January, 2018

MusicLink® is proud to spotlight our newest Teacher Laureate, Sally Ritchie of Shiocton, Wisconsin. Sally is only the second MusicLink® teacher to reach this 20-year milestone!

Growing up, Sally was the oldest of five children in a family that could not afford piano lessons. Her mother taught her how to read music, and with the help of some old music books from her cousins, Sally began learning how to play the piano. In the fourth grade, she joined the school band and began her formal musical education and learned to play several other instruments.

After completing her college degree and getting married, Sally finally had her first real piano lesson with Betty Hollinger from Appleton, Wisconsin. Until that time her music education had been all instrumental, playing in the wind symphony, concert bands and marching bands. Studying with Betty had many perks, one of them being the opportunity to study piano pedagogy privately with her husband, a music professor at Lawrence University.

Luckily for us, Sally met Sue Wege, MusicLink® Director of Coordinators, while at a music conference in Minnesota over 20 years ago. That was the first time that she had heard of MusicLink®. Sally had already been giving free or reduced lessons for many years to students that had little or no ability to pay but had a great desire to learn and a love of music. She was so very pleased to find that there was a group with the same attitude as she had, and she knew she had to become involved. Over the last 20 years she has had 24 students in this program and they have received discounts and music from the foundation and the businesses that support it. Many of her former students have gone on to pursue careers in music or have continued with music as a large part of their lives. Just last year one of her MusicLink® students graduated from Lawrence University and is now teaching music in an elementary school. Another is working on her graduate degree in collaborative music at UW Madison. Sally said, "I have never regretted a minute of my decision to become a member of MusicLink®. It is a wonderful group of caring individuals that have come together to help some very deserving music students. I love the looks on their faces when I give them music that I have gotten from ML! Whether it is new or used, it is precious to them."

Sally has been teaching since 1969. In addition to her MusicLink® students, Sally teaches 55 students at her local public school. She also accompanies the choirs at the school as well as playing for the elementary music programs. She has a strong instrumental background so she works with the band and choral students for their competitions. In addition to her piano students, Sally also teaches guitar and even started a "rock" group called Black Sand. They played together for many years and performed gigs for about 6 years. And if that doesn't keep her busy enough, she is also the head organist, choir director, and music director at her church.

Sally holds a patent on a music education system and started a company called Whirligig LLP which produced music theory games and teaching aids. A few years ago, she entered into a collaboration with Keys to Imagination and Michelle Sisler. They work together on developing new music teaching aids and innovative ways of teaching music theory and inspiring teachers and students.

Sally is married with four children: two sons and two daughters and a foreign exchange German daughter who is definitely a part of their family. She has 10 grandchildren in American and one German granddaughter. She said, "the thing I do best is being a Grandmother!"

Teachers like Sally Ritchie epitomize the mission of the MusicLink® Foundation. We are so glad she found us!

October, 2018

Our fall teacher spotlight is shining on Carol Ratzlaf, NCTM, of Portland, Oregon. In addition to being a MusicLink teacher, she is also a local coordinator for MusicLink. Carol began taking piano lessons when she was only 6 years old and studied for 19 years with a few different teachers. She has now been teaching for 54 years.

She received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Willamette University and did further study at Marylhurst University. In college she was selected as a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Lamba, and received an award from the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Carol's family is also quite musical. "Music has been a very big part of our family life. Everyone plays an instrument or sings. We have wonderful Christmas celebrations with lots of music. The grandkids all play instruments, too." Her son is principal cellist in the Vancouver, Washington, Symphony and has played in the Portland Opera, the Oregon Ballet, as well as several other chamber groups. He and his wife have a large studio of cello students in Portland. Her daughter teaches piano and violin in Missoula, Montana, and has been a member of the Missoula Symphony Orchestra.

Carol has been a member of Oregon Music Teachers Association since 1970 and was recently honored by her colleagues with a Lifetime Membership Award. "Oregon has a wonderful, comprehensive Syllabus. All of my students have been involved in this program, many of them completing Level 10, the highest level. Many of my students have received awards in the Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Contemporary and Ensemble Festivals. I was asked to be a Syllabus Adjudicator in 1988 and have been adjudicating ever since, an assignment I have truly loved. I have been on a statewide committee to rewrite our Syllabus and to update Contemporary Repertoire. This project has taken several years, but I have enjoyed researching and recommending wonderful repertoire from the late 20th Century up to the present time. I have learned so much from working on this project and continuing to work on Contemporary Repertoire."

Carol also served on the Oregon MusicLink board for about 10 years. Debra Sostrin, Chair of the Oregon board, added that Carol was instrumental in getting MusicLink off the ground in Oregon, and has served devotedly on the Oregon board from its early days. "Her insights and generosity have made an invaluable contribution to the Oregon MusicLink committee."

"I strongly support this organization," said Carol, "and have a wonderful student, Brandon Chen, who has accomplished so much in the 3 years that I have been his teacher. He is eleven years old and has been a recipient of a piano from the Piano Santa Foundation. He is working on Level 6 of the Oregon Syllabus and has received the highest ratings from all of his performances. It is a pleasure to be his teacher."

Brandon's father had this to say about his son's teacher, "Brandon is very lucky to have Carol as his piano teacher. She is very kind and generous of her time with Brandon. She is almost like my extended family because for the past 3 1/2 years, every week, my kids and I, we spent one hour of our time in her living room. I always enjoy the interaction between her and Brandon when she is teaching him. When Brandon plays too fast, Carol would say, "Brandon, you are driving your car to the ditch, slow down!" and we all had a good laugh."

Carol said, "I can't imagine doing anything else than teaching piano to very eager students of all ages." It is teachers like this at the heart of MusicLink.

December, 2018

The holidays always make us feel a little extra thankful... especially for our wonderful teachers and coordinators.

Our December teacher spotlight is on Ellie Fregni of Minneapolis, MN. Ellie is a co-founder of Hopewell Music Cooperative -North, a music school whose mission is to provide access for all regardless of age, physical or mental limitations, or the ability to pay. Hopewell offers private lessons and group lessons in voice, band and orchestra instruments all on a sliding fee scale. In addition, there are 5 ensemble programs, all offered at no cost to participants. Hopewell serves over 200 students per week building community through music. Hopewell is a proud partner with the MusicLink foundation working to eliminate disparities in music education.

Starting Hopewell was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Ellie who grew up taking viola and piano lessons on scholarship and barter arrangements. Ellie went on to study viola performance and music education at St. Olaf College which launched her career as a freelance performer and music teacher. Her past teaching endeavors include teaching strings, orchestra and band in public, private and charter schools. Luckily for us, in 2007 she discovered the MusicLink Foundation. Because of her need for affordable lessons in her youth she was inspired to join MusicLink and pay it forward. Ellie is a MusicLink Teacher of Distinction, meaning she has taught with us for over ten years. Currently, Ellie teaches strings, directs orchestra and coordinates school music programs at Hopewell.

When not making music, Ellie lives with her husband, saxophonist Tamir Nolley and stepson Taylor. For fun, she sets off fireworks and other pyrotechnic displays for Hollywood Pyrotechnics, a local fireworks company.