Instructor Spotlight: April Gerken

While middle school might be the age many students begin taking piano lessons, for April Gerken, it was the age she taught her first piano lesson nearly 30 years ago. She first discovered her love for piano in elementary school when her family moved into a new home with a piano included, and her parents encouraged her to dive into mastering it. As a freshman in college at Millikin University, April began teaching voice lessons in addition to her piano instruction. After graduating with a degree in music education, she completed her master’s degree at Walden University with a specialty in curriculum design. For nearly two decades, April taught a variety of instruments and ensembles to FWCS students in elementary, middle, and high school. April loves that music has the power to express thoughts and feelings people might not otherwise know how to share. She believes learning an instrument teaches vital life skills, including discipline, responsibility, and respect for self and others. April and her husband of 18 years have two daughters. When not teaching, April loves spending time with her family, reading, crafting, and building LEGO sets.

“As a child, music transformed my life and gave me a purpose. At Pearl Arts, I have the opportunity to share the benefits of music with students of all ages and walks of life and to see it spark joy and creativity in them. I have said from the beginning of my teaching career that I believe my students teach me just as much as I teach them, and that has been proven through my time at Pearl Arts. My students challenge me to try new teaching methods and music, and that has made me a better teacher.” – April