Instructor Bios

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Billy Sloan is a teacher at BC Music, whose Varied accomplishments include a four year European tour as an International Pianist, Ten years on Major Cruise Lines as a solo pianist, and Leader of both a Rock Variety Band, and a Jazz Trio. 

•       Studied piano at American University in Washington, had His first solo concert there at age 12. 

•    Studied Violin from the First Chair

Violist in the Air Force Symphony, went to a Summer Music Camp as part of the Wheeling West Virginia Youth Orchestra at age 14, and later Studied violin at Jacksonville University in

Florida. Holding an Associate of Arts in

Music Production Technology from Northwest Florida State College.

• Billy continues independent studies in Cello, Violin and Fiddle styles, Banjo, Guitar, Drums, and Pedal Steel Guitar at his Recording Studio.

Clint Hall-2017 - Current Performing Musician Emerald Coast, FL

Perform with “The Clint Hall Group” for a variety of venues.

 Festivals, special events, etc.

 Large repertoire of music to fit demographic.

 Sing and play guitar to entertain listeners of all ages.

 Perform regularly.

2022-2024 Performing Musician Seaside, FL

Perform with “The Wavy Winstons Band” Seaside Amphitheater, FL.

 Festivals, special events, etc.

 Large repertoire of music to fit demographic.

 Sing and play guitar to entertain listeners of all ages.

 Perform regularly.

2024 Performing Musician Destin, FL

Perform with “Banda Americana” at Harborwalk Village.

 Festivals, special events, etc.

 Large repertoire of music to fit demographic.

 Sing and play guitar to entertain listeners of all ages.

 Perform regularly through season.

2017 - 2020 Performing Musician Emerald Coast, FL

Perform gypsy jazz guitar with band “Caravan” for a variety of venues.

 Towns and community functions.

 Play the legendary music of Django Reinhardt .

 Entertain jazz lovers all over .

 Perform regularly.

2017- Current Performing Musician Emerald Coast, FL

Perform solo acoustic with vocals for a variety of venues.

 Assisted living facilities, cafes, etc.

 Music in a variety of genres from the 1930’s-Today.

 Sing and play guitar to entertain listeners of all ages.

 Perform regularly.

2017- 2020 Performing Musician Niceville, FL

Perform with “Deepwell” local cover/ original band.

 Play venues on the Emerald Coast

 Large repertoire of roots rock, blues, country, Americana, funk music.

 Guitarist/ vocalist entertaining listeners of all ages.

 Perform regularly.

2017- 2021 Worship Musician Gulf Breeze, FL

Perform with The Gathering Point Gulf Breeze U.M.C. worship band.

 Multi- Instrumentalist (mostly bass)

 Quickly learn parts to be performed the same week.

 Transpose music to different keys.

 Perform songs weekly.

2019 Performing Musician Pensacola, FL

Performed with “The Spitfire Grill” Emerald Coast Theater

 Performed Mandolin and Guitar

 Passed audition. Learned music to perform.

 Multiple instrumental features.

 .Highly technical repertoire.

2017 Performing Musician Pensacola, FL

Performed with “The Northwest FL Collegiate All-Star Band”

 Performed with Wayne Bergeron at 2017 Pensacola Jazz Festival

 Passed audition. Learned music to perform.

 Multiple instrumental features.

 .Highly technical repertoire.

2016-2017 Worship Musician Niceville, FL

Perform with Crosspoint Niceville Campus worship band.

 

2012-2014 Worship Musician Breckenridge, CO

Regularly performed with the worship team at Agape Outpost Church

 Played guitar, piano, bass, and drums for Sunday Worship

 Assisted with music arrangement.

 Learned weekly repertoire.

2011 Guitar Instructor @ B.R.C Breckenridge, CO

Breckenridge Recreation Center Instructor

 Taught weekly classes for children and adults.

 Worked through a 6-week curriculum.

 Many children and adults with different styles of learning.

 Positive, fun learning environment.

2010 Pit Musician Dillon, CO

Professional Guitarist for The Lake Dillon Theatre Co.

 Performed “Rent” for summer series.

 Played challenging score with other pit musicians.

 Acoustic as well as electric instrument parts.

 Many different guitar sounds required.

 Spotlight repertoire.

 Technical repertoire including compound time.

2008- 2014 Shanghai Yohe/ Uncertain Frequency/ Solo Performer Summit County

Professional Musician/ Group Manager/ Musical Director/ Booking Agent

 Live Music for Any Occasion.

 Clients include: The Motherloaded Tavern, 320South, Bagali’s, The Backcountry Brewery, The Dam

Brewery, Bootlegger’s Saloon, Howling Coyote Café, The New Moon Café.

 Playing a variety of styles including: Jazz, Funk, Rock, Pop, Folk, Classical.

 

2001-2002 University of Washington Seattle, WA

A/V Technician/ Engineer

 Engineered and Coordinated UW “Sessions” music series.

 Local as well as burgeoning national acts.

 Engineered talent shows, showcases, and concerts.

 Delegated tasks to others to ensure smooth setup and performance.

2001-2003 Orange Balloon Tacoma, WA

Recording Artist/ Producer/Manager

 Co-wrote, recorded, produced, and mixed full length CD.

 Performed many showcase events throughout The Puget Sound.

 College radio plays.

1998-2000 Fallen Skyward Gig Harbor, WA

Recording Artist/ Producer/Manager

 Wrote, recorded, produced, and mixed full length CD.

 Received “Honorable Mention” from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

 Booked live performances and conducted rehearsals.

1998-2000 Pierce Community College Tacoma, WA

A/V Technician/ Engineer

 Engineered live sound for 16 voice jazz choir with rhythm and horn section.

 Engineered live sound for rehearsals and performances.

 Traveled with group to perform at jazz festivals and showcases.

1999-2002 Pacific Recording Studios Tacoma, WA

Recording Engineer/ Session Musician

 Engineered recording sessions after hours.

 Mixed and mastered personal and client arrangements.

 Familiarized myself with recording/mastering equipment.

 Hours spent on microphone technique, characteristics, and position.

1997-2007 Soul Siren/ Hit Sensation/ Tacoma Musical Playhouse Bremerton, WA

Performing Musician

 Pit-band musician performed in several musicals (Annie and Big) as guitarist and banjoist.

 Professional music groups specializing in corporate, casino, and wedding material.

 Have ability to learn or read material quickly to satisfy clients’ requests.

 Performed on many large stages including The Taste of Tacoma, Whaling Days, and The Bite of Seattle.

 Involved in technical aspects of sound and lighting at many of our gigs.

1994-1995 Southeast High School Bradenton, FL

A/V Technician/ Engineer/ Music Student

 Engineered sound and lights at choir/band performances.

 Engineered sound and lights at beauty pageants.

 Performed at both graduation and post-graduation ceremonies!

Education 2001-2003 University of Washington Seattle, WA

 Firm grasp on piano playing skills.

 Played jazz guitar for several touring ensembles.

 Composed and arranged charts for performance.

 Attended courses in music history and ethnomusicology.

 Working toward a B.A. in music education.

1996-1999 Pierce C.C. and Tacoma C.C. Tacoma, WA

 A.A., Associates in Arts and Letters.

 Emphasis on music related studies.

 Graduated with nearly twice the amount of credits necessary. (My parents weren’t happy!)

 Completed courses in recording technique, live sound, and music performance.

 Tutored other students in music theory, recording technique, and guitar performance.

 Involvement with music department led to sound engineer positions.

 Was a cornerstone member of both the Vocal Jazz Choir and Concert Choir for 3-4 years.

 Played guitar for jazz band, jazz choir, and solo accompanist.

Hey my name is Van Jackson and I’m a new intern instructor at BC music. I’m originally from Sumter, South Carolina where I began learning piano at the age of 8. I later joined the Alice drive middle school orchestra where I picked up the cello. I continued in orchestra through my senior year of high school and made first chair from 2011-2014. I competed in the Columbia region solo and ensemble every year and was a part of the Baptist all state orchestra. Since moving to northwest Florida I have graduated from northwest Florida state college with a certificate in audio technology and music production. I enjoy leading worship at my church and playing open mic nights with musician friends. Looking forward to beginning my teaching career and spreading my love for music!

I began with music in grade school, playing Tuba and Baritone in the concert and marching bands of my middle and high school, where I learned basics of music theory.  I began to play ukulele as mostly a hobby and gimmick in 2010, when I was living in Thailand.  After a year or so of joining local Thai ukulele workshops, I entered the Thailand Ukulele Championship of 2011 and ended up winning the competition for my performance of the Thai song "Sao Chaiyaphum" in conjunction with my musical partner at the time, a fellow named Kitti Bronco.

Consequently after winning the competition, I received many offers from local venues to come and play exhibition shows and gigs, which I was wholly underprepared for, but quickly began to assemble a performative show.  Eventually I was playing 4-5 nights a week at some of the most popular speakeasies and small nightclubs/music rooms in Bangkok with my trio, Lips Manly - notably Smalls, Apoteka, Bangkok Mojo and Bitterman.  Our set was a very eclectic, energetic show with songs ranging from the 1920s up to the 2000s and spanning every genre.

I have also written many of my own original songs and was a songwriter and player in a band that was signed to Warner Music Thailand at one point, Jenny and the Scallywags, also performing at many venues around Thailand.

My teaching experience began while working for the Mechai Viravaidyha Foundation, a non-government organization in Thailand that focuses on education programs for the underprivileged provinces in Northeastern Thailand.  I established Thailand's largest youth ukulele orchestra with roughly 40 members at any given time, and they performed all around Thailand for charities and concerts.  I worked with mostly young teen students over the course of 4 years.

Pianist/Vocalist, Mariah Picot has spent her life in the arts.  After childhood concerts and formal training completing a Bachelor of Music, in voice at Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, she started a professional career in musical theatre, with lead roles in many musicals and cabarets In Toronto and across western Canada.

   She has also had extensive theater training with teachers from CAST [Centre for Actors Study in Toronto] in Toronto, and Herbert Bergoff Studio in NYC.”

    Mariah was asked to sing for the Canadian Command Performance at Massey Hall, along with other guests including Jim Carey, Rich Little & Buffy St. Marie. She was the only performer that evening to have 2 paragraphs written about her by the reviewer in the Toronto Star. “a dynamic singer” -Ray Conalogue.

    She eventually changed her focus to jazz piano studies, and began performing in piano bars. Her longest running gig was 2.5 years at Tom Jones Steak House, right in the middle of the theater district.

She and her husband spent a number of years in the 90s living in Santa Monica, going to pilot and commercial auditions and playing private parties and retirement homes. They had an agent on Sunset Blvd who used to send them out.

    Eventually, Mariah was brought to Florida in the late 90’s for a gig, and began working in clubs and hotels as a solo artist. She was also a member of “Steeplechase”, a jazz quartet with an emphasis on vocal harmony. She has since been heading her own group, “The Mariah Picot Trio” and Quartet, on piano/vocals where she sings in English, French, Portuguese and Italian. 

     She has been the musical director for 4 different Unity Churches, the longest at Unity of Panama City for 7 years, for whom she wrote, directed and co-produced two multimedia musical events.

     In the spring of 2004, to critical acclaim, Mariah released her first CD of original songs “Notes on the Bridge...”,  with the Bill Peterson Trio. – ‘Jazz influenced art songs with a Spiritual Perspective’. Mariah wrote  8 of the songs  plus the lyrics to 5 of Bill Peterson’s tunes.  So far, she has a catalogue of about 60 tunes.

           In Canada she has performed: at Massey Hall, appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra, original tunes for August Moon artist showcase, Performing Arts Lodge, various cabarets, piano bars and a variety of corporate event across western Canada and toured with the show band ‘Chamelion’ .

       In Florida, she has been seen at the Gulf Jazz Society Jazz Jubilee, Seaside Jazz Festival, Seaside Concert Series, Gulf Place Concert series, Concerts in the Park, Monk & More Jazz Gumbo, Gulf Beach Presbyterian Concert Series, Unity of Tallahassee, plus countless corporate and private events along the Gulf coast.  Since moving to Dallas in 2007, she has appeared in local clubs solo and with her trio, Unity Dallas Concert series, plus events at the Dallas convention Center.

     Mariah worked as an accompanist at The Acting Studio in Grapevine and Frisco for 10 years until the pandemic hit.  She taught voice and piano and was the choir director at  First Christian Church United in Lewisville for 8 years. 

She has written a musical that is in development and  several of the students have been involved in professional reads at the studio. 

As the beginning of 2023, she was offered a music director position at Trinity United Methodist Church in Fort Walton Beach, FL. She currently lives there and plans the music and directs the choir for the traditional 11AM service.

I currently teach Guitar Acoustic and Electric, Bass Guitar and Ukulele at BC Music Studio in Fort Walton. I'm also a musician in a praise band at Champion Life Church in the local community.

Beyond my current responsibilities I have played  in various bands throughout the years and in the short time I have been with BC Music have impacted several young musicians with insight to the tricks of the trade that I have seen, experienced and have been exposed to throughout the years. I teach students to read music and to think outside the book with guitar mapping skills laying it out to simplify the process. I have techniques to build muscle memory, strengthen the fingers while gaining speed and dexterity. I am rooted in Blues, Country and Rock N Roll. 

Tony Santos

Music Instructor:

Acoustic and Electric Guitar (Rhythm and Lead).

Electric Bass Guitar.

Worship Guitar, Bass Piano and Keyboard

I have been playing guitar for 50 yrs. I am proficient in Diatonic Major Scales and their relative minor scales. I am also proficient in the Pentatonic Major, Minor and the Minor Blue scale. I also am familiar with all the modes of the Diatonic scale.

I have been playing in worship bands in the Fort Walton Beach area since 1987 in various church's. I have also taught Worship Guitar in several worship conferences in the South East. In 2000 1 injured my right index finger and wasn't able to play guitar for a year. That is when I started playing keys in church. I have been a Worship Leader for the past 15 years alternating between the Guitar and Keyboard.

             I've always believed learning to play a musical instrument

                   teaches young people goal achievement skills without them realizing it.

                   When a child sets out to play even the easiest tune, they practice at home

                   then in a fun activity like band apply what they practice and see and hear the 

                   fruits of their labor.                   

                    That's why they call it "playing an instrument" not "working an instrument"

                   I Started playing the Trumpet in 4th grade switched to Bariton/Euphonium in high school. 

                    Attending Penn State University played bass trombone in the Wind ensemble and the PSU Blue band.

                    Also studied privately with the bass trombonist in the Pittsburg Symphony.

                   Looking for more performing opportunities I picked up the tenor saxophone and

                   within a few years was working paying gigs. Eventually working my way up to performances with 

                    well known bands including The Climax Blues Band, Bill Haely's Comets and The Beach Boys.

                    Playing at The New Orleans Jazz festival, Miss Mississippi Pageant and many well attended venues.

                  Living in Baton Rouge Louisiana I was invited to join the LSU School of Music and Dramatic Arts faculty working as instructor and

                    curator/technician of musical instruments for the School of Music and The LSU Tiger Band. " THE GOLDEN BAND FROM TIGERLAND"

                   While in Baton Rouge was a guest performer with the LSU Symphonic Winds and worked with many local artist, R&B bands.

                   During my tenure awarded Honorary Membership in Kappa Kappa Psi The National Honorary Band Fraternity in 2012

                   Retiring from LSU relocated to the beautiful emerald coast, now teaching and 

                     enjoys my favorite hobby, fishing.