Kathy's School of Music, LLC
Kathy Bakes
Owner/Piano Teacher
Kathy Bakes has worked as a teacher, accompanist, and performer throughout the greater Boston area and Fairfield County for the past ten years. She has a B.A. in Music and Politics, a double master's in Musicology and Ethnomusicology, and a Juris Doctorate. Kathy began her piano studies at age four, and continued taking lessons throughout college.
In her teaching, Kathy provides a positive and encouraging atmosphere. She believes that the best education can only be achieved by calling upon a wide variety of approaches and methods, and that the best musicians are those that are the most well-rounded. She focuses on each student’s individual needs, and her primary goal for all students is cultivating a love of music and helping them grow in technique and musicality. Her teaching style is characterized by building a foundation of mutual respect with her students and a desire to share all genres of music.
Kathy has taught all levels and age groups and welcomes beginners, advanced players,
and everything in between.
Eric Donnelly
Guitar Teacher
Eric Donnelly has worked as a performer and guitar teacher for the past thirteen years. He is the co-founder and guitarist of The Alternate Routes LLC, a band that has gained huge notoriety over the years. Eric has played over 700 shows all over the US,
Canada, and Europe; his performances include the Conan O’Brien Show and Late
Night With Craig Ferguson; his recorded music has appeared on The Sochi Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, “NCIS,” “Vampire Diaries,” and “Pretty Little Liars.”
Eric has a double bachelor's in Music and Philosophy from Fairfield University. He has taught all levels and age groups and welcomes students from all walks of life.
Matthew Vitti
Voice & Drum Teacher
Heralded as “a smart, tasteful, and genuine singer” and “a consummate multi-instrumentalist,” Matthew continues to perform and broaden his range of musical experiences through diverse engagement in both the classical and non-conventional realms. As an award winning performer, Matthew has had the great privilege of traveling around the world and working with some of today’s brightest and most acclaimed singers, ensembles, and conductors such as Leon Botstein, Dale Duesing, Karen Brunssen, James Hall's 1,000 Rooms Quartet, Warren Jones, Phyllis Hoffman, Canticum Scholare, VOCES8, and many others. As a composer, Matthew's compositions have been featured in competition, and for NBC, Sector 9 Productions, MODKAT, and Patagonia.
As an educator, Matthew's 10+ years of teaching experience in voice, composition, and drums has brought him to work with young musicians of all ages and skill types. Matthew's approach is technique driven, while at the same time, expressive, musically sensitive, and fun! Matthew's voice students will learn English and foreign language diction, ear training and sight-singing, proper posture, stage presence, confidence, and healthy vocal production suitable for all styles of singing. Drum students will learn the importance of snare drum rudiments, how to read drum charts, the nuances of various styles, as well as, develop dexterity and increase muscular function and independence.
Matthew holds a BM in vocal performance from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin, an Honors Certificate from the IES European Society & Culture Program in Vienna, Austria, and is a two-time 1st Place winner of the Wisconsin National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition. He currently teaches at Wyoming Seminary Institute in Wilkes-Barre, PA during the Summer and is an Adjunct Professor of Music and Composition at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, CT. He also owns a recording studio called Mother Brother Studios located in Black Rock, CT., catering to all styles and genres of artists.