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 guitar-playing father 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 the past two decades, April has taught a combination of instruments 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 17 years have two daughters and two black cats. When not teaching, April loves hiking with her family, crafting, and building LEGO sets.