Meet the Teachers!
Krysti Schey, NCTM, piano |
Philip Schey, NCTM, piano, voice, theory/composition |
Krysti (Groman) Schey, piano teacher, is the co-owner of Krysti's Music Studio. Krysti received her masters of music in piano performance/piano pedagogy from Bowling Green State University in 2010. Schey obtained her bachelors degree in music with concentrations in piano performance, piano pedagogy, and music business from Bluffton University in 2008.
Krysti began taking piano lessons at the age of 7, and has been teaching private lessons since high school in 2001. A member of Music Teacher’s National Association, Schey regularly attends national and regional pedagogy conferences. In 2008 Schey received the MTNA Student Achievement Award for her efforts and promise in private teaching. From 2011-2016, Krysti was the OhioMTA Independent Music Teacher's Forum (IMTF) Chair. In 2014 Krysti became Nationally certified as a piano instructor through MTNA. In 2017 Krysti became the Middle West District of OMTA's President. She plays piano and guitar at Rockport United Methodist Church on Sunday mornings. She currently resides in Bluffton, Ohio with her husband, Phil Schey, their sons "KC" and "RA", and their cat Whitney. |
Philip Schey, co-owner of Krysti's Music Studio, is a performer, arranger, piano tuner, and a teacher of piano, composition, and vocal lessons. Schey obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Bluffton University in 2009.
Philip started taking piano lessons during the first grade and has been playing since, and Schey's main emphasis in college was in voice. Phil has been teaching private lessons since 2006. Phil is a member of Music Teacher’s National Association (MTNA) and received the MTNA Student Achievement Award for private teaching. In 2014, Phil became a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music through MTNA. Besides teaching privately, Phil tunes pianos, plays for weddings and banquets, and performs with 5 Myles High, a jazz combo. Phil is the worship leader at Rockport United Methodist Church, where he and Krysti attend. Phil enjoys arranging and transcribing musical pieces ranging from sacred hymns to movie soundtracks and video game background scores. He resides with his wife, Krysti Schey and sons in Bluffton, Ohio. |
Rebekah Ricker, clarinet, flute, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, piano, voice |
Mike Bryce, guitar |
Rebekah Ricker is a 2010 graduate of Bluffton University, where she completed a bachelors degree in Music Education, with an emphasis in Piano. Rebekah has been playing piano since the age of five, clarinet since the age of nine and has studied flute, saxophone, oboe, and bassoon during her high school and college career. Rebekah has performed with the Lima Area Concert Band for the past three seasons. Rebekah is a member of Music Teachers National Association.
Rebekah loves to interact with the younger students, and with three young children of her own, has learned many creative ways to keep them interested! She believes that every student should be taught to appreciate music and identify which style of music speaks to them and drives their desire to learn. Rebekah lives with her husband, Shaun; three children: Nadia, Zan, and Liam; and two dogs in Spencerville, Ohio. |
Mike Bryce graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2016 with dual bachelor’s degrees in Music and Psychology. He has 11 years of playing experience on the guitar, and studied with acclaimed jazz guitarist and educator Chris Buzzelli during four of his years at BGSU. Mike is also the founder of the Roots Music Club, a student organization at BGSU. He served as the club's president for its first two years, during which he produced two full-length compilation albums. The most recent, recorded at a professional studio in Maumee in early 2016, featured almost 40 BGSU students' playing, singing, writing and artwork.
Mike has experience performing and composing in multiple styles of music, including jazz, rock, funk, blues, folk, country, and bluegrass. He teaches and performs on the acoustic and electric guitar. Mike regularly performs around northwest Ohio, and is currently working on his debut album, due out for release in August of 2017. |
Amy Russell, piano, voice |
Steve Frey, electric & acoustic guitar, ukulele |
The first time Amy sang in public was at her elementary school talent show when she was in Kindergarten. Even though she tripped and fell down the steps on her way off stage she never looked back and took every opportunity to grow as a singer and musician. She graduated from Sacramento State with a BA in Music with an emphasis in Vocal Performance in 2008. She has been the worship leader and music coordinator at her church from 2007-2014. She has made two albums, one a cover of worship songs, the other is made up of her own original worship songs. She was also a featured soloist on a Sac State jazz ensemble album. She started taking on students in 2009 and finds so much delight in encouraging the sound that lives inside each person. She recently relocated from California to Bluffton, Ohio and loves this warm community that she now gets to call home.
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Steve Frey has 30 years playing and teaching experience. Having relocated to Nashville in 1999, Steve has played and toured with major recording artist's Blackhawk, David Lee Murphy, Rebecca Lynn Howard, 2005 Nashville Star Winner Erika Jo, and is currently touring and playing shows with MCA recording artist Andy Childs, Steve Cropper, Robin Meade, host of HLN's Morning Express. Additional previous gig’s include Nashville based Eagles Tribute Band 7 Bridges, Rod Stewart Tribute featuring Rob Caudill, and American Floyd, a tribute to Pink Floyd. He has been teaching privately in the Nashville area since 2004. Steve is very excited to be back in his home state of Ohio and to share his knowledge and experience with his students!
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Deb Niswander, piano |
Karis Badertscher (Piano and Voice) began taking lessons at the age of 8, and has been teaching private lessons since 2002. Karis performed throughout high school and college in various music groups and churches, and accompanied high school and college classes, musicals and private lessons. Karis received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Music Business from Bluffton University.
When Karis is not teaching, she is playing keys and singing multiple nights each week with Shifferly Road Band (www.shifferlyroadband.com or on Facebook/Instagram) at many venues in Ohio, as well as leading worship at Movement Church in Findlay. Karis lives in Bluffton with her husband Ryan, their two Beagles and three cats. Jocelyn Ochoa, piano |
Deb is a graduate of Bluffton College with a degree in music education, with piano emphasis. Deb has over 40 years of experience as a piano teacher! She has accompanied many soloists in the Bluffton/Findlay area, performed at the University of Findlay symposium with famed pianist Wendene Shoupe, and accompanied the annual Messiah at Bluffton University. Deb is also a church pianist and organist, most recently retiring as Director of Music and Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Findlay. Deb volunteers for chapel services at Mennonite Memorial Home and is the new choir accompanist and substitute organist/pianist at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton. Deb is looking forward to teaching at Krysti’s Music Studio with Krysti, one of her former students!
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Jocelyn Ochoa is a graduate of Bluffton High School, and took lessons from Krysti for about 10 years! Besides teaching piano, Jocelyn also helps teach dance lessons at Dancer’s Elite, and is on the golf team! In her free time, Jocelyn likes to teach herself guitar and ukulele. She also loves art, especially drawing and painting! Jocelyn attends Bible Fellowship church with her family. |
Scott Parnell, acoustic and electric guitar
Scott Parnell graduated from The College of Wooster in 1995 with a Bachelors of Arts in Music, Guitar Performance. In 1997 he obtained a Masters of Music in Guitar Performance from Bowling Green State University. Scott is currently the guitar instructor at Bluffton University and The Perrysburg Music Center. During the summer he also teaches a Rock School program in Perrysburg.
Scott teaches all levels of guitar in Rock, Jazz and Classical. He has a lot of experience teaching beginners of all ages. He has played in many musical groups in many different genres including, rock, jazz, classical, reggae, funk and musical theatre. Scott believes in organized teaching with clear goals and a plan to achieve these goals. His teaching philosophy and materials are based on the idea that students need a strong knowledge of the instrument to provide a solid foundation to pursue whatever style of music they desire. Scott lives in Findlay, OH with his wife and two sons. |
Vickie Garmon, art
Vickie is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a Bachelors degree in Arts/K-12 Art Education. She earned her Masters degree in Education from University of Findlay. Vickie is the art teacher at Bluffton High School, teaching courses in Design, Photography, Mural Design, Ceramics and more. Vickie enjoys working with students of all ages, and is excited to take on more private students!
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Krysti's Teaching Philosophy
As a piano teacher, I believe it is my job to help the student understand the essential aspects of the instrument such as notes and rhythm. However, there are some main ideas in my teaching philosophy that I would like to highlight. These are: the idea that each child is capable of making music, the teacher should be positive, encouraging, and a good role model, the teacher should be up to date with new ideas for piano teaching but must never hinder the student’s own creativity, and the teacher may help the student understand that they can use their musical gift to give praise to God.
It is my belief that everyone is capable of making music. I believe it is the piano teacher’s task to help the student discover it and develop it to the point where they can make music on their own. At an early age students will be encouraged to sing along with their pieces as this helps the student to better internalize the sound of the music.
The teacher must be positive, encouraging, support the child’s whole education, and must be a good role model. Students learn the best when they feel like their efforts are enjoyed. The teacher should use plenty of praise. The student should leave the lesson feeling good about themselves and their abilities. The teacher should be interested in the student’s other activities and what is going on in their life. The teacher must be a good role model and live a life knowing that an impressionable student may be watching.
It is the responsibility of the teacher to learn about the newest ideas in piano teaching and use the best methods possible with the student. However, this should never hinder the student’s own creativity, and the teacher must help each student individually with their strengths and weaknesses as a musician. The piano teacher must stay up to date with conferences, new method books and materials, and new pedagogical ideas. The teacher should try to match ideas with the student’s learning, and always be open to the student’s creativity in lessons. Many times the teacher may also learn about different ways of doing things from the student’s ideas in a lesson.
The teacher should acknowledge where our gifts come from, and encourage an environment in which the student can learn to give praise to the Lord through their music making. A teacher should be humble and give credit to God for musical gifts, and should create an environment to match this. If they would like to, a student should feel comfortable learning to praise God through music.
It is my belief that everyone is capable of making music. I believe it is the piano teacher’s task to help the student discover it and develop it to the point where they can make music on their own. At an early age students will be encouraged to sing along with their pieces as this helps the student to better internalize the sound of the music.
The teacher must be positive, encouraging, support the child’s whole education, and must be a good role model. Students learn the best when they feel like their efforts are enjoyed. The teacher should use plenty of praise. The student should leave the lesson feeling good about themselves and their abilities. The teacher should be interested in the student’s other activities and what is going on in their life. The teacher must be a good role model and live a life knowing that an impressionable student may be watching.
It is the responsibility of the teacher to learn about the newest ideas in piano teaching and use the best methods possible with the student. However, this should never hinder the student’s own creativity, and the teacher must help each student individually with their strengths and weaknesses as a musician. The piano teacher must stay up to date with conferences, new method books and materials, and new pedagogical ideas. The teacher should try to match ideas with the student’s learning, and always be open to the student’s creativity in lessons. Many times the teacher may also learn about different ways of doing things from the student’s ideas in a lesson.
The teacher should acknowledge where our gifts come from, and encourage an environment in which the student can learn to give praise to the Lord through their music making. A teacher should be humble and give credit to God for musical gifts, and should create an environment to match this. If they would like to, a student should feel comfortable learning to praise God through music.
