A letter from Valley Catholic Music School Director Beckie Hocker
Dear Music School Families,
Happy New Year to all our families!
Last month, The Flutissimos enjoyed playing holiday music at Washington Square; Macy’s and Nordstrom on Sunday, Dec. 14. We had a wonderful audience and appreciative shoppers who passed by to stop and listen. A special “thank you” to Allison K. for joining us on Harp! We look forward to sharing more of our music at future Valley Catholic and community events.
Instructor of the Month
Rebecca Schappert, Piano
We appreciate Rebecca’s dedication to Valley Catholic Music School and her dedication to her students. She prepares them well for recitals, syllabus and community performances. We are fortunate to have her!
A Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), Rebecca has been teaching piano for 40+ years in Portland and in Boise. She was born in Ohio and grew up in Hayward, California. Her parents always encouraged her in music studies, with her mother sitting down with her to practice when she started accordion at age 8, and piano at age 10. Rebecca also took violin at school in 6th and 7th grades, and learned how to play the organ for church services in the 8th grade, sometimes playing at her mom’s Catholic church and her dad’s Presbyterian church on the same day. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Piano Performance from U.C. Santa Barbara, and a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Oregon. She has taught at Portland State, University of Portland and Boise State, where she also played in the Boise Philharmonic, Civic Opera, and Dinner Theater. Mrs. Schappert focuses on OMTA Syllabus through Level 10, and in the OFMC Junior Festival. She believes in teaching the Syllabus, because it gives one “a balanced diet of scales, chords, ear training, sight-reading, and repertoire.” Her goal is to inspire students to a lifelong love of music.
If you are interested in starting 2026 with lessons, please contact the Music School first to assure there is space and an agreed upon schedule before registering.
Warmly,
Beckie Hocker, Director of Music
To learn more about VC Music School, visit ssmo.org/vcs/schools/music or follow us on Facebook and Instagram or email me directly.
