Full-Time Instructors
Adjunct Instructors
James Schneider,
Part-Time Faculty Instructor, Instrumental Music
408.864.8832
Pianist, woodwind player and composer Jim
Schneider is a Bay Area native who has
performed, recorded, and taught jazz in the Bay
Area for several years. He has performed with
ensembles and artists such as Viva Brasil,
Claudia Gomez, Ed Johnson, the late Smith
Dobson, Pan Caribe, and many more. Jim's
teaching experience includes 25 years of Jazz
Piano at De Anza college as well as Jazz
Improvisation, Jazz Ensemble, and other courses
at De Anza and Gavilan colleges.
Benett Zussman,
Part-Time Faculty Instructor, Instrumental Music, Electronic Music
650.949.7262
Guitarist/Composer/Educator Benett Zussman earned his Master’s degree in
Improvised Music with an emphasis on Jazz and Flamenco guitar from San Jose State
University. His BA is in Classical Guitar Performance under the guidance of the late,
Cuban classical guitarist Maestro José Rey de la Torre.
From 1990-2000 Benett taught at the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain
View, CA. where he created and directed the CSMA Rock and Blues ensemble. A Bay
Area native, Ben served on the board of the South Bay Guitar Society where he has
been a featured soloist, clinician and educator. Through the City of San José’s Office of
Cultural Affairs school outreach programs Ben has performed in numerous High
Schools with The South Bay Guitar Society Duo, “Ben and Jerry” and the SBGS Quartet
from 2012-2020.
In 2006 Ben released his first recording, Roundtrip, a collection of new works,
arrangements and compositions for solo guitar. On this project he discovered the
powerful world of Pro Tools and computers in music, and since 2018 teaches Electronic
Music at De Anza College as well as Music Appreciation and Beginning, Intermediate
and Advanced Guitar courses.
In addition to concerts, outreach programs and clinics, Ben also performs solo or
ensemble special events like weddings, corporate and private parties. Rounding out
Ben’s teaching career is his active teaching studio at The Los Gatos School of Music
(formally Joplin and Sweeney Music) celebrating over thirty years at that location.
Emeriti Instructors
Staff