Mojo's Music Academy: Teachers
JESSICA ROGALSKI - VOCAL INSTRUCTOR
Jessica Rogalski has spent her life perfecting her vocal craft. She has studied privately with renowned vocal coaches on the east coast and here in Colorado.Through her private studies she learned the fundamental of vocal techniques and applied them to her 20 plus years of live and studio performances,making her a formitable force on the Denver music scene.
As a teacher Jessica instills proper techniques for vocalizing scales,ear training,diaphramic breathing,sounding vowels,placement of notes and pronounciation.
Learn how to connect your head and chest voice and discover your middle voice.Learn to correct bad habits and develop a good practice routine.
Jessica's lessons are fun,informative and always focus on applying these techniques to your favorite song to get you singing like a pro.
Read about Jessica's musical background at www.mojomama.net and listen to her musical creations.
All ages and levels of students
available Monday thru Saturday
PAUL ROGALSKI - OWNER/BASS INSTRUCTOR
Paul Rogalski from Boston Massachusetts graduated Berklee College of Music in the early 90’s with a Professional Music Diploma.
Once arriving in Colorado, Paul joined singer Nina Storey and released a live CD, “Nina Storey Band BOOTLEG”.
Paul later formed local band, Coykindred, a funk rock band fronted by local diva Lauren Monroe. Finally in 2002, Paul started writing music with Jessica and there came the birth of Mojomama. Paul has been teaching electric bass for 15 years and offers all of these experiences he has embraced over the years to the next wave of future bassists.His lessons are full of information from different topics to make you the best bass player you want to be.
Available all days
All ages and levels of students
JERRY SCROGGINS - GUITAR INSTRUCTOR
Jerry "Bird" Scroggins grew up in Minneapolis. Inspired by its fertile local music scene, as well as seeing Stevie Ray Vaughan with Jeff Beck, he has been playing guitar for seventeen years now and teaching for ten. After doing a U.S. tour, including a headlining gig at L.A.'s Whiskey A-Go Go in '95, Bird decided to "go back to school" at Minnesota State. There he received his B.A. in music, studying classical and jazz on both guitar and saxophone, and also tutored music theory classes. Eventually teaching at a small College nearby and a local music store, he gained more inspiration as many of his students found success forming bands and/or winning contests. Currently, Bird plays lead, rhythm and slide guitar in Jason Downing & Musketeer Gripweed, which is rapidly cultivating a following here in Colorado. His primary influences come from the blues, rock and funk realms, but he's always open to, and seeking inspiration from all genres and styles.
Available All days
all ages and styles
JIM BARLOW - GUITAR INSTRUCTOR
Jim, a Florida native, began private instruction on the guitar at age seven. Continued study from his late teens onward included several years with renowned Jazz Guitarist Bob Conti, and classical composition with Pulitzer Prize nominated composer Joe Burt. He also attended the University of North Florida known for its Jazz program and such stellar faculty members as Jack Peterson and Rich Matteson.
Jim’s performance career began in earnest when he joined the U.S. Navy Band. This afforded him the opportunity to exercise his own eclectic tastes by playing in a variety of settings – from small rock and jazz ensembles, to playing classical percussion in concert bands; as well as the ever-rare opportunity to play in a full 19 piece Big Band.
In the last 15 years, he has played in a wide variety of groups in various styles: Funk/Blues/R&B/Rock/Jazz from Seattle, to Chicago, and back in Florida where he has a long time working relationship with James Brown Trumpeter Teddy Washington. Until recently he was playing on various cruise ships throughout the world where he met a wonderful European woman, got married, and settled in the Boulder Valley.
Jim’s current interests involve composing and producing music from his own studio for various multi-media projects. This situation gives him the opportunity to compose in a wide and eclectic variety of styles and combine his own influences into a unique blend of Orchestral/World/Jazz/Rock music.
Jim is dedicated to sharing his varied abilities and experience with his students in an effort to help them share in his love of the infinite possibilities in the creation of music.
MIKE FOGERTY - DRUMKIT / HAND DRUMS INSTRUCTOR
Mike is a Colorado native and has been on the music scene for 22 years. He has been the timekeeper for various Front Range bands such as The Brokers, Twitch, Dave Davis and Blues Child. Playing different styles of music ranging from Blues to Metal to Funk. He started playing with Mojomama as a hand percussionist to fill up the rhythm section.He is now settled into the drum kit position for Mojomama. Listen for yourself on one of their original cds.Being able to bring his years of experience to the teaching room is what makes his lessons so valuable.Mike is a very giving person and professional musician, wanting to pass on the his knowledge in the world of drumming.
Available on Thursday and Saturday
All ages and levels of students
PAUL CHRISTOPHERSEN - DRUM SET/SNARE DRUM
Paul’s passion for the drums extends back thirty years to the first time he picked up a pair of drumsticks. Originally from Iowa, he was playing in garage bands by age 11, and went on to excel in his school music programs, with a fondness for jazz and marching bands. He attended Northeast Missouri State University as percussion major, eventually transferring to Iowa State University where he earned a degree in Journalism. He was awarded an internship with then Los Angeles-based drumming magazine RHYTHM, later working as one of its contributing writers.
After graduating from ISU he relocated to Colorado and began performing with Built for Comfort, The Howlers, Smokin’ Tweed, Armchair Martian Sol~Fed~Joe, and Kenny Perkins and the Nightshift. He currently performs through out Colorado with up and coming act The Informants.
His teaching philosophy involves developing student skills by building a strong musical foundation of rudiments, reading music, proper technique, solid time, independence, coordination, dynamics, phrasing and improvisation. Paul also puts a strong emphasis on introducing students to all styles and genres of music, opening their minds to the world of drumming, and becoming creative musicians.
Beginner and intermediate students of all ages
Mondays and Tuesdays
SHARYL WOJCIECHOWSKI - BEGINNER PIANO
Sharyl Wojciechowski is the perfect beginner piano instructor for all ages.
She has a background of piano studies ranging from junior high school through college and onto the bandstand.
Sharyl has played in numerous bands over the years as a supportive keyboard role, comping chords and filling up the sound of the band.
If you want to get started on keys and learn proper technique,rhythms , song form and more.Her classes will get you pointed in the right direction and having fun playing piano.
Youngest student age - 6years old.
Scott 'Gusty' Christensen - Didgeridoo
Scott 'Gusty' Christensen has been building and playing didgeridoo since the spring of 2003. When he started playing the didgeridoo he felt a connection to it that was unlike anything he'd felt before, and that connection has been getting stronger and stronger as time goes on.
He started teaching didgeridoo in 2005 kind of by accident, several friends were interested in learning how to circular breath (the technique where a player can keep the drone going for an indefinite period of time) and he began trying different ways of explaining and teaching this technique.
The didgeridoo is much more than just a musical instrument. It has a very rich and beautiful history (it's at least 5000 years old and may be as much as 30,000 years old) and also brings with it a tradition and culture of the Australian aborigine people of Northern Australia. Gusty doesn't teach traditional didgerdioo but would be very willing to share what he does know about it's history and at least some of the folk lore about it's origins.
So if you are interested in learning how to get the basic drone (the low fundamental tone that the instrument makes) or how to learn to circular breath, or if you want to learn some basic rhythms or maybe even some intermediate or advanced rhythm techniques then please contact him and see where it leads...
JODIE WOODWARD - BASS INSTRUCTOR
Jodie Woodward started playing bass about 17 years ago.
In 1989, Jodie moved to New Orleans and started playing with a band called Blue Sister. During her time with Blue Sister, Jodie went on 9 European tours opening for the Blues Brothers, Buddy Guy, James Cotton,Uppity Blues Women, Sugar Blue, Willie “Big-Eyed” Smith, and Shirley Dixon, and Rockin’ Dopsey.
After 8 years with Blue Sister, in 1997 she decided to move to Colorado and join the Denver area blues scene. She is currently performing with Coco Robicheaux, Zora Young, Delores Scott, Roger “Hurricane” Wilson, Blue Krewe, Clam Daddys, Melissa Selby and is also the coordinator and a performer for Women Rock the Night.
Jodie has evolved her very own unique funky, blues style from almost two decades of professional experience as a bass player.
She brings her upbeat personality and experience to the private lessons to make it fun for everyone.
Jodie is currently accepting beginner bass students of all ages.
DOUG CARMICHAEL - SAXOPHONE / PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTOR
Doug Carmichael has been teaching music in the St Vrain Valley school system for years.
He has a positive connection and musical influence on his students.He will be making guest appearences at MMA for the performance classes and bringing his insight on improvisation and group playing.