ABOUT US
"Charlotte and Ramona are the best teachers ever! Love, Love, Love
The Pink House and Kindermusik!!!"
My name is Charlotte Gill Leffel. I have been teaching Kindermusik since 1997. I also teach piano following in the footsteps of my mother, who taught piano in Birmingham for 40 years. I am a member of Birmingham Music Teachers Association, Alabama Federation of Music Clubs, and the Junior Counselor for the Woodlawn Music Study Club.
I am a classically trained musician in voice and piano and a graduate of the Alabama School of Fine Arts. I studied with Nicholas Cleebury in England and hold a Music Technology Degree from UAB under the direction of Dr. Henry Panion (Grammy winner and composer/arranger for Stevie Wonder). Through him I also studied with non-classical musicians such as Michael Jackson's keyboardist.
I have sung in many choirs through the years as section leader and soloist, including St. Luke's Episcopal Church, the Psallite Singers, and the Cathedral Church of the Advent. I am married to Spencer Leffel, who is the Director of Publications at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, where we attend church as well. He is a very fine musician, drummer and percussionist who performs and teaches. We have both performed locally in a number of bands, playing jazz, rock, reggae, and other styles. We also co-lead drum circles on a regular basis. Our list of performances includes Birmingham City Stages, a tour in Jamaica, and performances around Alabama and the Southeast.
We have two young sons, Gill, age 4, and Fletcher, age 3, who love to sing and to bang away at drums and piano. Both our children have attended Kindermusik classes since they were 3 months old. Kindermusik at The Pink House has been a joyous and rewarding experience as a parent. We also raised Spencer's son Mark, now 23, a talented bassist and hand-drummer.
My passion is teaching young children. I feel a great calling and love for this. So of course Kindermusik was the answer. I fell in love with this program after observing my nieces during a class in South Florida. As my program grew, I had a vision of my own studio in which to teach Kindermusik. Finally, I found my ideal studio. In January 2000 I opened Kindermusik at The Pink House to create the perfect environment. It is located in Forest Park off Clairmont Avenue across from Silvertron Cafe and Behind V. Richards.
Ramona Weller grew up singing in church and playing piano from the time she could reach the keys. She started writing music and performing at age 10. Ramona played leading roles in musicals in high school and worked in community theater. She majored in music at Brevard College, specializing in vocal performance and piano. She sang and played keyboards in a pop/rock band in North Carolina for four years. In Birmingham Ramona has served as worship team soloist at Christian Life Church for 10 years.
Drawing on her love for children, Ramona taught music at Christian Life Learning Academy. She has worked with The Pink House for two years, teaching Kindermusik, Piano Performers, and music in several area schools.
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