Many people think they can "teach themselves" how to play an instrument. It is the rare person who can sit down and understand the "language of music". For the band student, a private lesson gives them an extra push and helps them master their instrument.
Our Teachers
Scott Backus started playing guitar at age 11; out playing jobs at age 13. Inspired by my step Father and other local heros. Favorite type of music is from the 70s,80s, 90s, where the feel good sounds of "rock n roll guitar" were made. I enjoy teaching because it gives me a feeling of Satisfaction that can not be replaced. I choose to teach at Mad About Music because they really care about helping aspiring players. They have a variety of instructors, different but with the same goals: to help you reach your musical goals.
Dana Dolezal attends Silver Lake College. She has played piano for 12 years, flute for 9, and has studied voice for 2 years. She loves music, sharing it with others even more and teaching is the most amazing and fulfilling job she can imagine. We love her crazy hats and great joy.
Lisa Heili began studying the violin in 5th grade right here in the Manitowoc Public School System and has been playing for thirty- seven years. She began learning to play guitar at age 16 and has been playing liturgical music in most of the years since then. She currently runs the praise and worship band, AltarSound at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Manitowoc doing vocals, guitar, and occasionally bass guitar, and plays guitar and sings with the youth mass band at St. Peter the Fisherman in Two Rivers. In the past few years Lisa has taken up the bass guitar and the ukulele. She loves stringed instruments and would love to learn to play more of them. Lisa has performed vocally in many locally produced musicals, and has sung with the Symphony Chorus. She is currently studying voice with Jennifer Kasten and is also being trained in the Estill Voice Training Method in which she hopes to be certified some day. She has a large family including nine children, many of whom she home-schooled for several years. Lisa enjoys teaching and would love to introduce you or your child to the joys of music.
Trent Machut has a Bachelor of Music in Recording Technology from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, with an emphasis in classical guitar. He has been playing guitar and drums for over 15 years, and has been teaching since 2009. Trent has performed and recorded with rock, punk, and blues bands as both a drummer and guitarist, and is currently in the process of working on a recording project involving original work. Trent teaches guitar and drums at Mad About Music, and enjoys working with students of all ages.
Rebecca Markvart started playing guitar at age 14. Graduated from Silver Lake College with a degree in psychology and in 1998 from Lakeshore Technical College with a degree in Police Science. She formed a trio, “Happenstance,” and played in many small venues. Becky has studied classical voice and found she loved to write songs as well as sing. She has been teaching voice and guitar since 2007. We love her humor and sensitivity with younger students.
Jennifer Rivera, a 2010 graduate (Music: instrumental and general music) of Silver Lake College is our energetic horns teacher here at Mad About Music (M.A.M). When not here Jennifer is spreading her joy of music in area schools in Chilton, New Holstein, and Random Lake. If you or your student needs to be fitted for an instrument, or you have any questions regarding brass or woodwind instruments and maintenance... Jen's your girl!