What Makes Us Different
Ensemble
One of the most enjoyable aspects of making music is doing it with others. Many music studios focus primarily on private lessons, and while that is important for individual development, learning how to successfully interact, on a musical level, with others is something many studios are lacking.
We offer classes in which ensemble playing, whether it be duets, trios, chamber groups, or larger ensembles are encouraged. The benefits to the student are many: awareness of layers of listening (i.e. self, section, group, room ambience, audience), musical phrasing as a group, interpersonal relationships in making musical decisions, learning how to follow a conductor. These are just some of the many benefits the student can acquire in developing the skills of making music in groups.
Active Performers
Lowell and Kathy Hohstadt, as school owners, have been active performing musicians throughout their career. For over 30 years, they have participated in regional orchestras and ensembles. Lowell’s earlier career as a concert-violinist, having soloed with orchestras in the United States, Mexico, and Europe, along with Kathy’s rich background in orchestral playing, give them a unique perspective on the value of preparing the student to gain performance experience.
Having had a lifetime of performance experience, Lowell and Kathy offer the student practical insights, as well as empathy, in the pursuit of the art of music performance.
Creativity
Lowell’s background in music composition and arranging gives a unique twist to what our school offers. Instead of simply drawing upon materials that are standard fare for students, we offer tailor-made arrangements for them, focusing on their unique needs.
As teachers, we encourage an ever-increasing development of each student’s ability to solve problems on their own.
Our emphasis on creativity filters into all aspects of pedagogy. Whether it be in creating customized arrangements for our students, helping each student grow into their own autonomy as successful artists, or in guiding students to create their own music composition, arrangements, or teaching materials, we have an eye towards the role creativity has in the development of the student.
High Level Credentials
As leaders of the Dolce School of Music, we have high expectations of the quality of training each student receives. With degrees from top music schools in our nation, including Juilliard, Eastman, the University of Michigan, Meadowmount, and Interlochen, as well as having performed in top concert halls in the U.S. and Europe, we have experienced music-making at the highest levels.
It is our desire that each student experience the process of growing into their potential, with the care that it takes to develop, through the focused teaching and in-depth experience we offer.
We have the same expectation of all teaching staff, in their student-teacher interaction, that we have for ourselves, providing ongoing training to our teaching staff to maintain instruction at the highest level throughout the school.
Wide Range of Musical Experience
Although Lowell and Kathy both have extensive backgrounds in Classical Music, their involvement in other musical styles is also notable. Lowell’s leadership as a successful worship leader and music director of a church worship team for 37 years gave him much experience working with choir, solo vocals, rock bands, arranging and composing in contemporary styles, electronic music and sound/staging design. Kathy’s participation in this program also gave her expanded keyboard technique in jazz chording and improvisation.
Few musicians and teachers have such a wide spectrum of applied musical skills. This wide range of stylistic applications is a boon for students in our ever-changing world of musical arts.
Caring Attitude
We bring a caring attitude to each individual student that nurtures their development, as we endeavor to make the learning process fun and exciting. Attaining expertise as a musician does not happen overnight, and while a substantial amount of patience is required, both from the student, as well as the teacher, mastery of their chosen musical direction can be achieved through a caring and nurturing attitude from the teacher.
Lowell and Kathy Hohstadt are known in our community to have been active in church leadership, raising two successful children, having a reputation of being upstanding citizens, and long-standing participation as musicians, teachers, and leaders in our community.
We desire to bring the same integrity of teaching to the individual student, and ongoing relationship with each family represented, that we have demonstrated throughout our careers in the Midland-Odessa region.