Our Teachers

Sean Six's musical career began at the age of nine with a rented instrument and group lessons at Reifsnyder’s Music Shop in Ottumwa, Iowa. It was at the University of Colorado at Boulder where I completed my undergraduate studies in Guitar Performance and was the recipient of the Ted and Nancy Anderson Music Award, one of the most prestigious awards offered by the College of Music. There were many opportunities to study with visiting faculty from around the world. I then completed my graduate guitar course work at the University of Denver Currently, I am living in Southeast Iowa and work as a private guitar teacher and I am also a music professor at a Community College.
Sean works with students of all ages, abilities, and musical interests.

Megan Uden is a graduate of the University of Iowa with degrees in Music Performance (Clarinet) and Music Education. She has an Iowa Teaching license with endorsements in K-12 music. She was a member of the Hawkeye Marching Band, Iowa Pep Band and Concert Band for five years. Megan is from Coralville and graduated from Liberty High School, where she was involved in band, all-state, choir and show choir. She has experience in teaching lessons on all band instruments during student teaching. Her primary instrument is clarinet. She also teaches piano, voice and beginner woodwind/brass. Megan has a passion for teaching music to young students and loves to bring the energy and always have fun!

Sean Harken is a vocalist, pianist, songwriter, and recording engineer. He typically sings classical, musical theatre, pop, and jazz styles, and has a pop/jazz background in piano. He is currently studying Voice Performance at the University of Iowa as a student of Dr. David Meyer. He believes the most important part of a musical education is the joy it brings you! He looks forward to helping each student on their individual musical journeys.

Jun Le is originally from Vietnam and is currently studying Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy with Dr. Nosikova at the University of Iowa. After spending 10 years at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, she came to the US to pursue her musical career. In 2018, she earned a Silver medal - Asia International Piano Academy in Korea. Prior to coming to the US, she was also a piano instructor at Canada Academy of Music in Hanoi, Vietnam. During her college years, Jun Le has performed at various Series by the School of Music and is also actively involved in community service performances.

Kyle Quarles has taught music from ages five to adult for about 15 years, both in the classroom and privately, and enjoys working with students to unlock their unique path to musicianship through improvising, listening, writing, and reading. As a composer, my music uses techniques from mathematics and computer science, often to ingest and re-cast musical languages of the past. As a theorist, my work has appeared in Perspectives of New Music, as well as in lectures delivered at the University of New Hampshire and the New England Conservatory. In addition to my work as a guitarist, I'm also a singer. I sang for two years as a Choral Scholar at Christ Church in Rochester New York, and also recorded with the Schola Cantorum there for several years. I currently work as a singer with Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City.

Jaden Patterson is a pianist, drummer, guitar player, singer, songwriter, and producer from Center Point, Iowa. He has several years of experience with multiple styles of music from classical and jazz to pop and musical theater. While studying music and music education at Wartburg College, Jaden worked with and learned from many world renowned musicians and composers, and traveled to Europe and performed music in six different countries.

Askar Khaetov is a bass player (electric and upright), performer, composer and teacher. He holds a Bachelor's and two Master's in Jazz performance from the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan and in Jazz Studies from the University of Iowa. He has shared the stage with some of the finest jazz musicians such as Benny Green, Chris Coles, Christie Dashiell, Anibal Rojas, Aaron Gosh, just to name a few. During his Master's at the University of Iowa, he worked as a teaching assistant of jazz history and was an assistant director of a jazz combo. He also worked as an electric bass instructor at the state Conservatory of Uzbekistan and as a guitar teacher at British school of Tashkent.

Martin Gelwasser is a freelance trombonist and teacher based in Eastern Iowa. Starting Fall semester 2023 Martin will be the trombone teaching artist at St. Ambrose University. In 2017 Martin completed a Master’s degree in Orchestral Studies from The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where he studied with Jay Friedman and Reed Capshaw. Prior, he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Trombone Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In 2016, Martin was awarded the Anthony P. Hopkins Memorial Scholarship for outstanding trombone students. Martin currently resides in Iowa City with his fiancé and three cats, Marie, Colby-Jack, and Squid.

Ryan Doerr is the Associate Principal Cellist of Orchestra Iowa (tenured in 2023) and Section Cellist with the Des Moines Symphony, (tenured in 2025). He has also performed with the Missouri Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra, and was Principal Cellist for Opera in the Ozarks in 2022. As an active chamber musician, he has appeared with the Orchestra Iowa and Candlelight Concerts string quartets. From 2022 to 2024, he was a Teaching Assistant at the University of Iowa, coaching cello, chamber music, and class strings.

Molly Vacek has been passionate for music and education since her youth. She holds an active license in both American Sign Language Interpreting as well as Substitute Teaching. Molly has her Associate Degree from Scott Community College and 5 years of experience in the education field. She has been playing piano since she was seven and has 16 years of flute experience along with a few other instruments. Her favorite quote is from Henry Longfellow, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” Molly looks forward to enriching students' lives with music lessons!

Mina Jerome is a graduate from the University of Iowa, where she received a B.M. in Clarinet Performance. Originally from Iowa City, she started piano at the age of four, studying at the Preucil School of Music. At the age of eight, she became a winner of the Iowa Music Teachers Association’s piano competition. She started playing clarinet at the age of ten, and played at Carnegie Hall as part of the Young Adult Honors Performance Series band and in Vipiteno, Italy as a part of the Orfeo Music Festival. Currently, she plays clarinet and saxophone in local theatre and opera productions including Three Decembers, Footloose the Musical, and The Drowsy Chaperone.

Aaron Schultz has been passionate about music since his youth and is originally from Cedar Falls. He has over 15 years of piano experience and over 10 years of experience with Alto Saxophone. He currently teaches both at Music4Life and also works as a Monument Designer. Aaron graduated from Kirkwood with an associates degree in Business and currently lives in the North Liberty area where he pursues both of his passions.

Curtis Boysen graduated from Northwestern University . He actively  performs in local Jazz, Latin,  Funk, and Rock Bands. He also has experience touring. He is passionate about establishing the academic foundation of drumming so students can excel. He sees his students having a great time learning and playing. He meets students where they are and adjusts his teaching style to fit their individual interests and desires. Curtis composes his own methods and materials for students for more individualized instruction.

Mike earned his PhD in music from the University of Iowa in 2009. Mike plays folk, rock, blues, jazz, and classical guitar. He has over 30 years experience teaching guitar and over 20 years experience teaching music theory at the college level. Mike has taught guitar, music theory, and music history at the University of Iowa, St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Coe College, and Kirkwood Community College. He has played at area hospitals, weddings, and other events. He has performed in classical guitar masterclasses for David Russell and Manuel Barreuco and currently serves as the President of the Iowa City Classical Guitar Society. Mike’s love and enthusiasm for music shows in everything he does and he passes these to his students.

Marek Szmyrgala gives piano and guitar lessons. Originally from Poland, Marek graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He then moved to Boston and worked with music and business before moving to Iowa to open the Music4life studio.

Tony Chang is a dedicated violin performer and educator with over 28 years of experience. He studied violin performance at Indiana University. He has taught violin and conducting at Central College and Simpson College, performed with orchestras in the US and Japan, and maintains an active private studio. He is accepting violin and viola students of all ages and skill levels. He uses both Suzuki and Traditional Orchestral methods to bring out strong skills of musicianship with his students.

Sarah Baldus holds an active Iowa Teaching License with K-12 Music endorsements. She graduated with a BA degree in music education from Iowa State University in 2009. She began teaching instrumental music in Iowa Schools in 2010. She is a firm believer in putting the “fun” into every students’ musical education. As a professional musician, Sarah has performed with small ensembles, bands, and orchestras throughout the state of Iowa, as well as, touring Europe with the ISU Wind Ensemble.

Since 2005, Mike has shared his joy and passion for making music with students age 6 to over 65 in Cedar Rapids & North Liberty. Honing a balance of classical technique and fun learning through song, the student's goals and joy are always priority. Come see how fun music can be! I love when students find their joy in music, and I love seeing them grow in confidence and ability. No matter what your goals are, our approach will be as unique as you are!

Reid has extensive piano performance experience in classical, jazz, latin jazz, rock/alternative, accompaniment roles, and more. With a background of percussion performance and composing music for indie video game projects, Reid possesses a unique rhythmic improvisational style and creative flair. He graduated with degrees in Musical Arts and Economics from the University of South Dakota in 2013, then obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa in 2018.

Sevima Dozo started playing piano when she was 7. Originally from Europe, she finished Elementary music school, Music High School and then she graduated from the Academy of Music with degree in Music Education in Sarajevo, Bosnia. After college she got married and moved to Iowa and she has been teaching piano last 5 years.

She believes that every kid has a unique perspective of music and her goal is to help them on their journey to find the beauty of piano melody!