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 $10 per 1/2 hour lesson; $80 for the 4 hour set. These lessons are for children and adults and must be with an instructor listed below.
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, Voice, 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 great 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.
Sue Stott (Voice & Piano Instructor) has over 25 years experience teaching voice and piano lessons. She has taught at several Colleges in Michigan and is currently an Adjunct Voice Professor at Saginaw Valley State University. Sue is a long time resident of Mecosta county. She has worked with students in both voice and piano at many different levels, beginning – advanced and children – adult. All are welcome! Her lessons cover a wide genre of different styles of 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.