About Us

 Founder of the business, Jill Hockemeyer, was inspired to become a Kindermusik licensed educator because she witnessed firsthand how music has had a positive impact in the lives of her own children. Jill attended Kindermusik classes with her children, and saw how many developmental benefits the classes provided.  Now she combines her passion of working with young children, her love of music, and connecting young families to each other by offering Kindermusik classes to them, as well as piano lessons to individuals that are age seven and above.  

 Dylan Brown is a guitarist who is currently earning a Bachelor degree in both Music Technology in an Outside Field, and Classical Guitar Performance. He has been playing guitar for eleven years and collegiately studying classical guitar for four. His specialties include fingerstyle, classical, and surf guitar but he is not shy about any genre of music! When he is not playing music he is probably enjoying a nice, hot cuppa' joe! He is very excited to be teaching guitar and hopes to strum some chords with you someday! 

Although an accountant by trade, Ruth has been teaching scrapbooking for over 20 years and has recently discovered a passion for making cards as well.  She is currently an independent Close to My Heart Consultant but she has developed her own scrapbook products and designed and taught classes for other paper crafting companies.  But her favorite thing will always be teaching others to document their own stories and connect with others in their lives. 

  Brian Johnston is a trombonist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, a regular Member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and Substitute with the New World Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with the Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Elgin, Canton, and Quad City Symphony Orchestras, and is also a substitute for the Houston & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras. Brian's teaching experience has included many schools in the Chicago area including the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO), where many of his private students have won principal trombone & bass trombone spots in the youth orchestra. His primary teachers have included: Jay Friedman, John Rojak, John Faieta, Andy Malloy, Reed Capshaw, and Eric Reynolds.   

Dani Kiefer received a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design and photography from USF in 1999. Upon graduation, she moved to Chicago and began designing exhibits and marketing materials for the Field Museum of Natural History. She continued her career in Chicago at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Lincoln Park Zoo and the Pritzker Family Children's Zoo where her brand design was awarded first place by the American Association of Museums.

Dani has taught art to children through Emmanuel St. Michael Lutheran School (grades 4th through 8th) and currently is a freelance graphic designer for a variety of clients. In her free time, Dani loves to paint, draw, read, visit museums, attend bible study, study scripture, walk outside and take care of her husband and two daughters.

Laura Mergy is a violinist currently studying music at Purdue Fort Wayne. Since the age of four, she has become well versed in violin by Suzuki method and has completed Suzuki teacher training units 1, 2, and 3. While utilizing classical music in her teaching, she also loves to fiddle around with other genres, such as bluegrass and country. When not teaching, she performs music for church, funerals, and anywhere else that violin music is needed! Laura is excited to be teaching at Joyful Creations Studio and hopes to encourage a love of music in all her students.

 Paige Stutzman is currently finishing up her final semester at Purdue Fort Wayne to complete her degree in Music Education. Paige has been playing French Horn for 13 years and is excited to help young horn players grow in their skills and love of music.  Through her involvement in music, Paige has been able to perform in the World Wind Youth Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria with musicians from around the world. Paige has also been able to explore parts of Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic while on tour with the Purdue Fort Wayne Wind Ensemble.  While not teaching or traveling, Paige enjoys watching Netflix with her two cats, Peter and Jewels. 

  Rachael is a Ft. Wayne native and is excited to be teaching Kindermusik at Joyful Creations Studio.  She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Concordia Chicago and has been teaching music for 10 years.  In her spare time, Rachael loves directing theatre productions, teaching music at various Lutheran schools in the area, singing, traveling, and spending time with her husband and 2 girls.