STORY & PHOTOS BY DAVID WELTON
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
June 10, 2015

Linda Good has expanded her Island Strings studio space and on June 6 a celebratory Grand Opening Recital filled the studio with music.

For the past 40 years, Linda Good has provided lessons to aspiring musicians of diverse ages in her small but cozy living room. Performances, jam sessions and recitals required rented or borrowed spaces suited for a crowd. She now has a new space, just for music, in a studio over her garage.

Her extensive collection of folk instruments is now more accessible for student interaction. In the background is an Indonesian bamboo “angklung” and a harpsichord.

Bennett Sichel, Anya Benson and Ash Kline sit on a colorful rug gifted to Linda to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Island Strings.

Linnea Sichel gets drum lessons from father JR and big brother Bennet who—for the time being—has turned to percussion instruments.

Very young pupils are first exposed to tone recognition and rhythm by Linda, but students of all ages appreciate her sense of fun and gentle approach. Louise Holloway Stanley started violin lessons at age 62, and is now learning to play the ukelele.

Enso Anderson, age 5, gets encouragement from Father Trevor and Linda. This was his first performance with his blue guitar.

Rowan Sillars plays cello, accompanied by sisters Abby and Grace on the keyboard. Ravi Neumeyer is in the background at the keyboard.

Lilly Katzinger plays the “Swedish Walking Song” with her mom Jennifer.

JR, Doug Sillars, Audri Cooke, Bennett, Linda and Julia Cooke play for the Island Strings community in Linda’s new studio.

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