Meet the Teachers

Brian Busch

Acoustic Guitar • Electric Guitar • Bass Guitar

Teaching at Scheitel’s since 1996

Specializes in Country

Educational Experience
• Bachelor’s Degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Graduate of Guitar institute of Technology, Hollywood, CA

Teaching Experience
Brian Busch began teaching guitar in 1983 at Encore Music in Mankato. He has taught guitar at LaMusique Music Studio in Excelcior, MN. He taught at Scheitel’s Music in 1996 and started again in 2007.

Performance Experience
Brian started playing in rock bands in high school. He toured the US with Top-40 cover bands. He has played professionally with several different bands around Southern Minnesota. He has played in college jazz bands and pit orchestras.

Other Hobbies & Pastimes
Brian enjoys bicycling on Minnesota trails in his free time.

BARBARA DUNKER

Voice • Piano

Teaching at Scheitel’s since 2004

Specializes in Classical Vocal method applied to any type of singing; Classical, Pop, Rock, Swing, Jazz for Piano

Educational Experience
• Major in Vocal Performance, Minor in Piano from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN

Teaching Experience
Barb has been teaching since 1974 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and Mankato, MN.

Performance Experience
Barb got her first taste for performing from singing on the bus as a child while commuting with her mother. While living in Winnipeg, Barb co-owned a music production company and would sing with the company bands, write her own shows and arrangements, book talent for events and writing and recording music for several Winnipeg Planetarium Shows. She has performed for weddings, receptions, trade shows, Christmas parties, Bar and Bat mitzphas, grand openings of new buildings, and company parties up to 5 nights a week. Since returning to Mankato, Barb has been performing with the Mankato Area Community Band, Merely Players, The Lake Crystal Area Community Band, The Echos Big Band-St. Peter, Rabbit Rodel Swing Band-St. Peter, and her trio, "Chance" as well as numerous solo engagements.

Other Hobbies and Pastimes
Barb loves to spoil her 3 cats with lots of love and attention. She also enjoys knitting, crocheting, sewing, reading, and traveling with her husband Larry.

Ryan Acker

Acoustic Guitar • Electric Guitar • Bass Guitar • Banjo

Teaching at Scheitel’s since 2008

Specializes in Rock, Blues, Folk, Bluegrass, Classical

Educational Experience
• Music Minor at Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Studied music theory and performance
• Three years Classical training in Guitar from university professors

Teaching Experience
Ryan Acker started his music teaching at Scheitel’s.

Performance Experience
Ryan has been performing in bands and groups since the age of 14. He has performed in a variety of styles including rock, alternative, blues, jazz, cover bands as well as original tunes.

Other Hobbies and Pastimes
Ryan is originally from Wisconsin and enjoys many outdoor activities including camping, hiking, fishing, and biking.

ANITA HULTENGREN

Acoustic Guitar • Electric Guitar • Bass Guitar

Teaching at Scheitel’s since 2007

Specializes in Christian Worship, Pop, folk, Soft Rock, Bluegrass

Educational Experience
• Studied Music theory for 2 years at Southwest State, Marshall
• 2 years of training in piano and violin, as well as some mandolin

Teaching Experience
Anita has taught a couple students from home in the past, but much of her teaching experience has been at Scheitel’s.

Performance Experience
Anita has been performing in church worship bands for about 10 years. She also performed in college orchestra for 2 years.

Other Hobbies and Pastimes
Anita enjoys outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, swimming, biking, and ice skating as well as baking, gardening, and woodworking. While living in Colorado, she climbed a couple of mountains that were over 14,000 ft.

RYAN RADER

Drumset • Percussion • Hand Percussion

Teaching at Scheitel’s since 2008

Specializes in Rock, Funk, and Jazz

Educational Experience
• BM in Percussion Performance at Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Trained under Dr. Rick Ouren, Gordy Knutson, Tedd Gullickson, Bob Haldouson, Leigh Howard Stevens

Teaching Experience
Ryan has been teaching private lessons since 2002. He was a Lancer Drumline instructor in 2004 and a Govenaires Pit percussion instructor in 2006.

Performance Experience
Ryan has performed in concert bands, orchestras, musicals, jazz big band/combos, percussion ensembles, and solo performances at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He has also performed in Lancers and the Govenaires, as well as groups such as Schell’s Brewery Hobo Band, Jim Lawrence Swing Orchestra, Electric Sky Blues/Rock Band, etc.

Other Hobbies and Pastimes
Ryan enjoys billiards, reading, card games, writing, movies and sports.

SARAH SCHMIDT

Piano

Teaching at Scheitel’s since 2009

Specializes in Classical, Pop/Rock

Educational Experience
• 14+ years of training
• Piano was her major instrument in college

Teaching Experience
Sarah started teaching from home in 2006.

Performance Experience
Sarah played saxophone in band from high school through college. She’s also performed in parades, college performances, concerts, weddings, and recitals throughout the years.

Other Hobbies and Pastimes
Sarah practices yoga regularly, loves reading fantasy fiction novels, experimenting at the piano to create soul music, being outside, walking or biking in parks. She is classically trained, but loves rock music.

CHRISTINA HARMAN

Piano

Teaching at Scheitel’s since 2008

Specializes in beginning piano.

Educational Experience
• Graduated from Bethany Lutheran College with a major in Music and a minor in Church Music.
• Studies piano pedagogy, etc. through reading, research, and lectures.

Teaching Experience
Christina has taught piano for 9+ years specializing mostly with beginners. She is currently developing her own piano pedagogy method which will include music theory, history, composition and musicianship into lessons.

Performance Experience
Christina has accompanied several different choirs and ensembles, played for numerous churches, and performed several concerts over the years.

Other Hobbies and Pastimes
Christina is a book-worm as well as a people person. She loves to spend her time with her family and friends and with good books.

RUTH WEBBER

Piano

Teaching at Scheitel’s since 2008

Specializes in Classical and Sacred

Educational Experience
• Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Music
• 16+ years of piano training

Teaching Experience
Most of Ruth’s teaching experience has come from teaching at Scheitel’s.

Performance Experience
Ruth competed in WSMA competitions in high school, performed in numerous Honor’s Recitals at Bethany Lutheran College, and had the opportunity to perform with Peter Ostroushko.

Other Hobbies and Pastimes
Ruth is newly married, loves to play accompaniments, and also enjoys playing the organ.

PHILIP HESS

Piano

Teaching at Scheitel’s since 2008

Specializes in Classical

Educational Experience
• Graduated Nyack College School of Music with Bachelor of Church Music
• Course work in music education, piano, voice and organ.

Teaching Experience
Philip has been teaching piano for 10+ years.

Performance Experience
Philip has 25+ years of experience serving churches as a pianist, organist, worship band keyboardist, and choir director. He has been a vocal soloist, as well as accompanist for solo and choral performances at college community events for 8+ years.

Other Hobbies and Pastimes
Philip loves to travel, is a daily regular at Caribou Coffee, and enjoys doing accompaniment work.

Roger Murphy

Acoustic Guitar • Electric Guitar • Bass Guitar • Banjo • Mandolin

Teaching at Scheitel’s since 2005

Specializes in Country, Rock, Jazz, Metal and pretty much everything else.

Educational Experience
• Has been playing guitar for over 40 years.
• Studied under Johnny Smith, who was RCA’s top recording guitarist of the forties and fifties.
• He also plays many other string instruments including banjo, fiddle, bass guitar, pedal steel guitar and mandolin.

Teaching Experience
Roger has over 30+ years of teaching experience.

Performance Experience
He started playing the ukulele with family at church at the age of three. He worked as a road musician for 12 years out of Nashville with many different bands, traveling across the US and Canada. He’s played in polka bands, top 40 bands, country bands, horn and jazz bands.

Other Hobbies & Pastimes
Roger loves anything music related. Along with teaching, he also does DJ and karaoke work.

LOGAN BURNS

Acoustic Guitar • Electric Guitar • Bass Guitar

Teaching at Scheitel’s since 1999

Specializes in everything, from Country, Rock, Metal, Jazz, various Acoustic styles, and pretty much everything else.

Educational Experience
• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Teaching Experience
Logan has been teaching students for over 10 years.

Performance Experience
Logan regularly performs in pit orchestras at MSU. He has experience performing acoustic, classical, rock, metal, praise and worship, and country styles of guitar. He has performed with over a dozen local area groups as well as numerous professional artists such as Bobby McFerrin.

Other Hobbies & Pastimes
Logan loves to make and repair guitars and spend time with his wife and 2 sons.

NATHAN STONE

Acoustic Guitar * Electric Guitar * Songwriting