Group Lessons:

Call our Florence store at (859)-371-0926 to see what class lessons are currently being offered! 

Individual Lessons:

Interested in more advanced lessons? We have over a dozen experienced instructors on staff, many with Master's degrees and decades of experience. From piccolos to tubas, from the basic beginner level to the college-bound high school senior preparing for auditions, the Wert Music staff takes an active interest in their student's success. Our students consistently place at the top of the area's bands and student competitions. Many have received full scholarships.

Lessons are usually 30 minutes once per week and take place on-site at one of the Wert Music store location. Let us know if you'd like one of our professional music teachers to contact you to schedule a time. Rates do vary by teacher. Look below to find out more about our instructors.

Instructors:

Bonnietta Benn: Flute Florence 
BA, WMU
After graduating from Western Michigan University as a music education major, Bonnietta was a member of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the KSO Woodwind Quintet, principal flutist of the Bach Orchestra, and flute instructor on the music faculty at Kalamazoo College.  After moving to northern Michigan she was a founding member of the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, founded and performed in the GLCO Woodwind Quintet, and founded and performed in the Northern Michigan Flute Choir.  She has performed extensively in the Baroquen Consort.  She was a member and soloist with the Straits Area Concert Band.  She has given many solo and small ensemble recitals.  Bonnietta started teaching flute lessons when she was 14 and has taught students ages 8-75.

Elizabeth Edds: Flute, Recorder, beginning Oboe, Beginning Clarinet Erlanger
BME and MM, EKU
Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music degree from Eastern Kentucky University. She is a former elementary and middle school band director. She was also an assistant high school band director, taught a year of chorus and taught music night classes as an adjunct professor at Hazard Technical and Community college. Elizabeth teaches students ages 7 through adult, all skill levels, with an emphasis on musical basics and techniques. 

Dr. Amy Kennedy: Piano, Flute, Theory, Composition  Erlanger
BME, MM, MA: UK;  PhD: IU
Dr. Amy Kennedy started studying flute with Patti Seaman at Wert Music in Erlanger in 1985 as a high school freshman. She was so inspired by her teacher that she majored in music education at the University of Kentucky. Amy has flute performance and music theory degrees from the University of Kentucky as well as the PhD in music theory from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. In 2020 she returned from teaching music theory and history at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, to do what she loves most: teaching flute and piano one-on-one! Amy loves incorporating music history and theory in a fun and entertaining way into her lessons, ensuring that her piano and flute students receive an all-encompassing music education through their instrument. She is excited to work with all age groups and all goals, whether students aspire to major in music in college or just play better for fun!

Jeff McLemore: Oboe, Bassoon, Sax, Clarinet, Bass, Guitar Virtual Only
BME BMP and BA: NKU
Performs with seven local groups and churches. Published in the Contemporary Christian genre. Current studio producer and musician and former band director. 39 years teaching experience. 

Nicole Ortiz: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet Florence & Erlanger
Nicole is a first-year master’s student at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, pursuing a dual degree program in Arts Administration and Business Administration. She also works as a graduate assistant for Summer Programs in the Prep department at CCM. When not in school, she can be found interning at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in their Community Engagement department. In 2020, she completed a Bachelor of Music from Northern Kentucky University in Instrumental Woodwind Performance. Nicole is a multi-instrumentalist, having studied flute, clarinet, and saxophone while at NKU. She performs with several groups in the Greater Cincinnati area, including La Formula and the Cincinnati Wind Band. Her most recent accomplishment included winning a concerto competition in 2019 and performing as a soloist with the NKU Philharmonic Orchestra. Nicole has taught lessons at Wert Music for almost three years and enjoys helping students achieve their personal goals. Her students have been awarded first chair seats in their school ensembles and chosen for honors ensembles.

Charlie Suits: Saxophone  Erlanger
Charlie Suits has studied saxophone for over 10 years, starting with performances in high school. Over the years he has performed with many different groups at theme parks, casinos, weddings, private parties, and restaurants playing a diverse range of music from country and rock to jazz, r&b, hip-hop, blues, and pop. Charlie attended Northern Kentucky University for 5 years studying Jazz Performance and Audio Production. Charlie focuses on teaching fundamental theory and technique to students so they have the tools to learn anything in their musical journey whether it be auditions, gigs, or just for fun. From performing many different styles of music, Charlie can teach improvisation and ear training as well as reading and arranging music.

Melody Smith: Trumpet Florence & Erlanger
Melody graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Music Education and has taught trumpet and piano in school systems in Kentucky and Ohio.  Many of her students have received first chair in their local bands as well as regional and state level bands, gone on to major in music in college, and gone on to be music teachers.   

Gordon Finch: Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba Florence & Erlanger
BSME, HU
Gordon has a B.S. in Music Education from Hofstra Univ. in Hempstead, N.Y. and a Masters of Music from Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y. He is a retired band and orchestra director from Connecticut and New York. In addition to Low Brass Gordon teaches Beginning Strings and all Beginner Band Instruments.

Wyatt Melton: Percussion, Drum Set  Erlanger
Wyatt Melton is a Music Education Major and Percussionist at Northern Kentucky University. In his time in Undergraduate, he has spent time in Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and The NKU Philharmonic. School aside, he began playing Percussion in fifth grade with an Orff Percussion Ensemble and stuck with it; picking up everything from Four-Mallet Keyboard to Drum set. He enjoys teaching and influencing future percussionists to the idea of a “family heritage” to speak. He has taught several Percussion Ensembles (marching and concert) and plans to teach Elementary School after graduation.

Alexandra Russell: Piano, Voice Florence
MD, VC
Alexandra is a classically trained pianist who was trained in the European style of teaching music. Born and raised in Volgograd, Russia, Alexandra took six years of music training before her final four years of musical education at the Volgograd College of Music, where she earned her Master’s Degree. When she immigrated to the United States in 1996, she began again in private teaching as well as tutoring advanced students to prepare them for international competition. Currently, Alexandra’s students range in age from 5 to 17 with several students studying with her for over 7 years. Two of her current students have recently received a European Music Award for their achievements at such a young age. She encourages students to study the masters, engage with music theory and play other instruments as well as the piano. Alexandra lives in Burlington with her mother, husband, dog and cat and close to her two adult children.

Maria Huff: Piano Erlanger
NKU
Teaching piano has been one of Maria’s passions for years! Maria strives to be an encouraging and flexible teacher and is passionate about teaching students of all ages, needs, and goals! Maria is a classically trained pianist and has been studying piano for 10 years. Currently, Maria is in her junior year at Northern Kentucky University, obtaining her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with a Pedagogy certification.

Luke Jackson: Guitar, Ukulele Florence
Luke Jackson is a music instructor originally from Lexington, KY and has taught both private and group classes for over a decade throughout the Central KY and Greater Cincinnati areas. Many of his students have been awarded scholarships to study music at the collegiate level, been chosen for honors guitar ensembles, and shared the stage with nationally touring artists. He has completed a Bachelor of Music from Eastern Kentucky University, and a Master of Music from the University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music, both in classical guitar performance. He currently resides in Cincinnati and teaches students of all ages, in styles ranging from classical to jazz and rock.  

Jackson Butler: Guitar Erlanger
*Bio Coming Soon*

Chloe McDonald: Guitar Florence & Erlanger
Chloe is currently a senior at Northern Kentucky University studying Music Performance with a focus in Jazz Studies. Chloe studies Jazz Guitar with Nick Fryer as well as performs in multiple jazz and commercial ensembles at Northern Kentucky University. After graduating, Chloe plans to stay in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati area to continue pursuing her passion of performing and teaching music.