Annette Kebsch

Lessons Offered

Where are Lessons Offered

About Me

My name is Annette Kebsch but my students call me Miss Annette since my last name can be tricky to pronounce.  I have been teaching private lessons for 46 years.  My music degree is from Washington State University where I studied with Alfred Boyington and Alan Bodman.  I also studied music at the University of Washington with Vilem Sokol when I was a young teen.  After graduating from college I taught music in the public schools in Alaska for 30 years.  I was in Who's Who for American Teachers. 

I teach piano, violin, viola, and classical guitar lessons in my home studio in Gig Harbor, WA.  I play in a local symphony orchestra and also manage and perform in two string quartets (Ambrosia String Quartet and Tacoma String Quartet).  I am a member of MTNA and ASTA.  In addition to these I belong to the Gig Harbor Music Teachers Association.   

I customize my program for each student because no two students are the same.  Therefore, many of my students use different books.  It is important to me that each of my students truly enjoys learning how to read music and play the instrument of their choice.

Please note that students must come to my music studio at my home for lessons.  

My Musical Education Background

I began ballet, like many little girls do, when I was five years old.  At age six my parents let me start piano lessons after I began playing tunes on the piano that I had heard on the radio.  My mother was an excellent pianist.   I couldn't get enough music.  A Wagner opera is pretty heavy and I went to my first one at age six and loved it.  When I turned nine I began violin lessons.   I had one private teacher who made records of our solos in his New Orleans studio.  He also had a string ensemble which played on a local education TV channel each month.  My stand partner was ten years old and I was eleven when we were accepted into this ensemble.  The other ensemble members were in high school.  Being in that ensemble was a wonderful experience. Besides performing regularly, we participated in competitions held at the university.  These competitions were for solos and ensembles.  I still have my medals, even though they are a bit worn.  When I was fourteen years old we moved to the Seattle area and I auditioned for Vilem Sokol who was a violin professor at the University of Washington.  I was thrilled when he accepted me as one of his students for private lessons.  I continued studying violin and piano then went to Washington State University to study music.  I performed in two symphony orchestras and an opera pit orchestra.  When I graduated from college I moved to Alaska.  I learned to play the viola and classical guitar. I taught band and classroom music for five years then taught orchestra for 25 years.  During this time I continued teaching private lessons. After retiring from the Alaska Public Schools I moved back to Washington State.  I started a private studio here in Gig Harbor, joined an orchestra, and organized two string quartets which keep quite busy playing for weddings and corporate events.  I also began writing musical arrangements for the quartets.  I am doing everything I love to do.  Retirement couldn't be much busier but it is wonderful.  I had always taught students around age seven or so up through high school-aged students with a few adults.  Now I have found an incredible preschool program for piano students which is very successful.  I can teach children as young as 3-1/2.  It is quite rewarding.  I also have a string program for younger children but I prefer to start them no younger than five years old.

Genres and Subjects Taught

Violin, Viola, and Piano

Lesson Rates

For young children 3-1/2 to 5 years old I like to keep lessons to 20-30 minutes, depending on the child's attention span.  Other students usually have 45 minute lessons.  My lessons are basically $1 per minute, 30 minute lessons are $30. 45 minute lessons are $45. 60 minute lessons are $60. 

Students pay for lessons at the first lesson of each month for however many lessons they have that month.  I have a studio policy agreement for makeup lessons and missed lessons which I have parents sign prior to the first lesson.

Ages / Skill Levels Taught

I teach beginning students as young as 3-1/2 years old for piano and 5 years old for violin & viola all the way up to adults.  I will teach beginners how to read music.  It is nice to be the first teacher so I can teach them good habits with playing their instruments.

I have also taught more advanced students who are playing music by Chopin.  When I feel that these students are getting advanced enough for a college instructor I make recommendations for them.  

My Certifications and Awards

Who's Who Among America's Teachers

Certified to teach music for ages K-12 in Public Schools

I have had several students become concertmasters and principal players of orchestras.  A few are currently playing professionally.  I have had several private students win trophies at Gig Harbor Music Olympics.  In addition, one of my piano students won a gold medal at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Bellevue, WA.  I helped one student with music composition last year and she won an award for her composition.

My Musical Influences

I love many kinds of music.  Some of my favorites are Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Wagner, Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven, and Dvorak.

My private instructors and conductors had a strong influence on me.  I had some excellent teachers.

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