We were lucky to catch up with Olivia Gerns recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Olivia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

As an educator of the performing arts, my main mission is to help my students become well-rounded artists. Since I was a child, I have had influential figures in my life who inspired my multifaceted career in the arts. I started tap dancing when I was just 3 years old, and learned piano starting around age 6. I have kept music and dance in my life ever since, and have many mentors to thank for continually inspiring and challenging me. The greatest asset I can attribute to my teachers is my versatility as a musician and a dancer. For example, I involve music theory lessons in my tap classes, and apply rhythmic exercises and movement during music lessons. Everything goes hand in hand, and is all valuable to the student. I wish for my students to grow up with the same artistic values and experiences that I did, which includes learning and performing multiple styles from throughout history, how to create and improvise, and how to adapt in different collaborative environments.

Olivia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I attended college at Chapman University, where I double majored in Music Performance emphasizing in the oboe, and Music Education. During my time at Chapman, I continued my piano training, served as a Music Theory and Aural Skills Tutor, won The Chapman Orchestra’s 2016 Instrumental Concerto Competition, and received the Woodwind and Brass Chamber Music Award in 2018. My college career was mainly focused on my training with the oboe and performing in many large and small group settings, including touring with the Chapman Woodwind Quintet, traveling with the Orange County Youth Symphony throughout Spain, and playing Principal Oboe at the International Lyric Academy in Vicenza, Italy. The next step was grad school, or so I thought.

I had committed to Boston Conservatory at Berklee to pursue a graduate degree in Oboe Performance, with an English Horn specialization. Accepting admission forced me to think very deeply about what continuing my oboe training would mean for my future. I realized I had other parts of me I wished to explore, including my love for piano and tap dance. Deciding to forego the option to attend grad school turned out to be the best decision of my life, considering it reopened my eyes to my first loves, as well as introducing me to a new passion I did not know existed within me: teaching.

Starting from scratch after graduating from Chapman, I reached out to my high school band directors aiming to get involved in any musical avenue in any way possible, since all my plans were officially out of the picture. Little did I know this decision would change the direction of my life forever. So, I returned to Agoura High School as an adjunct assistant director, leading and conducting rehearsals and performances. After our first performance, the other band directors in surrounding schools got word, and inquired about having me come to their classrooms as well. I was officially hired by Las Virgenes Unified School District as a Music Instructional Specialist for multiple schools in the area. Unfortunately, the door to this opportunity closed due to the COVID-19 layoffs in March of 2020. Starting from scratch again, I began teaching private Oboe and Piano lessons online to make ends meet. Yet again, another passion was unlocked! Now, working one on one with students ages 5-75 is my pride and joy. Through this entire journey to find musical fulfillment, I learned nothing is permanent, and it is never too late to say ‘yes’.

The main instrument I teach is piano, in which I conduct half hour or hour lessons. In the lesson setting I focus on 3 elements: warm ups/scales/exercises, piano curriculum through lesson books, and piano repertoire. My students develop many skills through this tried and true technique, including sight-reading, music theory, dexterity, musicianship, and more. My students also have performance and composition experience as I host seasonal recitals to showcase their hard work. Another piece of my philosophy my students can attest to is my focus on individualized lessons, and the overall well-being of the student. Every person and musician is different, so I tend to work with my students on a successful educational path and look to them for which route to take. Some examples can be lesson length, structure, and momentum. Each lesson is very intentional in promoting longevity and versatility for the student’s present and future.

Whoever you are, wherever you come from, anyone can learn to play an instrument. The cool thing is, everyone has a different way of doing so. I will make sure to find the right way for each of my students to help them reach their goals, through hard work, self awareness, and body and mind connection. Playing the piano, or any instrument for that matter, works our brain in magical ways, through bilateral stimulation and working the right and left brains. Another cool thing-this allows our mind to keep working even after we leave the lesson setting.

I am most proud of my work when my students leave feeling empowered, encouraged, and with a big smile. The magical look on their face after accomplishing a goal, performing in a recital, or simply getting the right notes gives me so much joy. It is a gift to be able to create relationships with just about anyone. To see the individual growth of each student is something I will cherish for the rest of my life. I hope to inspire and motivate more and more students in the near future and forever.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I really had to learn how to trust others and ask for help, especially from my very own clients. It was definitely a vulnerable place to be in, because I did not want to come off desperate for work, or unconfident. I ask my clients to refer me to others in their own communities. I quickly came to realize this not only helped my business, but also helped my relationships with them grow. It shows I trust them, and can count on them to speak to my strengths. If you are personable and approachable, people will enjoy working with you, and will more likely recommend others to work with you as well.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Prior to my established philosophy of individualized lessons, I always thought every student should be able to follow the same lesson plan, and therefore succeed from it. I also thought that hour lessons were good for everyone, but this is not the case. I knew there were different types of learners, but I did not fully understand what this meant until I had enough experience. There is much more nuance to the different learning types, not just visual or auditory, but also in terms of communication, physical interaction, body language, emotional expression, and attention span. I am constantly growing in my abilities to adapt to new personalities and different types of learning. My tool belt is now filled with different analogies, step by step explanations, and helpful phrases for my students to flourish with.

Contact Info:

• Website: oliviagerns.com
• Instagram: @oliviagerns_

Image Credits
Action Shots: Nicole Souza
Make Up & Hair: QuiNeshia Graham