Mr. Jay Broussard
Voice/Piano/Guitar/Drums/Uke/Bass/Recording
About Mr. Jay:
Mr. Jay started The Octave in 2018 with his wife Angelle, and has been loving it ever since. With a special connection to young and special needs kids, he has been able to bring great lessons to any and everyone. Mr. is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a music media degree that has a concentration in voice.
As the youngest of eight kids, he’s grown up with an abundance of patience and a love for kids. He’s well known for his approachable teaching style and limitless patience in the classroom.
As a father of four (yes, four!) he loves long walks on the beach, spending time with his family, and playing in his original band Jay and the Cover Up as well as That 90s Show, a 90s tribute group.
Mr. Andrew Salow
Piano/Guitar
ABOUT MR. ANDREW:
Mr. Andrew Salow is a pianist from South Florida. He began playing the piano at the age of 5, thanks to his grandmother who had a deep love for the instrument. While in high school, he began his career in music by playing rock concerts around the Miami area. He then moved to Asheville, North Carolina, to continue his career as a musician and earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Music from University of North Carolina at Asheville.
In order to further his studies, he moved to Tallahassee, Florida, to study at Florida State University, where he completed a Master of Music in Jazz Studies. He has very recently relocated to New Orleans to continue his career as a jazz musician in the birthplace of jazz! Andrew has been teaching for the past 7 years and loves to share his love and knowledge of music with others. His goal is always to show students the joy in music as well as how to develop the skills to play the music you love!
Ms. Juliana Russell
Piano/Guitar/Voice/Percussion/Theory/Composition
Juliana Russell is a multi-faceted musician who moved to New Orleans from the Bay Area, California in the summer of 2022. She earned her B.A. in Music Composition in 2014 from UC Santa Barbara, and is currently attending Loyola University for a Masters in Music Therapy. She taught a wide range of music classes in California for seven years, mostly to children, and is thrilled to be teaching again.
Her main instrument is piano; she is also skilled with guitar, voice, and percussion. She is passionate about music theory, composition, and arrangement. Other interests include journaling, meditation, K-Pop, HIIT & strength training, JRPGs, and watching wholesome cartoons.
Mr. Michael Sze
Violin/Mandolin/Piano
About Mr. Michael:
Michael Sze is a musician based in the New Orleans area. He started playing piano at the age of 5, but found his main instrument in violin at age 9. Though versed in classical repertoire, Michael found his passion in Jazz, and holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Jazz Studies from Tulane University, which he graduated Summa Cum Laude and inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society.
When he’s not teaching, Michael performs in the New Orleans area. He joins fellow Octave School instructor Dane Harter in a Jazz Fusion and Prog-Rock band Skeptic Moon, and acted the leader of the Tulane Black American Music Ensemble with notable performances at Jazz Fest 2022 and the Ascona Jazz Festival in Ascona, Switzerland.
Mr. Jake Gartenstein
Percussion/Guitar
Jake Gartenstein is a drummer, guitarist and songwriter from Brattleboro, Vermont. He began playing drums at age 7, starting lessons with his first teacher, Stu. Coming from a musical family, Jake loved to jam with his dad and brothers and play along with the righteous grooves of classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and the Beatles. Since then, Jake has grown to love drumming of all styles, including rock, pop, jazz, hip hop, reggae and gospel. He also played the saxophone from 4th through 12th grade, and has been playing guitar since middle school.
In 2016, Jake moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, culminating in his graduation in 2020 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts with majors in jazz studies and computer science. These days, along with teaching at Octave, Jake teaches code online and is a regularly performing musician. He’s an active member of bands Skeptic Moon, Zoomst, Jeff’s Back, Tree Stars, and Impossible Planets, as well as drumming with artists Sari Jordan, Lyla George, Tristan Gianola, Keaton Schiller, and more. He loves to spread the joy of drumming and is excited to play a part in teaching and inspiring the next generation of musicians!
Mr. Sam Colgate
Percussion/Piano
Sam Colgate is a drummer, composer, and educator based in New Orleans. Born in Chicago, Sam moved to New Orleans in 2012 to attend Loyola University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree with a focus on Jazz Studies in 2016. Since moving to New Orleans, Sam has had opportunities to study with some of the city’s best, including Johnny Vidacovich, Stanton Moore, Wayne Maureau, and Jim Atwood.
Sam began teaching privately in 2018, and around the same time he began to work with the Riverdale High School Jazz Ensemble, coaching the rhythm section. As an educator, Sam’s primary goal is to cultivate a love of music in all of his students, and help them utilize musical skills across all disciplines they might encounter in life.
Sam can regularly be found performing all over town, both as a sideman and with his own group, The Colgate Collective.