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Meet Our Teachers

The music teachers at Dynamic Fine Arts Academy are a diverse group of highly qualified professionals, with a rich blend of experiences and skills in various aspects of music education.

 

All teachers at the academy share a commitment to excellence in teaching. They maintain the highest standards of instruction, aiming to nurture students' talents, cultivate their appreciation for music's rich historical and cultural contexts, and foster their growth as artists. At Dynamic Fine Arts Academy, students are thus assured of a robust, quality music education that caters to their diverse interests and goals.

“If you can walk you can dance. If you can talk you can sing.” –Zimbabwean Proverb Jessica believes that everyone has the natural vocal potential to sing; all they need to do is unlock it. She enjoys helping her students overcome their inhibitions and watching their confidence grow as individuals and musicians. She believes in fostering a healthy vocal technique that can translate to all styles of singing.

Jessica North

Pre-K Music Classes, Private Voice, and Beginning Piano

“If you can walk you can dance. If you can talk you can sing.” –Zimbabwean Proverb Jessica believes that everyone has the natural vocal potential to sing; all they need to do is unlock it. She enjoys helping her students overcome their…

Voice

David especially enjoys teaching private voice to see the growth of individual students as they overcome vocal obstacles. He has a laid back personality and teaching style. He loves to work with students one on one to achieve their musical goals.

David North

Vocal Instructor

David especially enjoys teaching private voice to see the growth of individual students as they overcome vocal obstacles. He has a laid back personality and teaching style. He loves to work with students one on one to achieve their musical…

Voice

Bernadette has been a Music Therapist for the past 36 years. She worked at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis as a Music Therapist for 35 years. Her work at Mercy involved music interventions to accomplish individual goals and objectives for patients of all ages and ability levels. The last 10 years of her work at Mercy was in the Pediatric Department working with the Child Life team. Patient interventions included 1:1 and group sessions using live and recorded/electronic (ipad) tech devices. Music instruments utilized were piano/keyboard, guitar, ukulele and a variety of handheld percussion/rhythm instruments. She is a member of the St. Louis Music Therapy Association and has been a member of the American Music Therapy Association.

Bernadette Baer

Music Therapist, Pre-K, & Private Piano Instructor

Bernadette has been a Music Therapist for the past 36 years. She worked at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis as a Music Therapist for 35 years. Her work at Mercy involved music interventions to accomplish individual goals and objectives for…

Piano

Mrs. Julia Smith has taught music, including at the Moscow Conservatory, for over 20 years from the basic beginner to the most advanced of performers.

Julia Smith

Private Piano Instructor

Mrs. Julia Smith has taught music, including at the Moscow Conservatory, for over 20 years from the basic beginner to the most advanced of performers.

Piano

Tess is new to Dynamic Fine Arts Academy but has been teaching theatre to children for 3 years. She loves to act in local community theatre shows and is an active part of the local homeschool community. Theatre has been her biggest passion for as long as she can remember and she loves to share that passion with the next generation.

Tess Spiezio

Theatre Instructor

Tess is new to Dynamic Fine Arts Academy but has been teaching theatre to children for 3 years. She loves to act in local community theatre shows and is an active part of the local homeschool community. Theatre has been her biggest passion…

Theatre

Julia Dinkins is a teacher and musician in the Franklin County area here to serve the area with her extensive background in music. She has served in many musical endeavors, and currently serves as a chorus member in the Bach Society of St. Louis and the American Kantorei. Julia wishes to guide everyone who comes to her in their musical journey, whatever that may look like. She wishes to give students a life-long love of music that they can take with them for the rest of their lives!

Julia Dinkins

Private Strings, Voice, Beginning Piano, and Woodwind Instructor.

Julia Dinkins is a teacher and musician in the Franklin County area here to serve the area with her extensive background in music. She has served in many musical endeavors, and currently serves as a chorus member in the Bach Society of St.…

Voice

Bill has been a private music teacher for 32 years and freelance performer in the St. Louis area for 40 years. He currently serves as Lead Trumpet in the Missouri Big Band and The Ambassadors of Swing Big Band. Bill is a past member of the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Louis Brass Band and a local St Louis Oldies Band called GTO. Bill has also performed in the Missouri State High School All District and All State Bands, Missouri Lions Band, Belleville Black Nights Drum and Bugle Corps, Missouri All State Collegiate Concert Band, Missouri All State Collegiate Orchestra, Missouri All State Collegiate Jazz Band, NAJE National All Star Jazz Band, Bob Waggoner’s Monday Night Big Band and the Jim Widner Big Band. Bill has also had the privilege of performing for U.S. Congressmen and two former U.S. Presidents.

Bill Gerdell

Private Brass Instructor

Bill has been a private music teacher for 32 years and freelance performer in the St. Louis area for 40 years. He currently serves as Lead Trumpet in the Missouri Big Band and The Ambassadors of Swing Big Band. Bill is a past member of the…

Brass

Maggie Sikes is a music teacher in the Franklin County area who loves helping students discover their love for music. She teaches piano and voice to students of all ages and experience levels and believes learning music should be fun, encouraging, and rewarding. Maggie creates a welcoming space where students can feel comfortable, build confidence, and enjoy making music for years to come.

Maggie Sikes

Private Voice, Piano Instructor

Maggie Sikes is a music teacher in the Franklin County area who loves helping students discover their love for music. She teaches piano and voice to students of all ages and experience levels and believes learning music should be fun,…

Voice

Hello! I’m Sydney, a dancer and choreographer with over 10 years of dance experience, including 7 years of competitive training. I am trained in ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, musical theatre, tap, hip hop, and acrobatics. For the past three years, I have choreographed musicals at two local high schools. I also perform regularly in local community theatre productions as a featured dancer, dance captain, and co-choreographer.

Sydney Smith

Private Dance Instructor

Hello! I’m Sydney, a dancer and choreographer with over 10 years of dance experience, including 7 years of competitive training. I am trained in ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, musical theatre, tap, hip hop, and acrobatics.…

Dance

Guitar has been a central part of Alan’s life for many years. Originally from the New York area, he studied with world-renowned musicians and went on to earn a degree from a conservatory. Alan has taught classical guitar at the college level, worked as a public school music teacher across all grade levels, and conducted orchestras in community theatre. ​He began teaching guitar at the age of 12 and still considers teaching his greatest passion. At Dynamic Fine Arts Academy, Alan offers instruction in chords, lead guitar, fingerstyle, classical guitar, reading music, and praise music. Outside of music, Alan has led an extraordinary life—he served in the Peace Corps, ran across the United States like Forrest Gump, and spent 30 years working as a chiropractor. He’s been happily married to his wife Debbie for over 40 years and is a proud father and grandfather.

Alan Singer

Private Guitar Instructor

Guitar has been a central part of Alan’s life for many years. Originally from the New York area, he studied with world-renowned musicians and went on to earn a degree from a conservatory. Alan has taught classical guitar at the college…

Guitar

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