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Anokyewaa Oppong - Violin and Viola

Anokyewaa Oppong Wadie is an experienced violinist of almost 12 years. She began her journey in violin studies after being inspired by Grammy award-winning jazz and classical violinist Regina Carter; about one year later she began her lesson in classical violin. Although Anokyewaa comes from a musical family, especially pianist, Anokyewaa was the first violinist in her family, and was taught classical violin at the age of nines specifically the Suzuki method. As the years would go by Anokyewaa grew a deep passion for the violin and began taking lessons from some of the best violinists in the Midwest and in the Chicago area. Her teachers spanned from Julia Sizer of University of Chicago Symphony to Lucinda Ali Landing of Chicago Sinfonietta and Suzanne Rickman of Illinois Philharmonic. After all this experience Anokyewaa decided to take violin studies as her major at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ where she is currently a senior of violin performance violin/viola teacher, performer, and pedagogue Dr. Jaime Gorgojo. As the daughter of first generation immigrants from Jamaica and Ghana, Anokyewaa has always felt the importance to work hard, have goals, and most of all achieve milestones in her career. Therefore, this teaching opportunity with the Community Music Program at NEIU is great for her, and she looks forward to seeing her growth as a teacher and violinist.

Teaching Approach

"As someone who comes from a background of educators, I have seen firsthand my whole life of teaching with care, consistency, review, and an upbeat non-judgmental environment. Teaching has always been one of my passions, and I cannot wait to continue my journey with the Community Music Program here at NEIU!"

Jair Manzanares - Drum set & Percussion

Jair Manzanares is a versatile musician and educator with a background in drum set,
marching percussion, orchestral percussion, and Latin percussion. His experience across
classical, contemporary, and Latin styles allows him to teach a wide range of students with
different goals and interests.

Jair’s teaching is rooted in meeting students at their level and building strong fundamentals.
Beginners start with stick grip, hand motion, and coordination, while more advanced students
work on motion consciousness, rebound control, and rudiments. He teaches rhythm literacy
through age-appropriate methods. Once students understand note values and drum notation, he
introduces grooves, etudes, and coordination exercises. To support their growth further, Jair
composes and arranges custom pieces that target specific concepts and keeps students
challenged.

Creativity is built into his lessons. Jair incorporates improvisation, guided fills, and movement
around the kit at every level, eventually helping students write their own drum parts and
experiment with phrasing. Goals are personalized: younger and beginning students work toward
coordination and reading, while older and advanced students focus on etudes, technique
development, song study, and stylistic growth.

As a performer, Jair has worked as a member, session musician, and sub in both classical and
contemporary settings. He has played with the NEIU Wind Ensemble, The Windy City Winds,
The Chicago Clarinet Ensemble, and subbed for the Chicago Wind Symphony. In the
Chicagoland music scene, he has performed with multiple bands in styles including Rock, Funk,
Pop, Hip-hop, Blues, and more. He also plays Latin percussion in an ensemble that performs
Cumbia, Salsa, and other Latin genres.

Jair’s diverse background and experience allows him to teach students of all ages and levels,
from beginners to advanced players who have different goals and interests.

Teaching Philosophy:

To be able to play and create music is such an amazing gift. When I play drums, nothing
outside the room exists — making music feels like meditation to me. There is nothing else in the
world that gives me this feeling. I believe music is deeply intertwined with our emotions and
allows us to express ourselves in ways that words cannot. Whether it’s singing or playing an
instrument, music taps into something emotional and personal in a way nothing else can.
I believe music is essential to a person’s education. Music education is more than just
learning how to play an instrument — it teaches time management, discipline, and
responsibility. It shapes the whole person and teaches lessons that go far beyond the
classroom. As an educator, I want my students not only to develop musical skills, but to
experience the emotional, creative, and personal growth that music has given me.