OUR TEACHERS
Robyn Pfeifer, NCTM began teaching children early in her career. Her formal education is a combination background of music education, music and movement, and music therapy. Robyn received a Bachelor's in Music from the University of Memphis and her National Certification in Music from the National Music Teachers Association. She has taught in private elementary, Montessori, and as a music therapist with all ages, in addition to teaching music history, theory, and both private and group instruction. Robyn is active in the Portland music education community as coordinator for the Sunnyside Jr. Music Festival and as Mentor Chairperson for the Portland chapter of the Oregon Music Teachers Association. She is the owner of Pfeifer MusicWerks Studio.
David Powell enjoys teaching students of all ages for both group and private lessons here at the Pfeifer MusicWerks Studio. He believes in tailoring guitar lessons to meet the needs and musical interests of the individual student. He received his Bachelor of Science in Music from Hofstra University and has several years of teaching experience. David brings to the Studio experience performing and teaching jazz music and theory. He has been teaching guitar to youth and adults taught some beginning percussion and electric bass. David is a member of the band The Sleeper Smiles, which recorded their debut album in early 2009.
Janell Downing offers originality and creativity in piano education to help students achieve their musical goals. She is an accomplished piano and voice performer who has experience performing different musical styles and has competed for several years in international music competitions. Janell has her formal degree from Multnomah Bible College where she earned a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Music and Theology. While studying Janell assembled and conducted a band that led worship and also conducted a choir of international students at Portland State University. She has experience teaching at Multnomah Bible College and at a music studio in Vancouver, WA. Janell brings to the Studio a love and dynamic enthusiasm for music. She teaches piano and voice to all ages.
Kari Ferguson skillfully combines her music education background with singing and piano performance. She has her formal education from Goshen College with a Bachelor's in Music. Her extensive background in teaching includes voice and piano. Kari has combined her love of music through an active performance schedule of singing, recording, and teaching. She is the choral sectional leader for Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and performs with several other vocal groups including In, Mulieribus Oregon Renaissance Band and Trinity Cathedral Chamber Singers
Katherine Wilkinson, NCTM a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, joins MusicWerks Studio teaching piano and voice. An established music teacher in Portland with over 20 years instructing experience, Katherine earned her Bachelor of Arts at Warner Pacific College and has also studied piano, organ, and voice with instructors at Marylhurst College and Portland Community College. She is involved in the music teaching community as a member of the Oregon Music Teachers Association, the Oregon Federation of Music Clubs, several national music associations, and she participates in the Associated Board of the
Royal Schools of Music exams. She is an active musician as an organist and accompanist. Katherine offers students an imaginative musical environment to ensure lessons are creative and fun while building a solid musical foundation. Her instruction allows each student the ability to learn at their own individual pace and style to fully enjoy lessons.
Mary Wright, a composer and sound artist, teaches students to find their own unique voice in the composition world. Her degrees are in Composition from Princeton University (M.F.A., Ph.D.) and the California Institute of the Arts (M.F.A.) and in Music Theory from Cleveland Institute of Music (B.M.). Mary's music has been performed by the Kronos String Quartet, the California Ear Unit, Bang On A Can All-Stars, New York New Music Ensemble, and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. She has received commissions from the MIT Symphony Orchestra, the American Composers Forum, the Fromm Foundation at Harvard University, the Meet the Composer/Readers Digest Commissioning Program in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Lila Wallace Readers Digest Fund, and ASCAP/Bang On A Can (In Memory of John Cage). She has received awards from the International League of Women Composers, ASCAP (Young Composers Award), and the first Margaret Blackburn Memorial Competition.
Rudy Slizewski, Rudy comes from a musical family, touring until three years old with his parents' band The Millionaires. Rudy has played and taught students on over a dozen instruments including piano, drums, guitar, and voice. He started his first band in the 8th grade and started teaching when he was 13 years old. Rudy graduate Magna Cum Laude from Humboldt State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and a focus on Percussion Performance. He spent an extra year at Humboldt State and earned his Single Subject Teaching Credential in Music. Rudy combines a deep and thorough understanding of music and theory with infectious enthusiasm to excite and motivate his students. When he's not teaching, Rudy performs as percussionist with the group, TapWater.
Susan Peck brings a broad range of experience and interests including a love of jazz music, rock music, musical improvisation, theatre, and singing making her a dynamic addition to MusicWerks Studio. She has close to 20 years of teaching experience. Susan earned her Bachelor of Music, with high honors, in Voice and Piano from the University of Nebraska and her Master of Music in Theory and Composition from Arizona State University. Susan has taught all ages, from elementary age students through graduate students.She is active in the local music and arts community appearing with the Portland Revels last holiday season (and again this year), with Svila, a local choir of women performing Balkan music, and provides coaching for professional music and theatre performers in the Portland area. Susan teaches all styles of piano and voice to students of all ages and is available for voice and acting coaching.
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