Our Little Groove teachers are very talented with both their professional music careers and also working with young children! You can learn more about our teachers here!
Dylan George
Dylan George is a teacher, composer, arranger, and performer who has had his diverse compositions and arrangements performed all over the world, from Canada and the U.S.A. to as far as India and Australia. He holds an undergraduate degree from Berklee College of Music and a Masters Degree in composition from The Boston Conservatory. He has enjoyed sharing his love of music with children his entire life through work at summer camps, daycares, and teaching private music lessons. He cannot wait to get his groove on at the next Little Groove class.
Dylan’s Instruments - Voice, Guitar, Piano/Keyboards
Tommy Dempsey
Tommy Dempsey is a multi-instrumentalist including drums guitar and piano. Tommy studied voice under renown vocal therapist Mark Baxter. Tommy has taught music class as a part of Baby Wiggle (Boston Center for the Arts), as well as at the Boston Children's Museum. Tommy has performed at festivals and libraries throughout the North East, singing, playing percussion and guitar as a member of the children's music group -Sara Wheeler's "Little Groove" band.
His energetic classes use a lot of percussion and call and response rhythm training using the voice and hands. Tommy believes that through music, children can learn both about structure, as well as freedom and individuality in a fun learning environment.
As a solo singer and songwriter, Tommy has released 3 CD's touring throughout Europe and Japan. He has just co-produced, and is about to release his first full length solo CD entitled "eleven : eleven "
Tommy's Instruments - Voice, Guitar, Piano and Drums
Sara Wheeler
Sara Wheeler has a music degree from Berklee College of Music. She has worked with children for over 15 years. Sara started working with children in Michigan with the Birmingham Autistic Music program. She has taught music in Japan in Kamakura and in Boston at the Cambridge Montessori School and the Newman School. Sara studied music at Berklee College of Music in Boston with her focus being songwriting and music education. She has produced and recorded five original adult contemporary folk/pop CD's and has toured all over the world playing music at festivals and schools. Sara has lived in Boston, Japan and Switzerland. Awards - Parents Choice Award for her CD Building Blocks, Massachusetts Cultural Council Creative Teacher Partner 2005, NACA College Coffeehouse Performer of the Year Finalist 2000, Boston Music Award Nomination for Best Folk Rock Band 1999, Acoustic Underground Finalist 1995, Berklee College of Music Scholarship 1987 - 1991
Sara's Instruments - Trumpet, Guitar, Percussion, Voice and Piano.
Amanda Thonn
Colton Owsley
Colton Owsley is a multi instrumentalist, teacher, composer, and producer. He studied and completed two degrees at Berklee college of music with high honors. He spent time in Nashville working for Dolly Parton and protecting songwriters copyright in music Licensing at ASCAP. His love for music developed at a very young age: “Music has always been something I loved and cherished.” He started performing at age 13 and was a signed artist by 18. He has had placements in movies, composed and conducted orchestras, and produced records for international artists. One of his biggest accomplishments is being a big brother to his siblings that are 13 and 10 years younger: which taught him to connect with his inner child. “It is my goal to share my great love of music and allow children to experience the awe, mystery and wonder that music has for each and everyone of us.” Colton always brings energy, excitement and passion to his performances/teaching for children. He currently has a residency at the Boston Children's museum, performs events/birthdays, and teaches classes at Little Groove. When he is not teaching/performing, he is playing in his Bossa Nova band, Conquering long hikes abroad, and Rock Climbing.
Colton's Instruments: Drums, Voice, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Alto Sax, Piano
Matty Powell
"Matt Powell is a multi-instrumentalist including bass and guitar, and a graduate from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. As the son of two music educators, Matt knows first hand the benefits of being exposed to interactive music at a very young age. Through early private instruction, he developed a strong background in classical and jazz bass, leading him to perform with several prestigious groups, including the 2005 NYSSMA All-State Symphonic Orchestra where he served as principal chair. He later was accepted to the Berklee College of Music where he received a degree in Music Production and Engineering. Over the last 12 years, Matt’s professional music career in Boston has consisted of an eclectic mix of performances, touring, studio gigs, private lessons, production, audio engineering, and composition. Matt has always attributed his versatility in music to the exposure he had to it from an early age and he’s super excited to be a part of the Little Groove team.
Matt’s Instruments: Bass, Guitar, Voice, Piano"
Grace Jenkins
Grace Jenkins is a singer/songwriter with a performing background and more than ten years of experience working with children. She attended Grossmont College in San Diego and studied general education. She moved to Boston to pursue her career as a professional singer/songwriter. Growing up in a very musical home, Grace started playing piano by age 5. She picked up guitar in her teens and started writing her own songs, performing locally at open mics with her sister. Grace has also performed in numerous musical theater productions. As a nanny for the last ten years, Grace has extensive experience working with small children. Grace is excited to now be on the performing side of the Little Groove classes, and loves seeing the joy and delight of children engaging with music.
Grace's instruments - Voice, Guitar, Ukulele, Piano
Michelle Nguyen
Michelle Nguyen started learning music at age 7, classically trained in piano. Michelle proceeded to further her music career at Berklee College of Music, where she is currently studying music therapy. Her primary focuses with music therapy is target research in both early development and elderly population. Michelle has a background of 4 years working with children. Her primary instruments are piano and guitar. Michelle is excited to be part of Little Groove and use music as a tool to increase non-musical areas of daily functioning, such as motor, social, communication, and cognitive skills.
Michelle's Instruments- Piano and Guitar
Shon Gordon
Shon Gordon is an award winning multi-instrumentalist and graduate of Berklee College of Music. His focus was in electric bass performance (he studied with Esperanza Spalding and Matt Garrison), music education, and early childhood development. He plays guitar, ukulele, piano, bass and sings.
Shon has been teaching children from ages 6 months to adult for more than 8 years. He brings his own excitement and knowledge for music to each lesson or class. With Little Groove, Shon has taught a very well received music and movement program at the Boston Children's Museum weekly for 3 years as well as multiple appearances at different branches of the Boston Public Library, birthday parties and public events. Shon brings a fun-loving nature to the classroom and has a knack for engaging the children with music and dance!
As a performer, Shon has played with an array of very talented musicians and bands across the globe. He has performed with multiple artists from shows like The Voice and American Idol including Jermaine Paul, Mia Boomstrom, Brittany Butler, Nicole Nelson, Josh Logan, Steve Memmolo, Erika Van Pelt and Jillian Jensen. He's also played alongside top industry musicians such as Bill Wurtz, Elliot Lewis (Hall & Oates), Daniel Platzman (Imagine Dragons), Ray Green (Tower of Power), Neal Evans (Dopapod), and Mike Tucker (Arturo Sandoval) to name a few...
Skuli Thorsteinsson
"Skuli Thorsteinsson started music early with the violin at age 3, and picked up the guitar at age 13. Since moving to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music, he has been performing all around the Northeastern US with his band Congress as well as with the Beantown Swing Orchestra in addition to giving private guitar lessons. Skuli is excited to introduce kids to the joy of music at Little Groove, much like he was introduced to it at such a young age, and help them grow and develop through music."
Skuli Instrumets: Voice, Guitar, Violin
Amanda Adams
Amanda Adams is a singer-songwriter, performing original music around New England. Having started piano at the age of 5, she recognizes first-hand the joy and growth that music brings to young children. As a childcare provider for children ranging from 4 months-13 years, Amanda has vast and varied experience in teaching, playing with, and caring for children. Amanda has experience in teaching voice, guitar, and piano. Outside of Little Grooves, she also teaches after school elementary science.