We caught up with Karen Mueller, who shares her thoughts on the school, and about how to be an aspiring musician.  Karen teaches many styles of music on many different instruments including guitar, mandolin, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, and the ukulele.  She is currently accepting new students!

How long have you taught at WBSM?

Since August of 1989, shortly after I moved to the Twin Cities from Lawrence, Kansas. I had been teaching on and off since high school before that, about ten years.

What is it about WBSM that has kept you teaching here all these years?

The school really respects its teachers, on many levels. It allows the teachers to teach in the way that they know best in order to reach their students. Students have unique goals and interests, and rather than having a “one curriculum fits all” approach, the school lets teachers address each student’s needs. For instance, an adult learner who wants to learn a few guitar chords for fun will be taught differently than a high schooler preparing for a classical piano contest.
I also like my studio room, on the second floor with two big windows.

What do you like most about teaching?

I’ve always loved teaching, breaking things down so others can understand. I enjoy the challenge of finding the point of connection with a student where they will learn best because they are motivated by the music. I use repertoire to teach theory, and make sure that students like the music they’re learning, whatever the style. Then we see lots of those “ah-ha” moments. It also constantly introduces me to great new music that they bring in.

What is the biggest challenge about being a performing musician?

One big challenge is also one of its highlights: the constant multi-tasking and diverse activities involved in having a music career. At any given time, I might be rehearsing with two different bands for upcoming performances, working on a new a solo recording project, planning lessons for elementary music classes, booking next year’s gigs, mailing out my CDs sold online, buying plane tickets, and teaching 30 private lessons in a week.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to aspiring students who would like to be performing artists?

Get as good as you can possibly get at your craft. Take classes and workshops in your art form and also in business topics, like those offered at Springboard for the Arts. Network with others in your field. Start with small gigs- be confident but realistic. Don’t quit your day job, especially if it provides insurance. If you do quit, buy your own insurance.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give aspiring students who would like to teach?

I would encourage them to examine why they want to teach. Is it for extra income only, or is there a real interest in people and communicating a love of music? Do they have a solid musical foundation to draw from? They will be most successful at it if there is a desire to share and the skill to back it up. And lots of patience! It can also be helpful to observe other teachers in action.

Help me finish this sentence: Most people don’t know I love…

I keep backyard chickens, breeds like the Barred Rock and Buff Orpington. They are very sweet-tempered birds, each with a distinct personality. They are pets who get to live long and happy lives.

What bands/collaborations are you in?

Since 2000 I’ve worked with singer Katie McMahon, original lead singer from Riverdance. Our main performances feature a band, singers and Irish dancers, and take place primarily at Christmas, St. Patrick’s, and Irish Fair. Coming up this spring I have shows with singer-songwriter Rachel Nelson and drummer Michael Kiley, as well as with fiddler Zack Kline and his group Orange Mighty Trio. One of my favorite school residency projects is making dulcimers and then teaching students to play them, and I often collaborate with Ross Sutter on these. I do solo performances nationwide, where I also play with other musicians in their sets at festivals. A trio has grown from that consisting of two wonderful multi-instrumentalists, one from Missouri and one from Maryland, and myself. We’ll be playing together next month on Florida and again this summer in Kentucky. How’s that for geography?

To find out more:

To get info on Karen’s  recordings and touring schedule visit her website at:  www.karenmueller.com .  She has four solo CDs, including a new one due out this spring, and has written three autoharp and dulcimer books.   To sign up for lessons  or to find out more, you have many options.  Stop by or call our front office at 612-333-6651, email us at info@wbsm.org, or sign up for lessons online on our registration page.