Instruction Available at Meadowood Music

Gene Cullison

Bass Guitar, Guitar, Harmonica

Gene, an excellent solo and ensemble guitarist, bass player and “harpist,” plays virtually every style of music. Gene's music/music education degree from West Chester, extensive teaching experience and regular gigging reinforces the skills he uses to teach beginning through master students at Meadowood Music.

Gene has played venues from campgrounds to casinos to cruise ships - in solo acts to large bands - playing Country, Rock, Funk, and nearly every other kind of music. He continues to ‘gig’ locally, but has focused more on teaching in the last several years of his more than thirty years of playing.

Gene works equally well with children and adults and is truly invested in his students’ development, teaching students to read music if they do not already.

Teaching elements of music theory, Gene helps students play by ear also. Gene helps his students to set and achieve specific musical goals as they work with him to master the guitar, bass or harmonica. We are delighted to have Gene teach at Meadowood.  

Donna Lang

Guitar, Piano, Songwriting, Ukulele, Ukulele

Donna has studied music most of her life, starting with piano and percussion in grade school, guitar in middle school and songwriting in high school. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy at the University of Kansas. While percussion was her focus throughout college, and continues to be a primary interest, she’s taught guitar, piano and songwriting in addition to percussion since 1972. Donna teaches beginning through intermediate guitar and piano and beginning through advanced songwriting at Meadowood. Donna has experience with many aspects of music. She's been a music therapist in a school system and the director of churches’ contemporary music groups. She is a singer/songwriter. She's co-founder of a coffeehouse for acoustic music in western PA, and the producer on a recording by guitarist Tom Mowrey. With a grant from the PA Rural Arts Alliance, she developed and delivered an audience-participation concert about songwriting. She performs and records her own music - two recordings as part of the folk duo, Muse and one recording with keyboardist Jessica Madow in the duo, dONNA‘n’jESS. And, Donna is a private music teacher with years of experience. Donna believes that her primary job as a teacher is to share the love of music through a particular instrument. She takes pleasure in giving beginners and intermediate guitar students a foundation with which they can develop further. As a player, Donna gravitates toward contemporary folk and rock, but appreciates and teaches all styles of guitar. In songwriting, Donna especially enjoys helping novices get ready to perform and record. Donna uses method books and her own methods developed over many years to introduce musical concepts and theories necessary to perform music that the student enjoys. Teaching "practical theory,” she incorporates songs that the student wants to learn and presents playing within a context of everyday situations of performing: informal jam, an open mic, an audition, a coffeehouse gig, or a major concert. She has the goal to teach how to interpret each musical situation so that one can learn any piece of music and play with others. We are very glad to have Donna as part of the excellent group of teachers at Meadowood.  

Mike Hertzog

Bass Guitar, Guitar, Mandolin, Scruggs-style Banjo

Mike Hertzog has been playing music as a soloist and a member of a band for over almost three decades. He's a founding member of several of the bands in which he's played, including the Blue Mountain Gang and its predecessor, Far From The City. The venues he’s played include The main stage of the IBMA Fan Fest (Owensboro, KY), Mountaineer Opry House (Milton, WV), The Capital Theater (Chambersburg, PA), Musicfest (Bethlehem, PA), Central PA Festival of the Arts (State College, PA), Sunset Park (Oxford, PA), Godfrey Daniels (Bethlehem, PA) and The Keswick Theater (Glenside, PA). He's also performed at countless fiddle and Bluegrass festivals and on radio stations including WBYO, WDVR, the Heartlands Hayride and WEEU’s Community Cafe. With his band, Mike has often opened shows for legends that include The Osborne Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Larry Sparks, Little Roy Lewis and the Lewis Family and The Boys From Indiana. Mike plays Scruggs-style banjo, guitar, mandolin and fiddle. His own musical interests include Country and Bluegrass, but he enjoys and teaches many styles of music. He teaches beginning through advanced banjo and guitar and beginning mandolin and fiddle. He teaches children and adults. Meadowood is pleased to have him as part of its cadre of excellent musician-teachers.  

Tom Druckenmiller

Clawhammer Banjo, Old-time Guitar

Tom is a wonderful old-time banjo & guitar teacher who has played music all of his life. His musical background influences his teaching. Able to teach basic reading and music theory as components of his instruction, Tom will present those elements to students who are seeking them. However, his personal preference for traditional acoustic music (which is normally taught by demonstration and by ear) makes him more interested in teaching that way. Tom enjoys working with students who want to play for fun. He's studied under banjoists Gerry Milnes, Craig Johnson, Dwight Diller and guitarists Phil Jameson, Roy Bookbinder, and Norman & Nancy Blake.

Teaching beginning to advanced students, Tom emphasizes listening to music of the past. He teaches at Augusta Heritage Center at Elkins College and has produced four CDs with his family band: The Road Home, ‘Til the Clouds Roll By, Harvest Time, and Morning Star. The Druckenmiller family has shared the stage with Beausoleil, Byron Berline, Bill Hicks, Jones & Leva, Brad Leftwich, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer.

Tom's produced & hosted a radio program featuring old-time music for more than a dozen years. His show, "In the Tradition" has been a charter program on WDIY-FM (88.1 FM) for over a decade. He's a reviewer for Sing Out! Magazine, writer for the Martin Guitar Company's The Sounding Board & a member of the steering committee for, "Old Time Music on the Radio.” We are very excited to have Tom teaching at Meadowood.  

Judy Terwilliger

Fiddle, Hammer Dulcimer, Lap Dulcimer, Piano, Viola, Violin

Judy has played violin virtually all of her life, beginning at age 5 and playing in her Elementary and High School orchestras. Throughout High School, she performed as a member of the Philadelphia All City Orchestra and, with some members of that group had the opportunity to play with the Philadelphia Orchestra. During her time as a Music Education student at Temple University, she played with the Temple University Orchestra under Jonathan Sternberg at The Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Judy also played with “The Hawaiians” at The Academy of Music and with a group specializing in Renaissance/early classical music. She continues to perform locally as a violinist and vocalist. In total, Judy studied classical violin for 17 years under masters Alma Grafe (student of Fritz Kreisler), Edgar Ortenberg (Budapest String Quartet) and Julian Meyer (Temple University). Continuing to play Classical pieces, she also explores the use of violin in traditional music. Judy studied piano for 6 years. In addition to violin, viola and piano, Judy plays (and teaches) Appalachian Dulcimer and Hammered Dulcimer. Judy is available to teach beginning through advanced violin & viola, beginning through intermediate piano (keyboard) and beginning dulcimer and hammered dulcimer. Judy teaches children and adults, using a variety of approaches, including formal method books, demonstration and ear training. We are very excited to offer Judy’s musical and teaching skills at Meadowood.  

Christopher Hamm

Cello, Fiddle, Piano, Viola, Violin, Voice

Chris has played violin for most of his life and has played viola and cello since high school where he also began singing in the chorus and playing piano. He holds a degree in Music Education with concentration on voice and a minor in Theatre from Kutztown University. In addition to being a performing member of a diverse group of choruses while a student at KU, he also was teh Music Director and accompanist for the Sunshine Players Children's Theatre at Kutztown. He currently works with Star of the Day Event Productions and the Spotlight Cabaret with production and sound reinforcement.
Chris teaches voice from beginning to advanced, either gender. He teaches violin and viola students from beginning to advanced and fiddling styles to early intermediate. He teaches cello from beginning to late intermediate. He also teaches piano from beginning to early intermediate.
His studio at Meadowood is brand new as of August 2012, but he brings teaching experience from private instruction, public schools and community music programs. With this new studio, Chris is beginning with Saturday availability and will add days as his studio fills.
Chris works equally well with children and adults. We are delighted to have him as part of Meadowood's cadre of fine teachers.  

Ted Fenstermacher

Fiddle, Mandolin

Ted began his study of classical violin and fiddling as a small child and continued through university. He played in Penn State’s Symphony while a student there, and has fiddled with the Bluegrass band, Endless Mountain, the Celtic band, Malarkey and the crossover bands, Toad Creek Ramblers and Frog Holler. Ted is the fiddler on Frog Holler’s CDs, Adam’s Hotel Road, Couldn’t Get Along and Idiots.

An innovative lead player, Ted is also an astute accompanist who supports other players masterfully when it is their turn to play the lead line.

An accomplished performer who’s mastered old-time, Bluegrass, Celtic, Country and rock cross-over techniques, Ted is a Judge at the Lyons Fiddle Festival and Celtic Classic in Bethlehem.

Ted works with beginning through advanced students to learn by a variety of methods. He uses method books to teach music-reading; he uses recordings and demonstrations to reinforce the aural skills necessary to play by ear - especially in traditional styles of music. Ted combines aural and written teaching methods for students who want to develop both skill sets. We’re proud to offer Ted’s skills as a player and teacher at Meadowood.  

Betty Druckenmiller

Old-time Fiddle

Betty is a rock solid old-time fiddler who teaches her art at Meadowood Music. Betty prefers to play and teach in the aural tradition, relying on playing tunes for and with her students and recording lessons as her primary teaching methods. She's studied under Dave Bing, Bill Hicks, Bruce Molsky and Mike Bryant; the late Wilson Douglas of West Virginia was also one of her mentors.

Betty co-hosts the once-a-month old-time jam at Meadowood (Friday evenings, dates posted on the news page of this web site). With her family band, The Druckenmillers, she has recorded four CDs: The Road Home, ‘Til the Clouds Roll By, Harvest Time, and Morning Star. The Druckenmiller family has shared the stage with Beausoleil, Byron Berline, Bill Hicks, Jones & Leva, Brad Leftwich, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer. Venues include the stage at Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, West Virginia, Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.

Teaching beginning to intermediate old-time fiddlers, Betty emphasizes listening to traditional string band music of the past – especially styles that combine fiddle and clawhammer banjo. She employs and teaches older tunings characteristic of the old-time style. Betty accepts students of all ages. As someone who began playing fiddle as an adult, Betty has unique insight when she teaches adult beginners. With decades of professional experience working with young children and formal training in early education, she also has special skills to offer the very young student. Meadowood is delighted to have Betty as one of its teachers.  

Stacy Bechtel

Bass Guitar, Clarinet, Clawhammer Banjo, Saxophone, Ukulele, Upright Bass, Viola

Stacy Bechtel is a talented multi-instrumentalist whose first instrument was clarinet. Stacy's music education degree from Lebanon Valley College, extensive private and public-school teaching experience and decade-long role as music director and performer at the Pines Dinner Theatre reinforces the skills she uses to teach students at Meadowood Music. Stacy performs and teaches virtually every style of music on woodwind, keyboard and strings. She teaches clarinet, saxophone and piano/keyboard from beginning to master level. She teaches bass guitar and folk-style upright bass from beginning to intermediate level. She teaches beginning fiddle/violin and ensemble upright bass. Stacy works equally well with children and adults and is truly invested in her students’ development, teaching students to read music if they do not already. Teaching elements of music theory, Stacy helps students play by ear also. Stacy helps her students to set and achieve specific musical goals as they work with her to master the diverse array of instruments that she teaches. We are delighted to have Stacy teach at Meadowood. 

Bradley Haberle

Bass Guitar, Upright Bass

Brad, a bassist, vocalist and private bass instructor for nearly 30 years, studied under a number of accomplished bass players/teachers, including Bill Sharrow (electric bass guitar), Ed Ferris (Country Gentlemen), John Riccardi (Vaudeville/big band bassist for Tommy Dorsey) and Gerald Veasley (jazz bass clinician). Brad is supplementing this formal musical education on bass with an Associate of Arts in Music. Brad has performed with over 20 bands over the years, playing year round for 3-5 bands at any one time. At the same time, he has been an on-call bassist filling in with other bands. This training and experience provides the foundation with which Brad helps students apply bass playing skills to performance.

Brad has played festivals, parks, concert arenas and smaller venues, churches, and house concerts along the entire Mid-Atlantic region, including Nashville. Brad plays a diverse array of music on bass that he teaches his students: Motown, R&B, Funk/Fusion, Country (traditional and contemporary), Bluegrass, Irish, Acoustic Folk, Swing, Jazz, Traditional and Progressive Blues, Rock (traditional and modern), Praise & Worship and Chamber Music. Brad was first drawn to the bass as a member of the PA gospel bluegrass band, Sunnyside.

Brad teaches his students through a mixed approach of music theory, aural theory, learning by demonstration/example, reading musical notation, reading charts and using the Nashville numbering system. He teaches proper technique on both bass guitar and upright bass, with focus on proper posture and exercises to increase strength, speed and endurance. Brad teaches both French and German bowing. Brad ensures that his students acquire skills to play in an ensemble/band and to interact with other musicians while performing.

We are delighted that Brad is a member of the cadre of fine teachers at Meadowood.  

Mike Andrews

Mandolin

One of Meadowood's proprietors, Mike offers instruction in beginning through intermediate mandolin. Mike performs in a two-piece acoustic band, “Mike & Paula,” with his wife, Paula Taylor. Mike accompanied the Druckenmiller Family on their CD, Morning Star.

Mike studied mandolin under string-wizard, Robin Bullock and music theory at the Peabody Institute. Mike studied guitar playing and additional music theory with Gene Cullison.

Mike uses the skills he acquired from this study, along with method books to help his students learn to read music if they do not already. He uses recordings and demonstrations to help students develop the aural skills necessary to play by ear. Mike is most familiar with folk and bluegrass mandolin styles.  

Paula Taylor

Upright Bass

One of Meadowood's proprietors, Paula offers instruction in beginning upright bass for folk and bluegrass styles. Paula performs in a two-piece acoustic band, “Mike & Paula,” with her husband, Mike Andrews, and was a member of "Imaginary Friends," folk trio. Paula accompanied the Druckenmiller Family on their CD, Morning Star.

Paula studied bass under Josh Bayer and music theory under Robin Bullock and at the Peabody Institute. With this background, Paula introduces her students to the relationships between scales, chords and chord progressions and bass accompaniment for traditional music styles.

Paula uses aural tools, along with method books and encourages Bluegrass, Old-time, Celtic and Folk bass students to play by ear early in their development.  

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Meadowood will try to help beginning through master-level music students (any music style or type of instrument) to locate qualified instructors. If you are interested in instruction, or are an instructor who is interested in receiving referrals from Meadowood, please call.