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Lessons Weekly lessons are 30 minutes. Please check the POLICY page for fees and tuition, the SCHEDULE page for openings, and the CONTACT US page to send an inquiry. If you see on the Scheduling that there are no openings, please visit us again! Or visit the CONTACT US page and request to be notified when new openings are added.

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Welcome to Heart and Soul Music Studio! Giving joy and enjoyment in learning and enhancing musical skills - helping students express their heart and soul through music!

Heart and Soul Music Studio Offers

• Private voice lessons for ages 8 to adult
• Private piano lessons: beginning thru intermediate students for ages Elementary First Grade to adult
• "My First Piano Adventures" - Private piano lessons for young children ages 4 1/2 - 6 yrs.
• All Lessons are taught privately at my home in Schaumburg, with the exception of Musikgarten classes.
  I am located at -
  2 Dennis Court
  Schaumburg, IL 60193
  Telephone: (847) 230-9163
  

About my musical philosophy and background My name is Barbara Githens and I love music! Heart and Soul Music Studio, established in 2005, has been my dream and a conduit in helping many further their musical talent. As your teacher, putting my heart and soul into music has been a life long pursuit. I started this journey with playing piano at a young age and discovered my ability to plunk out just about any tune that hit my ear! This was much to the chagrin of my early piano teachers. Playing by ear is a gift - however, learning to read music, understand theory and to be able to develop technique enhances that gift. Between piano and voice lessons through my growing up years, music became my passion. To truly create beautiful music and present it passionately has afforded me many opportunities to accompany soloists and groups, sing with symphonies, work as a soloist both in piano and voice, create, and develop my skills in music.

In order to keep up with students and my music passion, I continually have a few things up my sleeve! I am currently continuing my study in piano with Marie Rutter (yes, the piano teacher takes piano lessons! Why wouldn't she?). Additionally, I am an active member of the Western Suburban Chapter of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA). These organizations provide me with monthly music masterclasses to continue my education as a teacher. Involvement with ISMTA also provides students additional opportunities to compete and perform with their peers.

Vocally, I have an ongoing CD project and have continued voice study since high school (15 + years!) under various voice instructors. For 8+ years, I sang with two major symphony choruses - Elgin Symphony Choral Union and Mormon Youth Symphony Chorus on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. Recently, I sang for a season with Heartland Voices choral group under the direction of Dr. John Slawson. For more information on Heartland Voices and their concert schedule, please visit http://www.heartlandvoices.com. Currently I study voice with Patricia Toledo here in Schaumburg.

From 2005 - 2010, I had the assignment through my church as an area Music Chairman. Part of my responsibilities included teaching music conducting courses; assisting with the training of church organists and pianists; teaching music to children at the Junior Sunday School levels (ages 3 to 12); organizing and assisting with choirs and arranging for special musical numbers and congregational singing for semi-annual conferences. Currently, I can be found doing weekly accompaniment for church congregations, and play and perform with small ensembles and soloists in many different settings. Yes, that includes weddings and funerals! I have enjoyed this involvement and with a little help from my friends, have pulled off several community programs showcasing the talents of others. Sharing the musical gifts we have is a way of putting your heart and soul into music and keeping the wonderment and beauty of musicality alive!

KUDOS to past and present students - Some have published CD's; perform regularly in local venues and in musical theatre; perform in school bands and orchestras; sing for major choruses; and participate in talent shows.

Piano study series in my teaching include "Piano Adventures" by Faber and Faber, "Pianimals", "Music for Little Mozarts" and several accelerated curriculum tailored for adult beginners. Tooled with the basic piano foundation skills, I encourage students to play music they love! Each Fall is the participation in MTNA's "Music For Everyone" achievement program. I also offer another program called AIM (Achievement In Music) which provides testing of skill and technique by level through the ISMTA. AIM Students begin preparation for testing at the beginning of each school year in September. These two programs are goal driven and helps all students explore the benefits of and appreciation for good music in their lives!

A little more about AIM (Achievement In Music) - This program prepares the piano student for theory and performance evaluation with qualified area piano teachers/judges. It is like taking the ISAT's for piano! **Homeschoolers - participation in and completion of AIM levels is recognized and counts as music education credit.

To help our stars at Heart and Soul Music Studio, several events are scheduled throughout the year Students are encouraged to set goals and perform at the below events and for family and friends.

• Annual Spring Piano recital for piano students ages 6 to 15 - Monday, May 23, 2011, 7:00 p.m. at St. Marcelline Catholic Church, Schaumburg, IL
• AIM (Achievement In Music) coursework by levels for theory and performance (Taught August thru March)
• "A Harvest of Love" - Annual Fall studio showcase - Friday, November 18, 2011, 7:00 p.m. at Friendship Village, Schaumburg, IL. This program includes both piano and voice students, invited former students, and is a highlight of the year for all who participate. We have loved collaberating talents and entertaining all those Grandmas and Grandpas!