Instructors

Justin Parks is a guitar instructor from Hagerstown MD. Justin began his musical journey at age 14, immediately hitting the local club scene with various bands. He attended Barbara Ingram School for the Arts. He has recorded with members of KIX and L.A. Guns. He has played on stage with national act Steel Panther. In 2010, Justin and his band was given the opportunity to open for legendary rockers KISS at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow VA. Justin has received honorable mention from Vinnie Paul and Dave Navarro for his guitar work. Justin teaches beginner, intermediate and advanced guitar. Justin has the experience to not only teach you how to play, but also to prepare you for the adventure of being part of a gigging band."
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  Carly Whiteman is a vocal and piano teacher currently residing in Hagerstown, Maryland. She started vocal training with Steve Whiteman, lead singer of Kix, at the age of 10 and proceeded to belt it out whilst simultaneously duck walking around rooms and stages for the rest of her short, peculiar childhood. At the age of 15, she began attending Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, where she studied classical voice performance, piano, and guitar. While attending BISFA, she advanced her working knowledge of music by studying music theory, aural/ear training, and Logic Pro recording classes. She has had the amazing honor of performing at Ram’s Head, The Western Maryland Blues Fest, and countless venues throughout Maryland and the surrounding areas. She is thrilled to be a part of The Maryland Institute of Music to experience and share a craft that she becomes increasingly obsessed with as time moves along.
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Brian started out wanting to be a garbage man but then the Beatles came along and changed everything. He was into music as far back as he can remember. Even before the Beatles the twangy telecaster sounds on Johnny Cash’s “I Walk The Line” and “Ring Of Fire” caught his ear as early as 3 or 4 years old. By age 8 his older brother had started showing him some things on the guitar and he learned to play a few Bob Dylan songs. By the time he got out of high school he was playing music full time. He played in a variety of cover bands over the next few years. Some of the bands that influenced his style from that time period were Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Foghat, The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Robin Trower and of course The Rolling Stones. He met Ronnie and Donnie and formed The Shooze which then became Kix. Multiple albums and tours followed and after a hiatus from Kix he returned to the band in 2003 and joined Rhino Bucket as guitarist as well. He continues to tour and record with both bands. Brian makes occasional appearances here at the institute when he can fit it in his busy schedule.
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 Alec started playing drums at age 6. He continued in his school bands and started performing on stage with local bands by age 15. He's been influenced by a wide range of artists including Neil Peart, Jeff Porcaro, Alex Van Halen and Buddy Rich to name a few. He's recorded with Nicholas Pare' and a few of his own bands and has been performing regularly with his current band Hot Fun throughout the Mid Atlantic region. Alec teaches beginner to advance drum technique as well as intro to reading drum music.
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  Jeff has been playing bass since age 16. He's self taught and learned by listening to his favorite pop and rock songs. His influences include Steve Harris, Geddy Lee and Michael Anthony. Although his favorite type of music is rock from bands like Van Halen, Iron Maiden and AC/DC, he has never limited his playing to one particular style. He's performed with multiple bands over the years that covered genre's that go from country to hip hop and metal to pop rock. Jeff has performed with local bands Reaction, Jester and Crush Theory to name a few and currently continues in both of those bands along with original band Dirty Deal. He's recorded on DD's last 2 albums as has done studio work with several other local artist. Jeff teaches beginner to intermediate bass with intro to music theory.
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  Born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley, Amanda Wilkins has been performing since the young age of 12. She has shared the stage with various acts such as Linda Davis, Catfish Hodge, Billy Thompson, as well as touring around the country opening for such acts as Phil Vassar, Travis Tritt, Rascal Flatts and Marty Stewart. 
   Amanda is a BMI songwriter and has cowritten many tunes with Ricky Wilkins that have been featured on such cable shows as; Inside The NBA, WWE Wrestling, and the Lifetime Network’s Wife Swap. She has four albums under her belt, including the 2019 release with Bird Dog Records and Bird Dog Records Publishing, "Smothered & Covered," with all original songs written by Amanda, Sam Stilwell, "Doc," Shelton, and Ricky Wilkins. Amanda and Sam Stilwell have just finished and released their new album in Spring of 2020, "Open Doors," currently available on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and all online purchasable and streaming networks. They continue to write and are working on their third album together, currently untitled, and are currently unsigned. 
   When she’s not recording, writing, or performing, Amanda is a full-time mother of two, and a vocal instructor at The Rock Room in Winchester, Va, Hedgesville Middle School, The Maryland Institute of Music, and music group lessons for the ADAPT program at Grafton.
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Luke has been performing and studying music since 2008. He has extensive experience and training in all genres of music and is classically trained in piano, voice, and trumpet. He was a member of the Roanoke Youth Symphony, Roanoke College Children’s Choir, Church bands, and an Island Music Band. He is currently receiving his bachelor of science in Music Production from Full Sail University, and will have his degree in 2023. Luke looks forward to teaching and sharing his love of music with others.

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