Jennifer's Studio of Music is a home based business located in Bloomington, Illinois. This business provides private vocal and instrumental lessons for both students and adults. Jennifer's main goal is to make her students feel comfortable when they are in her studio since performing music in front of others can be scary at times. Her hours are very accommodating and she takes into account all of her students' busy schedules. Currently, there are 42 students who take lessons, however, Jennifer is always looking for new students to welcome to her studio! For more information or to set up an appointment to visit the studio, contact Jennifer by calling (309) 275-9991 or email [email protected].
Meet Jennifer
Jennifer Wills is the owner of Jennifer's Studio of Music. She was born and raised in Minnesota until she ventured out to Bloomington-Normal for college. She attended Illinois Wesleyan University,where she received her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. While she was in college, she met her husband, Dewey. Since he was from Bloomington-Normal, that’s where they decided to stay and raise a family. She now has four kids; Paris, Kenneth, Grayson, and Laine. All four of them share Jennifer’s love of music and all take lessons at her studio. Jennifer is very passionate about her work and truly cares about each and every one of her students. She also is very reliable and responsible. Students at the studio can always expect Jennifer to answer promptly to any questions or requests that they have. Jennifer also subs occasionally for Unit 5 schools. She has considered teaching music in schools or universities however, her true love is teaching in her studio. One of her favorite things about her job is the close relationships she forms with her students. Jennifer’s favorite age range of her students is her high school students. She loves chatting with her students about their day and what’s going on in their life. Jennifer loves making an impact on young peoples’ lives. Other than music, Jennifer loves coffee (especially Starbucks), and running. It is common for Jennifer and her students to go and get coffee and some students even become workout buddies with Jennifer. One of the many reasons Jennifer is such a fantastic teacher is her passion for music. Ever since she was little, she knew she wanted to be involved with music. She recalls of all the countless auditions and trips to New York as she strived to be on Broadway. Jennifer genuinely loves performing. Although she decided that teaching music was her ideal job, she still actively uses her performance skills. Whether it’s singing at local events, church, funerals, or even duets with students, Jennifer is always excited about performing. Jennifer is a outstanding teacher because of her ability to share her passion with her students.
Schooling/Experience
Jennifer has been teaching lessons for over 17 years! She first started teaching during her junior year of high school when her neighbors would pay her $5.00 for piano lessons. She continued teaching lessons throughout college and by her senior year, she had 25 students in her studio. Jennifer graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2000 with her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. It was during her 4 years at Illinois Wesleyan that she realized her love for teaching. This love, led to Jennifer getting her master’s degree in music education from Illinois State University in 2003. Jennifer credits her teaching skills to her teachers and professors she had in school. She frequently utilizes tools and tricks that she learned while pursuing performance and contributes them into her teaching. Eventually, she plans to go back to school to obtain her doctorate in vocal pedagogy which is the study of the art and science of voice instruction. She hopes that learning extensive information about this topic will benefit both her and her students.
For information about the music program at Illinois Wesleyan and Illinois State, please visit the links provided.
http://finearts.illinoisstate.edu/music/
Lessons
At Jennifer’s Studio of Music, lessons are typically once a week. Most students decide on a thirty minute time slot however, some students desire an hour. One of the best qualities of this studio is that lessons are affordable. Jennifer charges $30.00 for a thirty minute session and $60.00 for an hour session. Jennifer never wants a student to miss out on an opportunity to learn and practice music, so she is very flexible and open to financial help if it is necessary. Another great thing about this studio, is the flexibility for lesson dates. If there is a conflict, Jennifer is more than happy to reschedule to a time that fits best for that week.
When taking lessons at Jennifer’s Studio of Music, the student gets to decide how the lesson is structured and what is worked on during that time. High school students especially, use their lesson time to work on music for auditions. Whether it’s auditions for IMEA or for extra circular music groups, Jennifer is always willing to go through and work on the music. Often, she will record the accompaniment for you to practice with on your own. Jennifer is dedicated to making sure you have a successful audition and is always eager to hear about how the audition went. If you’re not in audition season and have nothing to work on, Jennifer has numerous song choices of all different genres for students to pick out.
Jennifer teaches her students using these well known acronyms pictured above.
Teaching Style
Jennifer’s teaching style is similar to the styles that her teachers used. One of the most common tool used for reading music is acronyms. Jennifer utilizes acronyms in her teaching especially her younger students who are still learning how to read music. Something that makes Jennifer such a good teacher is that she’s always reading about and learning new techniques to use in her studio. The studio is filled with books that explore techniques and tricks for becoming a good musician. Jennifer refers to them frequently and is more than happy to loan them to her students.
Recitals
One of the best parts about Jennifer’s Studio of Music is the recitals. Jennifer’s Studio of Music students have the opportunity to participate in two different kinds of recitals. Community recitals typically occur twice a month. These recitals give students the chance to perform in a smaller settings. Usually, community recitals take place in local nursing homes like the Blair House and Westminster Village. On the contrary, studio recitals are more formal. There are three studio recitals a year and most students from the studio perform in them. These generally are located at Evelyn Chapel which is one Illinois Wesleyan’s campus.
Reviews
“I have been attending Jennifer’s Studio of Music since I was in 8th grade, and now I’m a senior in high school! I absolutely love it there. She can help you with technique of singing, piano, arranging, sight reading, and so much more! She is very flexible with times and dates and is very understanding. She teaches you how you want to be taught. Her lessons are based on what you want to work on, not what she wants to do. Overall, I have loved being her student.” –Mary Claire Lartz
"I love taking lessons from Jennifer. She is so passionate about teaching music and has made me a better musician. Her studio has such a comfortable atmosphere and Jennifer is so encouraging. I used to be so insecure and nervous about singing in front of people but Jennifer has taught me how to be confident and overcome the nerves. I would definitely recommend Jennifer's Studio of Music to anyone looking for a place to take lessons." -Samara Ribbons
