The Piano Lab Instructors

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 the organist and choir director at the Federated Church in West Winfield. He spends much of his time composing music for his church choir as well as small instrumental ensembles.

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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.

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Caitlin is very excited to be a new member of the Piano Lab staff! A native of Utica, she has been involved with music from a very young age. Caitlin graduated from Notre Dame High School in 2001 and went on to study Music Education with a concentration in voice at Providence College, in Rhode Island. In 2010, Caitlin received her Master's Degree in Music Education from Syracuse University. She is currently a part-time K-12 vocal and general music teacher at Remsen Central School. She lives in Utica with her husband. Caitlin credits her parents for fostering her love of music and she looks forward to helping other children and families find their musicality. She currently teaches voice and beginning piano in Marcy and Chadwicks.

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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!

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Teale has been surrounded by music her entire life. She grew up in a recreational music family in Clinton, NY. She began performing in musical theatre at age 8. Throughout her life she has played many instruments and sang in various choirs both in school and in church. She has performed in well over 40 musical theatre productions in area community theatres. She received her undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education from SUNY Geneseo, and a Master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from SUNY Stony Brook. She has now brought together her love of music and enthusiasm for teaching in becoming a teacher through Kindermusik International. She greatly looks forward to working with children and their families to share the joy and wonderment that music brings to her life.

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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 Childrens' 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.

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Janice has been involved in music her whole life, studying flute, piano and voice for many years. She moved to New York City and had a decade long career working in music licensing. Eventually, the fates brought her back to her home town of Utica. Janice has had a relationship with the Piano Lab and Kindermusik for the last 9 years. She first discovered Kindermusik as a client after having her first child and was immediately impressed with how well the program brings music into the lives of our children. Ever since, she has been a great believer in the program. She was excited to have the opportunity to begin teaching Kindermusik after her children began school. She is especially thrilled to be able to combine the two things she loves most: music and children. She is the proud mother of three incredible boys, Jason ,Andrew and Kyle . All three of her children are Kindermusik “graduates” and are now continuing with their love of music through private lessons!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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Sharon Wagner was raised in New York State though born in Pennsylvania. She graduated from P.V. Moore High School in Central Square, New York. She attended SUNY Oswego and graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Kentucky Wesleyan College. She was a keyboard major with choral emphasis. She started teaching private piano in 1973 while attending college. She has studied piano with Dr. Anthony Crain, Dr. Terry Yount, Dr. Diane Earle and Rami Bar-Niv. She has studied voice with Joseph Line, Dr. Robert McIver, and Ms. Holly Weiss. She is a faculty member of the American College of Musicians and serves as an adjudicator for the National Guild of Piano Teachers. She serves as Minister of Music at Whitesboro Baptist Church and substitute organist at First Baptist Church of New Hartford. She has been teaching piano and voice in the Utica area since 1987.

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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.

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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.

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