Dynamic Music
Spreading the Joy of Music
Lessons in YOUR HOME or ONLINE!
CELEBRATING
EVERYONE



PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS
Teaching Philosophy
piano—guitar—drums—ukulele—flute—oboe—violin—bass—voice—clarinet—mandolin—viola—saxophone
Beginning through Advanced, Ages 5-144!
Your Choice!
Lessons online OR in your home.
*Voice lessons remain exclusively online until further notice
POLICY FOR IN-HOME LESSONS: MASKS & SOCIAL DISTANCING
RATES for Weekly Private Lessons:
*The same price for in-home and online
30 minutes: $38.50 per lesson
45 minutes: $49.50 per lesson
60 minutes: $60.50 per lesson *can be split into separate lessons for siblings
90 minutes: $88 per lesson *can be split into separate lessons for siblings
ABOUT US
Providing high quality, individualized music instruction. ALL AGES, ALL LEVELS
"I just wanted to let you know how wonderful Rob Dicke has been as my son’s piano teacher. He is incredibly talented and patient. I can’t even imagine how difficult it is to teach a seven year old via zoom but he has been incredible! We are very lucky to have him! "
~Oksana Y.


Individually Tailored Lessons
Our lesson programs are designed to meet each student’s unique goals, interests, and learning style.
High Quality Music Instructors
Our teachers are classically trained with college level and higher music degrees along with impressive performance backgrounds covering a wide variety of musical genres.
A Comprehensive Approach
Our lesson designs strike a perfect balance between traditional and modern. All of our students learn how to read music as well as how to use proper technique with their chosen instrument. We also value a fun and creative approach to music study and make sure to ask “what song do you want to learn?” Our lesson programs include exposure to a wide variety of musical styles, from pop, to rock, to classical, and everything in-between.
- Music notation reading
- Ear training
- Theory understanding
- Song study
- Improvisation and Composition
- Confidence and Performance Preparation
- Audition Preparation
- Music History
- Exposure to a broad range of musical genres


Lessons in YOUR HOME
Covid-19 Precautions:
- Masks required for everyone
- Sanitizing/washing hands prior to lessons
- Please set up a separate chair for the teacher, to assist with social distancing


Lessons OVER ZOOM
HOW TO SET UP FOR OPTIMAL SOUND OVER ZOOM
- Use "ORIGINAL SOUND" and a HEADSET (see Tools of the Trade for our recommended headset)
How to turn original sound on and optimize sound on a desktop or laptop:
1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop client (open your zoom application on your computer, or go to zoom.us to download the application if you do not already have it).
2. Click on the Settings/gear icon (top, righthand corner on home page)
3. Click the Audio tab
4. Under "Suppress Background Noise", check "LOW"
4. Under the "Music and Professional Audio Section", check, Show In-Meeting Option to "Enable Original Sound" from microphone
5. check "high fidelity music mode"
6. check "echo cancellation"
How to turn original sound on on your iPad or Phone:
1. Tap Settings
2. Choose Meetings
3. Choose "Use Original Sound" by tapping the slider bar to make it green
BENEFITS OF ONLINE LESSONS:
- Our teachers optimize the zoom music lesson experience by implementing fun, interactive online games and visuals through zoom's screen share options.
- Meet with teachers who are in their own space, and using their own, PRO-instruments! This differs from in-home lessons, in that students get to see and experience their teachers in their element, with their expensive instruments that they would not normally bring to an in-home lesson. Teachers are also teaching from their own space, which means that they have ALL of their teaching materials right at their disposal (also a benefit that is not possible when teachers have to make their teaching studio travel-friendly).
- For lessons held over zoom, additional lesson planning is demanded of teachers in order for lesson momentum to be strong enough to combat learning through a screen. Our staff has fully recognized the benefits that students get from this built-in demand for extra lesson planning.






MEET OUR TEACHERS

SARA VENCILL STRAEFFER
VOICE/PIANO

EMILY TURNER
VOICE/PIANO

AMY ANDERSON
VIOLIN/PIANO

LARRY BEERS
DRUMS

MITCH STRAEFFER
BASS/GUITAR/PIANO/UKULELE

ROBERT DICKE
DRUMS/PIANO

KRISTINA GRAHAM
OBOE/PIANO

TAMARA DOMINGUEZ
PIANO

MIKE HANKO
PIANO

LUANA ARABADGI
VOICE/PIANO

ADAM MCKINSTRY
GUITAR/PIANO

ANDREW OLMSTEAD
PIANO
TOOLS OF THE TRADE FOR EACH INSTRUMENT

PIANO
- Keyboard or Piano
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your teacher may recommend supplemental books based on student's individual needs/interests, but this is a great starting point for young beginners!
FOR ZOOM LESSONS:

VOICE
- Keyboard or Piano (not required, but helpful)
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- 2 in 1 Dual-Use Folding Sheet Music Stand & Desktop Book Stand with Portable Carrying Bag, Sheet Music Folder & Clip Holder
- Bottle of water
- Room to stretch
FOR ZOOM LESSONS:
- noise cancelling microphone/headset for zoom lessons $19.91 on amazon
- microphone adapter for smartphones or tablets without microphone jack
- tablet/phone floor stand (to get the best camera angles for zoom lessons)

DRUMS
- Drum Kit OR Practice Pad Bundle
RECOMMENDATIONS:
FOR ZOOM LESSONS:
- noise cancelling microphone/headset for zoom lessons $19.91 on amazon
- microphone adapter for smartphones or tablets without microphone jack

VIOLIN
- Violin CORRECTLY SIZED
RECOMMENDATIONS:
FOR ZOOM LESSONS:
- noise cancelling microphone/headset for zoom lessons $19.91 on amazon
- microphone adapter for smartphones or tablets without microphone jack
- tablet/phone floor stand (to get the best camera angles for zoom lessons)

GUITAR
- Guitar (acoustic or electric) PROPERLY SIZED
RECOMMENDATIONS:
FOR ZOOM LESSONS:
- noise cancelling microphone/headset for zoom lessons $19.91 on amazon
- microphone adapter for smartphones or tablets without microphone jack

-
FLUTE
- Flute PROPERLY SIZED
RECOMMENDATIONS:
FOR ZOOM LESSONS:
noise cancelling microphone/headset for zoom lessons $19.91 on amazon
microphone adapter for smartphones or tablets without microphone jack
tablet/phone floor stand (to get the best camera angles for zoom lessons)


UKULELE
- Ukulele
RECOMMENDATIONS:
FOR ZOOM LESSONS:

OBOE
- Oboe
RECOMMENDATIONS:
FOR ZOOM LESSONS:
- noise cancelling microphone/headset for zoom lessons $19.91 on amazon
- microphone adapter for smartphones or tablets without microphone jack

BASS GUITAR
- Bass Guitar (acoustic or electric) PROPERLY SIZED
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- noise cancelling microphone/headset for zoom lessons $19.91 on amazon
- microphone adapter for smartphones or tablets without microphone jack
- tablet/phone floor stand (to get the best camera angles for zoom lessons)
CONTACT US
Schedule your free trial lesson now
P.O. Box 441
RATES
RATES for Weekly Private Lessons:
*The same price for in-home and online
30 minutes: $38.50 per lesson
45 minutes: $49.50 per lesson
60 minutes: $60.50 per lesson *can be split into separate lessons for siblings
90 minutes: $88 per lesson *can be split into separate lessons for siblings
DONATE TO A MUSICIAN'S COVID RELIEF FUND
We have the best teachers in town! Some of our teachers; however, are struggling in covid times, after losing half (or more) of their income when performance gigs were wiped out almost over-night in March of 2020. Help them out by following this link to sweetrelief.org (global relief fund for musicians during covid).

Social Songwriting Workshop
ONLINE
Join an empowering community of students and write your own short song every week.
♪ Games for writing lyrics
♪ The easy way to make a great melody
♪ How to beat writer's block
♪ What makes a song work, anyways?
♪ Songwriting ideas to use in between classes
Automatic Payments
Click on the link below to enter card information for secure, monthly automatic payments.
Calendar & Policies
PRIVATE LESSONS CALENDAR
There will be NO LESSONS:
- Winter Break: Dec. 20th through Jan. 2nd
- MLK Day
- July 4th
- Labor Day (the Sunday & the Monday)
- Halloween
- Thanksgiving Day (only the Thursday)
- On Dates Cancelled by the Teacher
- On Dates Cancelled by the Student - WITH A MINIMUM TWO-WEEK NOTICE GIVEN BY EMAIL TO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
- On Sick Days (3 per year allowed per student), and notice must be given directly to the teacher via text or phone call, with as much notice as possible)
CANCELLATION POLICY
We require a minimum two week notice to be given via email to our staff, for all student cancellations. The only exception to this policy is for student sick days, for which we require that notice be given directly to the teacher, with as much notice as is possible (before the teacher is on their way to the lesson!). *WE DO NOT OFFER MAKEUP LESSONS unless they are arranged a minimum of two weeks in advance.
TESTIMONIALS
"I just wanted to let you know how wonderful Rob Dicke has been as Kai’s piano teacher. He is incredibly talented and patient. I can’t even imagine how difficult it is to teach a seven year old via zoom but he has been incredible! We are very lucky to have him!"
-Oksana Yoshimura
“My daughter took a violin lesson with Amy for two years. She was a kind, smart and thoughtful teacher, and taught my daughter a joy of playing the violin. It was also so convenient that she came to our house every week.
Sara is in charge of billing and administration. Her cancellation policy was clear and reasonable. She was super organized and always updated our invoice swiftly, every time cancellations had to happen. This flexible policy was very convenient for a family like us, who traveled often. Before Dynamic Music, we tried a bigger music school and their bureaucracy was a nightmare. It took a long time to get response and the cancellation/refund policy was rigid. So we appreciated flexibility of Dynamic Music greatly.
Due to various scheduling conflicts, we had to switch to another violin teacher. Sara's enthusiasm and energy in finding the replacement were wonderful and we owe her so much.”
-Masako Ueda
“We have had a great experience with Dynamic Music. The teacher comes to our house and is wonderful with our children. She is always on time and very professional. Additionally, the rates for lessons are very competitive with other music lessons in the area. Sara (the owner) is very responsive and works hard to make sure she finds the best teacher for your children's needs. Highly recommend.“
-Laura Pape
Sara Vencill Straeffer

Emily Turner

Amy Anderson

Larry Beers

Mitch Straeffer

Kristina Graham

Tamara Dominguez

Mike Hanko

Luana Arabadgi

Adam McKinstry

Andrew Olmstead

Sora Shpack

Michael Lockler


Natallia Lysenka


Lauren Ingebrigtsen
voice & piano
A Glenview native- Miss Lauren is passionate about building young musician’s skill sets and confidence so that they can enjoy creating, singing, and playing music as much as she does!
Lauren grew up in Glenview and attended Glenbrook South before going to the prestigious Millikin University Music School where she earned her bachelors degree in music.
Lauren also has a minor in theatre, giving her a charismatic and fun edge to her teaching style.
- BM in Music from Millikin University *currently pursuing a Masters in Music (opera—vocal performance)
- Minor in Theatre from Millikin University
- Proficient in French and Italian
- Ballet and movement classes
- Social Justice Advocate
Jieun Lee—Piano

MARIJA BUBANJ—Violin & Viola


Abigail Cline
Voice, Guitar, Piano, Ukulele, Bass
Miss Cline has a fabulous energy and passion for teaching students of all ages and levels, and she is an enviable musician who is equally talented with singing and playing many instruments, including: piano, guitar, ukulele, and electric & upright bass!
*2016 B.F.A. in Musical Theatre (Honors)/Minor: Creative Writing
University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL)
*Fluent in American Sign Language
Affiliations: International Thespian Society (International Honor Member)
OUR KIDS LOVE MUSIC BLOG
Normal
2021 is here, and... so are we! We are still standing.... and for a music business at the beginning of 2021, that says a lot! We are keeping music alive, keeping teacher-student…
January 14, 2021
Quiet Your Mind with Music Study
Music Lessons require incredible focus and discipline. Reading the notes, listening to the rhythms, engaging both sides of the brain at the same time by channeling muscles and…
September 29, 2020
5 months later...
Here we are, 5 months later... Life goes on. Humans adapt. Music lessons adapt. Kids adapt. My baby is almost 2 years old! I'm still forcing my older kids to practice piano and…
August 19, 2020
Free Dance & Voice Classes: 5/4, 5/5, 5/6
~Free Dance Classes with our partner, the Dance and Music Academy, followed by a 15 minute Free Voice Lesson at the end of each dance class. This is an amazing opportunity to…
April 28, 2020
ZOOM MUSIC LESSONS
Zoom music lessons are so fun! Step 1. Create a zoom account (FREE AND EASY): https://zoom.us Step 2. Open the "zoom meeting link" in your email, sent by your teacher Step 3.…
March 30, 2020
Dynamic Music Goes Completely ONLINE!
Dear Parents and Students, Dynamic Music is now completely online until the public health crisis stabilizes. Contact us now, to set up online music lessons with only the highest…
March 13, 2020
Founder, Sara Vencill
How it all began...
Dynamic Music was founded by Sara in 2010 when she was pregnant with her first daughter.
At that time a mother of one of Sara's students suggested that Sara should hire another teacher with similar teaching philosophies, to help out with her teaching schedule when the baby came.
And so it all began!
Sara's mission has always been to share the joy of music. Sara remains committed to bringing teachers onto the Dynamic Music team, who share this goal and who have every qualification necessary for realizing this goal.
"Music is a gift to humanity and it should be honored and treated as such." ~Sara
