gehrke's regards
enjoying a bowl of life…private music lessons
The Beginning…In 1997, as I was finishing my sophomore year in HS, my band director encouraged me to try giving beginner guitar and piano lessons to elementary kids in town. It was a lot of fun and I taught probably a dozen kids the next couple years. That experience was the final straw (of many) which led me to pursue music education as a career and major in college.
I continued to teach throughout college on the weekends and once in a while during the week while refining and growing in my educational experience and techniques.
As of 2010, I have been teaching general music full-time in Lutheran schools for 6 years. Teaching private music lessons has continued to be a pursuit of mine with at least 12 students taking weekly lessons during the school year.
Every summer I offer 8-10 weeks of music lessons for those seeking to try something new, begin a new instrument or continue in their studies.
Summer Lessons are a Prerequisite to taking full-time lessons throughout the school year with me. This gives us an introductory time to see if student & teacher will work together well and if the student is committed to the time and energy it takes to learn a new instrument.
My Philosophy of individual music instruction is just that: individual. We all learn in different ways and have a variety of music styles we personally prefer. I like to harness each student’s unique interests in order to tailor a learning plan which makes music fun, exciting, challenging, rewarding and positive. As the student and I work together, I’ll be able to introduce other styles and forms of music which will expand upon that student’s abilities and specific interests.
Practice is essential. I like to call it “playing.” If parents ask their children to “play” for them instead of forcing them to “practice,” the same result will be reached with a more positive connotation and encouragement. It also shows the young student that the parents care about the music they are learning and creating.
Lessons are typically 1/2 hour and cost $20. In our area, that is a very average price, which helps keep them affordable and still competitive at the same time. Many teachers have years of experience of teaching and performance, but I also bring a college degree in Instrumental Music Education.
Please contact me if you’re interested in learning an instrument and I’ll let you know if it’s one that I teach. (I specialize in piano, guitar, saxophone and voice, but I also have training and experience with mandolin, percussion, trumpet, flute, clarinet, trombone, harmonica)
Every May, I put together my summer music lessons, so don’t hesitate to contact me!
Leave a comment if you’re interested!
