About Me
Helen Mendenhall brings 40+ years of experience as a professional musician
to her Sacramento, CA-based private studio. Specializing in teaching piano,
organ, keyboard theory, sight-singing and improvisation, she has made it a
life practice to help each student discover the gift of music that she firmly
believes is present in everyone. Helen’s light-hearted approach to instruction
is grounded in her years as a public music school teacher, and as a teacher in
private studios in Red Bluff, CA and in Sacramento. Helen is a
life-long student of improvisation and enjoys using multiple techniques to
cultivate playfulness in her studio.
Helen has taught Kindermusik and is trained in the Orff and Kodaly
methods, all of which are based on the premise that music literacy
is accessible to everyone. Her next venture, which will utilize these
methodologies, will be launched in the fall of 2009. Providing first
experiences in singing, the KinderChorus classes will be offered to
Kindergarteners and first-graders through the auspices of the
Sacramento Children’s Chorus. (For further information go to
www.sacramentochildrenschorus.org)
In addition to private piano and organ instruction, Helen has since 1995 served as
accompanist and assistant conductor for the Sacramento Children's Chorus. She is
also assistant organist at First Lutheran Church (Yuba City.) In the past, she has served as:
- Accompanist, Camerata California (2001-2005)
- Organist and Pianist, Sacramento Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (1993-2002)
- Accompanist, A Cappella Choir and University Choir, California State University, Chico (1991-1992)
- Choir Director, Red Bluff Presbyterian Church (1984-1990)
Helen earned an undergraduate degree in Music Education (piano performance
emphasis) from George Fox College and a master’s degree in Music
(organ performance emphasis) from California State University, Chico. She
is also a member of the Music Teachers Association of California (Sacramento
Branch) and the American Guild of Organists (North Valley Branch), and has
studied with David Rothe, Richard Cionco, John Butt, Kimberly Marshall, and
Julian White.