Providence Music Lessons Team
Meet our teachers
At Providence Music Lessons, our experienced and passionate instructors offer guitar, piano, voice, drum, ukulele, and music theory lessons for students of all ages and skill levels. We provide personalized, engaging instruction that helps each student reach their musical goals in a fun, supportive environment.
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Located in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island, we proudly serve students in Cranston, Pawtucket, East Providence, North Providence, Warwick, Johnston, Lincoln, and nearby areas.
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Join the premier music school in Providence, RI and start your musical journey today!
THE TEAM
Jonah Tolchin
Guitar, Songwriting & Music Production Instructor / Founder
Jonah Tolchin got his start playing music right here in Rhode Island, where his early performances led to an appearance at the Newport Folk Festival in 2012. During that time, he collaborated with beloved local artists such as The Low Anthem and Brown Bird, helping shape his distinctive blend of folk, blues, and rock.
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At just 20 years old, Jonah signed with the prestigious Yep Roc Records, launching a career that has taken him around the world. His music has been streamed over 30 million times across 78+ countries, and he has worked with musical icons including Jackson Browne, Rickie Lee Jones, Steve Jordan, Luther Dickinson. Jonah has become known not only as a gifted songwriter, producer, and recording artist, but also as a passionate guitarist and music educator.
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Jonah’s students benefit from his decade of professional experience in songwriting, guitar, and music production. He teaches improvisation, music theory, rhythm and lead guitar, fingerpicking, songwriting, and basic audio recording—all while emphasizing how music can serve as a tool for self-discovery, confidence, and creative growth.
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Featured by outlets such as NPR, Rolling Stone Germany, Guitar Player Magazine Japan, American Songwriter, and MOJO, Jonah brings world-class experience and a deep connection to Rhode Island’s rich musical roots to every lesson.
Josh Pikulin
Guitar / Piano / Voice / Bass
Josh is a highly experienced and versatile musician with over twenty years of teaching under his belt. A skilled guitarist, bassist, pianist, and vocalist, he has performed extensively across the U.S. and Europe, working as a bandleader, musical director, songwriter, producer, and recording engineer.
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Josh began playing and teaching professionally as a teenager, performing in rock, blues, and jazz bands while studying advanced music theory and composition at a young age. After winning multiple outstanding soloist awards and performing in Disney World and Europe during high school, he attended the Steinhardt School of Music at New York University, where his understanding of performance, teaching, and sound engineering deepened even further. After graduating, he built his career in one of the world’s most competitive musical environments, performing with original and cover bands, wedding and event ensembles, large orchestras, gospel choirs, jazz fusion groups, and more. Through these musical adventures, he had the honor of performing with artists such as Paul McCartney, Questlove, Jason Mraz, and Wu-Tang Clan.
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Throughout his career, Josh has taught consistently, working with more than 100 students, including major-label recording artists, film and television actors, and corporate professionals. His students have ranged from preschoolers to older adults, coming from every background imaginable—an experience that has only reinforced his belief in the universality of music as an innate ability we all possess.
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Josh’s teaching meets students exactly where they are and helps them grow far beyond. Whether he’s guiding a young child in internalizing rhythm and pitch for the first time or training an experienced player to improvise confidently, he ensures students learn the music that inspires them while building a strong foundation in fundamentals, theory, and ear training. Josh knows how to challenge students in fun, accessible ways and make practicing both enjoyable and productive. With the right guidance, anyone can get results and expand their abilities—it’s simply a matter of listening to the music within.
Mark Blair
Guitar / Piano / Ukulele
Mark Blair is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and dedicated music teacher. He discovered his passion for music around age 15 when he first picked up the guitar on a whim. From there, he expanded to piano, bass, and ukulele, diving into a wide range of styles. His musical journey began with rock, eventually leading him to classical guitar, and he is currently deepening his jazz skills on both guitar and piano. Mark has a broad appreciation for many genres, with a special love for 90s alternative rock.
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Mark holds a B.A. in music theory and composition and received multiple academic awards for his achievements in the field. After graduating, he joined the faculty of a respected music school, where he worked as a private lesson instructor, ensemble director, choir accompanist, and group class instructor. Outside of teaching, he enjoys refining his skills on his instruments, composing original music, playing retro video games, and spending time with friends.
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As a teacher, Mark strongly believes in adapting his approach to fit the needs of each individual student. He emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity, creating a learning environment that is both fun and challenging. Mark is enthusiastic, thoughtful, and deeply committed to helping students grow—and he is excited to bring his expertise and passion to the PML team.
Brandon Broderick
Guitar / Ukulele / Beginner Piano
Brandon Broderick is a Music Performance and Music B.A graduate from Rutgers University. He has been teaching students of all ages for over 10 years and teaches several instruments including Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Vocals, Piano and Music Theory. Brandon is also ABRSM certified for the ABRSM Music Theory Exams. He teaches all styles and genres (rock, pop, jazz, acoustic, folk) and is open to teaching all students of any difficulty level or any age. On top of that, Brandon is a full-time musician and performer and has performed solo and with many bands over the last 15 years
Santo Rizzolo
Drums / Guitar
Santo Rizzolo is an American drummer and musician. His love for music and the drums began around the age of twelve when his father purchased him his first snare drum at a local garage sale. Santo has been playing drums professionally for over 15 years sharing the stage and recording with many artists such as The Village People, Steve Forbert, Dana Fuchs, David Bryan, Matt Oree, Nicole Atkins, Brielle Von Hugel (Finalist on TheAmerican Idol), Remember Jones, Dead On Live, JT Bowen, Arlan Feiles, Jackson Pines, Matt Wade Band, Play Date, Tara Dente, Brother Andrew, and Mike Montrey Band to name a few. Santo is currently plays and tours nationally with Atlantic Records artist Joe P.
Santo has been teaching for over a decade and has a deep-rooted love for sharing knowledge of his craft and watching students grow into great musicians. His passion for the fundamentals of the instrument, from rudimental studies to drumset performance is infectious and makes
learning new concepts very enjoyable. Adept in a wide range of diverse musical styles such as Rock, Funk, World music, Hip Hop/ R&B, Jazz, and Country, Santo can take a student in any direction they’d like and form lesson plans and practice routines that best suit their individual
needs.
When not teaching or touring, Santo enjoys writing and creating songs in his basement studio.