Who Are We?

 
Thank you for visiting the Harrison School of Music website! We offer adult pop & jazz instruction in the Los Angeles area. We are located at 5077 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, within easy reach of the 101, 170 & 134 freeways, and just up the road from Universal Studios. Our small group classes cater for all levels of student, from serious beginners through to professional musicians. Our school was founded in 1995 and was in Woodland Hills for three years before moving to our current facility in 1998.

Our founder, Mark Harrison, outside
our North Hollywood facility.

Our founder Mark Harrison was a key faculty member at the Grove School of Music for several years, up until the school's closure in 1992. The Grove School's unique perspective on contemporary music education has been a major influence and inspiration for the Harrison School of Music. Although the Grove School no longer exists, we at the Harrison School are proud to be thought of as the 'keepers of the flame' for offering the type of pragmatic, effective music education that the Grove School was renowned for.

We offer four ten-week quarters per year, of evening & weekend group classes. Our subject areas continue to expand, and currently include keyboard, guitar, bass, vocal performance, theory/fundamentals, eartraining, sightsinging, improvisation, rhythm training, songwriting, arranging, composition, jazz ensembles and music business.

Please come and visit our next free seminar session, on June 24th & 25th (1 - 6 p.m. both days). This is a great way to 'try before you buy' - and you can take advantage of our early registration discounts! Our next quarter (Summer 2000) runs from July 5th - September 12th. Please note that the Monday & Tuesday classes will begin July 10th & 11th (1 week later than all other classes) due to the July 4th holiday.

Don't forget if you have any questions - please call us on 800-828-MUSIC (800-828-6874).

Faculty Biographies

MARK HARRISON (President)
is a keyboardist, composer and educator with over twenty years experience in the industry. As an active composer for television, his work is heard internationally in commercials for clients like American Express and CNN, as well as in A & E's American Justice series. Mark has performed with top professionals such as Bruce Hornsby's drummer John Molo and Ray Charles' bassist Adam Cohen, and by invitation with the Berklee College of Music faculty orchestra. Mark founded the Harrison School of Music after six years as a key educator at the Grove School of Music, and his Grammy-winner endorsed Pop Piano Book is "the most accessible and valuable keyboard method available for popular styles" according to Keyboard Magazine. The Harrison Music Education Systems series of books is published by Hal Leonard, and is used by dozens of schools and thousands of students worldwide. Mark's 'master class' articles written for Keyboard Magazine are read all around the world, and have recently been translated for the Japanese market. The Mark Harrison Quintet performs regularly in the Los Angeles area and "excels at contemporary jazz" according to Music Connection magazine.

STEFANO VALDO
is an experienced bass performer and studio musician, in both the U.S. and Europe. He was recently tapped to arrange an independent jazz disc titled L.A. Supper Club, and has played and arranged for the noted flamenco group Sarkis. Among the top jazz artists Stefano has performed with are Ed Shaughnessy, Justo Almario and Bobby Shew. In Europe, he had a top five single on the Arista label and made many TV appearances. Stefano has studied with top bassists Miroslav Vitous (Weather Report) and Joel DiBartolo (Tonight Show Band), and earned his Master of Music degree from California State University at Long Beach.

JEFF SAXON
is an award-winning songwriter and a former staff songwriter at New York's world-renowned Bourne Music Publishing. Four of his songs were recently included on albums which Ron Dante (producer for Barry Manilow) executive-produced. Jeff's song Journey Of The Heart (co-written with Jeanne Smith) has just been selected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association as the official anthem of their new Hall of Champions facility, and he also wrote a cut for the independent film "Meet The Mosaics", currently entered in film festivals worldwide. Jeff teaches songwriting at Santa Monica College and is a song evaluator for the NAS Songwriter's Expo.

JOYCE COLLINS
is a jazz pianist, composer and educator who has performed throughout the U.S., Europe and Mexico, both as a soloist and with her own trio. Her studio credits include playing, singing, and arranging on two Grammy-nominated Bill Henderson albums; and recently arranging & producing an album with actor/singer Wilford Brimley. Joyce was named Jazz Educator Of The Year in 1992 by the L.A. Jazz Society, and coached Jeff & Beau Bridges in keyboard technique for The Fabulous Baker Boys. Joyce has also authored several instruction books, and taught jazz keyboard at the Grove School of Music for over fifteen years.

ALISON WEDDING
is a versatile vocalist whose performance credits include many top pop & jazz artists like Deniece Williams, Dianne Reeves, Gerry Mulligan, Dianne Schurr, L.A. Jazz Choir, Kevyn Lettau and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra to name a few. Her recent recording credits include the new album from Andy Summers (ex-Police) and the new John Travolta movie Battlefield Earth. Locally, Alison can be found singing at top L.A. venues such as Ca del Sole and Monteleone's West. Alison earned her Bachelors Degree in music at North Texas University, and is currently on the faculty at the Los Angeles Music Academy.

ZACHARY PROVOST
is a well-rounded keyboardist, producer and music director. He has performed with top artists such as John Pattituci, Russell Ferrante and John Molo, and is currently producing new artist demos for Warner-Chappell Publishing. Zachary was tapped by Grammy-winning producer David Foster to arrange Cher's performance of the Star Spangled Banner at the 1999 Superbowl. As a keyboardist/music director, he has been hired by artists as diverse as sports personality Roy Firestone and James Taylor's longtime sideman Arnold McCuller. Active in the gospel field, Zachary is also the resident music director for the Holy Name Of Jesus and Maria Regina churches in the Los Angeles area.

JOHN DAVERSA
is a well-known performer and composer here in Los Angeles. A trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist, John has played with heavyweights such as Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Peter Erskine, Johnny Mandel, Russell Ferrante, and Bobby Caldwell, just to name a few. John's movie credits include The Naked Truth and The Associate, and he is a regular player on TV's Judging Amy. John has written over 100 commisioned pieces, and writes all original material for his 17-piece big band, with whom he plays in L.A.'s top jazz venues.

JUSTIN MORELL
is an active guitarist and UCLA graduate in Guitar Performance and Composition. He has performed with many top names in the jazz & pop world, including Dizzy Gillespie, James Ingram, Johnny Mandel, Russell Ferrante, Peter Erskine and The Supremes. Justin's TV & movie credits include The Naked Truth and To Sir With Love. His playing can be heard on bassist Todd Sickafoose's recent album, and also on the "oldies circuit" throughout Southern California, playing with The Mermaids. Justin's Septet performs regularly on the L.A. jazz circuit.

ROBBIE GILLMAN
is a keyboardist, composer and educator with over thirty years experience in the industry. His songs have been recorded by Juice Newton, Jennifer Warnes and Liza Minelli, and his TV scoring credits include the Movie of the Week 'Tis The Season. Robbie has performed with many top names including Phylicia Rashad, Lulu, Gloria Loring and Illinois Jacquette, and has also played on numerous jingles and movies. Robbie was on the faculty at the Grove School of Music for over twelve years, developing several of the courses offered at the school.