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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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I am an experienced piano teacher who loves teaching piano! I work at finding just the right music for each student so they will be motivated to play. I teach a wide range of music, to include classical, sacred, popular, and jazz. I enjoy teaching homeschool students, public and private school students, and people of all ages.
My teaching approach is to help each student think about and interpret the music as an artist. Music is intended to evoke an emotional response, and I encourage students to develop their own interpretive musicality.
Helping my students play passionately and powerfully and beautifully requires good technique, intentional practice sessions, and a maturing freedom and expressiveness as an artist. I enjoy learning about each student so I can teach them in a manner best suited to them.
Music is a great gift, reflecting the full realm of human emotion and experience. Children who learn to play piano increase their thinking capacity and coordination abilities, learn to beautifully express the full range of human emotions, and develop a poise and maturity beyond their years. I've seen this time and again, especially in children who continue piano lessons throughout their school years.
I am also a performing pianist. I have my own keyboard and equipment, and enjoy playing at restaurants and events, to include weddings, funerals, and celebrations. I play a broad range of music from the American Songbook (jazz standards), Broadway, Disney and movie themes. I am an experienced church pianist and organist as well.
My tuition rates are reasonable. I live near Oracle and Magee.
Music is magical and transforming, affecting us in ways beyond what we can define or measure. I look forward to sharing the gift of music with you or your children.
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.
