Our Team

 Mia is a bassist and songwriter with over a decade of music experience.  She studied at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts (GHAA) in music, stage production, visual arts and creative writing.  Mia has had an unconventional approach to learning how to play instruments, having independently taught herself bass and guitar after taking classes focused on music history, musical performance, running productions and writing.  She has worked with bands around the world to produce music videos and has been pursuing her own alternative songwriting projects with different musicians.  Her favorite genres are punk, goth, new wave, rock, metal, folk and indie but she has knowledge of many different types.  She believes that experiencing music in a visual and participatory way is the best way to learn, whether it be from listening to a song or watching a favorite artist perform.  She is here to help students learn the power of noise and understand how to break down a song by sections, identify the different sounds and patterns used, and how to simplify the process so that something that may seem intimidating at first is actually not so intimidating at all!  Liking music is the first step. With dedication, anyone can do it!

Yixing Wang is a pianist and vocal teacher. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Minnan Normal University. After graduating, she became a high school music teacher for a year and then came to the United States and received a master's degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Hartford. Yixing brings joy, humor and patient guidance to all her students.

Tyler Gauruder, a Manchester CT native, began his viola studies at age 10. He has studied viola with Steve Larson, Robert Meyer, and Kathy Peet. He has also played violin since age 16. A avid private and, small group teacher, he was privileged to study string pedagogue with Melinda Daetsch. He has performed regularly with the Hartford Symphony, Beth El Temple Orchestra, Colchester Symphony, Torrington Symphony, Nutmeg Symphony, and The Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. He has also been a soloist with several of the groups mentioned.  He has recorded numerous soundtracks for small films, pop albums, as well as jazz and musical theatre productions. Tyler has been teaching violin and viola for 15 years, as well as coaching chamber ensembles. His preferred method of teaching is a traditional approach, whilst also incorporating Suzuki’s mother tongue method.  He places focus on technique, reading development, and light-hearted explanations.  He has experience with all age ranges, and has extensive experience with music ranging from the Baroque era through Modern, as well as popular music, jazz, movie soundtracks, opera, and musical theatre.

Aislinn (she/hers) is a vocalist who attends the University of Connecticut in Pursuit of a Masters in Music Education. She currently studies under Rod Nelman, a highly respected bass-baritone and vocal pedagogue for her vocal emphasis. Aislinn is passionate about helping singers develop their unique voices with confidence and technique. As a dedicated vocalist Aislinn performs in various ensembles currently, including the UConn Chamber Singers and the UConn Concert Choir under direction of Dr. Jamie Spillane and also performs in the UConn Composing-Ensemble Collaboration. She is also an active member of the UConn Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the National Association for Music Education (NafME) and the UConn chapter of National Association of Teachers Singing (NATS). Aislinn has studied a range of musical styles, from classical to contemporary. She combines academic knowledge with real-world experience to create personalized lessons that focus on vocal health, breath control, musical expression, and performance skills. Whether you’re a beginner looking to build a strong foundation or an advanced singer refining your artistry, Aislinn is committed to guiding students on their musical journey.

Henry is a guitarist, singer-songwriter, producer, and educator with more than a decade of experience. Henry studied music, poetry, and education at Wesleyan University, and seeks to offer a balance of creativity and music theory as an instructor. The opportunity to compose and perform music has been the greatest blessing of his life, and his teaching philosophy centers on sharing this passion with others, while adapting to the interests and goals of each student. In 2023, Henry released the EP Soon with renowned sarangi player Suhail Yusuf Khan as part of their collaborative project Pīlu. His electric guitar work can be heard in albums with indie-rock band Flaccid Ashbacks. 

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Xixi is a pianist with 10 years’ experience as a piano instructor. She began learning piano at the age of 14 and attained the highest level of piano achievement from the China National Opera and Dance Theater in just three years. She then went on to win a silver medal at the Hong Kong International Youth Piano Competition at age 17. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Jiangxi Normal University and started her piano teaching career while she was still in school. Under her guidance her students have gone on to medal in various regional and national piano competitions in her native China. She has extensive experience teaching piano to students of all ages, from kindergarten to adult. Xixi’s childhood dream and current passion is teaching, and she is not only committed to improving her students’ technical skills but also helping to boost their confidence while inspiring them to achieve their fullest potential. 

Autumn is a flutist and saxophonist who attended Western Connecticut State University for jazz studies. In her time there, she studied privately with Grammy nominated and highly respected jazz saxophonist Jimmy Greene. She had the opportunity there to play with various guest artists, including the legendary Curtis Fuller. Autumn excels in the areas of jazz improvisation, composition, and music theory, and is wholly devoted to the lifetime spiritual pursuit of improving her musical expression. Her favorite instrument is the flute, on which she has studied with the prominent flutist Elena Pinderhughes. Autumn has developed a rich, warm sound, and an extensive musical vocabulary through her years of formal study and practical performance experiences. She looks forward to lifting spirits with her music for years to come.

Rudy has over 20 years of experience teaching, directing, composing and performing music around the country.  She has performed as a bandleader in a breadth of contemporary music, cast as lead roles in many theater productions, placed in the top 1% percent of opera competitions, and flown out to LA to sing for Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter as a finalist for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.  She teaches in a range of musical styles and languages, and enjoys continuing to grow musically with the community.  

Claudia Isabel (she/hers) is playwright, singer, actor, and theatre educator from Central Connecticut. She holds a B.A. in Theatre and Creative Writing from Seton Hall university, and has been performing and learning artistically since childhood. Claudia’s shows have been performed across Connecticut, New Jersey, and most recently she made her UK debut with an audio play! Claudia’s teaching style is very “story-centric”, where she and the student constantly work at the question: “What story am I telling and how can I convey it?” Ask her about musicals, the best ABBA songs, and which play you should read next!

Owner of Brookside Music and piano instructor, Philip  brings a balance of technique, music theory, creativity and constructive guidance to every lesson. He is currently co-founder of a 1930s jazz band, Mama Train. He studied Piano Performance at The Hartt School of Music in West Hartford, Connecticut, furthering his skills in voicing, harmony, and composition. He has been teaching piano for nearly 20 years and encourages students to find their own self discipline, improve on their technical skills and to find their creative power.