Simon Boyar School of Drums and Percussion Faculty
At the Simon Boyar School of Drums and Percussion boasts a world-class faculty. There is simply no place in Westchester that provides drum and percussion education with the care, quality, and standards that we do. Our teachers are diverse and focus/specialize in different areas of study. Students are placed with the appropriate faculty member after a thorough assessment.
Simon Boyar
Owner and Founder of the Simon Boyar School of Drums and Percussion
Simon Boyar is a world renowned percussionist, drummer, composer, producer, and educator. He is widely regarded as among the top percussionists of his generation, and he boasts a world class resume that in terms of sheer diversity is unrivaled by many is his field. He has given performances as a soloist, chamber musician, freelance percussionist, drummer, and outreach clinician across the globe to critical acclaim. An avidly sought out commissioner of new music, Simon has been called upon time and time again by elite composers to participate in the world premieres of many ground breaking works for his instrument. Simon has composed an entire catalog of marimba and percussion music. His unique brand of music has developed a global following and is performed around the world. As a producer, Boyar has been sought out by many professional touring artists for collaborative efforts resulting in the creation of cutting edge experiences in performance and sound. In the field of education, his unique method and mentoring approach is in constant demand by the world’s top conservatories and universities. He has served as a faculty member at both The Juilliard School and NYU Steinhardt and has produced successful students time and time again. He is also endorsed by leading drum and percussion companies Yamaha and Vic Firth. Simon is the owner and founder of the Simon Boyar School of Drums and Percussion in Westchester NY, an absolute game changer for music education in the area. At the Simon Boyar Drum School, Simon also provides the world's finest instruments to students and professionals as a Yamaha drums and percussion, Ludwig drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks/mallets/products, Latin Percussion, and Remo drum heads/products dealer.
Elijah Duncan
Drums
Elijah Duncan is a drummer and percussionist based in Ossining, NY. Elijah began developing his foundational hand technique while studying snare drum with Simon Boyar in the early years of the Simon Boyar Drum School. At the end of high school he studied with Latin Jazz master Adam Cruz before going on to attend the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College. While there he has studied with renowned drummer Matt Wilson and learned from Legendary drummer and jazz historian Kenny Washington. As his time at Jazz School ends Elijah looks to be performing and gigging as much as possible in the area. Elijah is honored to have returned to the Simon Boyar School as a teacher to offer the musical knowledge he has accumulated so far. Coming from a large family, he has much experience with younger learners and enjoys instructing students who are motivated to improve.
Dolores Beck
Piano
Manhattan School of Music, BM degree, French horn major NYU/SUNY New Paltz, BS, Music Therapy major Music Academy of the West and Tanglewood Teaching piano privately for over 60 years. Music therapy specialist with Aspbergers, ADD, ADHD and emotionally challenged children of all ages. Performed with: American Ballet Theatre at Lincoln Center, American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall and various Broadway Shows. Dolores loves teaching classic rock, jazz, improvisation as well as the classical repertoire.
Greg Germann
Drums, Piano
Greg Germann has been playing drums all over the world for the past 15 years and he has become one of the most respected and consistent performers on the music scene today. National tours include broadway shows “Aladdin”, “Wicked", “Grease,” and “Finding Neverland” along with a year traveling with the Big Apple Circus. He has performed with artists such as Ben Vereen, Sir Roland Hanna, Antonio Hart, Clifton Davis, John Davidson, Jimmy Heath, and Jeb Patton as well as many others. Growing up in Deer Park, Long Island he studied with Bob Leto, who used to make him sit in at the local jazz club Sonny’s Place often as a teenager. During his high school years, he attended Manhattan School of Music Prepatory division and he attended Queens college in 1995, where he studied classical percussion with Michael Lipsey and jazz with Clarence Penn, Alvester Garnett, Carl Allen, and Tommy Igoe. He has also served on the faculty at Queens College Aaron Copeland School of Music. ​His debut album Tales of Time features Donny Mccaslin (tenor sax) Luis Perdomo (piano), Yasushi Nakamura (bass), Chelsea Forgenie (vocals) and is being produced by his mentor and teacher Clarence Penn. This album features Greg as a bandleader and solo artist with influences ranging from Bach to Joe Henderson and Radiohead.
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Thomas Jensen
Electric/Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass Guitar
Thomas Jensen is a New York-based guitarist, and educator who holds a B.A. in Jazz Guitar Performance from Purchase College, SUNY. Since 2020, he has shared his passion for music by teaching students of all ages and skill levels, designing custom lessons that make learning both practical and fun. Active in the industry as a performer and music director, Thomas blends essential technical fundamentals with creative freedom to help his students confidently find their own musical voice. Sign up for a trial lesson with Thomas today!
Linda Richards
Electric/Acoustic Guitar, Voice
Linda Richards has entertained people of the Hudson Valley from school auditoriums to the decks of the sloop Clearwater for over thirty years. A public school classroom teacher for a decade, strolling minstrel, inservice course teacher, Clearwater’s Education and Music Director, Manitou School music and natural science teacher, Camp@The Camp summer camp director, guitar instructor and puzzle maker, Linda is multi-talented and multi-directional. Her Power of Song program for youth musicians grew and delivered message music to thousands of people from 2009 - 2015. She performs regularly at Clearwater events, local venues and Mohonk Mountain House and was a singer in the Vanaver Caravan's “Turn Turn Turn!” project, sharing Pete Seeger’s visions through song and dance.Linda has taught and performed in a vast array of venues, reaching her audience through her wonderful vocal skills, sense of humorand knowledge of our natural world.She has a Master's in education and thirty-five years of teaching experience - making her a one-of-a-kind teaching/entertaining package. Sign up for a trial lesson with Linda today!
William Mayer
Drums, Percussion
William Mayer is originally from Columbus, Ohio where he worked primarily as a performing drummer/percussionist for four years after graduating from the Capital University Conservatory. Will just recently made the move to New York City with nothing but the clothes on his back and a couple hundred of his favorite percussion instruments. Excited to work his way onto a new scene, Will is passionate about playing orchestral music, jazz, chamber music, Cuban/world music, and musical theatre.
Prior to moving to New York, Will cultivated a busy teaching schedule. Beginning at his alma mater Capital University, he served on faculty in the university prep division building a large studio of percussionists ranging from all types of experience levels, ages, and musical interests. Will similarly built up a large and successful teaching studio at Ohio’s premiere drum store Columbus Percussion. In addition to teaching private lessons, Will has worked instructing various concert bands, youth orchestras, youth worship bands, collegiate marching bands, etc. As a teacher, Will encourages students to develop strong fundamental skills and technique while exploring many different musical styles and genres. With his wide range of musical interests and experience, Will finds great joy in helping students grow whether that is rocking out in a punk band, nailing that Mozart timpani part, or anything in between.
