Lois is an experienced musician who has appreciated many diverse musical experiences and a lifetime love of learning and teaching opportunities. She took piano lessons over ten years growing up, during which time she began accompanying church and Sunday school choirs. She played baritone horn/euphonium in elementary and high school bands, considering becoming a band director during some of these years. While attending the University of Minnesota at Morris in pre-chiropractic doctor studies, she was a member of the concert band and accompanied vocal students during their lessons. After beginning chiropractic practice in SE MN, she was a member of a community band and involved in church music, initially working with children’s choirs, high school singers and small instrumental groups, and directing adult choirs. Eventually she taught herself to play organ and was the sole organist for ten years. She accompanied the Lake City Singers. She shared her love of music with her two children who took piano lessons from a local teacher, but respected their decisions as they grew older to pursue other musical opportunities vocally and instrumentally, but appreciating the foundation of their piano lessons. She enjoys watching the next generation of her young granddaughter sitting at the piano with either her dad or Grandma Lois. After moving back to the area where she grew up, she rejoined the Mid Minnesota Concert Band, which she had been a member during high school. Now living in Buffalo, she has joined the church choir, handbell ringers, and playing piano with the contemporary praise team. She has recently started composing music. She loves observing how people grow and connect with music, both as listeners and participants.
Joe has been playing guitar for over 15 years and has been teaching for over a decade. He is a well versed Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Drums, and Piano instructor. He plays a variety of genres from funk/jam band to reggae to progressive metal. Joe graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education at Saint Cloud State University and continued studying Guitar Performance at McNally Smith College. He has years of experience working with kids teaching private lessons and has owned and operated the Kracker Jacks Drumline since 2015. No matter the time of the day, Joe can be found spreading the word: “Music is a language we all know how to speak. Some of us just don’t know it yet.”
Guitar Repairs
Joe has been repairing guitars for nearly 10 years. His work covers everything from pickup mods, parallel/series wiring, to full refrets. Whether you need a cracked headstock glued, to deck out your Squier/Epiphone with upgraded parts, or just a restring/setup, Joe has you covered!
As a classically trained violinist and pianist, Esther has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe. She began piano lessons at a young age, followed by violin lessons a few years later. Esther graduated from Luther College with her B.A. in Violin Performance. She has participated in many violin and piano competitions, music camps and masterclasses, and toured with the Sound of Strings Music School and Luther College Orchestra. Esther graduated from Luther in 2011, and has been teaching since 2014; she can work with all ages and abilities. Although her training was formal, Esther enjoys teaching all genres of music and customizes her teaching method for each student. She aims to share her passion of music with her students, and create a positive learning experience. She enjoys collaborating and working with students to play with her and other students.