You're a 2004 graduate of BHS, correct? Share a bit about growing up in Bluffton.
Yes, graduated from BHS in 2004. I had a lot of fun in school, and was in
all kinds of activities - choir, band, show choir, jazz band, Latin club,
math club, etc. I also really enjoyed Campus Life. I was often just really
goofy with my friends!
Tell me what you did after high school. College? Graduate school?
After high school, I went to Bluffton University as a music major and then
on to graduate school at Bowling Green for piano pedagogy/performance.
When did you first begin piano lessons? Who was your first teacher? Did you love playing from the start?
I started taking lessons when I was 7. My first teacher was Carla Wyant. I
have had eight piano teachers and each and every one really helped me in
different ways. I remember certain things that each teacher taught me which
has helped me tremendously in my playing and my teaching as well. I actually did not enjoy practicing from the start! But as I got older and could play more fun things I started to love being able to play. . My teacher from
junior high and early high school, Rosie Williams, had a huge influence in
my life. I really wanted to be just like her. She helped me realize I wanted
to pursue my piano studies further.
You also took dance lessons for a long time from Deb Garlock. Do you think that dance enhanced your musical ability or vice versa?
I love dance!! I took tap and jazz dance lessons from Debbie, from age 3
through my senior year of high school! I think dance lessons and piano
lessons definitely worked to each other's advantage. I think the reason I
like tap dance the most is because of how rhythmic the sounds are.
What other instruments do you play?
Besides piano, I can play trumpet, organ, I sing, and some guitar.
How old were you when you first started teaching piano lessons? Did you plan at that time that someday you'd open your own studio?
I think I was 16 when I started teaching lessons. I thought I might like to
continue teaching but had no idea what form it would take or to what extent.
How did you begin the studio? Did you take business courses in college that you with the business end of owning your own business?
The studio started just one student at a time. At the end of high school I
had probably 5-10 students. By the end of my sophomore year of college, at least 20, and it gradually kept growing. I did take business classes at
Bluffton University which really helped me a great deal. My professors were big help when I had questions about what to do. There were quite a few people who helped me along the way. I also researched other similar
businesses and "interviewed" other teachers about how they handle their
business and make a living by teaching privately.
How do you market/advertise your studio? What seems to work best?
Our best advertising is word of mouth! I have many parents of our students
to thank for referring their friends to us.
How many students do you have? Age range? What are the different instruments students may study? How many teachers do you employ?
We just reached 100 students! Ages 3 to adult. We offer lessons in piano,
trumpet, voice, guitar, and violin. We have nine teachers including myself.
How did your graduate studies improve your own performance skills and how do you translate that when teaching? Do you still take lessons?
My graduate studies helped me to think more about my playing, and to find
and evaluate pieces on my own. I was exposed to a multitude of teaching
pieces and had the benefit of discussing piano works and teaching methods
with other pianists from all over the world. My graduate classes helped me
to think much more in depth about teaching piano and the subtleties I can do as a teacher to generate successes in my students. I learned a lot about how teach good technique to a student. This past year I have been learning
new music on my own and though I am no longer in traditional lessons myself, I may have lessons in the future on an as needed basis.
You mentioned that you're thinking of starting a sort of "Mommy and me"class for very young children. How would that work?
Yes, we would like to do this even this summer if we get enough interest. It
is not traditional lessons, but more music and movement activities in a
group setting. It is really a way to teach the parents how to be musical
with their children and start developing a love for music in the child at an
early age. As a final project for grad school I researched this topic. For
this class, we would ideally need at least four or five sets of parent/child
participants. Then I would lead the activities and explain each activity and
its purpose in the class, and what the parent can do at home with the child.
It is like guided, purposeful musical play.
What's your teaching schedule like?
During the school year I have two days a week that I teach a couple hours in the morning and afternoon, but the majority of my lessons are 3:00-8:00 p.m. or sometimes later. I also teach on Saturdays. I really love my schedule because I am definitely not a morning person. I like to drink my coffee, read my Bible, and chill in the morning! My summer schedule is different though, as I usually have three days or so that I teach pretty much all day.
What kind of performance opportunities do you provide for your students? Do your adult students perform?
We have several performances for our students throughout the year. We always do a Christmas recital and spring recital. At the end of summer as a
fundraiser for Campus Life/YFC we do "Performathon". Last year we had a duet recital and hope to do that again maybe next year. I also encourage my to participate in Ribbon Festival. We sometimes have other
performances as well, at a nursing home or the library, etc. Several of our
adult students have been performing as well.
How do you continue to perform as a pianist?
I often perform pieces for my students in lessons to expose them to new
music and try to find styles they enjoy. Most of my performing in public now with our band 5 Myles High, and I continue to play for banquets and
weddings as well.
What is the history behind 5 Myles High? Where do you perform and what kind of music?
Phil, Myles, and I were all friends from Bluffton University, and then we
met Myles' friend, Sean, as well. Someone needed some music for an event and we just got together and played. We had so much fun and actually sounded enough together we decided to continue! Now we play often at
restaurants, banquets, wedding receptions, private parties, etc. We have a
CD now as well. We play mostly jazz-swing, and blues.
You got married a year ago, or so, correct? What instruments does your husband play? Does he also teach at the studio?
Yes - Phil Schey and I got married December 2009. Phil teaches at the studio as well - piano and voice. He was a vocal major at BU. He also plays bass and French horn. He is in many ways the opposite of me musically. I "classically trained" and I'm a good sight-reader. I can make stuff up but it has to be fairly basic. Phil, on the other hand, has perfect pitch and up complicated arrangements on the spot but has to practice reading
music more than me. We work as a team really well because of this!! Phil has also learned how to tune pianos and would like to be a choir director.
I know you like to plan ahead for new opportunities within the studio.
What's on the future agenda?
We may add other instruments at some point. We hope to have an open house summer. I always have new ideas floating around in my head but right
now they aren't concrete enough to describe.
Where do imagine you'll be in 10 years? Do you have a dream of performing in particular?
I really love traveling, so I'd say I dream of performing on a cruise ship
so I can see all kinds of places. Ten years from now, I'll probably still be
teaching lessons because I love it!
