About Us

History

Music Lessons Express was founded in 2005 by singer-songwriter Lindsey Benedict as an after-school and in-home music education service, partnering with elementary and middle schools across Leon County. In 2012, guitarist Brett Wellman acquired the company and broadened its offerings, expanding in-studio lessons to serve students of all ages and skill levels.

In 2016, Brett shifted his focus to performing with his band, the Stone Cold Blues, and passed ownership to Mick Metz. Under Mick’s leadership, long-time instructors Natasha Marsalli and Ben Lougheed stepped into leadership roles as executive director and program director, respectively. Together they launched the North Florida Suzuki School at Music Lessons Express, the region’s only Suzuki music program.

Natasha, originally hired by Lindsey in 2010 as a violin and piano teacher, assumed ownership of MLE in 2025 following Mick’s retirement. Today, Mick and his grandson Henry are both proud students at Music Lessons Express and the North Florida Suzuki School.

Now entering its 20th year, Music Lessons Express has earned a strong reputation for excellence in music education throughout the Big Bend area. Its teaching staff includes highly qualified educators with advanced degrees in music performance or education, along with extensive experience working with students of all ages and skill levels. MLE students consistently excel in local and regional competitions, perform in Leon County School orchestras and the Tallahassee Youth Orchestras, attend prestigious national summer music festivals, and are regularly selected for All-District and All-State ensembles.

Staff

Violinist Natasha Marsalli has more than a decade of teaching experience and has played violin for 28 years. She holds degrees in violin performance and music education from Florida State University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She is a passionate Suzuki educator and is registered in Books 1-4 with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, through which she has trained with Ed Kreitman, Kimberly Meier-Sims, and Mary Kay Neal. 

Erika Sciascia holds B.M. and M.M. degrees in Violin Performance from Florida State University and an M.A.S. in Musical Performance from the Conservatory of Italian Switzerland. Erika is also registered to teach Books 1-3 with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and has done additional coursework in music education through Florida State University. She is currently the concertmaster of the Panama City Symphony Orchestra, the principal second violinist of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Susana Frade Machado is a Cuban American classical guitarist who holds a B.M. in Guitar Performance fro Instituto Superior de Arte, a M.M. from University of Texas at San Antonio, and a D.M.A. in Guitar Performance from Florida State University. An experienced educator, Dr. Machado has taught all levels of classical guitar from young beginners through the collegiate level. She is also a registered teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Dr. Thomas Roggio holds a B.M. in Violin Performance from the State University of New York at Fredonia, a M.M. in Violin Performance from Bowling Green State University, and a D.M.A. in Violin Performance from Florida State University. He has held teaching positions at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Forte Music School, and the Creative Arts Program at Bowling Green State in addition to performing regularly with orchestras throughout the Southeast. He is a registered teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas.