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MARSHA HEYDT
Music instructor
serving Berks County and the surrounding
area
CONTACT | LESSON PRICING | ABOUT MARSHA'S MUSIC LESSONS | Marsha's BIO | HOME |
Marsha moved back to her homestead in 2017 a farm that has been in her family since 1917. Her family came from the Philadelphia area in the mid 1700’s. Descended from great, great uncles who were soldiers in the Civil War’s Bucktail Regiment and gypsy fortunetellers and artists living off the land that they farmed, her lineage is historic and colorful.
Her mother was a local church pianist/organist Marsha started piano studies when she was five years of age. Soon she gravitated to the saxophone, which opened the door for flute, clarinet, voice and guitar while continuing her study of piano.
Her love of music led her to festivals and major high school performances state wide. While on this path, she was introduced to the stylings of Phil Woods. After hearing Phil in Reading, the state was set. Marsha knew then that saxophone was what she would pursue in life.
Marsha continued studying classical saxophone with David Bilger and classical piano with his wife, Doreen Bilger. Awarded several prestigious scholarships, she began her undergraduate work at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and received a Bachelor of Music in 1991. She also holds a Masters of Science in Education from Queens College. She studied privately with Tim Price, Eric Person, Ron Kerber, John Blake, Larry McKenna, Jim Pugh, John Stubblefield, Sir Roland Hanna and Jimmie Amadie.
Marsha moved to LA in 1991 and began playing with contemporary jazz and rock musicians during her first year. By the following year, she felt beckoned by the east coast and bought a one-way ticket to New York City.
She lived in NYC for 25 years where she had a performing and teaching career. Her music is an open sky, with diverse elements of Latin, Funk, Jazz, and Rock. She has shared the stage with Grover Washington; Bill Watrous; Bob Mintzer; Randy Brecker; John Stubblefield; George Gee and his “Make Believe Ballroom Orchestra” ; and with Paul Schaeffer as a guest appearance on the David Letterman Show, along with many others.
Besides performing and composing. Marsha has been an Educator on the East Coast. She has taught College courses on woodwind pedagogy, High School band, and Elementary general music. Institutions that she has worked for include Brooklyn Conservatory, Midori and Friends, Manhattan School of Music, Harlem School of Music, NY Pops Education Program, Louis Armstrong Foundation, and the Promise Academy. In NYC she performed with her band “The Project of Love”, performing in private and public venues. For years, she performed monthly at NYU’s Hospital Rusk Institute. She has traveled to different jazz festivals and master classes for Colleges and High and Elementary school programs throughout the country.
Marsha recorded her debut CD “ One Night” on Blue Toucan Records. Her second CD of (all originals) which was very thrilling called “Diggin the Day” on BluJazz Records.
Since moving back to PA she has grown a thriving private teaching practice at Shram Music on “Peace a Love Acres” the name on the farm. Marsha has worked teaching for Cyber Charter School in PA teaching general music. Her private practice has grown where she teaches Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet and Piano. She also teaches at private schools in Berks County. Marsha’s students have one Scholarship awards at the Reading Music Foundation in competitions. She has worked for Brandywine and Friends giving her time to help children in the Brandywine school district which her alma mater from High School. Annually there is a recital that students participate at Kings Hall named after her first dog one of the buildings that used to be her Father’s shed. Marsha performs with her band for public and private events around the Tri-state area while rebuilding “Peace and Love Acres”.