Chris Colaneri

As a vibist, marimba and Latin percussion performer, Chris has led his own jazz quartet CCQ for the past fourteen years. This ensemble has given featured performances at NJPAC, various jazz clubs, private corporate and political functions and jazz festivals throughout NJ. His orchestral endeavors have taken him to Spain, France, Israel and Jordan, where he has given many radio and television appearances. As freelancing percussionist for over twenty years Chris has performed with steel pan groups, African dance ensembles, brass ensembles, local orchestras, wedding bands and community musical theater companies. Currently he is in preparation for his next project as a solo multi percussionist. Chris' recordings span an assortment of genres ranging the styles of jazz, classical, meditation, hip hop, and rock. In an endeavor to promote total percussion to the public schools systems,

Chris has written articles for the music educator’s magazine Tempo and his recent book Incorporating Total Percussion Into The Middle School Band Program has been published through the VDM Publishing House Ltd. Chris has given percussion clinics at many public schools throughout New Jersey and has presented at the New Jersey Music Educator's State Convention. He has also had speaking engagements at Rowan University and Mason Gross School of the Arts on preparing future music educator for developing the school percussion curriculum. Chris also arranges and composes for percussion ensemble and steel pan ensembles. With all his experience as a music educator and performer it was a natural progression for Chris to develop the Pulse School of Percussion. He loves sharing his passion for music with children and adults of all ages and hopes you join in the fun and sign up for a percussion class that suits your needs.

Gary Mallinson

Yale Snider

Yale has performed at the 2009 NJMEA (New Jersey Music Educators Association) convention and is on the Board of Directors of the Percussion Educators Association of NJ. In 2006, Yale performed in Italy as a percussion section member of the Rome Festival Orchestra under the direction of Fritz Maraffi and has played with college and professional wind ensembles, symphony orchestras, and percussion ensembles throughout New Jersey, New York, and Minnesota. Yale has conducted educational master classes for children at various libraries in New Jersey. He currently teaches 4th-8th grade instrumental music in several private schools throughout the North Jersey area as well as over thirty weekly private percussion students. He currently resides in Hoboken, NJ.

Justin Derman

He has taught percussion in a variety of settings: Music studios such as Lou Rose, Gorny’s, Freehold Studio, and Summit Studio; public education settings such as T.P. Hughes Elementary School in Berkeley Heights; and drum circles at the Integral Yoga Institute in Princeton.

Justin wrote award-winning music for high school marching drum lines.

The Hightstown and Middletown South high schools have won competitions under his tutelage.

Recently Justin has provided percussion accompaniment for dance troops and dance studios.

Justin has been a member of:

• New Jersey Repertory Theatre Company
• Raritan Valley Symphony Orchestra
• Manalapan Battleground Symphonic Orchestra
• Marlboro Players Theatre Group
• Sayreville Main Street Theatre Company