Join Orchestra Iowa and the African American Museum of Iowa for a free panel discussion on Tuesday, March 7 at 6:00pm, titled Creative Intersections: Encouraging Diversity in Classical Music. Continue reading “Creative Intersections: Encouraging Diversity in Classical Music”
Meet Our Repair Team – Kevin Halbrooks
Meet Kevin Halbrooks, West Music’s head orchestral luthier. Hear how Kevin’s interest in woodworking lead him to a career building and fixing stringed instruments, and to him meeting his wife! Need a repair? Complete our repair form on WestMusic.com or reach out to Kevin directly!
Performance Plan
As your student’s abilities improve, so should the instrument. Starter instruments are designed for beginning players, and may limit your child’s musical development as playing skills progress.
By selecting a higher-quality Performance instrument, you will provide your student with room to grow as a musician, create renewed excitement and pride, and enhance your student’s development. Download our Performance Plan brochure and contact us for more information!
Student Feature: Autumn Borkowitz
Autumn Borkowitz has studied violin and piano at West Music for five and a half years with her teacher Louann Flaherty. She is a homeschooled 8th grader who loves music, reading, playing games, crafts, and sports. She participates in Northern Iowa Junior Orchestra and Hoover Orchestra. Continue reading “Student Feature: Autumn Borkowitz”
Student Feature: Aubryn Kaine
Aubryn Kaine is a freshman at City High School in Iowa City. She has studied cello with Christina Gentzsch for 4 years and has also had a year of voice lessons with Jessica Saunders. Her musical goals are to get into All State Orchestra during high school. She would also like to pursue a degree in music or the arts. Continue reading “Student Feature: Aubryn Kaine”
Student Feature: Ella Anneling
Ella Anneling has studied violin with Gayla Drake for 3 years. She was nominated as the Musician of the Month because of her hard work and accomplishments this year. She recently focused on preparing for an audition for her school talent show, was selected to perform and played the piece perfectly! Continue reading “Student Feature: Ella Anneling”
Instrument Care Guide
Caring for your string instrument is not hard if you understand a few basics! Take a moment to find out what you can do to preserve and protect your investment by reading our Instrument Care Guide
Remember that your instrument is made of wood and can easily be damaged if not handled with care. Bumping the instrument against another object may damage the wood, cause the bridge to slide out of alignment, or cause the sound post (found inside instrument) to fall down. Bridges and sound posts are not glued in place, but are held by the pressure of the strings, which allows them to be replaced and adjusted as needed. If an accident should happen, bring your instrument to a West Music Repair Shop for service
If you should notice a problem with your instrument, bring it in as soon as possible to be serviced. Repairs to string instruments can take just a few minutes, several hours or sometimes several weeks, so don’t wait until it is too late to get your instrument repaired.
Student Feature: Aleah Flint
Aleah Flint has been a violin student with Louann Flaherty now for a little over a year now. Aleah is part of the Home School Classical Conversations home-school group in Waterloo Ia. She is 6 yrs old, and in the first grade now! Continue reading “Student Feature: Aleah Flint”
Student Feature: Sarah Anderson
Sarah Anderson may just come in to West Music for violin, but we could spend days talking about everything else she does! Jenni Pickering has been teaching for 5 years, and Sarah is already playing in the community with the Blackhawk College orchestra and occasionally plays with the Clinton Symphony. She is also singing The Messiah with Handel Oratorio Soceity at Augustana College this year, but her musical life doesn’t stop there. Flute and Piano are also in her repertoire, and she loves playing them all! Jenni says “I have never ever had to tell her to keep practicing. She is just amazing and so dedicated to what she’s doing.” Continue reading “Student Feature: Sarah Anderson”