Private Instrument Instruction
Looking to start an instrument or take your skills to the next level? Sign up for piano, guitar, or cello lessons with our expert instructors! Classes are held in the Hill Family Studio, located in the education wing of The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater at 401 S. Pleasant Grove Blvd.
For questions call us at 801-226-8600 or email Academy@TheRuth.org.
Piano for Musical Theater
Cost: $160 per month
Lesson Structure: 30-minute private lessons each week (4 lessons per month) with recitals in June and December.
Age Range: Open to ages 6 and up
Perfect for students of all skill sets, lessons focus on reading music, accompanying vocalists, and performing from the musical theater repertoire. Will also develop skills in sightreading, jazz, and music theory.
Beginning Guitar
Cost: $125 per month
Lesson Structure: 30-minute private lessons each week (4 lessons per month) with recitals in June and December.
Age Range: Open to ages 6 and up
Beginner guitar lessons are perfect for students looking to build a strong foundation in technique, chords, and strumming patterns. Lessons focus on essential skills like reading chord charts and playing familiar songs. Students must provide their own instrument.
Meet Our Instructors
Christian WawroPiano
Christian WawroPiano
Christian has been music directing and teaching since 2010. When not playing piano or performing, Christian spends his time teaching students at Lone Peak High School. He has a love of education and music, and he wants to help you achieve your piano goals, whatever they may be!
Christian has taught music students in the SCERA Youth Theater program for over 10 years. He recently music directed Fiddler on the Roof at the Scera Shell. He has traveled the world playing piano with the BYU Young Ambassadors and was employed by Brigham Young University as an accompanist for their Music, Dance, Theater (MDT) program for many years.
Christian accepts all students, wherever they are at. If you are brand new to the instrument, have played for a few years, or consider yourself more advanced but want to improve your technique in jazz, musical theater accompaniment, or performance, Christian invites you to give his classes a try! Kids 6+, adults welcome!
Rachel Carter Guitar
Rachel Carter Guitar
Rachel is a choreographer and director for children's theater from Houston, Texas, with a passion for teaching that began in high school. A lifelong performer, some of her favorite roles include Jo in Little Women, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, and Irene in Hello, Dolly! She loves children's theater for its ability to help kids grow in confidence and express themselves. In addition to theater arts, Rachel has taught guitar at Spark Theater and Rehearsal Room Music in Houston. An aspiring singer-songwriter and musician, she also enjoys yoga, painting, writing music, and spending time with her four siblings and closest friends.
Risa Bean Cello
Risa Bean Cello
Risa Bean grew up in Orem, Utah, starting cello at 8 years old with Shauna Bowman as her first teacher. She graduated from Orem High School in 2009 and started her music degree at Snow College with Dr. Brent Smith, where she became one of the first classes to graduate with her Bachelor’s in Commercial Music in 2016. During her time at Snow College, Risa won the Concerto Competition and performed with the Snow College Symphony in 2012. She was the first chair cellist in both the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, and performed with amazing musicians, including Kurt Bestor, Nathan Pacheco, William Joseph and Kansas and loved performing in every musical whenever she could, including Seussical, Once Upon a Mattress, Seven Bride for Seven Brothers, Pirates of Penzance, Scarlet Pimpernel and Big Fish.
After graduating, Risa has performed with groups like the Timpanogos Symphony, the Salt Lake Symphony and String FX, as well as continuing to perform in musicals like Daddy Long Legs at the Hale Theater in Orem, Hart Theater’s Spring Awakening and Next to Normal at the Eccles.
Risa developed a deep love for teaching during her time in college and wants to give young musicians the confidence to perform and express themselves through music like her first teacher did, whether it’s picking up cello for the first time, working on an audition to get into college, or just having fun playing!