Kaydee
Gabel
Musician & Teacher
based in Kansas City, MO
ABOUT Catherine “Kaydee” Gabel is a musician from the Kansas City area. Kaydee attended the University of Nebraksa-Lincoln and earned her Bachelor’s of Music in piano performance and went on to study at the University of Missouri-Kansas City to study music therapy. After taking a brief hiatus from performing after college, Kaydee has ventured into improvising on the piano in a classical style as well as composing music on solo piano or piano with voice. She also plays violin with artists in KC. She enjoys playing classical, pop, rock, soul, and dabbles in country and folk styles.
She is grateful to have been given performance opportunities with the Opus 76 Quartet, Fountain City String Quartet, Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra, KC Philip Glass Ensemble, Westwood Ensemble, and Quixotic Entertainment. Along with continuing to cultivate her love for performing, she currently runs her own private studio as well as regularly plays sacred music for different churches in the area. See About for more.
Studio Session: Original Music
Cover of “Always” on piano and violin
Philip Glass Etude No. 11
Gabel Music Studio
Kaydee started teaching her neighbor and friends piano in high school. After moving home from college, she officially opened her studio in the fall of 2018. She is a member of the Kansas City Music Teachers Association (KCMTA) and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). She has had students receive superior ratings at Federation Festival and has had high school students receive superior ratings at State and District competitions. She holds at least 2 recitals per year.
Kaydee found her love of teaching in the piano pedagogy program guided by Brenda Wristen at UNL. At UMKC, she studied music therapy with Amy Robertson and Dawn Iwamasa and decided to pursue a career in pedagogy and performance. However, her time at UMKC helped her see how healing music can be outside of oneself and hopes to pass that along to others. She has experience as a worship leader and music director and uses those skills in performance and teaching settings.
She attributes her passion in music to the sacrifices her parents made for her and to these childhood instructors: Anne Becker, Carmen Dieker, Coleen Dieker, Christy Dolan, Marvin Gruenbaum, Cathy Houghland, Lori Pinnell, and David Tauscher. While in college, she studied piano with Paul Barnes and violin with Rebecca Fischer and David Neely. She earned her degree in piano performance with a minor in psychology. She is a lifelong learner and has taken lessons from Karen Kushner, Keith Stanfield, and Shane Borth post-college.
Kaydee teaches kids ages 6 to 18 and also teaches adults. She has also accepted students as young as 4 years old. Beginner to advanced piano lessons are available, violin lessons are not offered at this time. She currently teaches lessons in Lee’s Summit, MO and Roeland Park, KS.
Gabel Music Studio Spring Recital, May 2022
PHILOSOPHYTeaching Philosophy
Learning an instrument adds value to anyone’s life, whether young or old. It’s not something that needs to be forced. Enjoy the process as well as the outcome.
It takes a lot of patience, energy, time, and determination to learn an instrument.
I believe that the principles of an instrument should be taught according to each student’s needs and level.
Making music is one of the most beautiful forms of art.
Music is an expression of yourself. Music makes connections, it’s heard because of you.
