Instrument Lessons
Individual subsidized music lessons are offered through the Community Education Committee by WMO instructors. Subsidized lessons are available to those in our primary service area: Clare, Gratiot, Isabella, Lake, Mecosta, Montcalm, Osceola and Newaygo counties. We also service the west half of Midland county. These lessons are offered at various locations mutually agreed upon by instructors and students and are available in sets that consist of four hours of instruction (either half hour or full hour lessons). Cost for the lessons is $9 per 1/2 hour lesson; $72 for the 4 hour set. These lessons are for children and adults.
Registration is ongoing. Scholarships are available for those with financial need.
To make arrangements for lessons call WMO at (989) 967-8879 or fill out the lessons application. Lessons are available for the following instruments…Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin, Banjo, Hammered Dulcimer, Piano and Ukulele.
Instructors—
Bruce Bauman is a fine old-time fiddler and excellent instructor whose general admission is to pass along traditional Michigan-style fiddle tunes to the younger generation to keep the genre’ of folk music alive. His expertise and knowledge of traditional fiddle tunes has been a part of the Instrument Lesson Program since its inception.
Nathan Myers is an accomplished instructor and musician whose guitar lessons can run the gamut from beginning to advanced and may include jazz, blues, improvisation and theory along with finger and flatpicking.
Kathy Hagen has been instructing WMO students on the hammered dulcimer since 2000, finding time for this after her retirement from CMU. Kathy is from the Alma area where she is musical director of the Ithaca-based “Just For Fun Dulcimer Club”. Her lessons feature traditional songs, for beginners and intermediate students, with a focus on melody plus some embellishment. Reading music is helpful but not mandatory.
Susie Russell’s gread teaching abilities have been enjoyed by many in the past years, both through lessons and the Folk Instrument Tent at the festival and TAW. She instructs beginners, and seasoned veterans as well, and gives a new approach to playing the guitar.
Glynn Russell will give an introduction to the mandolin, making it fun as well as informative, while offering a simple and fast way of learning the mandolin. In addition, Glynn teaches any style of banjo for beginners. He also conducts festival and TAW workshops and is especially proud of the “S-L-O-W Jams” which allow musicians of any skill level to play along.
Bruce K. Gartner (Gart) has been playing mandolin for 30 years. Having played multiple instruments since 3rd grade, Gart believes that the most effective approach to teaching is two-pronged…1] understanding basic music theory and reading music notation; and 2] developing playing-by-ear skills. His areas of interest are roots music, particularly old-time and Celtic.
Roger Little is a great piano and accordion player. His recent retirement from the State of Michigan has provided us with the opportunity for him to become our piano instructor. Roger is a member of the Cajun band Back Bayou and a true lover of Cajun music.
Donated Instruments—
WMO is still in need of donated instruments–even those in need of “gentle” repair. Especially in demand are small fiddles, guitars and ukuleles for the WMO Instrument Loaner Program, which makes instruments available to students’ not yet committed to purchasing one of their own.