About Us
BVM is the place to go for individual private instruction tailored to the needs and abilities of the aspiring musician. We have an excellent staff of knowledgeable, professional teachers, all of whom love music and will train each student in the correct methods of playing their instruments.
Students of all ages and abilities are welcome here.
Come check out our facility, conveniently located in the center of Uxbridge, MA.
Plenty of parking is available behind the Uxbridge Town library.
BVM is in the location of the former Gig Stop music store, but it has its own new identity. The focus is on music education; however, we do sell musical accessories such as strings, sticks, reeds, tuners, metronomes - these basic necessities will be on hand for local musicians. We also have technicians on board to assist with repairs for your instruments.
We regularly host public events, such as Community Coffeehouses, annual recitals, and more. During school intermission, we also organize musical summer camps, such as our Band Camps and Band Ensembles.
We pride ourselves in our community values, and in our reputation as a quality local music school. Come meet new friends and relax in a warm, friendly environment.
Meet The Team
Doug
Business Owner & Teacher
Mark
Teacher & Repair Technician
Jim
Teacher
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Harmonica, Mandolin & Music Theory
Doug graduated from Berklee in 1986 summa cum laude. He has been a professional musician and teacher for many years. In 2009, he took over for Gig Stop owner Glenn Randall, rebranding as Blackstone Valley Music and keeping affordable, quality music lessons available in downtown Uxbridge.
Guitar, Banjo (3 finger, melodic, clawhammer) , Bass, Mandolin & Songwriting
Voice & Piano
Mark graduated from Becker College in 2010 with an initial teaching license for MA grades 1-6, a B.A. in elementary education and has over 20 years of professional experience as a touring musician/recording artist. Mark shares his love of music and teaching with BVM through private lessons, workshops, and weeklong band camps. He has cultivated a monthly Coffeehouse Series funded in part by the Uxbridge Cultural Council and serves as the in-house repair technician for setups, evaluation, and minor repair for stringed instruments.
Jim is a classically trained music tenor. He went to Bucknell University for his undergraduate degree and U-Conn for his graduate. At U-Conn he was the graduate assistant in choral music. Music has been running in his family for several generations now from grandparents, parents, wife, and daughter. He is now a retired highschool choral teacher and is now a hospice musician, church choir director, as well as a teacher at BVM. Jim is pleased to be teaching at BVM.
Diane
Teacher
Raianne
Teacher
Randy
Teacher
Saxophone (Alto, Soprano, Tenor, Baritone), Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute, & Oboe
Diane comes from North Smithfield, Rhode Island and began playing clarinet at a young age. When she reached highschool she picked up the tenor saxophone and played in a general business band as well as the highschool band. She has been teaching at BVM for several years and enjoys meeting new students to help them develop their musical talents. She has performed widely, playing in various pit orchestras for drama production in venues such as the Stadium Theatre, Bradley Playhouse, and Mildford Performing Arts Center. She is currently a clarinetist in the Blackstone Valley Community Concert Band.
Ukulele & Clarinet
Guitar, Ukulele & Bass
Raianne has been playing clarinet since grade school and the ukulele since 2010. She has been writing, recording, and performing original music both regionally and internationally with her husband since 2005. She is a self taught and self made musician who enjoys working with her students to find music that excites and inspires them to play, all while learning the basics to understand music. She leads a beginner ukulele group class at the Northbridge Senior Center, and has co-led a summer program for concert band students at BVM.
Randy comes from a musical family, beginning trumpet at a young age but then switching to guitar when he was 15. He has been teaching at BVM since 2010, adopting a variation of the Suzuki Method. He has performed music across southern New England, New York, Canada, Greece and toured through the northern Midwest. Originally employed at the Gig Stop in 2002, he continues to provide quality instruction at BVM.
Tyler
Teacher
Drums & Percussion
Tyler began private lessons in percussion at a young age. He continued through highschool and college attending both Berklee College of Music and Bridgewater State University, completing his Bachelors of Arts in music. While pursuing his degree Tyler worked in various school systems from preschool to high school, expanding his knowledge of teaching methods for kids with various disabilities and providing music lessons to learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Throughout his career he has played in various bands (rock, blues, jazz, funk, hip-hop, zydeco, pop punk) and performed for musical theater and orchestras. In his off time he spends time with his fiance, playing with his dog Hank, powerlifting, and strongman lifting.
John
Teacher
Piano
John has been teaching piano with over forty years of teaching experience. Growing up in Upper Arlington, a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, John figured out how to play before taking lessons at the age of seven. John performed in school and church choirs, rock bands, bell choirs, and a recorder consort. He became very serious when studying organ with Elizabeth Lange who was a fellow of the American Guild of Organists. He was an organ major at Valparaiso University and received a grant as a result of his audition performance. While at VU, John also studied piano and fine art, and later continued to study fine art at The Ohio State University. He believes that learning to play an instrument can be a powerful and exciting experience that has untold rewards. John was fortunate to have had some great teachers, and he strives to pass on the best of what he received to his many students on their own musical journey.
Kyle
Teacher
Piano
Kyle has been taking lessons at BVM for over 6 years and continues to take lessons in addition to teaching here weekly. He graduated from Douglas High School in <year>. Kyle brings a youthful energy and serious dedication to the craft that is very much appreciated and comes across in his playing as well as his teaching. He is a very technically proficient classical player motivated to help students expand their ability and explore their passion for music much like he does.
Sue
Teacher
Violin
New to BVM but local to Uxbridge, Sue is a welcome addition to our team. With over 40 years of private teaching experience and just as much time and experience with various ensembles and orchestras, she is a very accomplished and proficient player. Beyond skill and ability, Sue is also very kind, humorous and passionate and works very well with children. She is an active musician doing freelance violin, fiddle and viola work in the New England area and we're grateful to have some of her time here
Sam
Teacher
Piano, Music Theory, Music Composition, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba & Voice
Sam is a former student at BVM prior to college, graduating Westfield State University magna cum laude with degrees in music composition, sound design, a minor in theater and a focus in classical piano. In addition to private lessons, he now works as the band director and assistant chorus director for Douglas High School.
Olaf
Lesson Administrator
Eli
Primary Lesson Administrator
James
Lesson Administrator
Olaf first began taking guitar lessons at BVM in 2016 and began working as a part time lesson administrator in 2020. He has participated in numerous band camps and through taking lessons has developed a passion for music in which he hopes to continue professionally.
A Blackstone Valley local, Eli was first introduced to BVM when his mother and sister started taking lessons here back in 2017. Since then, he has frequented the Community Coffeehouse Series’ over the years. He is a self-taught guitarist and performing musician who is passionate about helping others experience the joys of music like he has. When he isn’t working or playing guitar, Eli can be found making visual art; he has a degree in studio art with a concentration in painting and a minor in art history from Framingham State University.
James is a guitarist, band camp instructor, and administrative assistant at Blackstone Valley Music. He has been playing guitar for 13 years, and some of his biggest influences have been The Beatles, Huey Lewis and The News, and as well as many other classic rock bands. James graduated from Northbridge High School in 2018, where he received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. He went on to attend Westfield State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in May 2022. James is also a part of Black Stone, a rock band that has performed in numerous towns around the Blackstone Valley.