Dulcimer Lessons

The hammered dulcimer is an instrument of ancient origins and has a lovely, harp-like sound. It is the most logically arranged instrument to play and is not difficult to learn as the student does not need to 'make' notes such as violin, guitar etc. Music is made by striking the metal strings with small mallets, or hammers. Maureen Barnes offers 45-minute lessons in her southwest Bloomington home for $15. She has an instrument available to rent for beginners. In the summer, her husband also offers mountain dulcimer lessons. To learn more about the instruments themselves, visit everythingdulcimer.com or woodnstrings.com. For lessons, contact the Barnes by email, call 309/828-7957 or visit Dulcimer Dreams.

Flute Lessons

Raylene Lowe is offering flute lessons to beginning and intermediate students. She is currently studying under Dr. Kim Risinger (ISU Professor of Flute) and is principal flutist in the Central Illinois Youth Symphony. She teaches with a classical emphasis, offering 30 minute or 1 hour lessons at her home in Normal. If you or someone you know is interested, feel free to call Raylene: 309-862-2489.

Piano Lessons

Jane Cole offers thirty-minute piano lessons for $10 to beginning and intermediate students at the Methodist Church building in Farmer City on Monday afternoons and in her Bellflower home on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Jane is one of the student accompanists for BACHS, the homeschool choir. Contact her by email for more information.

Homeschool mom Chrissy Rutledge holds a degree in Music Education and has taught piano and voice for the past five years. She is offering thirty-minute lessons at her home in Normal for $12, plus the cost of books. Contact her via email.

Piano & Violin Lessons

Summer Lusk is auditioning young, beginner violin and piano students. Summer can be reached at 309-825-4682 (Cell) or 309-663-9131 (Home). Summer is a 12th grade home school student who plays violin and piano in the Chicago Youth Symphony, and she is the the Concertmaster of the Central Illinois Youth Symphony. Summer is also the accompaniast for the Junior Choir of BACHS. Summer has played violin for twelve years, and piano for eleven years. She is the 2006 winner of Peoria Symphony Guild Young Artist Competition, the 2006 Heartland Philharmonic Concerto Competition, and the 2007 Illinois Federation of Music Clubs Piano Solo competition.

Viola & Violin

Following the Suzuki method, Candace Borth offers beginning viola and violin lessons in her home. She can be reached by phone at 454-3875 or by email.

Homeschool graduate Janessa Cole teaches violin lessons from her home in Bellflower. Email her for more information.