Sun Prairie Schools Orchestras - Teachers and Experts Beyond the Classroom

Beyond the Classroom Experts and Resources

Keep reading to find out about private teachers, guest speakers during distance learning, and getting connected to college level professors and community orchestras.

This page is dedicated to helping the orchestra students of SPHS reach beyond the walls of the classroom during and beyond their high school orchestra experience.

Here is the Private Teacher List for the Sun Prairie Area. Taking lessons is a great way to improve your skills receive personalized instruction beyond SPHS.

Want lessons, but don't know where to start? Check the "Private Teacher Communication Help Sheet", also listed here.

Students and Families should note that the following guest speakers were featured during Zoom conversations during distance learning in spring of 2020. All of these individuals are available for further discussion and questions. Their contact information is available on request. Further details and conversation summaries are available on Google Classroom.

Retired Opera Singer: Nancy Jaynes Gruett - Nancy and her husband moved to Berlin as young adults to sing opera, and have lived their lives there ever since.

Hand Therapist/Occupational Therapist: Hannah Booth - Hannah is a violist who practices hand therapy and specializes in helping musicians.

Music Therapist: Taylor Baloga Loufek - Taylor shared how music therapy can be a resource for a wide variety of different conditions and for people of all ages.

Cellist: Peter Swanson - Peter is working on his doctorate in cello performance. After a short performance, he worked on some technique strategies.

Composer: Kimberly Osberg - Kim grew up in Wisconsin and shared her experiences working with a variety of individuals as a composer.

Marion Schuman talks music for non-majors - Marion is Mrs. Mertzenich's younger sister who graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a degree in bio-medical engineering. She was also a music minor and talked about mental health and how her music activities helped her in such a difficult field of study, and provided examples of musical creativity when studying other subjects.

Dr. Spencer Martin from Luther College - Baroque instruments and gut strings compared with modern instruments. Concert and presentation on Google Drive.

Mrs. Carrie Gray: Accomplished retired orchestra teacher from Appleton who arranges and composes. One of her arrangements is the Romeo and Juliet the SPHS orchestras played in October 2019.

Explore and Preview University/College/Community Orchestras

Note: These links are not designed to substitute communication with faculty, teachers, conductors, and/or any other advisor or director from the campus or specified community. The list is designed to focus on orchestral/string ensembles. It is advised and recommended to seek out a participant or expert in an ensemble before registering or auditioning to help you know what to expect and help you decide if the ensemble is the right fit. Mrs. Mertzenich, or other music teachers, can also help.

*Updated May 2020

UW Madison

UW Whitewater