Meet The Band Behind The Classes
Real touring musicians, real educators, real kid-whisperers. Every Rockness teacher performs live — and every one has a story.
Michael Napolitano
Founder / Teacher
Michael has spent over 15 years educating and entertaining children through music. He has led professional development for teachers, built community outreach programs, and fronts the nationally acclaimed family band Michael & The Rockness Monsters — featured on SiriusXM Kids Place Live, recorded for Audible, and performed at Lollapalooza, Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, and Levitt Pavilions. His mission: use the power of music to help children learn, grow, and connect. And he loves you. Full bio →
- Liner Notes
- Started playing at 18 months · influence: My Daddy!
- Favorite instrument: Drums · favorite band: Phish
- Favorite Rockness song: A Good Place To Start
Adam Falzer
Teacher
Guitarist, songwriter, and music teacher, Adam began playing at 10 and studied Music Synthesis at Berklee School of Music. He founded the Montclair-based band The Porchistas, whose vision of art is community building. Adam teaches private and after-school instruction from preschool to high school — and his two young children are his true inspiration.
- Liner Notes
- Started at 10 · influence: Harry Nilsson
- Favorite instrument: Guitar · favorite band: Ween
- Favorite Rockness song: Shake It
Hugo Keith
Teacher
Born in Binghamton and raised in Rochester to a Japanese mother and American father, Hugo grew up on karaoke nights and school choir. His uncle Seth — who studied electronic composition at Mills College — got him writing his own music. Since starting at Fordham University, Hugo has joined two bands and released hours of music as Faculty and Staff and Sapporo.
- Liner Notes
- Started at 12 · influence: Lou Reed
- Favorite instrument: Guitar · favorite band: Pixies
- Favorite Rockness song: Robot Song
Ben Hulbert
Teacher
Ben is a NYC-based guitarist and singer-songwriter blending soft rock, jazz, and pop into a warm, lively sound inspired by the outdoors, family, and love. He studied classical guitar at Hartwick College, holds a master's in music business from NYU, and performs around the greater NYC area with the Ben Hulbert Band.
- Liner Notes
- Started at 17 · influence: Bob Weir
- Favorite instrument: Guitar · favorite band: Grateful Dead
- Favorite Rockness song: When I'm Jumpin'
Moustapha Noumbissi
Teacher
Born in Belgium of Cameroonian descent, Moustapha grew up surrounded by the music of his parents' home — but a solo Silent Night in a second-grade talent show lit the performing spark. He sings, plays guitar, bass, and percussion, toured internationally with the Bryn Mawr Boys' Choir, and has spent five years teaching preschool music, private lessons, and ensembles.
- Liner Notes
- Voice at 7, guitar at 22 · influence: John Mayer
- Favorite instrument: Guitar · favorite band: Radiohead
- Favorite Rockness song: Have You Seen My Shoes?
Sam Tunkel
Teacher
Inspired by his dad at local open mics — and raised on The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen — Sam started piano at twelve and later mastered guitar. He studied Music Education at Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts and performs his original songs across New Jersey.
- Liner Notes
- Started at 12 · influence: My Dad
- Favorite instrument: Guitar · favorite band: Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band
- Favorite Rockness song: When I'm Jumpin'
Richard Espinal
Teacher
Richard has been with Rockness Music for over a decade. His love of music began at 8 with piano lessons; he's since learned over six instruments and loves entertaining children of all ages with high energy. When he's not behind an instrument, he's behind a computer producing music.
- Liner Notes
- Started at 8 · influence: Linkin Park
- Favorite instruments: Guitar, Bass & Piano
- Favorite Rockness song: Train Song
Scott Lohmeyer
Teacher
Born in White Plains and raised in Cos Cob, Scott played piano and marching-band trombone before earning his master's in education at the University of Bridgeport. He taught 6th-grade social studies for over a decade — classroom ukulele in hand — and now sings silly songs to his niece Remi and plays with his energetic dog, Frankie aka Frankenstein.
- Liner Notes
- Started at 8 · influences: My older brother Phil, and Q104.3
- Favorite instrument: Baritone Ukulele · favorite band: Phish
- Favorite Rockness song: S M I L E
Want To Join The Band?
We're always looking for musicians who love kids — if you play guitar and sing, we want to hear from you. We provide training, materials, and support.
Work At RocknessOr find a class and meet us in person.