorded it in her band, Newcomers Home, in Fort Collins, CO.

She has written at least 6 CDs worth of music, and had her words and music used in the NYC & touring production of "Live at Da Fonky Burlesk".

Check out Darlyne Cain Music Page on Facebook to see her videos!

Andrea Roule: Piano Lessons

Andrea Roule was born and raised in Ocala, FL where she began her classical piano training at the age of four. At the ages of 10 and 15 she won high school and college-level concerto competitions, awarding her the opportunity to perform as a soloist with local orchestras in Florida and Tennessee.

She attended the prestigious Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts at 17 years of age and went on to receive a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Andrea studied classical and jazz piano during her undergraduate studies, receiving her BA in music, and continued on at UT to receive her MM in vocal accompaniment/opera coaching. In 2006 Andrea began her career as an accompanist for Opera Carolina’s young artist program and their main-stage chorus. In 2008 she worked as a staff accompanist at Winthrop University in Rockhill, SC.

In 2012 Andrea became a board-certified Music Therapist, earning her degree through Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Since moving to Charleston eight years ago, she has worked with the former Charleston
Performing Arts Center as an accompanist for main stage productions and as music director of the junior theater.

Andrea is currently a partner with Engaging Creative Minds, provides music therapy with Respite Care of Charleston, is the pianist at Rockville Presbyterian Church, teaches piano lessons and is an accompanist for the choirs at Porter Gaud.

Rebekah Riley: Piano Lessons

Rebekah Riley was raised on the East Coast and was a musician from an early age. She began training in voice and piano at the age of 8 and continued on to be accepted at Berklee College of Music at the age of 17.

She chose however to attend North Greenville University's music program to stay closer to her family in South Carolina, focusing on a major of Music Performance in voice and piano. She relocated to New Orleans at the age of 21 to play music professionally full time, including multiple popular local jazz groups.

Rebekah relocated to Charleston, SC where she has been recording an album with her new musical group and performing as a DJ at a popular downtown karaoke club. Rebekah's training includes baroque, classical, jazz and modern rock influences.

Andrea White: Voice Lessons

All ages and skill levels!

Andrea Elizabeth White is the Middle School Musical Theater Director here at Porter-Gaud.

Mrs. White has an Artist Certificate in Vocal Performance from the SC Governors School for the Arts and Humanities, a Bachelor's Degree of Arts in Vocal Performance, and a Masters Degree in the Arts of Teaching in Choral Conducting both from the College of Charleston.

Mrs. White is a staff soprano at St. Philips Church and directs their St. Cecilia Choir. As a singer, Mrs. White specializes in Early Music and Choral Repertoire.

She is beginning her Ph.D. studies in Vocal pedagogy and presents "The Singing Teacher - Vocal Pedagogy for Teachers" at state and national level conferences, teaching other music teachers about Vocal Hygiene and Health.

She has been teaching private voice lessons in South Carolina for ten years and looks forward to expanding her voice studies program here in Charleston.

Richard Proctor: Drum Lessons

Richard Proctor was born and raised in Buffalo N.Y and was involved with his H.S. Orchestra and Big Band. His sophomore year he began studying with legendary Drummer/Teacher Louis Marino for 10 years and later in life studied under Joe Porcaro for a short time in Los Angeles. He spent most of the 80’s and 90’s performing in New York, and a few years playing in LA. Rock music is his forte, and he's excited to bring his expertise to our students here at Porter-Gaud.

He had the privilege of working directly and indirectly with music producers; Ronnie Montrose, Don Dokken, John Mathis, Ed Stone, Ed Kramer and Lou Graham. Richard wrote and co-wrote with Joe Cristofanelli, ex-Bassist from the 80’s Band Ratt. In the early 90’s, Joe and Richard put together a local band called Vicious Circle, and they toured east coast performing original music. The song "Impaler" written by Vicious Circle was represented at The Empire Music Conference in Rochester NY. He also had the privilege of working with bands like Kim Mitchell, Killer Dwarfs and Typo Negative.

Richard is very grateful for his past experiences, and he strongly believes that dedication and desire is all you need to pursue a life in music.  Richard is an amazing instructor to get your student started with drumming, and introduce them to world of Rock N Roll!

Fernando Troche: Guitar Lessons
Check out some of Fernando's performances and website! 

Fernando Troche is one of the outstanding classical guitarists of South America. He has played as a soloist and in diverse chamber settings in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Spain and the United States.

Many of his performances have been broadcast on both Spanish and Uruguayan National Televisions. His appearances in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival U.S.A. were broadcast on WDAV Classical Public Radio and promoted by the College of Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina and Charleston’s leading newspaper, the Post and Courier:

 

“The music of Bach sounds amazingly modern and up-to-date when played on the guitar, and Troche gave it the clarity and crispness called for while finding several spots to let emotion show through.” Review, the Post and Courier, SC.

The release of his first solo album in 2007 received local and international recognition. The following
year he was granted a full scholarship from the College of Charleston where he graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor Degree in Music. He studied under the tutelage of Grammy Award nominated guitarist Marc Regnier.

In the following years Fernando released his second solo album and was a top prize winner at the Southern
Guitar Competition and the St. Joseph International Guitar Competition along with numerous awards in Charleston.

Sponsored by Espectaculos Bravo Tenerife, Spain, in 2014, Mr. Troche released his first DVD and was invited to perform his program “The New History of the Classical Guitar” with numerous Spanish tourism business companies such as Grupo Fred.Olsen S.A., Elegance Hotels & Resorts and Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa.

Mr. Troche began his musical studies at the San Martin Conservatory in Buenos Aires, Argentina with Maestro Osvaldo Vassarotto. He continued at the School of Music of the National University of Uruguay with
Amilcar Rodriguez Indá and Mauro Marasco. He also attended jazz training courses with composer Ángel
Varela Rey and master classes with world renowned artists such as Eduardo Fernandez, Marco Sartor, Enrique Graf and Eduardo Gilardoni among others.

In 2017 Fernando was invited to join the Artist Program at the College of Charleston and started a
special fellowship consisting of the recording of a new album, publishing the scores of his arrangements and performing them locally and internationally. The project includes tango music written before 1950 for guitar and voice. The recording will be sponsored by KlassicStudio and is expected to be released at the beginning of 2022.

Mr. Troche also has extensive teaching experience. He taught classical guitar at Doral Conservatory in
Florida, the Charleston Academy of Music, Memminger Elementary School and Mason Preparatory School, also in Charleston SC. His first experiences as a teacher took place in his native country of Uruguay where he worked with young and adolescent students for seven years.

Besides music, Fernando’s interests also include Chinese culture and language studies. He earned first place at the Chinese Performance Contest organized by the College of Charleston and The Citadel in 2011. He
has also been nominated by the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs as Outstanding Student of the Year 2012.

He was also the recording and editing engineer of several recordings including those of renowned artists such as Ilana Vered, Sean Kennard and Enrique Graf. Since 2008, Fernando has been a member of the music program at the only independent French Huguenot Church in the United States. Since 2017 he has worked on web maintenance, technical support and leads college tours for College Visits Inc.

Jennifer Choi: Piano + Violin Lessons

Jennifer Choi, born in Seoul, South Korea, began her piano studies at the age of four. She quickly garnered attention by winning First Prize at the International Youth Music Contest and the 17th National Student Music Competition. Ms. Choi continued her musical education in the United States, earning her undergraduate degree on a full scholarship from Southeastern Louisiana University, where she studied under Dr. Kenneth Boulton and Dr. Henry Jones.

She later completed her Master of Music degree at
Louisiana State University with Dr. Willis Delony. Ms. Choi has performed extensively as a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist, with notable appearances in both South Korea and the United States, including her Carnegie Hall debut in 2020.

In addition to her active performance career, she is a dedicated piano teacher and has served as a judge for the DeBose Fine Arts Piano Competition since 2017. Ms. Choi is also an accomplished violinist, earning superior ratings from the National Federation of Music Clubs for two consecutive years. Outside of her musical endeavors, Ms. Choi enjoys spending time at the beach and with her family, along with her two beloved cats, Loco and Nabi.

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