James Hayes
Brass Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher
James Hayes is a professional musician and trumpet player who graduated LIU Post with a bachelor’s degree in music and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in composition at Five Towns College. In college, he toured China with the LIU Post Wind Symphony as well as Costa Rica with the LIU Post Jazz Ensemble. More recently, he has performed and toured with his personal band as well as performing with Sting and Shaggy on various morning shows. He also performed on Maxi Priest’s grammy-nominated album, “It All Comes Back to Love.”
Currently, James teaches private lessons and has done so for almost eight years. He is experienced in tailoring lessons to the individual’s needs and is familiar with teaching all age groups ranging from 3 years old to 70 years old. He has experience in preparing students for NYSSMA and specializes in brass instruments, guitar, bass and music theory/composition. He can also play and teach piano, ukulele, and the musical saw.
Bobby Rosenthal
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Bobby Rosenthal picked up the guitar at the age of 13 and has been involved in music and performance ever since. Bobby has a bachelor of music degree from Five Towns College, where he studied with John Kelly and Peter Rogine. Though most of his college career was spent studying jazz music, Bobby’s knowledge and expertise span the genre spectrum to include classic rock, reggae and blues. Bobby has played guitar, bass and keyboards in multiple bands since high school. Performing numerous times at venues across Long Island and New York City with friends, he recorded, produced and released his first full-length album by the age of 19. Bobby’s time playing with many different bands illuminated his capacity for teaching and his love for helping others learn music. During many practices he found himself teaching the other band members their parts. His work with his friends inspired Bobby to begin teaching privately and ultimately led him to School of Rock Farmingdale, where he is a guitar teacher and bass guitar teacher.
Gary Worrell
Drum Teacher
Gary studied with some of the world's most renowned drum teachers, including: Carmine Appice, Joe Franco, Bobby Rondinelli, Michael Lauren, Dave Stark, Dom Famularo and Jim Chapin. He performed and recorded with some of Long Island's best original bands, including: Pyra, Tombstone Shadow, Hot Tin Roof, Fire, Mudcat, Sinner's Prayer and Soulstice. Gary also taught over a thousand students.
Paul Farias
Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher
Paul is a professional musician from the Long Island area. He has performed on several instruments from the drums, to piano, to bass guitar, to voice. He has performed all over the NY area, from the studio at Webster Hall, to the Great South Bay Music Festival. He has also toured Costa Rica and performed at the Prudential Center with his college's performance groups. He is passionate about helping his students discover the many joys music can bring.
Wayne Sayres
Keyboard Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Saxophone Teacher
Wayne Sayres is a multi-instrumentalist and instructor with over 20 years’ experience recording and performing live on saxophone, electric and acoustic guitars and bass guitar.
Wayne was a featured saxophonist in two Rolling Stones tribute acts, The Rolling Stoners and Tumblin’ Dice, and has played in numerous cover bands and original touring bands in the local scene playing venues and annual festivals in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he was based prior to moving to Huntington early last year.
Since moving to Long Island in early 2020, Wayne joined up with yet another Stones tribute called “Shattered” as well as New Country Road Show, an Americana/country/blues act, and the Big Bad Wolf Blues Ensemble, a band born of members meeting at casual local open mics.
Having given music lessons intermittently throughout the last several years, Wayne decided during the pandemic to get much more involved in teaching and build up a roster of students, so it’s been an absolute pleasure for him to be brought onboard at School of Rock to give group and one-on-one instruction.
Arahmus Brown
Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher, Drums Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Saxophone Teacher
Arahmus Brown is an upcoming artist. Before adolescence, he taught himself how to play the guitar, piano, drums, bass guitar and was classically trained on the saxophone. By the time he turned fifteen, he composed songs and formed a band to follow his lead. A one-man-band in his own right, he has the ability to play any part in the songs he writes. The creative sings and raps over his own melodies, creating harmony seldom experienced in real life. He makes his own content which was noticed by famous producer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Keith Shocklee. The two collaborated on multiple, highly anticipated, projects. Industry professionals believe that Arahmus will be an instrumental force that offers a new brand of creativity.
Dave Bradley
Drum Teacher
Dave has had a passion for music and playing the drums since he was 11 years old. He started off playing the drums on video games like Rock Band and eventually moved on to a real drum kit. Dave’s musical experience ranges from being a School of Rock alum to also playing in concert and pep bands throughout high school. He then obtained a bachelor's degree in music education from Five Towns College.
During his time at Five Towns College, Dave played in a number of ensembles, freelanced for local musicals, performed at local venues, and released his own music projects. Not only does Dave have a long experience with the drums, but he also has a background in recording after attending Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in high school for audio production. Dave is well known for his eccentric and rudimental playing within the metal/hardcore realm of music but his playing and influences run even deeper with genres like pop, hip-hop, punk, jazz, electronic, and funk to name a few.
Dave’s goal is to teach students to play their hearts out on the drums, how to become self-sufficient musicians, and expand every student’s musical horizons. He seeks to help every drum student become the best version of themselves behind the kit!
Matt Nicolino
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Matt is originally from Long Island and a Five Towns College graduate that has studied with some of the greatest musicians in the local area such as John Kelly, Tony Romano, Steve Briody, and Scott Ballin. His skill set is diverse and he covers a wide array of genres like Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B, Pop, and Funk. In Matt's free time, he produces his own music and is the guitarist for a popular Long Island artist by the name of Arahmus Brown. Matt is a guitar teacher and bass guitar teacher at School of Rock Sayville, sharing the wealth of knowledge he’s acquired over the years.
Jill DiBennardo
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Jillian DiBennardo has been a certified choir kid for over a decade. She started out in high school with NYSMA solos up to level six, All County vocal ensemble, musical theater, piano lessons, and competitive a capella. Her love for music continued into college, where she studied voice at the Crane School of Music and earned her bachelor's degree.
While studying at Crane, Jillian independently organized a half-hour solo senior recital and was the President of the competitive a capella group, A Sharp Arrangement. Her a capella group toured New York schools and other venues twice a year, performing and providing workshops to kids to inspire a love of music in the next generation.
Jillian spent the summer after college touring Spain and Southern France with a mixed choir from Crane. She is incredibly excited to use her experience and share her love of music with her students at School of Rock Sayville.
Katelyn Deveraux
Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Katelyn Deveraux is a vocalist and instrumentalist from Long Island, NY. She graduated with an associate's degree in Arts and Sciences from Suffolk County Community College and aspires to earn her bachelor's degree in Childhood Music Education in the future. She is focused on teaching vocals and guitar, and beginner bass guitar.
Raised on listening to Pink Floyd and The Beatles, Katelyn was set up from the start to be a rock musician! She started singing at 9 years old and went on to join School of Rock for performance and vocal lessons when she turned 15. Katelyn was a student at School of Rock for four years, performing in a number of shows (The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, The Smiths vs. The Cure, Woodstock, 27 Club, etc.) as well as auditioning and becoming a member of her school’s Street Team band. She found a passion for making music as a student at School of Rock, especially with her peers.
Now a part of the School of Rock team, Katelyn can share her passion with her students and bring out the best in them just as her previous instructors and directors did, years ago. She emphasizes the importance of stage presence and connecting with the audience and bandmates to her students, alongside teaching vocal techniques and learning songs, inside and out. Whether they are jamming to punk songs on guitar or belting out Janis Joplin records, Katelyn is there to help her students thrive and be confident in their performance for years to come in their musical journeys.