Private Lessons
"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything."
- Plato
Interested in private lessons? At Ms. Libby's, we offer private instruction in piano, voice, guitar, cello, violin, viola, drums, and bass guitar.
We hold a winter recital in December and a spring recital in April as well as our Drum Showcases in August and February. Recitals are optional!
Why Ms. Libby's? In addition to our excellent teaching staff, we strive to make learning music fun and engaging! We offer fun monthly practice challenges (with prizes!), our teachers feature one student per month for our "Student Spotlight", and we have practice pals to choose from to show others at the studio how learning an instrument (or studying voice) doesn't have to always be serious business! A monthly e-newsletter is sent out so families can stay up to date with everything going on at the studio. We put a great deal of time and energy into our private lessons and are proud of the young musicians we help create. Parents may book a trial lesson and if interested, continue monthly payments after that. For families with young siblings, we offer our early-childhood appropriate playroom while the student is taking their lesson.
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*Please click on the Payment and Attendance Policy below for full details*
Jenna Gorka
Piano and Voice Lessons
Jenna attended Lindenwood University where she received a degree in in K-12 Music Education. After graduating, she taught K-8 general music for 4.5 years. Some of the most exciting parts of teaching were directing talent shows, vocal concerts, and spring musicals! She also enjoyed working with a local children's choir for 7 years. Aside from being vocally trained, Jenna plays piano, ukulele, flute, and marimba. The birth of her first daughter led Jenna to pursue part-time work, and she is thrilled to have found a teaching home at Ms. Libby's studio! For the past 4 years, she has loved sharing the love of music with babies, toddlers, and big kids through teaching group classes and private lessons. In her free time, Jenna loves baking, embroidery, and being outdoors with her husband, 3 children, golden lab and pet bunny.
Lori Hayden
Piano Lessons
Lori attended University of Missouri St. Louis where she received a degree in in K-12 Education and a teaching degree. She has been teaching piano lessons for 30 years and enjoys introducing young beginners to the piano. She strives to instill a love of playing piano like she has through kind and patient instruction and can't wait to meet new students!
Tim Piper
Drum Lessons
Tim Piper joined the studio with almost 4 decades of drumming experience. He has been a studio drummer and worked with live bands during his career. A husband and father of 3 boys, he loves working with kids and brings his fun and silly teaching style to every lesson! He specializes in ear training and will guide your child through the keys of keeping a steady beat as he moves to more advanced drum concepts.
Chris Miller
Piano and Bass Guitar lessons
Chris Miller is a seasoned musician with decades of experience playing piano, guitar and bass guitar (among other instruments!). With a focus on music theory, he takes a more traditional approach to teaching, stressing the fundamentals as he instructs you/your child to success on an instrument!
Elizabeth Cipriano
Violin and Viola Lessons
Elizabeth received her bachelor's in music and education from Middlesex University in London, England. She taught violin and viola in Nottingham, England for 20 years before moving to St. Louis in 2000.
Elizabeth brings her vast experience of teaching and playing in different genres to Ms. Libby's after retiring from teaching strings at Lutheran schools in St. Charles.
Lori Hayden
Piano Lessons
Lori attended University of Missouri St. Louis where she received a degree in in K-12 Education and a teaching degree. She has been teaching piano lessons for 30 years and enjoys introducing young beginners to the piano. She strives to instill a love of playing piano like she has through kind and patient instruction and can't wait to meet new students!
John Varwig
Piano and Voice Lessons
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John received his Bachelor's in Music Education from the Music Conservatory at Wheaton College, and his Masters of Music from Webster University. Before retiring in 2011, he taught in the Francis Howell school district for 26 years and taught children K through 12 grades in general and choral music.
John is excited to teach again, and has always loved working with students. He looks to his teaching to encourage his students in both their love of music and the enjoyment of life to the fullest!
Guitar, Piano, Ukulele, Bass and Voice lessons
Zack has been a musician since he developed a love for music as a young teenager. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Music and Voice from Southeast Missouri State University. He plays/teaches a wide variety of instruments, such as: guitar, piano, ukulele, and bass guitar as well as voice. He has been teaching for many years and has experience with all ages of children and adults as well. Zack is passionate about helping students find a love for music while making each lesson fun and informative!
Zack Matthews
Peter Shea
Piano Lessons
Peter began his piano journey with lessons at the young age of 6 and continued mastering his craft into college. He many years of study allowed him to begin teaching lessons at the age of 14, and transfer his love of piano to others. Peter is always looking for ways to make piano lesson fun and engaging for students. In his many years of playing piano, he has won superior ratings multiple times in MAMA's virtuoso category, performed multiple gold rated solos at the district and state level, in the Solo and Small Ensemble Categories, and has performed in multiple state-level concert bands including the Iowa Band Association Conference. His experience in piano has given him the ability to thrive both musically and academically. Peter believes that piano lessons teach students time management, studying skills/practice techniques and patience.
Heather Nuehring
Piano Lessons
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Heather grew up in a family of musicians in Northern Iowa. In high school, she received numerous awards for piano and flute, and went on to earn a music education degree. After teaching in schools for several years, she began teaching lessons full time. She has been teaching piano lessons for 34 years.
Heather teaches our homeschool families during weekday mornings, and we're very grateful for her at the studio!
Aiden Smith
Piano Lessons
Aiden received his Bachelor's of Arts degree in Vocal Performance from Central Methodist University in 2017. Soon after graduating, he started teaching and fell in love with early childhood and elementary music education. He has been teaching private piano lessons for many years; recently through Webster University's School of Music teaching both group piano and early childhood age classes. When Mr. Aiden isn't teaching, he loves to sing and perform. He has sung at the Bach Society for many years as well as with the cast of St. Charles Christmas Traditions/Legends and Lanterns off Main Street. He is a section leader at his church and also plays french horn in the Alliance Philharmonic Orchestra of St. Louis.
Nick Sanderson
Drum Lessons
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Nick joined the teaching staff at our studio with an impressive resume that includes 7 years of national touring experience in over 15 states with his band, Cabretta. Because of this, Nick can not only teach drum lessons, but he can lend his knowledge to students interested in songwriting and producing as well. In addition, he has over 5 years of experience teaching drum lessons in the St. Louis area. "My passion to share my creativity with the world is embedded in my drive to work hard and have fun doing what I love most."
Gabriel Hinze
Cello Lessons
Gabriel has been playing cello from the age of 9 and is very excited about teaching cello at Ms. Libby's! He believes that learning an instrument is important for well-rounded development and that there's an instrument for everyone. He works with young beginners, keeping lessons fun and low-pressure while building essential skills. Gabriel tailors every lesson to the student, meeting them where they're at and celebrating every milestone along the way. His passion for the cello is at the heart of every lesson and he's excited to introduce this wonderful instrument to the next generation!
Ben Stafford
Guitar Lessons
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Ben brings a fresh new approach to guitar instruction, blending electric guitar and synthesized sound accompaniment in his methods. Ben has been a guitar enthusiast since the late 90's and has many played gigs locally around the St. Louis area. He graduated from UMSL with degrees in Education and History.
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