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Our Music Teachers

Joseph Butcher

Instruments:
Beginning to Advanced: Voice & Piano
Beginning to Intermediate: Drums

Joey is a West High School graduate who is currently in his 3rd year pursuing a Bachelor of Music (Voice Performance Focus) at University of Alaska, Anchorage. He is studying under Kate Egan & Dr. Mari Hahn (tenor voice), John Damberge (drums & percussion), & Dr Tamara McCoy (piano). He has placed top 3 in his first three NATS competitions (2nd place twice for Musical Theatre 2022 & 2023 and 3r for classical in 2023). Joey was involved in theater in high school performing in productions of "Monster School" &; "Shrek the Musical" under director, David Block.

In addition to attending UAA, Joey regularly performs with the Anchorage Opera as well as the Anchorage Concert Chorus. We are excited that in his spare time he will be teaching voice, piano & drums at AMDC!

  • 2021-Current: Completing Bachelor of Arts: Music Education at University of
    Alaska, Anchorage
  • 2019-2021: Completing Bachelor of Arts: General Studies at University of Alaska,
    Anchorage
  • Member: Anchorage Classical Guitar Society
  • Contributor: UAA Jazz Ensemble & UAA Guitar Ensemble

Joe Craig

Instruments:
Beginning to Advanced: Guitar & Bass

Joe grew up in New York singing & listening to the Beatles, playing in bands & teaching friends to play the guitar. In college he became interested in 12-bar blues & jazz. He graduated with a BA in Art, completing a full music theory curriculum, with private instruction for jazz guitar & jazz big band orchestras. He moved to Alaska and completed Music Teacher Training Credentialing Program at UAA. Over the years he has subbed hundreds of times for the district in Music, History & English. Joe recently retired, but he just can’t stop teaching! Joe joins AMDC after his most recent position teaching at Guitar Center, Anchorage. He often performs around Anchorage, and you can probably catch him at the Gumbo House on the weekends.

Background:

  • 1982-Present: Music Instructor
  • 1987: Teacher Certification: University of Anchorage, Alaska, AK
  • 1982: Bachelor of Arts: Platstsburgh State University College, Plasttsburgh, NY
  • 1977: Associates of Arts: Paul Smith College, NY

Terry Curran

Instruments:
Beginning to Intermediate: Piano, Guitar, Ukulele
Beginning to Advanced: Drums, Bass Guitar

Terry was born and raised in California and moved to Alaska in 1976. Terry spent many years as a professional musician playing multiple instruments including: electric bass; guitar; trumpet; percussion; and vocals. He performed all over the Western US, Hawaii, Alaska and Japan. He & his band have opened for headline acts such as the Righteous Brothers, jazz great Ed Harris, and jazz guitarist, Robert Cray, twice for concerts at the Anchorage PAC. Terry worked in the professional sound and lighting field for 25 years. He has been teaching music full time in Anchorage and enjoys sharing his love of music with others. Terry will be teaching Guitar, Electric Bass, Ukulele, Piano & Drums at AMDC. We're excited to have him join our teaching team at the studio!

Background

  • 2021-22: Lessons Lead, Guitar Center, Anchorage AK
  • 2022-Present: Music instructor: brass, bass guitar, keyboard, ukulele, drums & percussion, Anchorage AK
  • Professional Musician Performing throughout the western U.S: Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Alaska and Tokyo, Japan
  • Leader of band, KonneXion, 14-piece R & B band in Anchorage

Alyssa Henegar

Instruments:
Beginning to Advanced: Voice
Beginning: Piano, Ukulele, Guitar

Alyssa has lived in Eagle River, Alaska since 2008. She has always loved to sing and dance with her school choir. She is in her final year of getting her Bachelors of Music with a Minor in Dance through UAA. She currently directs the Glee Club at UAA, and creates arrangements for the group. In the summer of 2024, she went to Knoxville to compete in the semi-finals of the NATS competition in Musical Theatre. Her goal is to inspire young musicians to grow and keep with music, as all of her music teachers have done for her.

  • 2023-2025: Musical Director at UAA Glee Club
  • 2022-2025: Completing Bachelor of Arts: Music at University of Alaska, Anchorage
  • 2021-2022: Kindergarten TA and Paraprofessional Substitute at Anchorage School District
  • 2018-2019: Assistant Musical Director at Eagle River High School

Jordan McLuckie

Instruments:
Beginning to Intermediate Piano
Beginning to Advanced Violin

Jordan McLuckie is a classically trained violinist from Southeast Alaska. They hold a bachelor’s in music with a focus on violin performance from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. In addition to formal repertoire education, Jordan has extensive orchestral and chamber playing experience from their time in college as well as numerous music festivals. Passionate about teaching, Jordan has nearly 10 years of experience working with a wide range of ages and skill levels. Their core teaching values center around a commitment to students’ unique learning styles and goals, with the aim to develop a foundation for individual creative expression.

Background:

  • 2021- 2022: Private violin teacher with Eliason School of Music 2016
  • 2013 -2022: Private violin teacher
  • 2020: Graduate Lewis & Clark College with Bachelor’s in Arts, Violin Performance
  • 2016 - 2020: Lewis & Clark Chamber Ensemble 1st and 2nd Violin
  • 2017 - 2019: Lewis & Clark Orchestra alternating concertmaster and principal 2nd
  • 2015-2016: Soloist with Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival

Alexander Soboleff

Instruments:
Beginning to Advanced: Guitar Beginning to Intermediate: Piano, Drums, Bass Guitar & Ukulele

Born and raised in Juneau, Alaska, Alex has 13 years of performance experience spanning Classical, Jazz, and Rock genres. He is currently a 3rd Year student at the University of Alaska Anchorage pursuing a Music Education Bachelor's degree. Alex is an active member of the Anchorage Classical Guitar Society, performing in their fall and spring fundraising concerts. He also contribute to the UAA Jazz Ensemble on electric guitar and tenor sax, and the UAA Guitar Ensemble for solo, duo, and classical repertoire on classical guitar. Specializing in music theory, Alex aims to share his passion for music and its emotional connection with eager learners. We are excited to have Alex teach at AMDC!

Background:

  • 2021-Current: Completing Bachelor of Arts: Music Education at University of Alaska, Anchorage
  • 2019-2021: Completing Bachelor of Arts: General Studies at University of Alaska, Anchorage
  • Member: Anchorage Classical Guitar Society
  • Contributor: UAA Jazz Ensemble & UAA Guitar Ensemble

Vince Spezialy

Group Music Lessons: Piano, Guitar, Drums & Rock Band

Vince is Music Director &Owner at Anchorage Music & Dance Center. He has taught private
and group music classes in Anchorage for over 25 years. He is focusing his schedule on Intro to
Keyboard & Multi-Level Group Lessons this year in piano, guitar, drums & Rock Band.
After years of teaching both private lessons & group classes, Vince believes that there are many
benefits to learning music in a group setting. In a group, students experience cooperation &
teamwork, and opportunities for greater creativity & collaboration naturally present
themselves.
Vince sees firsthand that as students become comfortable with the weekly class, playing
together & for each other, their confidence grows, along with self expression & creativity.

Background:

  • Present: Music Director at Anchorage Music & Dance Center and Wasilla Music & Dance
    Center
  • 1993-Present: Private Lesson & Group Music Teacher for Piano, Guitar, Drums, Violin,
    Bass & Cello
  • 1993-Present: Preschool Group Music Teacher
  • Graduated University of Alaska, Bachelor of Arts in Theatre

 

Ian Worthington

Instruments:
Beginning to Intermediate Guitar, Piano & Bass Beginning to Advanced Cello

Ian is an accomplished musician playing a variety of instruments including: cello, piano, guitar and bass for the past 19 years. He grew up in Anchorage and graduated from Polaris K-12 School. Ian has taught both private lessons and group classes at Anchorage Music & Dance Center since 2009. He has been performing music, both in groups and solo, for the last 15 years. Ian was a member of "Bolt Action Beaver", a local band he wrote and performs original songs. He is currently a member of the band, Smile Ease.

Background:

  • 2021  Graduated University of Alaska, Anchorage, Bachelor of Music in Education
  • 2007 Member of Alaska All State Orchestra
  • 2001-08 Studied Cello with Coralyn More
  • 2001-08 Polaris K-12 Orchestra
  • 2002-03 Junior Youth Symphony

Who we are

Anchorage Music & Dance Center is celebrating 30 years of private & group music instruction and 15 years of dance!

Convenient

We are a unique school offering quality private & group music and dance classes at one convenient location. Multiple students from the same family can take private or group music lessons and dance classes on the same day. That means parents only have to drive to one location for everyone's lessons & classes. What a time saver for the entire family!

Homeschoolers

We work with most all homeschool & charter schools in the State of Alaska. We are a direct bill vendor which means we invoice the school, so there is no "out-of-pocket" expense for the family!

Our network of schools include: Family Partnership; Frontier Charter School; PAIDEIA; IDEA; Mat-Su Central; Twindly Bridge; Denali Peak, PACE, CyberLynx & Raven.

Don't see your school here? Contact us and we'll see if we can work with them too!