Charley BellerI grew up singing in synagogue with my parents. My first organized group was the Bach Children's Choruswhich at the time was part of the Eastman School of Music's Community Education Devision (CED).
I was interested in percussion and particularly hand drumming from an early age. My father had a ceramic dumbek that had a fantastic sound and he encouraged me to play it as well as reading Mickey Hart's works Planet Drum and Drumming at the Edge of Magic.
I started saxophone in 4th grade and played all through highschool where I picked up clarinet and trombone as well. As a graduation present my parents got me an old Fairbanks and Cole nylon friction pegged five string banjo. A great old banjo for old time music.
In college I was part of an all-male a capella group the Midnight Ramblers for a year and a half. I continued to play banjo and picked up mandolin as well. I also studied conga and Latin percussion with Freddy Colon of the Mambo Kings.
I teach mandolin and clawhammer style banjo in Baltimore, MD. If you are interested lessons or for more information please send me an e-mail:
I also play the bones.
