Private Music Instruction

Thomas Giarratano has been teaching guitar to students of all ages for over 24 years now and is also the owner of Musician’s Co-Op of Mystic. Beginning his studies with the guitar at the age of seven, he has studied with some very accomplished and talented guitarists including John Mock and Charlie Sutton with whom he spent several years studying Classical Guitar. Having had the opportunity to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Thomas gained a more in depth understanding of music and theory and his experiences there greatly enhanced his ability to play and perform as well as teach. He has performed in many different musical settings over the years including playing the Bass and Acoustic Guitar in several groups including Loco Dare, Carpenter & Martell, The Village Jammers and The Articulate Bums.

With a strong attraction and love of Fingerstyle and Classical guitar Thomas began to perform in solo settings on his nylon string guitar back in 1991 and in 2004 released a CD of original compositions for solo guitar called “A Gift in The Night.” He keeps very busy and in demand performing in restaurants and cafes and private functions and weddings, and he can currently be heard performing solo on his classical guitar regularly at several wonderful dining destinations in the South Eastern CT area. Thursdays from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Water Street Cafe in Stonington Borough, and Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at The Weekapaug Inn in Westerly, RI. Although his focus has been on fingerstyle and classical guitar, Thomas enjoys teaching all styles of guitar believing that a strong understanding and practice of good technique is very important to playing any style of music well, and to that end tries to encourage his students by introducing interesting musical selections and ideas where they will have an opportunity to develop their technique and sound!

Anna Thompson is a twenty-one year old piano teacher, songwriter, musician, dancer, and traveler who has been studying piano since the age of six. Over the years she has been exposed to many diverse musical styles and hopes to instill in her students an appreciation of all types of music, from classical, pop, jazz, experimental, and beyond. Anna grew up in an environment surrounded by music and has always been motivated to pursue it herself. Wherever life takes her, music is always the essential ingredient, whether she is writing songs on a cross country train, writing a novel in a Colorado mountain town, or performing at coffeehouses throughout the country. Anna is a seasonal/part time organist at Grassy Hill Congregational Church in Lyme, Connecticut, and performs original music with her father, Vince Thompson, in an acoustic duo, with regular appearances at Nightingale’s Acoustic Café in Old Lyme, CT, and Junk & Java in Westerly, Rhode Island. She also performs solo on piano and organ at weddings and events at various venues throughout the area. Anna has been teaching piano students for four years, and is very excited to be surrounded by other teachers and students at the Musicians Co-op who are passionate about and dedicated to the pursuit of happiness through music.