Becca Kronyak

I received my Bachelors in Music Education from Indiana University–Bloomington in 2020. While at IU, I studied classical saxophone under the direction of my primary professor Dr. Otis Murphy, as well as Dr. Tom Walsh, Dr. Bob Eason, and Dr. Ricardo Martinez. I performed in several saxophone quartets and put on three solo recitals. I also performed in a number of large ensembles including concert band, jazz band, orchestra, marching band, and indoor pep band. In addition to my studies in saxophone, I sought out additional instruction in flute, clarinet, and voice. The education portion of my degree was focused on both instrumental and early childhood/elementary music education. I have experience teaching music to students ages two to adult in a variety of settings and formats, ranging from private instruction to full wind ensemble. Before I began teaching at The Lesson Studio, I taught K-5 general music for 2 years at Letford Elementary School in Johnstown, CO.

As found in the research done by music educator Edwin Gordon, every human has musical potential. I aim to provide a safe and supportive environment for my students to discover and explore their own musical potential, as well as their interests and curiosities.

This technique is great for working out passages that require fast fingers:

Isolate a small cluster of 5-6 notes and play them in a pattern of rhythm that is different from the written rhythm WITHOUT changing the tempo. When you can play the note cluster fluently in your chosen rhythm pattern, choose a new pattern and repeat. Do this with a total of 3-5 (or more) different rhythm patterns before returning to the original written rhythm.

Your brain learns most efficiently when you practice the same information in a variety of ways.

Punk/Ska – Green Day, Operation Ivy, Less Than Jake

Pop – Lizzo, Panic! At the Disco, Bruno Mars

Hip-hop – Chance the Rapper, Noname, Anderson.Paak

Jazz – Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Duke Ellington

Classical - Jean-Marie Londeix, Arno Bornkamp, Otis Murphy

This is paraphrased and I don’t remember who said it, but I love this thought:

The ‘gateway’ to becoming an artist is not creating art, it’s experiencing art.

My parents raised me with a great love and appreciation for music for as long as I can remember. While neither of them studied music in school or play any instruments, they were always listening to music while I was growing up, sharing their love for their favorite artists with my brother and I. As soon as I got my hands on my first saxophone in 5th grade, I was hooked. By middle school I had started taking private lessons with a teacher who challenged and inspired me immensely, and by high school I knew music would be what I would do for my career and the rest of my life.