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Players School Of Music Founded by Jeff Berlin in 1996, The Players School of Music was created to improve music education by teaching students according to their ability to learn. The school introduced a bold new concept in music education; that students had time to become familiar with their homework and practice without pressure. Memorization of music was removed from study. Review and daily practice were emphasized.

Beginning in three rooms, the school trained mostly Florida based players in the ways of reading, soloing, and comping on their instruments. Harmony and ear training classes were added to round out the players need for a broader musical understanding.
Highlights and features
  • Strings, Bass, Keyboard, Trumpet, Drums, Voice, Percussion, Piano, Guitar, Saxophone
People
Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin
Bass
Jeff’s live playing and recording credentials include names such as Yes, Frank Zappa, Bill Bruford. Allan Holdsworth, Billy Cobham, Issac Hayes, George Benson, k.d. lang, Jermaine Jackson, and Larry Coryell.
Matt Bokulic
Matt Bokulic
Keyboard
Matt studied piano and composition at Berklee College of Music, The University of Massachusetts and The University of South Florida. He has played and recorded with Celine Dion, John Laporta Rick Derringer, Reeves Gabrels, and The Nelson Riddle Orchestra.
Peter Mongaya
Peter Mongaya
Guitar
Peter is one of Tampa Bay's most in demand teachers and guitarists. A native of Denmark, he studied music at the Sankt Annae School and the Jazz Akademiet in Copenhagen.
Jeremy Powell
Jeremy Powell
Jeremy Powell is a New School University graduate and the 2003 recipient of the John Coltrane scholarship. Jeremy teaches Saxophone and Live Playing Ensemble Course.
John William Gomez
John William Gomez
Vocals
John William Gomez is internationally regarded as one of the finest operatic tenors to come from Venezuela. He has won notable awards for vocal performance competitions and is considered by many as one of the great lyric tenor sensations of his generation.
John Zwolski
John Zwolski
Drums
Tampa native John Zwolski studied latin percussion with Gumbi Ortiz (Al DiMeola) and brings a wealth of academic drum principles to his teaching methods.
Videos
A Look inside Players School of Music
A Look inside Players School of Music
The Players School of Music has organized programs for musicians who desire employment in the music industry. We offer programs of varying lengths to meet your particular needs including short-term intensive programs. The programs are also appropriate for those students who want to improve their music skills for their own enjoyment and artistic fulfillment.
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Are You Really Learning Music?
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Are You Really Learning Music?
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video Jeff asks the musical question, "are you really learning and improving?" These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video Jeff gives some techniques for practicing approach notes on bass guitar. These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
BEFORE & AFTER - One-Week Intensive Study
BEFORE & AFTER - One-Week Intensive Study
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music http://playerschool.com in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video Jeff shows off the results of a student's one-week intensive study at Players School. These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Articulating Notes On the Bass
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Articulating Notes On the Bass
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video, Jeff provides some instruction to further articulate notes on the bass. These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
One Week Intensive - Testimonial - The Players School of Music
One Week Intensive - Testimonial - The Players School of Music
Testimonial video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video, Jeff talks with Arun Katikala regarding his experience during a One Week Intensive at the Players School of Music.
One Week Intensive - Testimonial - The Players School of Music
One Week Intensive - Testimonial - The Players School of Music
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video, Jeff talks with Stanley Dickerson regarding his experience during a One Week Intensive at the Players School of Music. These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - C Major 7 With Chords
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - C Major 7 With Chords
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video, Jeff provides an exercise by playing the C Major 7 Scale with Chords. These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Minor Major 7 Scale
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Minor Major 7 Scale
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video, Jeff provides an exercise by playing the Minor Major 7 Scale. These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Cmin7(b5)9
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Cmin7(b5)9
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video, Jeff provides an exercise by playing Cmin7(b5)9. These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Minor 7 Flat 5 Scale with a Flat 9
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Minor 7 Flat 5 Scale with a Flat 9
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video, Jeff provides and exercise by playing Minor 7 Flat 5 Scale with a Flat 9. These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Exercise / Learn Fretboard with Scales
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Exercise / Learn Fretboard with Scales
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video, Jeff demonstrates an exercise for learning the fretboard. These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Exercise / Playing Scales in 5ths
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Exercise / Playing Scales in 5ths
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video, Jeff demonstrates an exercise for playing scales in 5ths. These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Playing Scales in 5ths
JEFF BERLIN Bass Lessons - Playing Scales in 5ths
Bass guitar lesson video featuring Jeff Berlin of The Players School of Music in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida. In this video, Jeff discusses playing scales in 5ths. These bass guitar lessons are intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons.
Reviews (11)
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Pete
Aug 10, 2022
Jazz is the taught music here, because it encompasses a huge amount of harmony, reading, technique, and interaction - but I note just about everyone who is here (students and instructors) like a whole range of music, from rock, heavy metal and funk to jazz, Cuban music, and so on. If you come here I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say I think you will be doing the best thing for your playing that you could ever do. And pretty cheaply too, when you compare to other music schools.
John Carver
Dec 10, 2019
Studying at this school was the single most musically enriching experience of my life. I would recommend it heartily to anyone interested in going, even if it is just for a week (although I would suggest at least a month). I will go into further detail for those interested: First of all, the harmony and ear training curriculum is worth the money in itself.

Those classes are taught by Matt Bokulic, also my piano teacher while I was there. The improvement in my ear and fundamental knowledge of western musical concepts in those classes was tremendous. Second, the private instruction is excellent, as you can imagine. As I said Matt was my piano teacher and he and the other teachers teach strict fundamentals like nothing I have ever seen. Students of whatever level immediately gain some meaningful facility on their instrument. Third, the daily group classes.

Talk about musical bootcamp! No matter your level, you will be solo-ing and comping in a group, and it better be chord tones lol. But playing with peers from all over the world, daily, was simply an awesome experience, one I doubt you can find anywhere outside of a major conservatory. All in all, it was worth every penny I spent and every second I was there (about 6 months).

I will add a few words of caution: 1. the curriculum is extremely jazz-centric. There are valid reasons for this, and everyone should be familiar with jazz. However I am personally tired of the jazz scene. Second, it is a small school, and while it is accredited by the primary music-school body, your credits will not transfer directly to any university or college, and you won't be able to use federal grants.
John Gomez
Jun 19, 2018
Do not miss the unique oportunity to study music and make the art of it a reality with one of the most friendly, talented, well prepare professional teachers I have ever experienced to meet in any school of music in USA. Their intellectual level of preparation and studying structured program will prepare you with the skills needed in the current music business. Make sure to call them ASAP to assist you for current information. The Players School of Music, the right place to become a fully completed Artist!
Kurt Harris
May 25, 2018
One of the best things I've done for my musical life. They teach you the skills to play in any situation. The pace is customized to your level and everyone is very willing to work with you. I highly recommend the school for any level of musician
Bass Frog
May 16, 2018
A very great music school here in the US. I've studied here for a year and I really learned a lot! The teachers here are fascinating! They are professional musicians, full of creativity and they are very great educator as well! They inspired me a lot and they are very encouraging too. Besides, the environment here is super nice. You can focus on practicing all the exercise or you also have great atmosphere for composing stuffs. I loves the schol so much. It's worth to join the school!
Robert Silverman
Apr 13, 2018
The Players School has amazing an teaching staff. They really work with you from where you are in your musical development and take you to higher levels in a very inspiring way. The first time that I did the one week intensive, it changed my musical life for the better and really got me focused on what I needed to work on to be a better pro musician.

I wish that I had the chance to attend the Players School when I was right out of high School. If I could do it all over again, thats what I would do. I love The Players School!
Jon Jackson
Mar 28, 2018
The Players School is a great place to learn and enjoy music on a more personal level. I definitely like the jazz influence as I am a jazz drummer myself. I received plenty of one on one instruction, incld theory, style and technique, as well as lots of group sessions and straight out jams. Lots of fun. We even got to record all of the student compositions at the end of the term. Also, the staff is really nice and laid back willing to take the time to break things down. I would recommend Players School for those who are ready to take music to the next level
Brian West
Mar 05, 2018
A small but very friendly music school where you get personal attention. The teachers are all highly experienced knowledgeable players but with the ability and enthusiasm to provide high quality teaching. The programmes are very well thought out and designed to ensure a noticeable improvement in any player whatever their standard. Not at all elitist, I felt very welcome there. Highly recommended. The best musical learning experience of my life.
Kevin Guhl
Jan 18, 2018
What a fantastic experience! The administration and staff are welcoming and focused on helping you become a better musician and player based on your current skill level. Individual lessons focus on improving your musical understanding and technique. Ensemble challenges your reading and ability to interact with other players in that type setting. Harmony, theory, and ear training help you develop those important skills. And, oh yeah, what a beautiful campus setting to learn in! kg
Arno C. Sinram
Dec 12, 2017
Players School of Music is the only free music library that I have found in the Tampa Bay area. They have a lot of references, magazines, books and audio resources available for anyone like me, since I was looking for references about Latin music. Vicky is always a great hostess and makes you feel welcome. For anyone who is looking to study music for fun or to become a musician, this academy is rated in the Top 10 music schools in the US.
Jon Von Boehm
Nov 25, 2017
The Player School of Music has an amazing staff and the teachers there are superb. I could have went to any school, and I considered many. Looking back now going there was one of the best decisions I made for my musical growth. It was truly an awesome experience attending the school.