Kara Washington Kara grew up in Oklahoma City and began playing the cello at the young age of 9. Kara continued this passion throughout school until she graduated from Putnam City North High School. Kara graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in Spring 2013 with a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance. While in high school, Kara was the assistant principal cellist sophomore and junior year in the symphony orchestra, and became principal cellist her senior year. During those years, her orchestra traveled to many competitions around the United States. They had the honor of playing in Boston Symphony Hall, where they placed second in the nation. In college, she had the honor of studying under Tess Remy-Schumacher for 5 years and was able to attend workshops with Lynn Harrell, Zack Reaves, and Aleksa Asanovic. She was involved in string quartet, chamber orchestra, symphony orchestra as well as a cello trio. Kara began teaching private cello lessons in 2006 and enjoys working with students of all ages and levels. In 2013 – Kara decided to focus all of her attention on her private cello studio and started with 6 students and grew to 59 students per week over the next 4 years. Students ranged from the ages of 5 – 63. Kara taught lessons during the school day at Edmond North High School, Cheyenne Middle School, Heartland Middle School, as well as Crossings Christian School Monday through Friday and taught private lessons at home after school. Kara was a part of a cello duet as well as The Woodnote Quartet where they performed around the state of Oklahoma for special events. Kara and her husband moved from Edmond, Oklahoma to Kansas in 2018 and is rebuilding her studio in their new home. Lessons are available in multiple areas – including in-home studio in Kansas City, KS 66109, Blues to Bach – Shawnee, KS, and also Leawood, KS. Kara is currently a part of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra, and also plays in weddings in the Kansas City area. Kara has played on stage at the Midland Theatre, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Arts, and other various venues. Kara believes that anybody of any age wanting to learn the cello can achieve their goal with hard work and dedication to their love of music. View Instructor Details » Rick Bacus Brief background info: Rick Bacus is a multi-instrumentalist / vocalist and has been actively involved with music for many years. With extensive experience as a performer and session musician. Rick has worked with students of all ages, mentoring and teaching guitar, bass guitar, ukulele as well as working with various beginning rock bands to help them explore what it might take to be a musician, learn more about the tools they use to make music and how to successfully work with others in this business. Education: Rick is a graduate of Baker University where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Awards Rick Bacus is a two time inductee into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame 2012 – Columbia Records / CBS recording artists “Morningstar” 2 albums 2017 – As the bassist for local KC trio “Stone Wall” Rick teaches on Wednesdays and Thursdays. View Instructor Details » Maggie Boone Maggie teaches on Monday View Instructor Details » Linda Arnett Linda Arnett has taught piano lessons for a number of years, starting as a high school student in her hometown, then in a small Kansas community before moving to the Kansas City area. She has been a church organist, pianist, and accompanist. A graduate of Emporia State University, Linda worked in public schools and has continued to be involved as a substitute teacher, winning substitute teacher of the year on two occasions. Her goal is for children to “love music for a lifetime!” She especially enjoys seeing them learn to perform music themselves. Students have the opportunity to participate in 2 recitals per year, and also may choose to perform in two different festivals. She is member of the Federated Music Teachers of Kansas City. Linda teaches on Monday and Tuesday. View Instructor Details » Tim Bailey W. Timothy Bailey is a gifted pianist and multi-instrumentalist. Additionally, he is a published composer and author, recording artist, music transcriptionist, and seasoned piano instructor having successfully tutored hundreds of students over the past 25+ years. (“Thank you so much for teaching me the joy of music. It has been a blessing to learn from you and take lessons. I really appreciate everything you have done for me.” KM, age 11) His experiences as a young student displaying proficiency on various instruments including piano, violin, clarinet, saxophone, voice and organ allow him to better connect with his students. Bailey is a graduate of the University of Kansas where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theory. Not only is he a skilled solo artist, he has collaborated with award-winning musicians in various genres of music from Smooth Jazz to Gospel to Easy Listening to Inspirational. Experience his artistry at www.wtimothybailey.com. Tim teaches: (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) View Instructor Details » Stephanie Stanley Stephanie has played trombone since 2010 and trumpet since moving to Kansas City to pursue her degree. She has studied with Troy Marsh, JoDee Davis, Marcus Lewis, Mitch Butler, and Andre Hayward. Stephanie is from Columbia, Missouri and came to Kansas City to pursue a degree in Jazz Studies from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. Her brass experience has expanded from playing in variety of groups such as Big Band, Jazz Combos, Wind Ensemble, and Trombone Ensemble at UMKC, along with theater groups around the Kansas City area.” Stephanie teaches on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. View Instructor Details » Stanley Sheldon Stanley was born in 1950 in Ottawa, Kansas where he joined his first band, The Lost Souls. His first recorded work with Peter Frampton was the wildly successful live album Frampton Comes Alive in 1976. Sheldon also played on subsequent Frampton albums, I’m in You and Where I Should Be. In 2007, he contributed as co-writer and bass player on Frampton’s Grammy winning instrumental album Fingerprints. He was part of Frampton’s touring band on the 2011 UK leg of Frampton’s Thank You Mr. Churchill tour, Frampton’s hugely successful world tour in 2011-2012 celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive and Frampton’s Guitar Circus tour in 2013. Sheldon has a passion for teaching and, when not touring, he is offering bass lessons for students of all ages at Blues to Bach Music Center in Shawnee, Kansas. Stan teaches: (Saturday) View Instructor Details » Roxanne Adrian Roxanne has more than 30 years teaching experience with a Master’s from Southwest Missouri State in Music Education. She also performs and records her own arrangements. Roxanne teaches: (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) View Instructor Details » Lisa Sweet Lisa Sweet started teaching violin and viola lessons in 2012 after graduating from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas with a degree in Music and Theology. Being a full-time private teacher, she can devote every second of her day to her many students by finding new and exciting venues and activities for her students to perform in, helping them branch out into many different styles of music, and most of all listening to each individual’s needs to develop a greater joy and appreciation for music. Lisa brings incredible energy and enthusiasm to every lesson. Lisa teaches: (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday) View Instructor Details » Jeff Beck Jeff Beck taught band and orchestra in the Kansas City Kansas School District for 33 years, retiring in 2007. He obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Education at the University of Kansas. Jeff was selected to be the Music Lead Teacher for the KCK district in 2006. He is also the founder and conductor of the Kansas City Kansas Community Orchestra. The orchestra has been in existence for 15 years and is growing rapidly. Mr. Beck was nominated for the Grammy Music Educator of the Year in 2012 by a former student. He was raised in Kansas City, KS and lived there until 1990. Mr. Beck now lives in Shawnee. He counts as family many friends and former students who are still a part of his life today. Jeff teaches on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. View Instructor Details »