Greg can be seen directing choirs, tearing up the Hammond Organ, running improv acting seminars, and now with his new project, owner and founder of BackBeat City.  His story goes back more than 30 years ago as he began his artisitc lifestyle. 

        There isnt an area in performance Greg hasnt been involved in, and he promotes his students and teachers to push themselves into uncharted and uncomforatable areas.  "Failure is expected here at BackBeat City" he says, " If you arent failing or feeling uneasy, you arent growing." The differnece is, Greg's hyper-awareness of young people's gentle and fragile sense of self makes him unique among educators and musicians alike.  " We care first, we smile, we laugh, we encourage, and we model what we expect from the student".  Greg goes on to say how vital it is to change your approach with the fast changing world.  "  If you can recall your own youth, you can easily muster up creative learning situations that are universal to young people."

         From the Litchfield Jazz Festival, to roles from Warner Brothers 1987 movie Funny Farm, Greg truly has been connected to people through the arts without ever losing sight of the gift of sharing it.  High expectations keep everyone at BackBeat thriving while realistic understanding keeps everyone grounded in REAL LIFE ARTS learning and it application to a young persons future.  BBC- helping kids grow one song at a time..

Valerie Hattis has spent over six years helping children and teens from Chicago to Boston fulfill their musical potential.  A recipient of a bachelor’s degree in Music from Tufts University and a master’s degree in Musicology from Northwestern University, Val believes that every child has the ability to be creative and to gain a lifelong enjoyment of the arts.  Most importantly, music-making should be fun, and Val makes sure that each student leaves with a smile on his or her face.

 Valerie teaches private lessons in violin, voice and piano at BackBeat City. Her fifteen years of music training include studies at the All Newton Music School, The Old Town School of Folk Music, Tufts University and Northwestern University School of Music.  Valerie’s  teaching and music direction credentials include Chicago’s “Music House,” Boston’s “Creative Arts and Jackson Troupe,” Brimmer and  May’s “Summer Arts,” and Stoneham Theatre. 

Valerie is also an avid teacher of fiddle and klezmer technique, showtunes, and popular music, integrating music students know and love into private and group lessons.   A former music director of the Newtones a cappella group and member of Tufts University’s sQ!, she specializes in teaching a cappella performance.  Valerie is excited to join BackBeat City’s founder in offering engaging and enjoyable musical experience to students of all ages.

Tommy Diehl, BackBeat City’s premier percussion teacher, embodies the BackBeat mission of top musicianship combined with real-world experience and expertise.  Though classically trained, Tommy gained a degree in Jazz Studies and Performance from the prestigious music program of Indiana University.  There, he also gained a love of rock performance through is work with Kenny Aronoff, voted the #1 Pop/Mainstream and Session Drummer for nine years consecutively.

In his professional career, Tommy has served as an opener for over twenty well-known artists, including the world-famous sensations 10,000 Maniacs, Ben Folds Five, Lisa Loeb, Gavin DeGraw and Bon Jovi.   You may have heard Tommy’s music on the studio recordings of nationally touring groups including Jeff Tuohy & The Bush League Band, Acoustic Junction, Kim Fox and Queen V.  On top of his impressive recorded work, his music has also been featured on popular TV shows including Alias, Dawsons’s Creek, and Meet the Barkers.

In our studios at BackBeat City, Tommy specializes in all forms of world percussion, including jazz and blues performance.  Tommy’s passion and dedication to teaching shines through in his work with BackBeat City’s aspiring percussionists.  

 Kate comes to us drenched in musical and management experience. With over twenty years of experience, training and teaching, she is devoted to the study of REAL LIFE experiences in the arts.  In addition to her public performance experience Kate has studied voice, performance and music theory at Central Connecticut State University and Hartt School of Music.  As a former director of childrens ensemble and musical mentor for teens in the state of Connecticut Kates firm foundation in vocal technique and stage presence has matched up nicely with her passion to lead our youth.  All members of BBC are lucky to be connected to a woman with such diverse strengths. Kate is a great role model to our young ladies here at BBC as she manages family, career, artisitic/aesthetic improvement all while continuing to improve and study voice herself.  Kate is our talent scout and public relations specialist here at BackBeat City so quite often, she is the person you will meet with as a member of BBC.   

John Valencia became involved in music at a very early age. Raised in southern California, the early 90s grunge sound inspired John to take up the guitar at age 4. He quickly picked up drums, piano, and other various modern instruments soon after. In 1997 John began studying under renowned Fort Wayne area guitar instructor Ken Jiehle. It was this private study that helped tie his internal appreciation for music to a more concrete theoretical framework. Through the 90s and 2000s, he has been in countless bands, taught to a multitude of students, and is always finding ways to push the envelope of composition. For him, the emphasis in private study is on the individual. He finds this allows more breathing room for the student to improve their craft without losing sight of the goal. From structure to improvisation, his class covers it all for both guitars and bass.