Concord Conservatory of MusicConcord Conservatory of MusicNone of our instructors at CCM are completely self-taught. But John Gass comes close. John was working as a psychotherapist at a mental health clinic in Tacoma, Washington more than 20 years ago 
when his life changed course. “I wanted something that would help me start my day feeling grounded before engaging with all the emotions that would come through my door,” John recalls. “One of my colleagues suggested listening to Native American flute music.”
John did — and soon realized that listening wasn’t enough. He wanted to play, so he bought a Native American style flute. It came with a DVD, which John presumed would include instructions on how to play basic songs. Instead, he says, the DVD offered profound advice: “Take the time to learn what sounds your flute can make. Learn to start playing the music that wants to come from you.”
Different Choices, Different Voices
Suffice to say that John took the time to learn. Now he’s passionate about helping others do the same.
Native American style flute is ideal for helping students find the music within. “There is a wonderful amount of variety in these instruments,” John says. “To begin with, each flute is a single key, much like harmonicas. And each flute only plays one octave, with a couple of notes above the octave possible. For any given scale you can usually find flutes in three or four different octaves — high, mid-range, low, and bass or contra bass.”
Each flute also has a distinct construction. “Beyond the tunings and octaves, the material the flute is made from, and the ‘voice’ that the flute maker builds into the flute, create unique sounds,” John says. “I can take five flutes, all in the same key but made by different flute makers using different woods, and each will sound a little different than the others.”
Play it by Ear
That lack of uniformity is conducive to improv and experimentation. “This is such a simple, intuitive, instrument to play,” John says. “Players who have experience with other flutes, especially ‘silver flutes,’ find this a much easier instrument to learn and play. For one thing, there is no embouchure.”
In addition, John says, “Students seem to love that we don’t use sheet music. We do sometimes use tablature, including writing out our own tunes. But we mostly rely on playing by ear, and playing intuitively — especially when playing duets.”
Finding a Way
Appropriate for someone who specializes in an unconventional instrument, John took a nontraditional route to becoming an instructor. It started when he joined the Army Special Forces. “A big part of my job was teaching,” he says. “And a big part of that was being able to determine the needs of our students, to meet them where they were, and to adapt as training progressed. I think this is when I really learned to love teaching.”
Later, as a psychotherapist, John took a similar approach. “A big part of my role was to help clients learn new skills so that they could have a more well-rounded life,” he says. “As with military training, it was important to understand where my clients were, what their needs were, and what their goals and hopes were. I would adapt what we were doing as their needs and skills changed. And we only progressed at the pace the client could handle.”
Playing Well with Others
John uses a similar approach at CCM. “That’s really the basis for my philosophy as a music instructor,” John says. “Meet the students where they are, understand what they are hoping to learn, be ready to adapt as necessary, and don’t leave anyone behind.”
He learned another important lesson from his Special Forces training: “Everything started with how to connect with students. Relationship is so important to how the flow of information will go.”
John discovered a different aspect of relationship and flow when he teamed up with Brenda Fingold, a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, in the duo Montana Spark. “We do a blend of Brenda supporting me with her guitar on some songs, and me supporting her with flute on others,” John says. “We’ve even added some flute duets to our repertoire. Those experiences led me to add components of that to my course. We explore what it’s like to not have to carry a whole tune by yourself. I bring in a guitar player for one class and let students have the experience of being supported by another instrument as well as supporting another instrument.”
Bringing it Home
John says CCM provides an ideal venue for his style of teaching. “I love the emphasis on community, and the thread of believing in the value of music to individuals, communities, and humanity as a whole,” he says. “My philosophy is to share what I know without being too directive. We can all learn from each other. It’s a pretty special experience as a teacher when I can watch students complimenting and supporting each other’s development. I think that speaks to people feeling a level of comfort and safety in the class, which really facilitates learning and growth.”
As a teacher, John’s favorite memory is of the student who told him at the end of the course that they had never dreamed that they would be able to play an instrument. “Now,” that student said, “I have the joy of creating my own music.”
John Gass teaches Native American style flute Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 pm.
We are thrilled to unveil our highly anticipated 2025/2026 Concert Series, a collection of performances designed to inspire, delight, and connect our community through the universal language of music.
The Okee Dokee Brothers – *FAMILY SERIES!*
Friday, September 19, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Bring your family closer to nature through an afternoon of songs performed by this creative duo. The Okee Dokee Brothers draw creativity from their incredible extensive outdoor experiences. With humor and heartfelt connections to nature, their songs teach and entertain audiences of all ages.
Yelena Beriyeva, Piano Inspirations
Friday, October 24, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Award winning pianist and CCM faculty member Yelena Beriyeva will perform Brahms’ introspective and penultimate piano work Klavierstücke, dedicated to Clara Schumann, followed by Debussy’s Estampes (“Prints”) inspired by sounds of the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The program will conclude with Mussorgsky’s iconic Pictures at an Exhibition, a musical narration of the composer’s visit to an exhibit of artist Viktor Hartmann and depictions of his paintings.
Friday, November 21, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Join CCM pianist and speaker Jackson Carruthers for a powerful musical journey that explores how a simple idea can grow and change, just like we do. Through live performance and storytelling, Jackson reveals how music transforms over time, offering a fresh look at creativity, growth, and self-discovery.
Musical Storytelling with Schumann – *FAMILY SERIES!*
Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11:00 am
CCM piano faculty member Kitty Cheung-Evans retells Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen, “Scenes from Childhood” and prompts listeners to create their own stories in this participatory event. Song titles such as “Dreaming” and “Of Distant Lands” inspire the imaginations of today’s youth and kindle affectionate sentiments of childhood for adults, connecting all listeners with the art of musical interpretation.
Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Known for their mastery of tone and tasteful musical approach, this mandolin duo brings profound voices and diversity of texture to the acoustic and bluegrass worlds, with Matt Flinner on the banjo and mandolin and Joe Walsh switching between mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, and mandocello. Experience their artistry in an intimate evening of sublime music.
Friday, February 6, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Discover the hidden patterns and elegant structures woven into the music of J.S. Bach and Béla Bartók, as Professor Gareth Roberts of Holy Cross reveals their surprising mathematical brilliance.
Around Hear – *FAMILY SERIES!*
Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11:00 am
Rejoice in winter’s shorter days with this moon-themed family concert, featuring music by Messiaen, original music set to Margaret Wise Brown’s beloved Goodnight Moon, and others.
Then & Now, A CCM Jazz Reunion
Friday, March 6, 2026 at 7:30 pm
A rare gathering of past and current Concord Conservatory jazz faculty, this exciting concert will blend timeless jazz classics with modern creativity and forward-looking sounds. Together, they’ll take the audience on a cutting-edge jazz journey—honoring the past while forging new musical ground.
Friday, April 10, 2026 at 7:30 pm
This dynamic trio draws on the freestyle theatrics of hip-hop and Go-go music, the effortless beauty of Brazilian forró and choro, the earthiness of American roots music, and the improvisational spontaneity of jazz.
We invite all music enthusiasts and businesses to sponsor our Concert & Lecture Series. If you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Elaine Lawrence at Elawrence@ConcordConservatory.org. We would love to discuss how you can be part of this exciting series.
We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!
New CCM Faculty Members
Big news! Our faculty is growing with the addition of four phenomenal music educators: Jacqui Armbruster, John Gass, William Kim, and Armando Ortiz (L-R).
Each new faculty member brings a wealth of talent, passion, and unique expertise that will inspire our students and deepen the cultural vibrancy of our communities.
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Jacqui, John, William, and Armando and don’t forget to check out their bios! We can’t wait for you to meet them and experience the incredible contributions they will bring to the CCM family.
Open House on September 6
Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of music at the CCM’s Annual Open House on Friday, September 6th, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM!
This is a fantastic opportunity to meet some of our passionate faculty, explore the newest addition to our campus (CCM 2!), learn about our diverse programs for all ages and skill levels, and even try out an instrument or two. A full schedule of the day’s events is available on our website.
Come discover your musical journey with us! We can’t wait to welcome you and share our love for music.
Experience Music for Free: Join Our Demo Week Starting September 8
Ever wondered what a group music class is like? Now’s your chance! CCM is excited to host our Demo Week during the week of September 8th, offering free sample group classes for aspiring musicians of all ages and interests.
This is the perfect opportunity to try out an instrument, explore a new style, and experience our engaging teaching methods in a fun, no-pressure environment. It’s a wonderful way to discover the joy of making music with others.
Check our website soon for the full schedule of free classes.
Embark on Your Musical Journey: Fall Classes Begin September 22nd!
Ready to dive deeper into music? Our full schedule of Fall Classes at Concord Conservatory of Music begins Monday, September 22nd! Whether you’re a budding beginner or an experienced musician, we offer a wide range of classes and private lessons for all ages, instruments, and skill levels.
Don’t miss your chance to make music a part of your life this fall! Visit our website to explore our offerings and register today.
Be the Reason Someone Experiences Music
Imagine the joy of a child learning their first instrument, the spark in a senior’s eye as they reconnect with cherished memories through music, or the strength in the voice of someone with Parkinson’s finding their melody.
You can make these moments possible with a gift to CCM.
By making your very first gift to CCM, you have the opportunity to:
What do Fidelity, Raytheon, and State Street have in common?
They have matching gift programs.
Won’t you please consider giving the gift of music today?
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