K.C. Strings Studio Policy and Procedures

Taking a "road less traveled," violinist/flutist Jami Bale has spent a lifetime pursuing achievements on two diverse orchestral instruments. A native of Kansas City, she has returned to her home town after spending many years as an active free lance musician on both instruments in Pittsburgh, PA and the surrounding tri-state region of Ohio and West Virginia. She currently serves as a tenured member of the violin section in the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra (PA), and performed frequently with the Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra and the Wheeling Symphony (WV).

Versatile in many musical styles, Jami is in high demand as a classical chamber and orchestral musician. She has played for Broadway shows with Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera, and has also performed in concert with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, Michael W. Smith, Mannheim Steamroller, and the Moody Blues. Other career highlights include performing in concert with Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and appearing in several installments of the acclaimed PBS Doo Wop television series.

In addition to an ongoing career as a freelance flutist, Jami was a National finalist and Regional Winner of the MTNA Young Artist Competition. As part of her continuing education, she has either studied with or performed on the master classes of many of the principal flutists from top U.S. orchestras and teachers from the premier music schools such as: Julius Baker, Jeanne Baxtresser, Jeffrey Khaner, Lorna McGhee, Jim Walker, Thomas Nyfenger, Peter Lloyd, Carol Wincenc, and Samuel Baron.

While enjoying an active performing career, Jami returns to Kansas City bringing several decades of teaching experience. In Pittsburgh she previously held the positions of violin and flute instructor at PYCO School of Music, Musik Innovations, Adjunct Instructor at Duquesne University, and at the City Music Center at Duquesne University. Jami holds the degrees of Bachelor of Music, Master of Music (violin) and Master of Music (flute) from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the Artist Diploma from Duquesne University.

Jami believes that a solid foundation of classical training in fundamental technique, basic music theory, and an understanding of performance practice in the different eras of music history allow a student to explore and enjoy any musical style. She enjoys teaching students of any playing level beginner through advanced, and a wide range of ages from as young as six years old through adult. Lessons may be scheduled on either violin or flute.

Susan Fuller received her B.A. in Music Performance from Sacramento State University. She received extensive Suzuki Violin training from San Francisco State University and from Suzuki Institutes across the country. A former violinist with the Sacramento Symphony, she is currently principal violinist with the Olathe Community Orchestra and a member of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra. Susan Fuller is an orchestra teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park and has a home studio in Olathe.

JUNE 1st, 2022 update. MOST lessons are in person, very few are SKYPE. I DO Currently have a few openings. THANKS!

Robert Hagenbuch, Jr. is a diverse musician with extensive performance, teaching and composition experience in both Kansas City and Northern California. Many of his students frequently gain first chair/first stand orchestral seating and are also awarded 'I' ratings at District and State Music Contest Festivals. From 1993 - 2008, Mr. Hagenbuch maintained a full schedule of private violin, viola and composition students at Antioch Music Center in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2009, Hagenbuch opened his own private studio, STRAD Enterprises, in the Northland Kansas City area. He also maintains a busy teaching schedule at the K.C. Strings Conservatory, where he has been the annual Summer Music Camp Administrator and Director since 2006. Hagenbuch was conductor of the St. Joseph Symphonic Youth Orchestra from August 2014 - June 2021. He has gained great respect in the music arena and is highly sought after as an inspiring and motivating instructor, clinician, adjudicator and commissioned composer.

2020 marked the 30th year Hagenbuch has been a full-time private music instructor. Mr. Hagenbuch teaches private lessons in violin, viola, music theory and composition. He employs a traditional lesson style, focused on technique, scales, arpeggios, music theory, solo & orchestral music. Robert Hagenbuch has a tremendous passion for teaching music! He loves sharing his knowledge of the Art of Music. Mr. Hagenbuch perpetually strives to inspire and motivate every person of which he shares life’s experiences through music.

“Bob is a highly accomplished musician and music theorist, but not in an intimidating kind of way.

He is very patient and encouraging which enables him to effectively teach anyone to play the violin, even musically challenged adults like me!”

- Dawn Sparks, adult student

As a violinist, Mr. Hagenbuch has performed with numerous symphonies, choirs and string quartets. During his California residency he was concertmaster of the Eureka Symphony, the Humboldt Symphony, the Humboldt Chorale Orchestra and the Humboldt Oratorio Society Orchestra. Mr. Hagenbuch played second violin with two, performing string quartets, 'Quartetto con Brio' and the 'Capiccione Quartet.' His ensemble experience also included singing lead tenor and descant with the Humboldt Men's Chorus of which he was assistant director.

In Kansas City, Mr. Hagenbuch performed with the Liberty Community Theater as the 'Fiddler' in Fiddler on the Roof (1993), and in numerous collaborations with the Jacomo Chorale, Jeffrey Carter, director. He presented a violin recital in 1996 as a Music/Arts Institute, solo faculty performer. In 2002, Mr. Hagenbuch performed two violin recitals, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, and as an invited concert series performer sponsored by the Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral Summer Music Concerts. In July of 2010, Robert performed a violin & viola recital at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. The recital featured 3, World Premieres of Hagenbuch's string & piano compositions. November of 2017, Thomas Willbanks. piano, and Robert Hagenbuch, viola, performed 2 recitals. The recitals featured the premiere of Hagenbuch’s Viola Sonata, No. 2, Opus 140.

Mr. Hagenbuch also co-organized and performed numerous recitals and events from 1996-1999 with the string quartet, 'Scherzo Strings.' In the Fall of 2011, colleagues collaborated with Mr. Hagenbuch to form a new string quartet, "Ad Astra String Quartet." The quartet premiered with two recitals in May of 2012. In the spring of 2005, he became a member of the Liberty Symphony Orchestra, Tony Brandolino, conductor. Mr. Hagenbuch served as Assistant Principal 2nd Violin, and was Assistant Principal Viola until 2021 with the Liberty Symphony. In September of 2019, Hagenbuch joined the Viola section with Medical Arts Symphony, Steve Lewis, conductor.

Mr. Hagenbuch performs on 1992 K.C. Strings Krutz Violin, and a 2004 K.C. Strings Viola.

STUDIO locations are:
Gladstone, Missouri (Mon. & Wed,)
K.C. Strings, Merriam, Kansas (Tues. & Fri.)
St. Joseph, Missouri (Thur.)

www.roberthagenbuchjr.com

Bio coming soon!

Joseph Toma has been a professional musician since 1984 and teaching since 1995. Mr. Toma has a variety of skills, playing and teaching eight different instruments. He is an experienced stage musician having performed with Stevie Wonder, Evanescence, Lindsey Stirling, and soloist for the Liberty Symphony's Four Season concert. Not to mention, he also has performed as the violin soloist in orchestras for presidents and kings around the world!

Mr. Carlyon received his Bachelors of Music in Bass performance and Audio Engineering from the University of Central Missouri in 2017 under the tutelage of Dr. Michael Bersin. He was then awarded scholarship to the Fred Fox School of Music at the University of Arizona. Where he earned his Master of Music degree in 2019 under Dr. Philip Alejo. The performance background of Mr. Carlyon spans through varieties of genres including musical theater, opera, jazz, blues, baroque chamber music, modern contemporary, electronic, and even heavy metal. He has performed in world renown venues including Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the Kauffman Fine Arts Center in Kansas City, MO. While attending the University of Arizona, Mr. Carlyon would tour the orchestras of local school districts to teach bass students ranging from grade 5 through 12. He was also invited to be the bass clinician for Orchestra Day at the SunnySide school district in Tucson, AZ. Along with teaching outside the school, he assisted in teaching an undergraduate course for Music Education majors in which they would learn the fundamentals of all string instruments.

Recently Mr. Carlyon has moved to his hometown of Shawnee, KS where he is employed by Krutz Strings Inc. as a specialized craftsman in bass setup, repair, and teaching privately. He also actively auditions for symphonic orchestras and had been invited to audition for symphonies in Denver, Nashville, Detroit, and Springfield, IL. The ultimatum to his musical career is “to become Dr. Matt and teach the younger generation what I wish I knew about this whole bass thing.”

Jodie Fuentes is a native of Springfield, Missouri and began studying the cello at age eight. In Springfield she performed with the Springfield Youth Symphony (principal cellist senior year), the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and the Drury College Orchestra. She also began teaching private cello lessons while still in high school. She left Springfield to attend the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.

Jodie Fuentes graduated from the UMKC Conservatory and received a Ford Foundation award to attend graduate school and participate in a graduate string quartet. This quartet traveled to various schools in the area to support non-string-playing music teachers with teaching string classes, to give some private instruction to select string players and to help teachers with recruiting new students. The quartet also performed extensively.

She is currently principal cellist of the Heritage Philharmonic and recently retired from the St. Joseph Symphony after a 30 year career there. She has performed with the Northland Symphony Orchestra, Northland Chamber Orchestra, Messiah Festival Orchestra, Civic Orchestra, and Liberty Symphony Orchestra as well as performing in trios and quartets in various venues across the area.

She is also the co-director of the Kansas City Cello Society, an organization which hold two cello ensemble workshop events each year that are open to cellists of all ages and abilities

Bio coming soon!

Dr. Eric Hitt is the Visiting Assistant Professor of String Bass at the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory and teaches private lessons for students of all ages at K.C. Strings. Past students have achieved success in international competitions, earned scholarships to major conservatories, and have been selected for positions in notable performing groups. Eric has worked with jazz artists including Ed Soph, Brad Leali, Tatiana "LadyMay" Mayfield, Quamon Fowler, Fredrick Sanders, Dave Meder, and Quincy Davis. He earned his BM in Double Bass Performance from the University of Nebraska­–Lincoln and MM and DMA in Jazz Performance from the University of North Texas, where he was a member of the One O’Clock Lab Band. Eric has been a KRUTZ Featured Artist since 2019.

www.erichitt.com

Bio coming soon!

Coming soon!

Gerald Spaits, a native of Kansas City is one of the foremost jazz bass players in the Kansas City area. Gerald is currently on staff at The University of Missouri Kansas City, as the instructor for Jazz Bass under Bobby Watson. Gerald has enjoyed an active career with local jazz artists including Russ Long, Angela Hagenbach, and Tommy Ruskin. He has also performed with Kansas City jazz legends Jay McShann, Marilyn Maye, and Claude Williams. Appearing with national recording artists, Herb Ellis, Karrin Allyson, Kevin Mahogany, Gary Foster, and The Woody Herman Orchestra. Gerald debuted his own; self produced CD, Three Sides in 2000, and has since produced three additional CD's on the Passit Label; Never Let Me Go and Time to Go with the Russ Long Trio and The Westport Art Ensemble. A distinguished jazz musician, Gerald is well known as one of the “first calls” with many artists, and also performs regularly with several of his own groups, including The Gerald Spaits Trio and the Kansas City Bass Quartet, which he founded.

Gerald teaches both Classical and/or Jazz and has published two books on Jazz Bass, which are available at KC Strings.

Now available exclusively at KC Strings:
A Comprehensive Method for Jazz Bass Volumes I and II by Gerald Spaits

Learn how to play Walking bass lines, Jazz Theory and Improvisation.