Douglas Kuhl School of Music
where music inspires community
DKSM Violin Teachers
Rochelle Drudge has enjoyed teaching violin, piano and music theory in Winkler since 1993, with the exception of a few years living in the US and one year spent teaching music in Loma Plata, Paraguay. Her musical involvements have also included directing student strings ensembles, conducting children’s choirs, piano accompanying and playing violin or viola in various string ensembles. For the last ten years, she has spent much energy developing musical programming for Southern Manitoba. Together with Wes Hamm, she founded Douglas Kuhl School of Music in 2014 and is currently DKSM’s artistic and program director. She was also the founder and director of Homeschool Harmony Choir (2009 - 2019) and of Cadenza Summer Music Week (since 2013). Rochelle has also been significantly involved in leadership of DKSM’s string ensembles.
Rochelle holds a Bachelor of Theology from Canadian Mennonite Bible College (1992) and has studied music in a variety of formal and informal contexts. She has completed her RCM gr. 10 Piano certificate and studied violin at a grade 10 level. Her teachers have included Jean Broadfoot, David Vistenin, and Emmanuel Horch. She studied conducting with George Wiebe and took her Orff Level 1 certification at the University of Manitoba. A strong interest in music pedagogy has prompted much self-study in the Suzuki Method, Music Learning Theory, Body Mapping, techniques in teaching improvisation, and more.
Currently, Rochelle’s private studio in Winkler is made up of 25 violin and piano students of all ages. Her teaching philosophy and style is strongly influenced by Music Learning Theory and the Suzuki method, but incorporates pedagogical elements from other teaching methods as well. Central to her teaching philosophy is that music is best learned through a mutual relationship of understanding and respect among teacher, student and parents. Rochelle’s main goal as a teacher is to help students love music, to develop their musical skills and creativity, and to grow in confidence as musicians so that they both experience the benefits of music themselves and are able to share music with others in a variety of contexts.
Since 1999, Rochelle has enjoyed homeschooling her three children and will be completing her homeschooling years in the summer of 2023.
Rochelle will be accepting new violin and piano students in the fall of 2023. Feel free to contact her if you wish to be on a waiting list or if you have other questions about her lessons or policies.
To contact Rochelle, email rochelle.dksm@gmail.com
Jason Vanwynsberghe
Since graduating in the spring of 2016 from Brandon University with a degree in String Performance and a minor in Music Composition, Jason has been teaching music in Winkler, Morden and Manitou. He
enjoys teaching a diverse assortment of students ranging from five to eighty five, as well as wide variety in level of students from Beginner up to Grade 10. In addition to his degree, Jason has taken Suzuki Violin teacher training Books 1-3, and uses the Suzuki method for all of his beginner and intermediate students.
Also a great fan of performing, Jason regularly plays many different styles of music in various settings, from Fiddling at coffee houses to classical music in concert with various groups. This love of sharing music is reflected in the way he teaches, and he regularly discusses different styles of music in addition to the typical Suzuki and RCM curriculum. As is typical with teachers who have studied the Suzuki Method, Jason believes that anyone can learn music, and that “talent” is something that can be taught.
While most of his students study the violin, Jason is also comfortable teaching viola, and music composition. When not teaching, performing, or writing music, Jason enjoys helping out on his family’s farm in Crystal City.
Jason’s studio is currently full for the 2021-22 school year but if you wish to be on his waiting list
or have other questions about his studio, feel free to contact him.
Contact Jason:
Sarah-Lynn Bergen began playing the violin here in the Pembina Valley at the age of 7. She performed with the Winnipeg Youth Orchestra for 4 years while taking lessons with Simon MacDonald and Karl Stobbe. She continued her studies at the University of Ottawa where she completed a Bachelor of Music under the tutelage of Yehonatan Berick, Jean-Hee Lee and Micheal van der Sloot.
While in university, Sarah had the pleasure of performing with the University of Ottawa Orchestra, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Ottawa Pops Orchestra, and the Manitoba Underground Opera. Sarah discovered a passion for music education through volunteering with Ottawa’s El Sistema program, Orkidstra, and teaching violin and piano at a local music school.
Sarah-Lynn has had the honor of being a student teacher at Cadenza Summer Music Week since 2013 and is excited to be back teaching in Manitoba! In her spare time, Sarah enjoys baking bread, knitting, and cross-country skiing.
Sarah will be accepting new students in the fall of 2023.
Contact Sarah:
Lori Klassen has been an active teacher in Winkler since 1991. Enjoying teaching students of all ages, her studio to date includes piano (beginner to grade 10), flute (beginner to grade 8), beginner violin (Suzuki method), theory, and harmony. Along with maintaining her studio, Lori is active as a performer and accompanist. Playing in church, accompanying soloists and various
groups and choirs over the years have provided many opportunities to enjoy making music together with others.
After having completed an ARCT degree in piano teaching, piano performance, and flute performance, Lori decided to pursue learning the violin. This has expanded the opportunities to learn and collaborate with others in string groups, and to learn new styles of music such as fiddling. Lori believes that music and lessons should always be enjoyable, and that everyone is
capable of making music. It is her theory that teachers should never stop learning, this is why she is actively involved in discovering and learning new teaching methods such as Music Learning Theory (MLT) so as to make the learning process for her students easier and more tailored to their individual needs.
Lori currently resides in Winkler with her husband Wayne and 2 daughters.
Lori will be accepting new students for the 2023-2024 year. Feel free to contact her at loridklassen@mymts.net.
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Ainsley Kroeker
Ainsley, born and raised in Morden, began studying violin at age 4 with Lilian Toews and started performing regularly at a young age, both solo and in all levels of the Winnipeg Youth Orchestra’s. She completed her ARCT Diploma in Violin Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music, as well has her Grade 8 Piano. Later, continued her studies at the University of Manitoba, studying with Karl Stobbe and Oleg Pokhanovski.
While studying she maintained a large teaching studio and was the founder, manager and performer for Hesed String Quartet, a professional ensemble for hire in Winnipeg. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education in 2012. Her love for teaching violin lead her to complete her Suzuki Book 1 Teacher Training, as well as the Orff teaching method for Early Years. She enjoys teaching all levels, using a variety of material, and has prepared many students for RCM exams. She has experience as a festival adjudicator and clinician for string players and ensembles. After taking time off to raise her young family, her husband, three boys and dog are now settled in Winkler.
Ainsley's studio is currently full. She will not be accepting new students for the 2023 -2024 year. Inquiries about lessons with Ainsley can be sent to ainsleyjkroeker@gmail.com.