Music & Rock School is not a traditional music school, and our instructors are not traditional, “by the book” instructors. In all of our instructors we look for musicians possessing a deep understanding of their instrument(s), and music as a whole. They are also active, working musicians, meaning they are regularly performing, writing, recording, etc. The combination of formal training and practical experience gives them an edge in providing students with not only a solid musical foundation, but more importantly, the ability to apply that knowledge to specific musical styles or wherever their interests take them. These are the distinct differences that make Music & Rock School’s instructors masters of their craft, as opposed to simply knowledgeable about music.
Theous Jones
Owner/Operator of Music and Rock School – Drum Set/Percussion/Piano Instructor
Theous Terryel Jones is a highly respected freelance drummer, percussionist, educator, and entrepreneur based in Durham NC. Theous is an Alumni of North Carolina Central University graduating in 2010 with a bachelors of Music ( Jazz concentration). While attending NC Central he played in jazz combo, big band (jazz), vocal jazz ensemble, and the percussion ensemble. His musical roots include marching percussion, jazz drumming, & orchestral/concert percussion. These days Theous plays all over North Carolina and Eastern U.S. in a variety of bands, jazz ensembles, and even the Chapel Hill Philharmonic Orchestra. Theous is endorsed by Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets.
Myk’l Hanna
Voice Teacher & Vocal Coach
Born and raised in Detroit MI, Myk’l Hanna graduated from Cass Tech HS, a common thread he shares with his grandfather, pianist/composer Sir Roland Hanna. He matriculated to New Orleans LA, where he received his BA from Xavier University, and also joined Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. After briefly living and studying in Chicago, Myk’l made Durham, NC his home, and received a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from North Carolina Central University.
Having grown up singing in the church, Myk’l has been performing since a young age. Participating in various groups has granted him the privilege to perform in renowned venues around the world such as Carnegie Hall (NYC) The Music Hall (Beirut, Lebanon) The Hard Rock Cafe (Punta Can, Dominican Republic) and The Carolina Theatre (Durham NC)
Myk’l currently sings lead for the award winning private events band Irresistible Groove, and has appeared live and/or on recordings with other notable NC based artists such as Dreamroot, Ernest Turner, Zoo Cru, & Lenora Zenzailai Helm
THOMAS RICHARDSON
Piano/Bass/Guitar/Percussion
Thomas is an internationally known musician, composer and producer. Getting his start as a Bassist at his local church, he went on to play in Marching Bands, Orchestras, Jazz ensembles and R+B outfits. Along the way he picked up a B.M. in Bass Performance and Pedagogy; a M.A. in Scoring for Film, TV and Videogames; and over 100 credits on various albums, videos, and educational materials. He has performed and recorded all of the world, from the PNC Arena to Abbey Road Studios in London.
Thomas currently splits his time between performance and teaching. He has been teaching since 2010 and enjoys crafting specialized curriculums for each unique student. Each lesson is an opportunity for the teacher to learn as well as the student. After all, Music is a lifelong pursuit.
Daniel DeLorenzo
Guitar/Bass/Ukulele Instructor
Daniel DeLorenzo comes to Music and Rock School from a background firmly rooted in recording, songwriting, and production. He has written music with artists and songwriters both locally, and nationally. Daniel has taught guitar and modern recording lessons for 8+ years, and has worked as both a player, and recording engineer in some of the area’s best studios. These opportunities have given him a unique perspective, understanding, and appreciation of what it takes to become a great musician. Daniel brings not only a love of sharing music, but a diverse background of experience for students to draw from. He currently performs around the triangle in a jazz guitar duo with MARS instructor, Jacob Dowd