Jennifer Keeley, MBA, MT

Owner & Music Teacher

Intermediate and Advanced Piano

Enjoy a few minutes of Mrs. Keeley playing a Brahms Intermezzo and a Beethoven Sonata. These were recorded from an old VHS tape from college years... a long time ago!

Thank you for visiting my music studio website and taking the time to learn a little about me and what I can offer potential music students! As a classically trained pianist, with two college degrees and over 25 years of experience, I LOVE teaching music! I currently teach intermediate and advanced piano and voice students.

I began my lifelong journey in music at the age of four, when I started taking piano lessons with a renowned piano instructor, Mary Jane Lucas, of Michigan City, Indiana. I earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy at the University of Evansville (1995). I have given many performances, including the privilege of performing and conducting in England when I studied abroad for a semester. Some of the composers whose music I have performed include: Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Prokofiev, Brahms, Joplin, Gershwin, Debussy, and Cage, among many others! I have been the recipient of various awards and scholarships throughout my music career. I have performed vocally for numerous weddings, funerals, private parties, and corporate functions, but I also thoroughly enjoy accompanying soloists or choirs on the piano or organ.

I earned a Master of Business Administration from Bethel College in Mishawaka (2002), a teaching license from Indiana Wesleyan University (2007), a School Administrator's license from Bethel College (2011), and I taught for more than two decades at both private and public schools. While I am still a licensed public Music Educator, I am now retired from classroom teaching so I can focus on my private music students.

I am currently the President of the South Bend Area Music Teachers Association, the Chair of the Achievement in Music (AIM) piano festival, and a Board Member of Monday Musicale in Michigan City. I am also a certified Adjudicator for the Indiana State Schools Music Association (ISSMA) festival and a former Adjudicator for the Indiana Federation of Music Clubs. More recently, in 2023, I was the Music Director for "Oliver!" at Footlight Theatre in Michigan City. I belong to several professional music organizations: Music Teachers National Association, Indiana Music Teachers Association, South Bend Area Music Teachers Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota professional music fraternity. Many of my students have successfully participated in contests and recitals throughout the year and some have even pursued Music Education in college.

In my free time, I enjoy flower gardening, baking, reading, and quilting. I cherish the moments I can spend with my talented and supportive husband, Steve, our four daughters and their spouses, our two lovely grand children, and my beautiful Coton de Tulear pups named Violet and Rosie.

Kierstin Kremer, BA

Assistant Music Teacher

Beginner/Intermediate Guitar & Ukulele,
Beginner Piano
Intermediate/Advanced Voice

Mrs. Kremer is a licensed Pre-K through 12th grade Music Educator. She received the Hibbets Memorial Scholarship in 2013 and attended Ball State University’s School of Music, earning her Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree in 2017. Currently, Mrs. Kremer teaches in the Duneland School Corporation as an Elementary Music Teacher and she is the Choir Director for her elementary school. She has the most fun teaching ukulele melodies and chords for songs that everybody knows how to sing!

She started her musical journey by taking piano lessons from her mom at age 5. Her mother was classically trained for 13 years and Mrs. Kremer grew up around music in her home and at church. She started learning the clarinet at age 10 and, while in middle school and high school, she began making music with the Chesterton Show Choirs, Marching Band, Orchestra, and a few musical theater shows.

She began singing at 8 years old and sang with the Logansport Children’s Choir, under the founder and director Tim Cahalan and his wife, Susan. Tim Cahalan was her elementary music teacher and a big inspiration for what she does today. While attending Ball State University, Mrs. Kremer was a part of Dr. Jon Truitt’s voice studio (Ball State Director of Opera and Voice Professor). She has also studied voice with Julia Cardinale, Mary Katherine Brewer, and Dr. Kerry Glann.

Mrs. Kremer's favorite hobby is singing in a choir. A few of her favorite choral pieces, which she has performed, are Mozart’s Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, and Handel’s Messiah. She has been a member of a choral group every single year, since the age of 8! She even sang on the Carnegie Hall stage twice!

One of her favorite memories of all time is performing Zabur, by Mohammad Fairouz, with The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. She currently harmonizes with the South Bend Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Nancy Menk.

Piano was the first instrument she learned how to play and she feels it is incredibly magical how life comes full circle! She is honored to teach your child and encourage a life-long love for music!

Mrs. Kremer belongs to 3 Professional Organizations: NAfME, SBAMTA, & IMEA.

Bethany Branco

Assistant Music Teacher

Beginner/Intermediate Piano & Voice

Mrs. Branco's passion for music was ignited at a young age, being born and raised in a musical family. Growing up, she enjoyed singing and playing the piano as an active member of the worship team at her family's church in Starke County Indiana.

In her high school years, Mrs. Branco's musical abilities blossomed. She participated in the music division of Project XL, a statewide creative arts contest, as part of a school assignment. She achieved an impressive feat by securing a spot among the top 10 with her very first original song. In addition, she wrote and performed a graduation song for her class ceremony. Mrs. Branco was also honored by the Starke County Fine Arts Commission as a local talent and was invited to sing at their annual meeting. She further demonstrated her versatility and love for performing by taking on the lead role in the musical, Cinderella.

Mrs. Branco's musical journey continued to flourish as she pursued higher education. She enrolled in Belmont University's School of Music in Nashville, Tennessee. Studying music at this prestigious institution allowed her to refine her skills in classical and commercial voice as well as piano. She was a member of Belmont's Oratorio and Women's Chorus in addition to Belmont Pops.

Throughout her musical career, Mrs. Branco has had the opportunity to perform at various venues and events. In 2006 she was a regional finalist for the Gifted Talent Search held at Trinity Broadcasting Network in Tennessee. She has graced the stage at notable locations such as the Indiana State Fair and the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has also performed at numerous weddings, funerals, and in the recording studio where she captivated the audience with her musical talent.

Currently, Mrs. Branco finds joy in homeschooling, gardening and nurturing her children's musical interests alongside her husband. She takes pleasure in sharing her knowledge and experiences, guiding her children in their own musical pursuits. Mrs. Branco's passion for music continues to be an integral part of her life and she looks forward to sharing her love of the art form with your children.