From self-teaching as a child to performing on real stages and guiding students through their own musical breakthroughs, Gwen’s path to becoming a music teacher is as dynamic and heartfelt as her lessons. Her story is one of persistence, creativity, and a passion for connecting with people through music.
Gwen began playing piano at age six, driven by a love for singing and the desire to accompany herself. While she tried formal lessons early on, the experience was rigid and uninspiring. “I was being pressured into playing songs I didn’t like,” she remembers. “It just wasn’t for me.” That experience planted a seed that would eventually bloom into her calling as a music teacher, one who believes learning music should feel personal and joyful.
After years of self-teaching, Gwen attended Nashville School of the Arts, where she studied classical piano with Dr. Lauren Gabriel and took lessons from other seasoned instructors. She considered pursuing music therapy, but the performance route eventually won her heart. She formed a band called The Fine Print, began teaching peers while still in school, and even tutored her younger brothers who always looked up to her. Later, a retail job temporarily pulled her away from music, but Lessons In Your Home brought her back. “It gave me the opportunity to be a full-time musician again, and I’m so grateful for that.”
Today, Gwen teaches piano, guitar, voice, ukulele, and even bass, with a few extra instruments like harmonica and mandolin under her belt. Though piano was her gateway instrument, she values all instruments for what they offer students. “If I had a choice for every student, I’d say start with piano,” she says. “But if a student loves guitar, then that’s where the magic happens for them, and I love that.”
Gwen’s teaching style is all about tailoring each lesson to the individual. She focuses on finding a student’s learning style and favorite music, making theory relatable by tying it directly to the songs they’re learning. “It’s not about teaching straight from a book,” she says. “It’s about making it meaningful and fun.”
What students love most about their lessons with Gwen is the personal connection. She takes time to ask about her students’ lives, not just their music, and brings in materials that keep things fresh and engaging. She wants to make each lesson something they look forward to rather than just another class.
One of her favorite success stories is about a young student named Maria. “She’s seven and very bubbly, but also struggles with attention due to ADHD,” Gwen explains. “In the beginning, she was playing ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ with one finger. Now, just a few weeks later, she’s playing full octave scales in both hands and even stayed focused through a lesson that went 15 minutes overtime.” Moments like that, she says, are what make teaching so rewarding.
When asked when she truly felt she had “made it” as a musician, Gwen points to two milestones: becoming a full-time teacher with Lessons In Your Home, and performing her first gig on a real stage with her band. “It felt so professional,” she recalls. “We had a sound check, flyers, a venue. It wasn’t just another house show. It was real.”
Gwen’s musical taste is a blend of alternative rock and classic influences, with artists like The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, and Radiohead holding a special place in her heart. Outside of music, she enjoys hiking Washington’s many trails with her two dogs, but music remains at the center of her life. “It’s what I do, and who I am.”
Whether she’s playing a Radiohead cover, building a custom lesson for a student, or helping someone discover the joy of playing their first song, Gwen brings heart and individuality to every interaction. Her journey reminds us that music education is about more than notes and rhythms, it’s about connection, growth, and making it personal.