Rachel's Bio:
Born in Chicago, Rachel CW Hecker began Suzuki violin lessons at age 4 with Rebecca McFaul. At the age of 11 she moved with her family to Indiana, and continued studies at the Western Springs School of Talent Education with Edward Krietman and Thomas Wermuth. While at W.S.S.T.E., Rachel was involved in the violin groups Allegro! and the Chicago Consort, touring in Minnesota, Indiana, England and France. In order to travel the three hours to her violin lessons at W.S.S.T.E., Rachel was homeschooled until she was 16, when she entered public school in rural Indiana and began studies with Andrew Smith at Valparaiso University. As a child, each summer Rachel attended the American Suzuki Institute held in Steven’s Point, Wisconsin. While there, she worked with Timothy Durbin, Betsy Stuen-Walker, Mark Bjork, and Sarah Smith, just to name a few. Rachel also attended the Stamford International Music Festival in Stamford, England, Masterworks Festival in Winona Lake, IN, Credo Chamber Music Camp in Oberlin, OH, and ARIA International Music Festival in Muncie, IN. She was also very active in the Northwest Indiana Symphony Youth Orchestra from 2002-2006, holding the concertmaster position from 2005-2006. Miss Rachel received a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Utah State University in 2010, studying with Rebecca McFaul and the Fry Street Quartet. Rachel completed her Master of Music degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy in 2012 from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and worked as a graduate teaching assistant and student to Oswald Lehnert and Margaret Soper Gutierrez, and was also a student to Charles Wetherbee. She has completed Suzuki training with Judy Weigert Bossuat in ECC and Book 1, and Books 2 and 3 with Mr. Rachel’s teaching philosophy is that musical lessons teach dedication, persistence, and determination, while learning a skill that can bring joy to yourself and others. Rachel is constantly teaching her students to look for the most efficient and effective ways to practice, and to have fun in the process! Rachel has been teaching both privately and in schools since 2007. When not teaching, Rachel enjoys being outdoors, traveling, drinking lots of tea, reading, and learning how to homestead. Michael's Bio:
A native of Fredonia, Wisconsin, Michael James Hecker began playing when he was 14. Raised in a very musical family, Michael was surrounded by his mother's Southern Gospel piano playing, and his father's ability to play almost any instrument besides the piano. Following in his parents footsteps, Michael now plays guitar, bass, ukulele, keys, banjo, mandolin and dulcimer. Michael was homeschooled through high school and was therefore afforded the time to practice and enjoy music during his free time. Michael credits his musical knowledge to George Nestler, a Wisconsin native who toured internationally and did Nashville session recordings, and to his parents, who were able to answer his many musical questions. Michael’s favorite music is classic rock, oldies, old school R&B, and jazz, and enjoys being able to teach almost any genre of music. His musical influences are extremely varied, with the most major influences being: The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Buddy Guy, Earth Wind & Fire, Barry Manilow, Brad Paisley, Metallica, George Jones, and Bela Fleck & The Flecktones. Michael’s performance history consists of the following whom he has performed with, both live and in the studio: Hecker-Kelley Band, Clove, Shane Dar & His Loose Moral Standards, 2016 CUSA Battle Of The Bands Champion - Branded, Windy Hope (of Streetlife & Eddie Butts Band), Jim Bohn & Friends, 'Bridgeline' featuring Craig Ganiere (David Allen Coe) and Tommy Greywolf (Brooks & Dunn), Caity Martinez (Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Chorus Member), Alma Cook (R&B artist from L.A.), Scott Wyler (of 'The Booze Brothers' and Greg Koch bands), among many others. Michael has also recorded on 15 albums of nearly every genre and helped produce many others. Michael believes that music can be anyone's second language. His teaching philosophy is that every chord, note, technique and song that is learned needs to be viewed as simple, even if that is not the case, or else the student sets out to fail. His focus is developing efficient practice habits, with the motto “work smarter, not harder” and has seen much success with this methodology. Michael has been teaching privately since 2004. When not playing and teaching, Michael enjoys watching sports, (especially the Packers!) traveling, drinking coffee, researching musical gear, and cooking.
