Janet Maass Fitz, owner and director of the Lancaster Contemporary School of Music
Why collaborative music?
What's the driving force behind group lessons at the LCSM?
It's all about making connections!
Making music together ACCELERATES LEARNING.
LCSM provides a space for budding musicians to develop skills and connect with others who share a love of playing the piano.
Discover the EXCITEMENT and CAMARADERIE of group lessons at LCSM!
Here's the back story:
Janet, the youngest of four children, grew up in a musical family, and enjoyed singing and making music at home, and in the children's and youth choirs at church. Every member of her family learned to play at least one instrument, and at the age of 7, Janet wanted to play the flute like her big sister, so she taught herself how to play. How exciting it was when the school band director made an exception to allow her to join the school band early! No waiting until 4th grade to join the school band! Janet continued playing flute in elementary, middle school, and high school bands, and while earning her undergraduate degree at West Chester University.
At the age of 8, Janet started piano lessons with the lady who lived down the street. Each week, Janet would walk to her piano lesson with $4.00 cash, given by her mother, to pay the piano teacher. As she continued in piano study, Janet enjoyed singing in church choirs and school choruses, and playing keys in the middle school and high school jazz bands. Janet also played percussion in the high school marching and symphonic bands, and played keys in a small jazz combo her senior year in high school. Janet had the honor of participating in the Delaware All-State Sr. Chorus, and toured Europe as a high school vocalist with American Music Abroad.
While earning her Bachelor of Science in Music Education at West Chester University, Janet began teaching piano lessons at the community music school, and instructed high school drumlines in Delaware and Virginia. After graduating from WCU with concentrations in piano, voice, and percussion, Janet maintained a private teaching studio while working full time as an Elementary Classroom Music Teacher, and part time High School Drumline Instructor in DE public schools. Janet soon married her college classmate, Richard, while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force Band as Percussionist and Keyboardist. While stationed at McGuire AFB, NJ, and Langley AFB, VA, Janet taught all areas of music education in the public schools, including Elementary Classroom and Vocal Music, Middle School Band, High school Vocal/Choral Music, High School Percussion, High School Drumlines, private voice lessons, and private piano lessons.
Janet's varied music ensemble expereriences and favorite memories of making music with family, friends, and students, has inspired her to promote collaborative music making in her teaching studio. Collaborative music making has had a positive and far-reaching effect on each and every one of her students.
While maintaining a vibrant piano studio in New Holland, PA, Janet volunteers as a church musician, is a supply percussionist and supply pianist for the New Holland Band (the second oldest municipal band in the nation), is a member of MTNA, PMTA, and LMTA, and currently serves as President of the Lancaster Music Teachers Association.
