Music Lessons and Ensembles

Contact: RheaGChung@gmail.com

Rhea began her violin studies at the age of five and piano studies at the age of two. She has continued to balance artistic achievement and philanthropy throughout her career; her performances have ranged from solo engagements with symphony orchestras to benefit concerts for cancer centers and galas.

At the age of twenty, Rhea made her solo debut with the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Ankush Kumar Bahl with the Sibelius Violin Concerto. She has enjoyed returning to the Kennedy Center stage since moving back to the DC area as
a substitute with the Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra.

Rhea is committed to sharing her music outside the concert hall through her musical philanthropic efforts. As a bronze donor of the American Cancer Society, she has organized and performed concerts for the ACS and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at
Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Rhea studied with pedagogue Paul Kantor at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where she received the Eula and David Wintermann Endowed Full Scholarship. Rhea enjoyed the challenge of completing an academic and musical
education, as exemplified by her graduating position on the President’s Honor Roll with Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music degrees and a Business Minor. She has taught privately for over ten years, including as the first violin sectional coach of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras.

Student Ages

• Violin: four and up
• Viola: four and up
• Piano: four and up

Scheduling

Rhea will be at Lowell School on Wednesday afternoons. Please get in touch with her to inquire about scheduling.

Anita Garcia has been a violinist and educator in the Washington DC area for well over 30 years. She has performed as a substitute with the National Symphony Orchestra, and with Wolf Trap, Washington Opera, Annapolis Symphony, Maryland Symphony, and National Gallery orchestras, among many others. 

Anita received a full scholarship from the Catholic University of America for her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Her primary teachers were William Steck, Robert Gerle, and Jody Gatwood. She has also studied with Victor Danchecko, David Salness, Herbert Greenberg, and members of the Guarneri String Quartet. 

As a passionate advocate for instrumental music education, she believes that all children have the right to music. Through music, life for all children can be transformed.

Her students have gone on to attend prestigious collegiate programs at Indiana University, New England Conservatory,  Stanford, Brown, Oxford, Duke, the Hartt School of Music, UMBC, UMD, CUA, and many others. 

Her greatest joys in life are watching her students succeed and work towards helping others. 

Contact: chamann@lowellschool.org

I received my MM in Vocal Performance and GPD in Opera from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. I also hold a BS in Music Education and a BM in Vocal Performance from the University of Connecticut. My opera performance highlights include The Portland Opera Resident Artists Program, the Evian Festival under the baton of Rostropovich, Opera to Go!, and the Baltimore and Washington Opera choruses. As a soloist, I have appeared with the Annapolis Opera, Mt. Vernon 21st Century Ensemble, and the Columbia Symphony. 



My vocal Instructors include Thom Hauser, Ruth Drucker, Stanley Cornett (Peabody Institute), and Carol Ann O’Connor (University of Connecticut). I studied choral techniques and sectional leading under Dr. Peter Bagley, a student of Julius Herford and teacher of world-renowned choral conductor and composer Robert Shaw.

Teaching Style

As a seasoned music education specialist, I combine knowledge of differentiated instruction and a multiple-sensory approach to learning with a bel canto or Italian classical approach to singing. I specialize in teaching to my students unique learning styles, whether visual, aural, tactile, or a combination. Voice lessons for students age 10+ (physical maturity dependent) combine learning proper posture, breath support and control, diction, and dramatic interpretation of the music. Vocal coaching for students age 8+ focuses on basic breath support, forming pure vowel sounds, matching pitch, executing rhythmic accuracy, clear diction, and dramatic delivery. My specialty is teaching voice in classical, Broadway musical, and pop music genres.

Teaching Philosophy

Music is a foreign language, science, and art form. It requires using both right- and left-brain modalities. Singing should be fun and engaging, building on successes and an understanding that it is a personal process that entails developing one’s confidence and ability over time.

Student Ages

• Vocal Coaching: eight and up
• Voice Lessons:  ten and up

Scheduling

I am available on Tuesdays. Please get in touch with me directly to negotiate a time for lessons.

Required Materials

All students must practice for at least 15 minutes a day. Parents must be willing to assist in making sure their child is practicing.

Contact: anna_kramareva@outlook.com

Contact: Maureen.S.Walsh1814@gmail.com

The Washington Post has described Maureen Walsh as bringing “consummate skill and interpretative sensitivity to the Schmitt, capturing every ounce of its dusky innuendos and mystical exoticism” after a performance with the National Symphony Orchestra. Maureen was a prizewinner of the NSO young soloist competition, the Harold Randolf Prize, and the Baltimore Music Club competition. In June of 2022, she released a video album featuring opera fantasy suites arranged for the saxophone by Maureen and including original illustrations. She will continue to present innovative recitals with her pianist, Thomas Pandolfi, in the 2022-2023 season and perform with the Capital Wind Symphony.

Maureen studied at the Peabody Conservatory with Gary Louie and received 3 degrees there, including a master’s. She also studied with the iconic Donald Sinta at the University of Michigan.

Currently, she maintains a private studio with in-person and online students from as far as Alaska! She is excited to join the staff at Lowell School and grow a saxophone program in such
a welcoming environment.

Teaching Style

Maureen is a classical saxophonist, which means she uses techniques and tone qualities that you would find in classical music. She uses method books from traditional saxophone
instruction with the Rubank series as the core but is now starting to incorporate elements of the Suzuki method into all of her teaching. Most importantly, Maureen will adapt the materials based on the age and maturity of the student.

Teaching Philosophy

During the first years of her teaching career, Maureen learned that there is one essential component to developing a young musician: inspiration. Before anything else, the student must be exposed to the best music possible. Studying the Suzuki method made it clear how important it is to model great music for the student and provide lots of positive reinforcement.

This is a philosophy that seems to fit perfectly within the atmosphere at Lowell.

Student Ages and Instruments

• 5-10: Pre-saxophone or recorder with some intermediate options for older students (Venova plastic sax, clarinet, and alto recorder)
• 10+: Saxophone and beginning clarinet

It is helpful to have the parent present in the lesson from ages 5-10 if possible.

Scheduling

Maureen will begin teaching on Wednesdays from 2 pm to 6 pm and hopes to expand to other days. Please get in touch with her directly to choose a time.

Resources

Maureen has a website for her music library, with assignments and recordings to listen to. For younger students, listening to the assigned recordings as often as possible is important.

Contact: bweber@lowellschool.org

I have been instructing instrumental music in individual and group settings since 1996. I teach beginner to advanced students on guitar, bass, piano, trumpet, euphonium, ukulele, tin whistle, and drums/percussion. I have taught at various locations and schools, including Glen Music Studios, Victor Litz Music Center, Hebrew Academy of Greater Washington, House of Musical Traditions, and Lowell School.

Each year, I organize various concerts and shows for students to showcase their talents and give them an outlet to have fun and perform in front of an audience. I am also the Director of the Takoma Groove Camp, a summer camp for teen musicians.

I have played in various concert, marching and jazz bands, and pit orchestras. I studied with master musicians at Montgomery College, the Collective in New York City, and Victor Wooten’s Camps in Nashville. I perform in and around the DC area weekly and am a live sound engineer.

Teaching Style

I believe music is a language and should be approached as one. All aspects of music are equally important, including reading, writing, playing, listening, understanding theory, communicating with other musicians, and improvisation. I think it is necessary to keep interest and drive alive in budding musicians and not overwhelm them with too much theory and technique right away.

Just as spoken language is supported and encouraged at home, so should a musical instrument and the language that goes along with it. Time should be allotted at home for practice and listening, which is integral for a young person’s musical growth.

For my teaching, I prefer to pull from a variety of sources to give a well-rounded approach. I introduce many genres to help students develop a broad range of styles to enjoy playing. I cater each lesson to the individual student to allow for the most enjoyment and growth in their musical career.

Student Ages

Piano: five and up
Brass: eight and up
Guitar: eight and up
Ukulele: 
Drums/Percussion: 
Tin Whistle: 

I will make exceptions if a student is younger and already showing signs of a higher ability level. Individual lessons are preferable, as they allow for focused attention and pace for that particular student. I am open to small groups of two or three for guitar or brass lessons if the students have prior experience. Piano students must be taught individually.

Scheduling

I am available for lessons on Friday afternoons from 3:20–7:00 pm and 11:00 am until 4:00 pm on Saturdays.

Required Materials

All students must have a decent instrument in working condition that is theirs to use at all times and can be taken home to practice on. If the family of a piano student does not own a full-size piano, many inexpensive keyboard options are available. Guitar and brass students must have an instrument they own or rent. Younger, beginning guitar students should consider a nylon string 1/2 or 3/4 size guitar as it will be easier on the fingers and easier to hold against their bodies.

• All students must have a manuscript book of music staff paper and a folder for loose pieces of sheet music and handouts.
• Piano students will likely also have another set of method and theory books.
• Guitar students must have a chromatic tuner, picks, and a music stand.

I will often purchase the books needed and hand them out to students. I will then let parents know exactly how much the materials cost and collect reimbursement at that time.

Links to Instrument and Accessory Examples

Beginner’s Guitar Starter Pack
Beginner’s ¾ Size Acoustic Guitar
Casio 61 Key Portable Keyboard
Yamaha 61 Key Portable Keyboard
Folding Wire Music Stand  
Deluxe Traditional Music Stand
Student Model Bb Trumpet
Korg Chromatic Tuner

Once your child has mastered the basics of their instrument and met specific skill requirements, they can join a musical ensemble. Ensembles have regular opportunities to perform at assemblies and concerts, some of the year’s most popular events. Ensemble offerings range from group instrumental lessons to DJ courses to pop bands, and more.
Ensemble fees range from $255–300 for 11–12 weeks of instruction.

For questions or to register, contact the Music Administrator, Gwen Mazorow, at gmazorow@lowellschool.org.