With over 20 years of teaching experience, every student teaches me something new. I have had the pleasure of guiding learners from ages 5 to 75 on their personal music journeys. The joy children find in music continues to amaze me, as does enthusiasm and individuality, making it rewarding to witness their growth as musicians confident performers.

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Christina is a professor of cello at Clarke University and Iowa Wesleyan University, and she teaches private in the Iowa City area. During the summer, she instructs at the Dubuque Symphony Summer String Camp and has traveled across Kansas and Iowa to give masterclasses workshops. With a passion for teaching students of ages and levels, Christina been sharing her expertise since 2003.

Dr. Jessica Saunders strives to foster confidence in her students by discovering their individual talents and strengths. With 13 years of teaching experience, she specializes in musical styles such as musical theatre, popular music, and classical. Dr. Saunders enjoys working with young singers and teaches students aged 8 and older. Her students have appeared in leading rolls at all of the area high schools, and have performed with City Circle Acting Company, Young Footliters, and the Iowa City Community Theatre. 

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My philosophy is that every person has an inner musical self that can absolutely be expressed through a musical instrument with proper support and personal initiative. I believe that student support should include positive feedback, gentle criticism with practice advice, in-lesson workshopping, and an investment in the student as a person. I believe that student practice can become a welcomed habit with positive feedback and reward either by the parents/teacher, and/or through the student’s intrinsic value of learning a new skill

I believe in adaptive teaching based on the goals of the student. My ultimate goal while teaching is to foster a love for music-making, and I recognize that it can be found through many different paths. Technically speaking, I encourage my students to have an advanced understanding of the physics of both the instrument and their body. I love to demonstrate, and to play duets with my students. I also believe strongly in finding opportunities for my students to play with others, whether that be orchestral, chamber, or jam sessions.

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Rebecca began teaching voice lessons at Dynamic Music Studios in the summer 2021, followed by piano that fall. Her students actively participate in community music productions, including the Young Footliters Youth Theatre and the Iowa City Youth Choir. supports them in preparing for and building confidence in their performances. Teaching brings Rebecca joy, and she looks forward to a long nurturing young musicians.

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​Christopher Eck has been teaching guitar and other fretted strings for over 25 years. He has diverse musical experiences in all genres (rock, country, folk, jazz, classical, et al) and a focus in his own playing on fingerstyle guitar. His teaching career has also been diverse, with many years of working experience in classrooms, libraries, studios and just about anywhere there is musical inspiration to be shared.

As a teacher, I have been so fortunate to work with students ranging in age from single digits into the 60’s. Many of my students have found rewarding experiences in honor bands like All State, SEIBA, NEIBA, U of I, Marion, etc. Some have even gone on to major in music in college. However, my greatest satisfaction is always derived from helping each individual student cultivate a lifelong relationship with music.

I actively work to create an inclusive, safe space in the studio free of judgment for students to be their genuine, authentic selves, which enables them to be open to instruction and willing to make mistakes. In training artists that will be active citizens in the global community, I encourage individuality, respect, and professionalism in the spaces I work in, amid striving for artistic excellence in whichever genre the student wants to sing.

Kate is finishing her Music Therapy Degree at the University of Iowa. She began teaching at Dynamic Music Studios in the fall of 2025 and has had students perform with Young Footliters Youth Theatre.

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