“Heidi is wonderfully patient and intuitive as to what and how a student needs to progress.”
            – Karen R., Washington

“A wonderful and very patient instructor.”
            – Steve S., Oregon

Private Lessons

Heidi brings over 30 years of teaching experience to her students. She currently teaches long-distance over the Zoom platform using two cameras – one that shows her instrument close-up and a face view. Students can clearly see her hands on the fretboard as she demonstrates a tune. (In-person lessons are suspended due to the pandemic.) 

Heidi teaches both by ear and by reading from printed music tablature with staff notation and chords. She provides her own materials appropriate to the student’s ability level and needs, and loves to work with beginners! She’s warm and encouraging and helps each person learn at their own pace.

OVERHEAD CAMERA GIVES CLEAR VIEW OF INSTRUMENT

Dulcimer Lessons:  

The dulcimer is an easy instrument to learn, even if this is someone’s first time playing a musical instrument! Beginners come away with basic techniques and one or two simple songs in the very first lesson. Advanced beginners and intermediate students can learn chords, flatpicking, fingerpicking, and advanced techniques on repertoire such as fiddle tunes, waltzes, Irish jigs, slower hymns, and songs to sing.

Guitar and Ukulele:

Both of these instruments are great for song accompaniment. Heidi teaches chords, strumming and fingerpicking techniques, and how to play while you sing. She can also show how to flatpick some old-time tunes or familiar songs.

Songwriting: 

Have you ever wanted to write your own songs? Songwriting lessons help students organize their stories, add detail and imagery to lyrics, learn about song craft, and develop melodies and accompaniment that fit the content of the song. Heidi’s specialty is writing story songs and songs of place. She coaches students to develop their own writing voice as they tell their own stories in music.

Musical Background:

Heidi taught herself guitar at age 11 and played in folk coffeehouses during college. She took up the dulcimer in 1984 and soon taught lessons in Seattle and gave workshops across the Northwest. She is the director of the adult music camp Dulcimer Week in the Wallowas and has taught at dulcimer festivals nationwide. She also was the instructor of an annual week-long Road Scholar dulcimer class in West Virginia from 2006-2019. In addition to teaching adults, Heidi worked extensively with at-risk children in both urban and rural settings in southern West Virginia from 2003 to 2011. As a songwriter, she has recorded numerous CDs and performed at festivals and folk clubs nationwide.

Heidi is available to teach:

  • Private Lessons
  • Festival Workshops
  • Road Scholar Programs
  • Community & Senior Groups
  • Week-long Adult Music Camps
  • School Programs and Residencies

For more information, please email Heidi at Heidi.muller.music@gmail.com.