About Me
Hello! I'm Barbara Githens, and I've been passionately teaching music since 2005. My goal is to help students discover their own ability to create beautiful, heartfelt music.
I believe that learning music is about much more than just reading notes. My mission is to cultivate a deep love for music-making in my students. In our lessons, students explore not only musical expression, technique, and theory but also a bit of music fun with composing. Music combines elements of math, science, foreign language, and art, making it a truly holistic and enriching experience. Each weekly lesson is designed to nurture both the technical and emotional aspects of music.
Music has been my lifelong passion. Over the years, I've enjoyed various roles as a church musician, including performing, directing, and accompanying. I've also worked with children in Sunday School settings and have experience training adults in choir and congregational singing.
My own voice and piano studies have spanned over 20 years. I've performed with major symphony choruses and chamber choral groups, directed major musicals, and taught early childhood Musikgarten classes.
I am an active member of the Kansas City Music Teachers Association (KCMTA), Kansas Music Teachers Association (KMTA), and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). These affiliations provide my students with exclusive event opportunities and allow me to stay updated on the latest in music education, which benefits you and your musical journey!
Studio Overview
As a music instructor, I believe that learning music should be fun and engaging! I use a variety of activities and games to keep lessons enjoyable, as studies show that kids learn best when they're having a good time. The yearly practice incentive programs are designed to motivate consistent practice and help students set and achieve their goals, with themed activities to keep things exciting throughout the year.
A highlight of our year is the December Christmas Camp. This festive event is packed with holiday-themed theory games and challenges, plus a bit of music history fun!
During the summer, I offer a variety of exciting options to keep students engaged and inspired. We have a themed music camp based on our yearly incentive program, singer workshops, and private lessons. Last year, I introduced a workshop specifically designed to help students prepare for musical theatre auditions. It was such a hit that I'm thrilled to bring it back as part of our summer curriculum, giving students another fantastic opportunity to refine their skills and build confidence for their performances!
"My two children took piano lessons from Barbara. They are 7 and 10. She works very well with young children, and they learned quite a bit with her. I would recommend her for young children who are starting their piano studies." - Paula W.
I invite you to contact me to schedule a meet and greet, come see the studio and see what Heart and Soul Music Studio has to offer to your budding musician!