Private Lessons
The Piano Gal Shop has teachers offering lessons in piano, guitar, voice, and ukulele.
Each teacher is an independent contractor and runs their own private studio within The Piano Gal Shop. Lessons are 30 minutes, once per week, and take place at The Piano Gal Shop. Since each teacher runs their own studio, please contact teachers directly to inquire about their availability, rates, and other details. Emails and phone numbers for each teacher are listed below. If you have a general inquiry about lessons at our shop, please email lessons@thepianogalshop.com.
As a prerequisite for private lessons at The Piano Gal Shop, all teachers require each student to have a quality instrument at home for practice. In regards to a piano, a quality instrument can mean a digital keyboard that has weighted keys, with the option of a pedal plug in, and it also means an acoustic piano that is in good working order and is regularly serviced.
Teacher Bios and Contact Information:
Clarisse Tobia: Voice, Piano, and Composition (All Levels)
Clarisse Tobia has artistic talents in voice, piano, and music composition. She has been teaching at The Piano Gal Shop for many years. She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University, where she studied and performed in all three pursuits. She is currently an active professional performer and composer in the Madison area. She loves sharing her knowledge and passion for music with her students. (Website: www.clarissetobiamusic.com)
Email: cetobia1@gmail.com
Phone: (608) 206-7297
Availability: Mondays-Thursdays (Currently accepting new students)
Katie Swank: Piano (All Levels)
Katie has been sharing her love and enthusiasm for music with students for over a decade. Since graduating from UW-Platteville with a bachelor’s degree in music education in 2012, Katie has been primarily teaching music inside the public school setting as both a band and general music teacher. Regardless of where she has taught (first in Eastern Iowa before moving to the Madison area), she has always loved to share her passion for the piano with students by teaching after school lessons. Katie previously taught at The Piano Gal Shop in 2020 and is delighted to be rejoining the team. In her free time, Katie enjoys reading, crocheting, watching anime, walking her dog, and spening time with her husband, Skyler.
Email: katherine.l.swank@gmail.com
Phone: (319) 480-7944
Availability: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays (Currently full)
Ian Kozar: Beginning, Intermediate, and early Advanced Piano
Ian Kozar has over twenty years of experience on the piano and has been teaching for over 6 years. His background includes formal music theory and classical as well as contemporary musical styles. Ian enjoys sharing his knowledge and love of music with piano students of all experience levels. Ian has been teaching piano lessons at The Piano Gal Shop for over 5 years.
Email: iankozar.piano@gmail.com
Phone: (908) 892-2100
Availability: Mondays-Fridays (Currently accepting new students)
Ben Majeska: Guitar (All Levels)
Ben Majeska started playing guitar at the age of 7 and hasn’t put it down since! Now Ben has two bands under his belt and spends more time than ever continuing to learn and grow in his playing. In high school he had the privilege of giving one of his English teachers guitar lessons for the first time. It was then when he realized the joy of sharing his passion with others and watching them progress. Time spent studying and graduating from UW- Stevens Point put a pause on giving lessons, but now he has relocated his band to Madison and has enjoyed teaching guitar lessons for over four years.
Email: benmajeska@gmail.com
Phone: (920) 960- 2146
Availability: Mondays-Wednesdays
Brenda Weavers: Piano (All Levels)
Brenda Weavers is new to the area but not new to music. Prior to moving to Sun Prairie, she spent 22 years teaching piano lessons in her home. In addition, Brenda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Concordia University and taught ages pre-k through middle school in various school districts. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, camping, reading, and spending time with her family.
Email: brenweavers01@gmail.com
Phone: (920) 453-8145
Availability: Tuesdays & Thursdays (Accepting new students)
Peter Sokar: Piano (All Levels)
Peter joins us all the way from Ukraine! He has been in the United States, along with his family, for almost a year. He has been teaching piano for many years and has participated in various music projects and competitions. Peter enjoys writing and arranging music using multiple styles and genres and previously worked as a college piano teacher and also taught privately. He believes in an individual approach for each student and that it’s important to fun in what they learn. Outside of work, he loves to spend time with his wife and three daughters, write music, and enjoys learning new things.
Email: mister.sokor@gmail.com & thepianogalshop@yahoo.com
Phone: (608) 719-8125
Availability: Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays before 5:30pm (Accepting new students)
Joseph Turzy: Beginner & Intermediate Guitar (Classical & Electric)
Being the son of a former High School Music Teacher, Joe grew up around music. He remembers his Dad playing clarinet and keyboard at early ages and how he would encourage him to sing with his Sister. It wasn’t until he reached age 9 when he began learning guitar. “I remember the movie ‘La Bamba’ was on television and Ricky was on stage and it looked like the most fun thing ever,” remembers Joe. He began taking lessons and learning chords along with tablature. This process eventually earned him a Bachelor’s of Music in Classical Guitar at Northeastern Illinois University. While there, he studied under Dr. Brian Torosian. He now teaches: beginner, intermediate, classical and electric guitar.
Phone: 224-406-7470
Email: jdturzy@aol.com
Availability: Mondays, Tuesdays, & Fridays (Currently accepting new students)
Diane teaches piano students, ages 6 through adult. She has over 30 years of teaching experience on piano, guitar, and all band instruments. Retired from teaching band and general music in schools, she joyfully continues to instruct private lesson students.
Diane holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music and a lifetime Wisconsin license.
Phone: 262-685-7281
Email: d88falk.music@gmail.com
Availability: Wednesdays & Fridays (Currently Full, with waitlist)
Heather Yonker: Piano (All Levels)
Heather Yonker is an accomplished musician and multi-media artist. She has worked extensively as a musical director and choral director and has also produced her own award-winning experimental film. She began teaching piano in the music department, while completing a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from UW Madison. At this time, she began writing original musicals. Critics hailed her songs as “catchy” and “infectious.” Heather has been commissioned as a composer and has scored for original musicals, industrial videos, computer animations, dance-works and independent shorts. She has performed as a pianist and accompanist, as an actor for public theater and as a dancer for MCT and MTS. She holds a Master of Music with an emphasis in music for multi-media from the University of WI Madison. In addition to the college courses she presently teaches, she continues to teach private lessons in piano, music theory and composition, Spanish and Argentine Tango and is the Music Director for a small Unitarian church. Note: Heather’s very sweet service dog, Ernie, will be present at her lessons.
Phone: 608-628-3406
Email: hlyonker@hotmail.com
Availability: Thursdays (Currently full)
Claudia Holen: Piano (Beginner through Early Intermediate & Voice All Levels)
Claudia found her passion for teaching while earning her Bachelors in Voice Performance at the Boston Conservatory. Later when she was getting her Masters in Musicology at Tufts University she started her private studio. Her goal as a teacher of littles is to instill confidence and excitement about music. She views her role as a teacher of teens to create smart and passionate singers who leave her studio as avid musicians and listeners. When not administrating or teaching, Claudia studies the connection between all forms of music making and education as a musicologist and has published papers on various genres of instrumental music. She is also a professional mezzosoprano and performs often around the Midwest. In her off time, Claudia loves to go hiking and camping with her puppies Rutabaga and Artichoke, where she can hear all of the music created in nature
Phone: (815) 977-1234
Email: missclaudiamusic@gmail.com
Availability: Saturdays (Currently Accepting Students)
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Tara Luthar: Piano (Beginner)
Tara Luthar has over 20 years of experience on the piano. She was trained in Classical Piano as a child and then went on to Independently study other musical subjects such as Jazz, Pop, and Songwriting. Before earning her B.A in Psychology at UW Milwaukee, she spent time writing original music and providing childcare.
Phone: 512-808-3011
Email: taraluthar@gmail.com
Availability: Saturdays (Currently Accepting Students)
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Mark Piasecki: Saxophone (All Levels) Flute and Clarinet (Beginning through Intermediate)
Mark holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Saxophone Performance and is currently an active free-lance player that has performed with such artists as The Temptations, Johnny Mathis, Kenny Rogers and many more. Mark has been involved with music education for over 30 years as a private instructor, clinician, and guest soloist. Mark is passionate about helping young musicians experience the benefits of learning music.
Phone: (715) 490-1932
Email: markpiasecki13@gmail.com
Availability: Saturdays (Currently accepting new students)