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Please visit www.carlinsclavierstudio.com for more information and to schedule an interview.
With over 34 years of private teaching experience, Amy Jo brings a wealth of expertise and passion to her students.
Her formal music training includes studies at Faith Baptist Bible College and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and extensive continuing education through Wartburg College (Waverly, IA) and the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA). She has specialized in Music for Little Mozarts and developed original curricula for group lessons and piano camps.
Amy Jo’s musical journey began early—she became a full-time church pianist at 13. For over forty years, she has served as a pianist, praise and worship keyboardist, vocalist, children’s worship leader, and contributor to numerous community events and programs.
A dedicated member of the music education community, Amy Jo has been actively involved for 25 years with local chapters of the Northeast Area Music Teachers Association, the Des Moines Music Teachers Association, and the National Federation of Music Clubs. She has authored numerous articles for the Iowa Music Teachers Magazine (2018–2023) and presented continuing education classes for fellow music educators. Most recently, Amy Jo became a member of the Tucson Music Teachers Association, a division of the ASMTA and MTNA.
Her commitment to excellence was recognized with the Steinway Teacher of the Year award in both 2022 and 2023. She has also served as an accompanist for middle and high school choirs across Iowa and is currently active as her church choir pianist and a member of the Arizona Women’s Choir in Tucson.
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Kassandra Weleck, NCTM, is an adjunct instructor of music at Pima Community College and teaches privately at her studio in Tucson, Arizona. She has degrees from Bowling Green State University (BM) and Arizona State University (MM), and has performed in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Kassandra has spent many years serving MTNA in various capacities at the local, state, and division levels, and currently serves as MTNA’s Southwest Division Director, MTNA’s Composition Competition Coordinator for the Southwest Division, and ASMTA’s Membership Chair. She is also an adjudicator for the MTNA e-Festival, RCM certified in piano teaching (Elementary & Intermediate), and offers Arizona Study Program in her studio. Kassandra has taught piano, music, and music theory for 25+ years.
Patricia's studio in located in zip code 85704 and she is NCTM, a Nationally Certified piano teacher with 50 years of teaching experience. She taught for many years in the Pacific Northwest and was considered one of Portland, Oregon's premier piano instructors. Since moving back to Tucson in 2017, Patricia has maintained an active studio with students who participate in Ensemble, the Arizona Study Program, Performance Festival, Barnes & Noble Book Fair, Festival in the Mall, KUDOS recitals, Senior Recital, Merit Scholarship Auditions and masterclasses with guest artists. Patricia attended the University of Arizona School of Music and received an undergraduate degree in piano performance from the Conservatorio Cherubini in Florence, Italy. She has taken advanced pedagogy classes at Portland State University and Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. Many of her students have received scholarships to music schools around the country. Patricia was instrumental in creating the TMTA Performance Festival, an event which allows more students and teachers to benefit from the expert comments of a college professor adjudicator. She has been a TMTA Board member for the last 6 years having recently served as President.
Teaching Philosophy
My goal as a private piano teacher is to develop each individual student’s potential at the piano and empower them with the skills, knowledge, sense of responsibility, and confidence that will promote a lifelong love of music and learning.
The essential skills included in my teaching program:
Ability to internalize basic rhythm and pulse
Ability to sight-read (musical literacy)
Ability to perform with physical ease and technical efficiency
Ability to understand the basic elements of theory, form and harmony
Ability to work creatively and independently
Ability to respond to the interpretive elements of the composition
Ability to express the emotional character of the music
Ability to perform comfortably as a soloist and in ensemble playing
