Getting to Know Our Teachers

Meet our Piano, Guitar, and Percussion teacher...Zak Trojano

Piano

Zak Trojano is skilled in teaching piano, working comfortably with students from beginner through intermediate levels. Lessons focus on building a strong foundation in scales, chords, reading, and essential techniques, while keeping music engaging and accessible. He is proficient in a wide range of popular styles—including jazz, blues, folk, and pop—allowing students to explore the genres they love while developing solid musicianship.

Guitar

Zak Trojano is a versatile guitarist with experience on both acoustic and electric guitar. Proficient in a wide range of styles—including blues, jazz, folk, fingerstyle, and rock—he brings a well-rounded approach to teaching and performing. While comfortable across genres, Zak has a particular passion for fingerstyle guitar, specializing in techniques such as Travis picking, chord melody, solo guitar arrangements, and improvisation. In addition to instrumental work, he enjoys exploring the art of vocal accompaniment, both in playing while singing and in providing guitar support for other vocalists.

Percussion

Zak Trojano is an accomplished percussionist with experience in both drum set and classical percussion. Proficient in a variety of styles—including jazz, rock, blues, and Americana—he brings versatility and depth to every lesson. Zak emphasizes strong foundational skills such as rudiments and snare drum technique, while also guiding students through reading concert music, drum parts, and jazz lead sheets. With this well-rounded approach, he helps students build the confidence and flexibility needed to perform in a wide range of musical settings.

Music Theory

Zak Trojano is also comfortable teaching music theory at both beginner and advanced levels. Lessons cover fundamental and advanced concepts, including harmonic theory, time signatures, rests, note values and subdivisions, polyrhythms, and tempo. With a clear and practical approach, he helps students understand the structure of music, making theory both accessible and applicable to their playing.

Songwriting and Composition

Zak Trojano is also passionate about songwriting and composition, offering guidance to students interested in creating their own music. Comfortable teaching songwriting in a wide variety of styles—particularly folk, country, blues, and quality pop—he helps students develop their unique voice as writers and performers. In addition, Zak has experience in composition for both small ensembles and solo guitar, providing students with tools to arrange and create music across different settings.

Professional Experience

Teaching

• Teaching private lessons in Guitar, Percussion, and Theory/Composition/Songwriting for over 20 years

• Music Teacher at Prindle Music School since 2020

• Adjunct guitar, piano, and percussion professor at Greenfield Community College since 2020

Artistic

• Internationally touring songwriter and solo guitarist having shared stages with: Chris Smither, John Mayall, Jeffery Foucault, Peter Mulvey, Kris Delmhorst, and many others

• Member of regionally successful band Rusty Belle

• Released 5 solo albums, 5 albums with Rusty Belle, and more than 20 albums as a studio musician

Education

Zak Trojano received a BS in Music from Skidmore College in 2002 with a focus on Composition and Music Theory