ROBERTA GANNET, INSTRUCTOR | STRINGS
Meet Roberta Gannett, strings instructor at Cathedral Park Performing Arts Collective (CPPAC). Roberta has been leading the Beginner Strings Ensemble since the organization’s very first year, and she will be leading an all-new weeklong workshop at CPPAC this summer 2017, titled: “Summer Sings & Strings.” Read on to learn more about Roberta!
Q: Where were you born?
Salem, OR
Q: What is it like being a teacher?
Being a teacher is different every day, which is part of what makes it so fun. Even when I plan a class it never goes exactly as expected, but I’m always excited to see where it does go.
Q: Where/what is the most unusual or surprising place/time you’ve ever performed?
Playing songs from Fiddler on the Roof, with my fiddle, on a roof.
Q: What is your favorite song title or singer?
My favorite singer is Nina Simone or Ella Fitzgerald. Both so good in such different ways. Nina, who like me, was classically trained, is a great example of owning your own voice and singing the music you love regardless of your background or the genre of the piece. And Ella… well every time I hear her sing it makes me smile.
Q: How long have you been a music teacher?
I’ve been a music teacher for about 10 years. But I actually started teaching violin at summer camp when I was 14, so if you count that it’s been a lot longer!
Q: When did you know you wanted to teach, and what was your dominant motivation?
Only recently have I KNOWN I wanted to teach. When you start out teaching music you usually are working some other job as well to make ends meet. Over time I’ve tried a lot of different jobs but I’ve always been teaching, and about 3 years ago I decided to figure out what it would take to teach full time and go for it. I make music with friends all the time and it is one of the best parts of my life. I want all of my students to be able to have that experience, and to share music with others throughout their lives.
We couldn’t agree with you more, Roberta. Here’s to the love of music and sharing it with others throughout our lives.