I was offered and accepted a position with Jenison High School choirs. I will be accompanying their morning classes under Grant Carmichael!

I'm so excited to be in this role. I find accompaniments vastly satisfying. I had this position waaay back in 1987-88 at Jenison. The director then was Les Rowsey. Over the years, I have accompanied various church and school groups, including Greenville Middle School.

I found out about the position at the beginning of the summer from a friend who works at Jenison. I immediately applied and waited to hear about interviewing. Finally, I received notice that interviews would be on August 1st. I would have dropped anything to make this interview. Well, almost anything. Since my #3 son got married to #2 wife that day, and I had the Mother-of-the-groom/Groom dance, I had to decline the interview. I suggested several alternative days/times, but Jenison had only August 1st dedicated to the panel of interviewers. I was disappointed, But, life goes on.

Fast forward to August 28, and I am getting ready for a wonderful 5 day weekend up North, when I receive an email from Mr. Carmichael saying that the position has opened back up! Am I interested? Yes! He sent a couple scores over, which I looked at, listened to recordings on YouTube at The Piano Cottage that afternoon. Friday morning, I drove up North, and I came back Tuesday after Labor Day.

Wednesday I went to Jenison, played those pieces, some sight-reading (piece of cake), and answered a bunch of questions. I must have had all the right answers, because I start Monday! So thrilled to get into this position. I know that I will be an asset to them, and this fills a part of my heart that absolutely loves accompaniment and all that is involved in supporting music directors. 

As my dad, John Dunsmore (may his memory be joyful), was a band and choir director, I spent many happy years collecting memories of working with him. I would assist in librarian duties for his band music: copying, filing, sorting. I accompanied his Middle School students for local Solo and Ensemble at Wayland Union School (1974-1980). I sang in his church choirs: Wayland United Methodist Church, and later: Wyoming Seventh-Day Adventist Church. I loved his life so much, I pursued my own Music Education Degree.

Over 3 decades and 3 colleges, (and  1 marriage, 11 children, 25 years homeschooling, Massage school, substitute teaching, divorce, and innumerable private and public music positions) I managed to earn Bachelors of Music Education in 2018. Although I did only a couple short time jobs with school music programs (I will say the pandemic had a role in that outcome) I have applied what I learned every day with my private music students. 

And now, another chapter begins at Jenison High School. 

I love my life.

Hello world!
Due to limits on Niles and Hamilton subsidies, I have reduced my travel fee to just $5 per lesson. This can be conveniently paid each lesson, to make it easier on family budgets. 

This way, the tuition subsidy covers all but $30 or $40 of the semester fees per student. I hope this makes budgeting for music lessons more doable for families.

Having homeschooled a large family for 25 years, I know first hand what it's like to cover tuition for important extracurriculars like music, sports, dance, and foreign language. 

School starts within 30 days now!!!
Ms. Kreenah

Well, almost the end of July, and for many local schools, we are heading into the last 30 days of summer vacation!
That means school shopping.
It means family schedule planning.
And it means its time to plug in to music education for the fall with Ms Kreenah and KMD Music Studio!

It has been a busy summer with multiple performances a week, mainly at private parties or nursing home outreach. I love participating in these community groups all over the Grand Rapids area during the summer, and bringing smiles to faces, and getting those toes tapping. 

I anticipate a full roster this year of private students at The Piano Cottage and doing outcalls through KMD Music Studio. So far, I have potential students from Rockford to Middleville! I will be traveling to homes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays in the morning and early afternoon, so these times are designed for home school students, OR for me to travel to students' schools to provide lessons during their band or study hall times. 

My fees will be $30 for 30 minutes, $50 for 45 minutes and $60 for hour lessons. In addition, $10 travel fee per visit. My sibling discount is -$5 for each student after the first one. 

Hopefully, this payment system will be simple. I work with Niles Coop and Hamiliton Project Based Learning home school groupsl. 

Hope to meet many of you soon!

​Ms. Kreenah

I recorded this one-woman show back in 2020 as part of a series for the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids. It was a series intended to entertain and bring people together during a time of isolation.
Here is the YouTube link!
Enjoy
Kreenah

Spring is in full bloom! And time is passing so quickly. Soon it will be summer vacation already. I realized today that I haven't really promoted my summer lesson schedule too much yet. I was at the Hamilton Virtual School open house a couple weeks ago, and I did post information here under my "music lessons" tab, but that's it. 

Although I expect to have most of my students at The Piano Cottage continue through the summer, historically summer months are financially challenging for me. Although I do participate in several performances around town with Good Medicine Band, Calder City Concert Band, and Beer City Winds, and also continue to perform event piano at Von Maur on the weekends, these enjoyable pursuits bring in little to no income for me. 

Sometimes I take on a summer job, however, this year, I want to focus on two projects I have been working on. One is writing my memoirs. I am writing a memoir revolving around music and its influence in my life. The other is preparing art pieces for an art show I'd like to do next year. 

Below is a slideshow of some spring scenes I have encountered on my walks interspersed with some of my artwork. 

Enjoy the warm weather!

​Kreenah

Hi all
I'm sorry some of you missed me at Von Maur this weekend. I've been told I need to let people know when I'm not playing.
Yesterday, I was at the Thornapple Area Arts Council Jazz Festival in Hastings. I played with Ransom Street Big Band, an ensemble of the International New Horizons Music Entity. After our performance, I stayed on to listen to several other groups. 
Today, I'll also NOT be at Von Maur. 

However, the next two weekends: May 3 and May 10, I'll be playing event piano as usual from 3-6. I'm told I look like I'm concentrating. In spite of how I look, I'm mostly bored and would LOVE to have someone come to make conversation (I can talk and play at the same time!) or to make requests! 
Please do come say "hi".
​
Kreenah

PS: pictured is my latest painted instrument: a trumpet. For sale. $250
​Commission a flute, clarinet or trumpet. Let me know what colors or design theme you'd like!

Many of my performances are private events. 

Here are public performances you may see me play this Spring and Summer 2025:


Most Saturdays or Sundays at Woodland Mall: Von Maur. Solo Piano from 3-6pm.

Saturday, April 26: Hastings Jazz Festival with Ransom Street Big Band 
@ Walldorf Ballroom 10am

Saturday, May 17: Grandville HS with Ransom Street Big Band and New Horizons’ Music Ensembles @ 7pm

Wednesday, May 30th: Wyoming Senior Center: Grand Rapids Symphonette concert. 7pm

Thursday, June 12: Calder City Concert Band at Covenant Living of Great Lakes 7pm

Wednesday, June 18: Calder City at Beacon Hill at Eastgate 7pm

Thursday, June 19: Beer City Winds at St. Cecelia Music Center at 7pm

Wednesday, July 16: Second Congregational Church at 7pm with Calder City Concert Band

Thursday, July 17: Beer City Winds at St. Cecelia at 7pm

Do you have an event planned this summer that needs music? Contact me for event music. I love to play piano for weddings, parties, etc.

​Kreenah

I will be resuming in home lessons this summer. This is ideal for home school students, or sibling groups. I do offer a discount for more than one student at the same location. (-$5 a week for each student after the first)

In addition, I am offering a special 6 week package: choose your own dates and times over the course of the summer. This will fit into your unique vacation and travel schedule!

Save $$ Only $169 for this package (prepaid only)

Or, you can enjoy the consistency of lessons every week for 10 weeks on either Mondays or Thursdays. (three Thursdays will move to the following Fridays to accommodate my performance schedule.)

30 minute lessons (beginners in first year)....... $35
45 minute lessons (2 years of study) .........$50

Contact Kreenah now: [email protected]
to secure your slot for clarinet, piano, or vocal lessons this summer.

​Home school students beginning this summer will also have first choice of Fall 2025 lesson times. Fees will be increasing for NEW students in the fall. However, if you begin this summer, you will maintain the summer fees when you continue in the fall. 

​I have been allied with The Piano Cottage now for 1 year, and this has worked out very well for me. In addition to taking care of the business end of things, it has been a great source for acquiring new students. I have had the privilege of working with some really wonderful young people. And a few adults. I am teaching piano, clarinet and voice there.

I would love to branch out more into the home school community by providing in-home lessons for families this year again. Pre-COVID, this was over half of my music student demographic. Spring 2020, I did learn to Zoom lessons, and that was quite a learning experience for me. But, I still prefer sitting next to students and providing immediate corrections and hands-on demonstrations. I really rely, too, on adjusting the direction of instruction based on my students' cues, both verbal and non-verbal. I like to keep variety during lessons: playing together, improvising, ear training, music games, watching a YouTube performance, etc.  However, I know there are several teachers out there to choose from. 

What I pride myself on providing is an individual approach for the unique learning styles and goals of each and every one of my students. My broad experience has enabled me to try many different approaches. I want to fashion lesson experiences that mold to the students' direction of learning. Through this process, I also have been able to learn various techniques and approaches from student suggestions and their experiences. Music lessons with me are definitely a two-way street, and every session is an exploration into what works, how we learn, musical ideas and FUN!

Here's where you could hear me perform: 

I continue to perform at Von Maur, Woodland Mall. I play piano with Good Medicine Band, and fill in with Ransom Street Big Band and In Full Swing occasionally also. I play for Sunday Services at St. Luke's Lutheran Church on 4 mile. On clarinet, I am playing in Grand Rapids Symphonette, and Calder City Concert Band. I provide piano/vocal event music for organizations that call on me for parties and receptions. I also sing often at Temple Emanuel services on Fulton Street. 

Greetings to all my precious students this month. I want to wish you all a healthy, safe and happy holiday this December. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or simply the change in seasons: may it be a positive time for you and your family to observe your own traditions.

I wanted to send a reminder to please return the surveys which I gave you in packets at the beginning of November. I only have had one returned. These will be helpful for The Piano Cottage as we evaluate our offerings. 

If you would be willing to help, we are also looking for live lesson videos we can use to promote TPC. If your child is willing to participate in this, please let myself or Anna at the front desk know. 

The Piano Cottage is observing a Winter Break to coordinate with most school breaks this year. NO lessons from December 23 to January 6th. The studio is also closed on Monday, January 15, which will affect my Monday students. Make up lesson week for Spring Semester is February 13 - 19. So, unless you need a makeup, you will not have a lesson that week either. You can find all the calendar information on TPC website also.

Enjoy creating music!
​Ms. Kreenah