Small Business Moms Do Big Business in Berlin

It’s a snowy day in Berlin (as usual) and I’m on the road again, this time to my son’s guitar lesson.  In elementary and middle school, he played the drums.  When he entered high school, he had the desire to play the guitar. My father, a cowboy from South Dakota, would have been so proud. After a few lessons at another music center, he wasn’t really connecting with the instructor. Another mom from town suggested Jennifer Jeknavorian. “She teaches lessons out of her home and has three kids too. You’ll really like her.”  It was worth a shot. It’s been over a year now, and my son has never loved playing the guitar so much as he does when he plays with Jennifer.

 Jennifer is not only a “cool” mom, with three young children, but she is an accomplished musician and singer. She grew up in Berlin. Her parents did not have a musical background but her family is full of artists.  The Phelps Twins, Jennifer’s great-aunts were in the entertainment business as singers and dancers on Broadway. Her grandfather, Mr. Stevens, was a locally famous painter; one of his paintings still hangs in Berlin Town Hall today. Jennifer’s sister is also a painter. 

When Jennifer was eight-years old she had her first piano lesson. An instructor came to her house once a week for 10 years. Her parents were very supportive of her passion for music and never once said, “stop playing that song.” They never had to tell her to practice because Jennifer did it because she loved it. While in school she accompanied the chorus, played in a jazz band, and provided music to theater productions. Jennifer picked up electric and acoustic guitars as a teenager, and in high school was in various all-girl rock bands, playing gigs at school dances. When Jennifer went to college she studied piano and received a bachelors degree in music from Berkeley-Boston. As most college students look for part-time supplemental income, Jennifer found on the job-posting bulletin board a need for a music instructor. Someone was moving to Nashville and needed a music teacher to take her piano, guitar and voice students. Jennifer’s career as a music teacher began that day. She used to travel back and forth from Boston to Berlin, Berlin to Boston.  In the process, she picked up more students here in Berlin, until she finally decided to stay in Berlin. That was 18 years ago.

Jennifer met her husband Walt Wadinger on a blind date a few years after returning to Berlin. They have been married 12 years, and have three boys aged 11, eight, and six-years old. All of the boys play the piano, although the eight-year old loves it the most while the other two think it’s just “ok.” They practice whenever they have time but Jennifer asks that they play a little every day. Typical mom. Her oldest son will be in the school talent show in February; he will be doing a duet on the piano with another fifth grader who plays the guitar. Walt will occasionally pick up the guitar, and is happy and proud of the work Jennifer does with all of her students as well as their family. 

Jennifer’s music and voice lessons schedule run similar to the arrivals and departures at Grand Central Station. On any given weekday, you will find students practicing piano, keyboard, or guitar. Cindy Silvernale, a graduate of Hartt School of Music and friend of Jennifer, now teaches all vocal lessons.  Every June, Jennifer organizes a recital of all of her students at the Bethany Covenant Church in East Berlin. Last year there were about 70 students performing voice, guitar, or piano. “The recital showcases the various levels of students.  It is a lot of fun and a good motivator for the students since each of them get to select their own musical piece to perform.  Most of them have never been in front of 100 people in the audience.  This year it will be our 18^th recital.  We are very proud of the accomplishments of each and every one of our students.”  It is a huge undertaking to coordinate but a totally worthwhile event. 

Some of Jennifer’s former students have taken that knowledge and brought it places. A few students have gone on to become music teachers. Another is a currently the music director at a church, plays jazz amazingly, a virtuoso “perfectionist”, and a master of improvisation. And yet another student auditioned for American Idol last year. Jennifer also recently discovered that one of her former college classmates is now the drummer for Paul McCartney.  

When asked if she finds running her business a challenge, the automatic answer was “yes”, but like any job it has pros and cons. Lessons usually run between 2 and 8 p.m., just in time for her children to get off the bus, do homework and get ready for dinner. She is lucky to have a babysitter who can multitask.  Looking back, Jennifer says she wouldn’t change a thing. Looking forward, she’d like to get back into playing music for herself and do more song writing. She’s never given up on these things, but now has some time to rekindle them while her children are in school all day.  “I’ve started playing again a bit with a friend and hope to get more into it. The most fun thing in the world is playing with the band, hanging out and writing songs. In between loads of laundry, of course.”  

During this interview I could hear the sense of pride in Jennifer’s voice. She loves what she does and loves the inspiration she’s planted in others.  “I love my students and am thankful every day to share my love of music with them.”

If you would like more information about Jennifer Jeknavorian’s voice, guitar, or piano lessons please call her at (860) 829-2143 or email jenwalt3@comcast.net