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Teaching Staff
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Donna LaRue, owner & founder of Forte Piano Music Studio, has been teaching piano for many years, first in her home & now at the studio. Always a teacher, she so enjoys being with young children as well as the teens & adults. Getting the most out of students and encouraging & pushing them to do their best is her forte! She herself began piano lessons at age 6 and studied through college. With a masters in education she taught briefly in the school system before resigning to raise her own children.
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Tracy Ensley is a teacher and performer of violin, viola, and piano, and harp. She has been adjunct faculty at Bob Jones University and North Greenville University and String Instructor at Spartanburg Day School, Pinner Studios, and the Fine Arts Center of Easley. She has many years of professional experience as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral member, and accompanist. Tracy graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance and Historic Keyboard and a Master’s degree in Viola Performance. Outside of music, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids!
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Derek Pearsall grew up in Southeastern PA but now, with his wife & daughter, makes Richland his home. A professional musician for over 35 years, he also served as an active-duty Army musician in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, performing in 23 states and 9 countries. Outside of music, Derek is a home inspector and local business owner (Chestnut Property Inspections). An approachable and engaged teacher, Derek considers music his lifelong calling and pleasure, and loves sharing that passion with his guitar and bass students.
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Jim Roland took his first piano lessons from his Mother, herself an accomplished pianist. He later received his formal training from Joseph Arcaro at the Philadelphia Music Academy. In addition, he has studied in numerous piano master classes and technical work shops conducted by various piano professors and concert pianists. He has in the past given a number of recitals which included a television appearance. While Jim mainly uses the Piano Adventure books, he includes much information as taught by the great masters of the past.
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Jessica Reifsnyder Jessica lives in Richland with her husband and two children. Jessica has been playing violin for over 25 years and has enjoyed playing in various ensembles, orchestras, and pit orchestras. Outside of music, she is an Enrolled Agent and works part time at Sonrise Tax during tax season.
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Shawn Risser lives in Myerstown, PA with his lovely wife Rosanne and their 3 sons and 1 daughter. From an early age, he took a special interest in singing and music. He was given the opportunity to take piano lessons at age 6 and continued taking lessons for many years. From 2010-2020, God blessed him with the opportunity to teach music rudiments and choir at Lebanon Valley Christian School. His desire is to honor the Lord Jesus in exercising the gifts he has been given and to pass on a passion for music to his students. Shawn says, "I'm grateful that we as God's children have an eternity of being with Him to look forward to, and that we will be able to make music forever, worshiping / praising our Savior!"
Thankful!
We're giving all we've got to give your student an excellent & encouraging experience with music. Whether at the keys or strumming the guitar we are so thankful for you, the students & parents, who push us and help us learn, for the energy you bring, for the practice you give and for the relationships we build. I am sure that as we work together, we’ll experience some wonderful growth and progress as we make music. If you have concerns, please talk with us, call, or write. If you’re pleased with the development of your student, tell your neighbors and just maybe you’ll see them coming in while you’re going out from your next lesson!