Our INstructors

At the core of any school are its instructors. Here at the Baltimore School for Drumming, we hold our teaching staff to the highest standards possible. We believe that a successful music school is comprised of a proven curriculum, and exceptional teachers.

It is important to know that each teacher has had a background check and must have a minimum of 10 years of teaching and playing experience. When it comes to choosing the right school, you will find that all of our teachers must be able to work well with our younger students, as well as adults, and be able to give a fun and creative lesson.

MARK JONES – Director

Mark Jones is the owner and director of the Baltimore School for Drumming which was established back in 1997. Mark is currently endorsed by Vic Firth. He is well versed in all styles of rock and contemporary drumming, as well as Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Jazz drumming. His lessons also include classical and rudimental snare drumming working with linear and layered patterns, double bass drumming, polyrhythms, as well as instruction on all mallet keyboard percussion.

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chris pierorazio – Assistant Director

Baltimore native Chris Pierorazio began his formal studies at the age of six with Peabody Conservatory alum Mark Jones at the Baltimore School for Drumming, where he studied until 2005. While there, he studied drum set in all genres including advanced jazz studies, modern rock and funk techniques, Latin style as well as classical and rudimental snare drum studies.

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taso kotsos – Instructor

Taso has been teaching at the professional level for over twenty five years. He is focusing on a complete curriculum at the Baltimore School for Drumming which includes reading music, hand and foot techniques, linear drumming, double bass drumming, as well many varied styles of playing.

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Bill Elliott – Instructor

Bill Elliott has been a percussionist with The U.S. Army Field Band out of Washington DC for the past 30 years. He recently recorded the Soundtrack of the American Soldier at Skywalker Studios that won the 2022 Grammy for Best Immersive Audio Album. He plays regularly on the worship team at Freedom Church in Bel Air, MD.

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Gabriel Giannelli – Instructor

Percussionist and drum instructor with 20+ years of performing and teaching experience, from private lessons and elementary group classes to high school clinics on national and international tours. Trained at the Governor’s School for the Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Berklee College of Music, with two decades performing professionally in the Navy Bands program. Teaches drum set from beginner through advanced levels, and mallets, timpani, and hand percussion from beginner through intermediate, building lesson plans around each student’s goals and pace. Currently an active performing drummer in the Baltimore/DMV corporate and wedding band scene.

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christine skeen – Past Instructor

Christine Skeen is an elementary instrumental music teacher at Timonium Elementary School and Glyndon Elementary School in Baltimore county. She has been a judge and sectional leader for the BCPS All County and Junior All County ensembles, a judge for the Maryland All State ensemble, a teacher at the BCPS Music Camp, and the drumline tech for the Dulaney Marching Band.

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sarah fabian – Past Instructor

Sarah is currently working on earning her Ph.D. in Music Education from George Mason University. Before that, she graduated from both Towson University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with a concentration in Percussion and Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory where she earned a Master’s in Music Education. She is currently an adjunct professor at George Mason, works with Mason’s Green Machine Pep Band Drumline (where she arranges and composes for them), as well as several other Northern Virginia marching ensembles as both an instructor and music arranger.

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