Music Teachers

A New York City native and graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, guitarist and composer Toby is the author of dozens of instructional books and articles for Cherry Lane Music Publishing. In his late teens he began working as a freelance arranger and composer for a variety of ensembles, and as a performer in both sideman and bandleader capacities.

He has appeared at venues such as Joe’s Pub, the Cutting Room, Rockwood Music Hall, Birdland, Visiones, the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe, and many others. Toby spent three years as music librarian for the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, worked behind the scenes preparing scores for avant garde jazz icon Ornette Coleman, and has served as arranger and musical director for numerous jazz and cabaret vocalists. His writing can be heard on albums by Philip Harper (Muse), Ari Ambrose (Steeplechase) and Ian Hendrickson-Smith of the Roots (Sharp Nine), among others.

For the last decade, Toby served as Director of Programs at Church Street School for Music & Art, a major community arts organization in lower Manhattan. His studies have included work with Bob Mover, Edward Green, and the late jazz greats Walter Davis Jr., Manny Albam, and Bern Nix.