Our Teaching Staff
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Guitar, Drums, Uke, Piano, Bass guitar, Recording studio technology
Chuck Schultz is an accomplished musician and sound engineer playing since the age of 7. Chuck is a musician, audio engineer, producer, recording, rehearsal, TV, video production, sound company owner who has worked with 1000's of professional musicians from coffee houses to big arena's both local and touring solo artists and bands over the last 45 years. Teaching for 40 years Chuck has taught over 100,000 lessons from beginners to professionals. Some of his students include: professional performing musicians, school music teachers, recording artists, and touring musicians. He has 3 students that have won the prestigious Maestro Award, Best at his Craft at the World Strides Competition. His style of teaching combining all aspects of music basics and advanced theory along with todays acoustic and electric music from all styles makes him a popular teacher at VMS for all age groups. He as been a judge of the Good Times music festival from its inception almost 20 years ago and has helped guide professional music and bands through a career in music. He has worked with members of Aerosmith, Da La Sol, the Isley brothers, and the list goes on. He started learning audio engineering at 14 and started his own sound company Shotgun Sound at 16, working for bands locally around Long Island New York area as well as taping for MTV when they started broadcasting. At 19 he opened and recording and rehearsal studio under the same name and the work increased. In the 1980's expanding into monthly rehearsal rooms in 4 studios in Amityville, Babylon, Copiague and Mastic 23 rooms in total. Continuing to do sound work for music festivals, night clubs and bars throughout the 1980's and 1990's working with a lot of the popular bands of the day Company "B", Taylor Dayne, Expose, Stevie Cochran, The Ronettes, Santo & Johnny, Dick Hyman Woody Alan's musical director, Johnny Maestro, The Drifters to name a few. In 2006 he started Inravio.com TV Network. Inravio was broadcasting live over the internet before there was equipment to do it with, or there was the term "streaming", he was able to put Inravio on the map and was the one who everyone else followed. He produced twenty seven 2 hour live TV shows broadcasted every week where guests could respond to the hosts instantly while they we're on-air, making it a 2 way conversation with the viewers which was never done before. At this time you could only watch a video as on Youtube, this made I possible to watch it, and talk to it, and have it talk back to you in real time. Today he is still keeping busy doing sound and video on Long Island as well as designing and building out audio and broadcast video installation projects in New York area. With the new world and the social distancing it seem that this field of audio and video are getting bigger and now's a great time to have new engineers coming up Chuck said, in a resent interview, we think he's right. |
Violin, Viola, Cello
Dixie Ortiz is a violinist and orchestra teacher with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She has been teaching violin and viola lessons for over 7 years to students ranging from elementary school, middle, high school, and adult learners. Her students have successfully entered All State, All County, and other district orchestras. Dixie has been playing violin for over 13 years and has played in the UNCG University Symphony, Imperial Symphony Orchestra, and served as concertmaster of the UNCG Sinfonia orchestra. In addition, she has won a concerto competition, placed as a finalist in several music competitions, won university music scholarships, and conducted undergraduate research in music education after winning three separate research grants. She was recently featured on Fox 8 news for her accomplishments with teaching and undergraduate research. She is passionate about teaching music and changing the lives of her students by bringing out the unique talents and work ethic that each of her students possess. Currently, she teaches middle school orchestra and maintains a private studio in Polk County, Florida.
Dixie Ortiz is a violinist and orchestra teacher with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She has been teaching violin and viola lessons for over 7 years to students ranging from elementary school, middle, high school, and adult learners. Her students have successfully entered All State, All County, and other district orchestras. Dixie has been playing violin for over 13 years and has played in the UNCG University Symphony, Imperial Symphony Orchestra, and served as concertmaster of the UNCG Sinfonia orchestra. In addition, she has won a concerto competition, placed as a finalist in several music competitions, won university music scholarships, and conducted undergraduate research in music education after winning three separate research grants. She was recently featured on Fox 8 news for her accomplishments with teaching and undergraduate research. She is passionate about teaching music and changing the lives of her students by bringing out the unique talents and work ethic that each of her students possess. Currently, she teaches middle school orchestra and maintains a private studio in Polk County, Florida.
Trumpet, Cornet, Baritone, Trombone, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone, Flute
Lee Dash is an accomplished music educator and band director. He received his NYS Permanent teaching certificate upon graduation with honors from C.W. Post, and holds many honors including C.W. Post Orchestra Concerto Competition Winner and Commencement Student Marshal. Involvement in many school organizations including Symphonic Band, Brass Choir, Wind Ensemble and Marching band are just a few of his many accomplishments. He is also a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Band, is the Vice Flotilla Commander, is a member of SCMEA (Suffolk County Music Educators Association), volunteers at Kent Animal Shelter and is a NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) judge.
Guitar, Uke, Piano
Vinny Bautista is currently a student at Molloy College for music education. He has 12 years experience playing guitar from rock and metal to classical guitar. His love of music has led him to embark on a journey as an educator. Is hope is to teach middle to high school children, and says, "However there is no age limit on learning and I hope to pass along my passion and love of music to you".
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Recording studio technology
Mario Salvati began his career in 1974. From his first professional studio experience assisting the engineer on the broadcast sound for the NYC Easter Parade to recording sessions with such artists as the The Ramones, Blondie, Richard Hell and The Voidoids, at the legendary Bell Sound Studios on West 54th Street. From these beginnings, Mario’s career remains rich and diverse. Another early highlight was having Sam Feldman, who mastered all the Beatles’ albums for America, gift Mario with a ref dub of his first session as engineer. During Mario's time at Bell Sound, he also had the honor to work with engineers such as Malcolm Addey and Harry Yarmark, among other greats. In 1975, moving to LaTierra, Fania Records’ in house studio, Mario worked alongside Irv Greenbaum and John Fausty, recording all-time great Salsa artists such as Hector Lavoe, Ruben Blades, Celia Cruz and Willie Colon. Johnny Pacheco, Tito Puente, the Fania All Stars, Larry Harlow, Eddie Palmieri, Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barreto and Wilfrido Vargas also graced Mario's recording experience during this time. In 1980, impressed by his technical and creative abilities, Mario was lured away by Al Feierstein to work at Sorcerer Sound, Al's newly upgraded to 24-track studio. At Sorcerer, Mario had the opportunity to work in a wider range of musical genres, everything from punk to club, jazz to avant garde, classical to rock. Some highlights of Mario's Sorcerer career include working with Tom Verlaine, The System, Angela Bofill, Arto Lindsay, Robert Quine/Fred Maher, John Zorn, Danny Gatton and Nona Hendryx. In addition to his studio work, Mario also engineered concert sound and live satellite broadcasts. In 1982, Mario began his freelance career after teaming up with Timmy Regisford and Boyd Jarvis. Together, they turned the club scene upside down. They started a whole new sound with hits from artists like Colonel Abrams, Guy, Bobby Womack, New Edition, and When in Rome. Totally covering the club scene, Mario brought this new sound to other DJ remixers such as Larry Levan, The Latin Rascals, Arthur Baker and Curtis Mantronik. In 1986, Mario returned to rock n' roll, working with Tom Verlaine/Television, Luna, Elysian Fields, Fountains of Wayne, Brenda Kahn, P-Shy, Map of the World, and Certain General, to name a few. In addition to his freelance career, Mario decided to share his expertise and experience with a new generation of up and coming engineers and producers. Mario began teaching at The Institute of Audio Research in NYC, where he is also Senior Curriculum Adviser. In addition to teaching and his freelance career, Mario has fullfilled a life-long dream of designing and building his own recording studio. Barefoot Flamingo Recording, an analog/digital studio in the beautiful Delaware River Valley community of Barryville, NY, debuted in 2010. Gold and Platinum Certifications.
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DJ, Producer, Audio Production
Djeka was born and raised in Paris, France, he began DJ'ing in his late teens after having played several musical instruments such as the drums, piano and cello from a young age. He has been living in Brooklyn since 2008 and plays an eclectic mix of music including, but not limited to, Funk, Disco, Boogie, 80s & 90s Dance Music, Reggae/Dancehall. The focus of his sets is on feel good music and positive vibes, reflecting the philosophy that music should bring people together through uplifting melodies and positive messages. In addition to DJ'ing, Djeka is also a graffiti artist and has collaborated on murals and projects alongside some of NYC, Montreal and Paris' preeminent graffiti and mural artists. |
Trombone, Trumpet, Baritone/Euphonium, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
I began my journey as a musician when I began playing trombone in the fourth grade. Throughout the years, I played in band class, jammed with friends, and received trombone lessons. In the process, I began to fall in love with music. I believe that the most valuable part of being a musician, is learning to enjoy the experience of performing. I have played with several notable groups, some of which are: Minetta, The Long Beach Theatre Guild, The Rockaway-Five Towns Symphony Orchestra, The Brass Monkeys, The Bay Big Band, and The Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra.
I began my journey as a musician when I began playing trombone in the fourth grade. Throughout the years, I played in band class, jammed with friends, and received trombone lessons. In the process, I began to fall in love with music. I believe that the most valuable part of being a musician, is learning to enjoy the experience of performing. I have played with several notable groups, some of which are: Minetta, The Long Beach Theatre Guild, The Rockaway-Five Towns Symphony Orchestra, The Brass Monkeys, The Bay Big Band, and The Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra.
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