Practice Makes Perfect

We offer musical instruction in almost any instrument, including voice lessons and dancing lessons. In addition to our fantastic music teachers offering one on one instruction, we also offer group class, virtual lessons and classes, recitals, and merchandise! All of our students get discounts on merch and classes and free subscriptions to games and other resources.

Aaron Gray is a pianist who, at the age of 8, started taking piano lessons under the tutelage of his grandmother, Frances. At St. Vincent, he held the position of Rehearsal Pianist for the music department and accompanied and served as the assistant music director for various performances, including the opera Beautiful Bridegroom by Dan Shore and for the departmental musicals. He has served as music director for various local community theaters, high schools and colleges, and has also played for Saint Vincent Summer Theater's professional summer stock. Aaron has also served as the organist/music director at various churches and is currently the Music Director at Christ United Methodist Church in Scottsdale, Pa. He is also the studio accompanist for Soprano Maureen Miller. In the past, he has served as the associate conductor for Westmoreland Choral Society and was the accompanist for Murrysville Masterworks Chorale. He received his bachelor's degree in piano performance from Saint Vincent College where he studied under Mr. Thomas Octave (Voice/Conducting), Fr. Cyprian Constantine (Organ), Mrs. Susanna Lemberskaya (Vocal Coaching/Accompaniment) and Mrs. Lisa Zubritsky (Piano). Aaron currently owns, operates and teaches at Practice Makes Perfect Music Studio, serves as a teacher for piano sensei, and Is a Community Music Program instructor at Seton Hill University.

Sam Burns is an accomplished violinist with a degree in music from Seton Hill University in 2018 where she studied with David Sinclair and Katie Pierson. She is originally from the West Jefferson Hills area and went to Thomas Jefferson High School. She fell in love with the violin and started playing at 9 years old. She has experience in teaching privately and playing as a freelance musician. Sam has played in numerous musicals, weddings, events, and concerts. Sam has been teaching in the Seton Hill community music program since 2015 and became one of the founders of Practice Makes Perfect Music Studio in 2020. She is well versed in teaching with the Suzuki method for violin and viola and also offers lessons in clarinet. She also currently works at Clelian Heights, School for Exceptional Needs, in Greensburg, Pa. She has experience with teaching adaptive lessons for special needs. Sam is educated with teaching all ages and skill levels. She can't wait to start lessons with you!

Josie Merlino currently serves as an adjunct professor of music at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA, and Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, where she teaches music history, piano lessons, music theory, and class piano. She serves as an accompanist for opera workshop at Seton Hill, and numerous student recitals at both Seton Hill and Saint Vincent. She is the director of liturgical music at Mary Mother of the Church in Charleroi, PA. She enjoys teaching students of all ages at the Community Music Program at Seton Hill, as well as her private studio at Saint Vincent in Latrobe, her church in Charleroi, and her home in Mount Pleasant. She enjoys organizing recitals for her private students as well as her college students each semester, watching students' progress, and celebrating achievements. Josie earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from West Virginia University in 2017 where she studied with Dr. Peter Amstutz. She earned her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA in piano performance, where she studied with David Allen Wehr. She maintains a very active performing, accompanying, and teaching schedule, and is a highly requested musician for concerts, recitals, weddings, church services, and special events.

Chelsea Ritenour is an educator, performer, and singer/songwriter with the BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Melon University, and an MM in Vocal Performance from Mannes, The New School. During her time as a classical singer, Ritenour performed with the Mittelachsisches Theater in Freiburg, Germany singing the roles of Arsena in Der Zigeunerbaron, and Belinda in Dino & Aeneas. She also studies and gave concert performances of the coveted role of The Queen of the Night from Mozart's Die Zauberflote.

Kayla is a self-taught musician from Philadelphia studying Music Therapy at Seton Hill University. Her mother always says Kayla was singing and dancing before she could walk and talk, so it was only right that at the age 4 she was given her first guitar. Inspired by many different artists such as Alicia Keys and Joan Jett, Kayla loves to explore other genres. As a self-taught musician now studying music on a collegiate level, Kayla has developed a unique approach to teaching guitar. She is eager to help those who wish to begin their guitar journey and give them the foundation they need to rock on.

Rona Gehring is a vocalist who began studying classical voice in high school. Pursuing music on a collegiate level, she attended Saint Vincent College where she studied under the tutelage of locally renowned instructor Thomas Octave and famous opera coach Susanna Lemberskaya. While in college, Gehring performed with the PSO, PFO, and many more. She also performed in several operas, musicals, and recitals. Most notably playing the role of Laurentia in the Beautiful Bride Groom, Mrs. Nolan in The Medium, and sang the roles of Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Stefano in Romeo and Juliette by Gounod, and even Gladys Hotchkiss in The Pajama Game. Post graduate, she performed in the city as a soloist and is highly requested for weddings, funerals, and events as well as in local musicals including the role of Laurie in Oklahoma and Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense. Rona is currently taking classical voice, modern voice, and musical theater students looking to improve technique and lyricism (emoting through lyrics of a song). Gehring can also teach acting techniques, monologue lessons, and audition etiquette.