Teachers
- Kevin Dixon
- Heather Drumm
- Anna Fursa
- Pamela Howe
- Pamela Knopka
- Irena Lingley
- Janice Martino
- Dorian McWain II
- Bruce Phillips
- Andrew Siuta
- Eleanor Stephenson
- Jeanette Swiderski
- Clare Wettemann
- Mary Wilcox
Student Teachers
Kevin started with the Piano Lab in 1992. He earned a BM in theory and performance from the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam in 1988. He is music director at Christ Community Church in North Utica. He spends much of his time composing music for his church choir as well as small instrumental ensembles.
Heather began teaching at The Piano Lab in 1989. She has a Bachelors in Music from the University of New Mexico, with a piano concentration. Heather has taught private piano for many years, and has also been the choir director and organist at Whitesboro Presbyterian Church. She accompanies many of Clinton High School's concerts
Anna is originally from Belarus. She began teaching for The Piano Lab in September, 1999. She earned a piano and organ degree from a private music school in Minsk, Belarus. While living in Belarus, Anna was a pianist in the orchestra from 1977-1987. She began teaching children how to play various musical instruments as a private tutor from 1987-1992. Upon coming to the United States, Anna acquired a position as a church musician in the Slavic Pentacostal Church in Utica, NY. She is very happy to be teaching piano again, and working for The Piano Lab.
Pam has been involved in music, movement and dance since she was a child.For 28 years, she was a student, local instructor and owner of Take A Bow Dance Studio.After the birth of her son Gabriel, she closed her studio to become a full time Mom.But her love for children and her passion for teaching brought her to the Piano Lab for Kindermusik. She has been licensed through Kindermusik International since 2003.Pam has also been a NYS licensed cosmetologist for 17 years & a certified yoga instructor for Universal Yoga Center for the past five years.Her most recent accomplishment is becoming a licensed parent educator for The Happiest Baby Program, developed by world renowned pediatrician, child development specialist and baby calmer, Dr.Harvey Karp.Pam is the first person in central NY to be licensed to teach this extraordinary program to parents and their babies. As well as teaching locally, she travels throughout the state working with Drs, parents and hospitals.Visit her website at www.haveahappybaby.com. Pam is very excited to be teaching at the Piano Lab and looks forward to meeting with you and your children!
Pamela is returning to teaching at The Piano Lab in the Fall of 2002, after taking a few years off to spend time with her family. Pamela is a licensed Kindermusik teacher and will be teaching classes in North Utica. She began piano lessons at the age of 5, and studied with Mrs. Jeanette Swiderski. Upon entering high school, she studied under renowned Mrs. Vivien Harvey Slater. She then attended Onondaga Community College for music, with a major in piano. Pamela has participated in the National Piano Playing Auditions, sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers. She also plays the flute and piccolo. Pamela is excited to return to teaching. She has two young children, Jacob and Kierra.
Irena has been with The Piano Lab since 1997. Her goals in teaching are to relate the joy of music to how it can enrich one’s life. She tries to instill a sense of goals and accomplishments through practice. Irena has an extensive educational background in music. She has a Masters degree in Choir Conducting and Instrumental Piano through the Fredrick Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland. She worked in a Children’s Hospital in Warsaw, Poland as a volunteer working with special care children. She helped the children go through their illnesses using music. She is also a skilled organist.
Dorian grew up in the Lake George area where he persued his Associates degree in Music at a local junior college, Adirondack Community College. There he studied flute, clarinet, and voice; performing in recitals for all three mediums. His clarinet professor at ACC inspired him dearly and he went on to further his education in music at her alma mater; the Fredonia School of Music in Fredonia, NY. At university he continued his studies in clarinet and flute as well as other winds while following coursework in music education and music business. Through his performance curriculum he gained experience in wind doubling for musicals, operas and free improvisation during his time at Fredonia. Dorian also spent two years as an active member of the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and is currently an alumni member. Some of Dorian's previous experience outside of university include pit work for the Glens Falls Community Theatre, Tri-City Band and vocal work with the Hamilton Oratorio Society. He also spent a year as a choir director/pianist at a local Baptist church in his college town during the academic year. To date he performs as a pianist and wind specialist for two Unitarian/Universalist churches he belongs to in Utica and Barneveld.
Bruce returns to the Piano Lab after a 14 year sabbatical! During that time he received his degree in Music Education with a concentration in Piano and Voice in a Choral emphasis program from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. While he was there he also was a vocal coach and a professional accompanist. During his vocal training he studied with Miss Patricia Misslin, who is now residing in New York City where she teaches voice at a professional level. Some of her clientele are either Metropolitan Opera performers or those seeking membership into that opera company. During his piano training he studied with Ms. Eugenia Tsarov, who is a graduate from the St. Petersburg Conservatory, the 3rd most renowned pianist of Russia and who still teaches at the Crane School of Music. Ms. Tsarov also is a professional accompanist, especially for her husband Mr. Boris Loushin, one of the top baritones from Russia. Bruce is also a composer and song writer, who is preparing to get several works of his published. To his credit he has a Christian song collection of about 30 pieces for piano and voice, and a Lullaby he wrote for his 3 sons. Some of his pieces in progress include a Requiem Mass for SATB chorus and orchestra, a Childrens Book, and a Synthesizer and Piano Suite. His latest composing medium includes improvisational pieces for piano and synthesizer. Bruce is considering pursuing a Masters degree in Music Therapy sometime in the future. He enjoys bringing his gift of music to those less fortunate. Bruces philosophy of learning and education is that learning never stops, regardless of age and experience. There is always something to learn, which is one of the great benefits of life.
My relationship with the Piano Lab began in 1995, when I served as accompanist to voice and violin students. I began teaching piano the following year, and led a fine group of students through 4 years of lessons. I left the area in 2000 to pursue a graduate degree in the sciences, and upon my return in 2005 resumed teaching at the Piano Lab on a substitute basis. I currently teach a group of students on Tuesday at the Clinton studio. I also serve as music director at St. Joseph St. Patrick Church and am an active member of the American Guild of Organists and the Mohawk Valley Choral Society.
Eleanor received her B. S. Degree from Syracuse University. She began her music education at Potsdam Normal School where she took the Special Music Sequence Course and graduated. Upon graduation, she taught in the elementary schools for several years, having a special bond with many children. Once she retired from teaching school, she began teaching piano. "I enjoy this and feel it is a great challenge and privilege and inspiration to teach piano to children." Eleanor has been a church organist and an accompanist for several years having played in Sauquoit, Utica and Oneida. She is a musician for several fraternal organizations.
Jeanette is the owner and director of The Piano Lab. She has been a music educator for over 20 years and established The Piano Lab in 1985. She received a performance certificate through The American College of Musicians, sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers. She also studied with the renowned Vivian Harvey Slater, artist in residence at Colgate University. Jeanette is the local chairman for the National Piano Playing Auditions sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers. She is an adjudicator for the Guild Auditions. She is a Maestro teacher for Kindermusik International, running one of the largest studios in the country, and is licensed to teach Kindermusik classes for ages newborn to 7 years old. Also, Jeanette has an Associate's Degree from MVCC with emphasis on child education. Jeanette is constantly striving to teach students and parents the benefits of exposing music at an early age. So much research now shows us that music aids in a child's development from the very first days of life. She hopes to achieve this goal through structured and entertaining programs designed for all age groups, including newborns!
Mrs. Clare Wettemann has been a teacher and performer in the area for several years. Her performance credits have included museums, colleges, schools, youth organizations, churches and community events in New York and other states. Ms. Wettemann has appeared on the local television station WKTV and other television stations in New York State. As a teacher, she has given lessons in piano, guitar, mountain dulcimer and voice, and specializes in teaching early elementary music to pre-schoolers and young children. Clare Wettemann is featured on the album O Come Sing; Songs for the Seasons of Life, in which she performs original, traditional and contemporary folk songs. The album is available from Ms. Wettemann and at selected stores.
Mary has been with The Piano Lab since 1988. Mary has studied piano throughout most of her adult life, and has worked extensively with children. She has participated in numerous piano workshops which gives her new insights to current teaching methods, among them being Amanda Vick Lethco, Catherine Rollin, Weekley and Arganbright, Keith Snell and Dan Coates. She is very active in volunteering in her community, and is a past member of the Religious Education Board of her church. Mary has brought her love of music and enthusiasm to The Piano Lab. She enters many of her students in the National Piano Playing Auditions and has received outstanding scores and comments by the adjudicators.
Carrie-Lynne is in 10th grade and attends Whitesboro High School. She has studied the piano for nine years with the Piano Lab. She accompanies her school's jazz band on the piano and electic bass guitar. She also plays the cello. She participates yearly in NYSSMA auditions on her piano and cello. She loves children and babysits regularly, is also is a member of the Red Cross Youth Corps and teaches religious education to preschool students at St.Leo's Church in Holland Patent. She has also been figure skating with the Skating Club of Utica for 14 years.
Thomas has studied piano for 9 years. He joined the Junior B Sharp Club in the Spring of 2006. He is a sophomore at Sauquoit Valley Central School where he is part of the school choir. He has participated in the National Piano Guild for 7 years and has successfully completed a National program for the last 4 years.
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