Rockness Music Teachers
Meet Our Teachers
Michael Napolitano Founder/Teacher
Michael Napolitano is the founder, and director of Rockness Music. He performs, composes, produces, and engineers all of the music for Rockness Music and Michael & the Rockness Monsters. As a child, Michael quickly found himself immersed in music, attending rehearsals and gigs with his father (a professional drummer). Michael and his two brothers are exceptional drummers and were perhaps the first Rockness Music students ever!
Learn more about Michael Napolitano from Rockness Music and Michael & the Rockness Monsters.
Age Started Playing Music
18 Months
Main Musical Influence
My Daddy!
Favorite Instrument to Play
Drums
Favorite Band
Phish
Favorite Rockness Music Song
The Family Song
Kelli Bruno
Kelli’s musical journey began at age 3 when she started singing in her church’s pre-school choir. A few years later she started taking private piano lessons and has since added guitar, ukulele, harmonica, violin, cello, and mandolin to her musical bag of “tricks”! After getting her BA degrees in Music & Film from Bucknell University in 2013, she went on to write and record her own music and teach! She has also been a volunteer with Musicians On Call for 10 years, performing for hospital patients across the tristate area. Kelli loves performing throughout NJ for Rockness and is passionate about bringing the wonder of music to kids and adults alike!
Age Started Playing Music
3
Main Musical Influence
Joni Mitchell
Favorite Instrument to Play
Piano & Guitar
Favorite Band
Carbon Leaf
Favorite Rockness Music Song
Shaker Song
Hugo Keith
The son of a Japanese mother and an American father, Hugo was born in Binghamton and raised in Rochester, New York. From an early age, his mother filled their home with her singing and instilled in him the importance of rhythm and pitch. Hugo’s first musical experiences included singing at karaoke nights with his mother’s friends and with his elementary school’s choir. His own passion for music, however, was influenced most strongly by his Uncle Seth, who studied electronic musical composition at Mills College in California and encouraged Hugo to begin playing guitar and compose his own music. Since starting college at Fordham University, Hugo has joined two bands and released hours of music on various platforms under various names including Faculty and Staff and Sapporo.
Age Started Playing Music
12
Main Musical Influence
Lou Reed
Favorite Instrument to Play
Guitar
Favorite Band
Pixies
Favorite Rockness Music Song
Robot Song
Sam Tunkel
Sam was inspired by his dad at a young age to start playing and writing music. Exposed to classic rock like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen at local open mics, Sam embarked on his musical journey. Starting with piano at twelve and later mastering guitar, music became his passion. Besides studying Music Education at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts, Sam performs his original songs in New Jersey regularly. He strives to enhance his stagecraft and bring joy to audiences through music.
Age Started Playing Music
12
Main Musical Influence
My Dad
Favorite Instrument to Play
Guitar
Favorite Band
Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band
Favorite Rockness Music Song
When I'm Jumpin'
Moustapha Noumbissi
Born in Belgium, but of Cameroonian descent, Moustapha’s childhood was filled with the beautiful music of his parent’s home. What ignited his passion for performance, however, was singing a solo rendition of Silent Night in a talent show in the second grade. Years later this passion for singing eventually branched out to playing various instruments including the guitar, bass, and various forms of percussion, eventually prompting him to share this passion through his love of teaching. Moustapha has performed with countless ensembles including the Bryn Mawr Boy’s Choir with whom he has toured internationally. Moustapha began teaching shortly after graduating college, and has spent the last 5 years teaching preschool music classes, private lessons, small groups, and ensembles.
Age Started Playing Music
Voice 7, Guitar 22
Main Musical Influence
John Mayer
Favorite Instrument to Play
Guitar
Favorite Band
Radiohead
Favorite Rockness Music Song
Have You Seen My Shoes?
Victoria Astuto
Victoria’s musical journey began with the flute, which eventually translated into a deep appreciation for woodwind instruments. She enjoys spreading the joy of music in every aspect of her life, from playing with her brother to teaching various musical genres, performing clarinet with the Brooklyn Wind Symphony, and collaborating with other artists. When she’s not pursuing her passions, she spends time with her feline friend Dexter, hiking, or working on film sets.
Age Started Playing Music
9
Main Musical Influence
Ella Fitzgerald
Favorite Instrument to Play
Clarinet
Favorite Band
Rubblebucket
Favorite Rockness Music Song
Who Are You?
Dan Bulich
Dan Bulich started playing guitar when he was 13 years old under the instruction of jazz guitarist Frank Varrichio. He received his BA in music at Kean University while studying classical guitar under the instruction of Chris Keniff. While attending Kean University, he had the opportunity to teach guitar privately at Cranford Guitar. Now he teaches guitar and piano privately on his own. He is also currently in 2 bands, a Nirvana tribute called Penny Royalty and an Alice in Chains tribute called Jar of Flies.
Age Started Playing Music
13
Main Musical Influence
Nirvana, Metallica, Oasis
Favorite Instrument to Play
Guitar
Favorite Band
Nirvana
Favorite Rockness Music Song
"And We Dance"
Adam Falzer
Guitarist, songwriter and music teacher Adam Falzer began playing guitar at the age of 10. He studied Music Synthesis at Berklee School of Music. Adam founded the Montclair-based band The Porchistas, whose vision of art is that of a community building endeavor. Falzer enjoys teaching music theory and engaging with students of all levels. He teaches private and after-school instruction for children from preschool to highschool. Adam is the father of 2 young children who are his true inspiration.
Age Started Playing Music
10
Main Musical Influence
Harry Nilsson
Favorite Instrument to Play
Guitar
Favorite Band
Ween
Favorite Rockness Music Song
Shake It
Gerry Rosenthal
Gerry is a guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and actor based in Highland Park, NJ who teaches private music lessons and gigs professionally around the tri-state area with numerous projects. He writes, records, and plays guitar with his own original bands, The Gerry Rosenthal Trio and Big Wake. He plays bass in a Beatles cover band called Hey Bulldog and guitar in a wedding band called The Jersey Joint. Between the ages of 10 and 13 he attended the St. Thomas Choir School in New York City, where he sang 5-6 church services a week. While at St. Thomas, Gerry studied piano with concert pianist Leslie Singer and music theory with composer Scott Eyerly. He was fortunate enough to tour extensively with the St. Thomas Choir, traveling to Austria, Italy, Vienna, and Ireland. While earning a History degree at Rutgers University, Gerry attended a semester at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA where he studied guitar privately with John Marasco (Eartha Kitt, Al Martino) and John Thomas (Kenny Drew, Tony Scott, Roy Haynes) as well as music theory with Jim Stinnett (bass instructor for Mike Gordon of Phish.) While in college he also studied privately on guitar with Karl Cochran (Ace Frehley, Joe Lynn Turner.)
Age Started Playing Music
7
Main Musical Influence
Ben Folds
Favorite Instrument to Play
Guitar
Favorite Band
Phish
Favorite Rockness Music Song
When I'm Jumpin'