Full-Time Instructors


Ilan Glasman's photo

Ilan Glasman,
Instructor, Vocal Music

Adjunct Instructors



Grace Lai,
Part-Time Faculty Instructor, Instrumental Music Director, Concert Band



Jordan Mitchell,
Part-Time Faculty Instructor


James Schneider's photo

James Schneider,
Part-Time Faculty Instructor, Instrumental Music

Pianist, woodwind player and composer Jim Schneider is a Bay Area native who has performed, recorded, and taught jazz in the Bay Area for several years. He has performed with ensembles and artists such as Viva Brasil, Claudia Gomez, Ed Johnson, the late Smith Dobson, Pan Caribe, and many more. Jim's teaching experience includes 25 years of Jazz Piano at De Anza college as well as Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Ensemble, and other courses at De Anza and Gavilan colleges. 

John Thomsen,
Part-Time Faculty Instructor, Instrumental Music

408.864.8999

Benett Zussman's photo

Benett Zussman,
Part-Time Faculty Instructor, Instrumental Music, Electronic Music

Guitarist/Composer/Educator Benett Zussman earned his Master’s degree in Improvised Music with an emphasis on Jazz and Flamenco guitar from San Jose State University. His BA is in Classical Guitar Performance under the guidance of the late, Cuban classical guitarist Maestro José Rey de la Torre.

From 1990-2000 Benett taught at the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View, CA. where he created and directed the CSMA Rock and Blues ensemble. A Bay Area native, Ben served on the board of the South Bay Guitar Society where he has been a featured soloist, clinician and educator. Through the City of San José’s Office of Cultural Affairs school outreach programs Ben has performed in numerous High Schools with The South Bay Guitar Society Duo, “Ben and Jerry” and the SBGS Quartet from 2012-2020. 

In 2006 Ben released his first recording, Roundtrip, a collection of new works, arrangements and compositions for solo guitar. On this project he discovered the powerful world of Pro Tools and computers in music, and since 2018 teaches Electronic Music at De Anza College as well as Music Appreciation and Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Guitar courses. 
In addition to concerts, outreach programs and clinics, Ben also performs solo or ensemble special events like weddings, corporate and private parties. Rounding out Ben’s teaching career is his active teaching studio at The Los Gatos School of Music (formally Joplin and Sweeney Music) celebrating over thirty years at that location. 

Emeriti Instructors


Ron Dunn,
Instructor, Instrumental Music


Robert Farrington,
Early Retiree/Instructional, Instrumental Music


Gail Hicks,
Part-Time Faculty Instructor, Instrumental Music


Dan Mitchell,
Early Retiree/Instructional, Instrumental Music, Electronic Music

408.864.8511

Paul Setziol,
Early Retiree/Instructional, Instrumental Music

Staff


Eunsook Kang,
Performance Class Accompanist

408.864.8434

Back to Top