Music Lessons

Shareef Clayton is a trumpeter, bandleader, and educator who has been featured on two Grammy-nominated recordings. His career has included performances with Stevie Wonder, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Lauryn Hill, Macy Gray, Melody Gardot, Thomas Rhett, Bobby Sanabria, and others.

He has performed internationally across jazz, R&B, pop, and contemporary music, bringing a soulful sound, strong musical identity, and energetic stage presence to each performance.

As an educator, Shareef helps students develop strong fundamentals, sound, technique, improvisation, confidence, and their own musical voice. His teaching draws directly from years of professional performance experience.

He is also the founder of Harlem Music Studios and the Shareef Clayton Music Foundation.

Andreea Delisfort is a classically trained pianist and experienced educator who began studying piano at age six in her native Romania. She later earned a full scholarship to the Conservatory in Iași before moving to the United States to pursue graduate studies in Piano Performance at Northern Illinois University, where she also received a full scholarship.

Andreea has extensive experience teaching both private and group piano lessons and has worked as a collaborative pianist, teaching assistant, church pianist, and accompanist. Since moving to New York in 2009, she has taught students throughout Manhattan, Queens, and Westchester.

She brings a strong classical foundation, years of teaching experience, and a supportive approach to helping students develop their skills, confidence, and love of music.

Norman Edwards Jr. is a New York–based drummer, bandleader, and educator known for his dynamic approach to groove, jazz, funk, and contemporary music. He has performed with artists including Alphonso Horne, Endea Owens, Patrick Bartley Jr., Mark Meadows, and Shareef Clayton, while leading his own ensembles including SpinKicK and the Norman Edwards Jr. Excitement Band.

As an educator, Norman teaches at Manhattan School of Music and Jazz at Lincoln Center and has extensive experience working with students in both private and group settings. His teaching emphasizes strong fundamentals, groove, musical expression, and helping students develop the confidence to interact and perform with other musicians.

Norman brings the same energy, creativity, and enthusiasm found in his performances into every lesson.

Christopher McBride is a New York City–based saxophonist, composer, and educator known for his versatility across jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and contemporary music. He has performed with artists including Roy Hargrove, Jennifer Hudson, Solange, Ne-Yo, Pete Rock, Rakim, Lupe Fiasco, and Marquis Hill.

As an educator, Christopher teaches regularly with Jazz at Lincoln Center and previously served as Director of Education for the Second Line Arts Collective, where his work included curriculum development and teacher training. He also tours nationally with educational programs and brings extensive professional performance experience directly into his teaching.

An accomplished recording artist and bandleader, Christopher has earned national recognition for his own projects and received a Grammy certificate for his work on Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra.

Ryan Berg is a New York–based bassist and educator whose career spans jazz, R&B, Broadway, world music, and contemporary styles. He has performed with acclaimed artists including Roy Hargrove, Sullivan Fortner, Gerald Clayton, Lakecia Benjamin, Camille Thurman, and Mark Whitfield, and has appeared in Broadway productions including Jersey Boys, Summer, The Music Man, and Hadestown.

Ryan holds a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from SUNY Purchase and has taught at The Collective School of Music, SUNY Purchase, and Litchfield Jazz Camp. He has also worked extensively with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz for Young People program and Carnegie Hall’s Musical Explorers.

Ryan brings extensive professional experience and a versatile musical background to his teaching, helping students build strong fundamentals while developing their own sound and musicianship.

Bendji Allonce is a drummer, percussionist, and producer whose sound is deeply rooted in his Haitian heritage. He has toured internationally and performed with artists including Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Kassa Overall, and Miley Cyrus, with appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Saturday Night Live, and the Grammy Awards.

His versatility spans a wide range of styles, with additional collaborations including Bilal, Chrisette Michele, and Roberta Flack. The son of Herman Nau of the legendary Haitian band Tabou Combo, Bendji brings extensive professional experience and a globally influenced musical perspective to his teaching.

T.J. Robinson is a New York City–based trombonist, composer, and educator who studied at Manhattan School of Music and the Royal College of Music in London. His diverse career spans jazz, classical music, Broadway, funk, reggae, and hip-hop.

T.J. has performed with the Artie Shaw Band, Burning Spear, Revive Big Band, and PitchBlak Brass Band, and has toured internationally opening for George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. His performances have taken him to Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center, the Blue Note, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

An active Broadway musician, T.J. has performed in productions including Chess, A Beautiful Noise, MJ the Musical, The Great Gatsby, and Maybe Happy Ending. He brings his wide-ranging professional experience into his teaching, helping students develop strong technique, musicianship, versatility, and confidence.