Hi, we’re Allie and Joe!
We started Gough Street Music Garden to connect with our Baltimore community and make the world a little more musical, one student at a time. We teach all ages and skill levels from the comfort of our home studio in the Upper Fells neighborhood.
Allie Lovee
piano, composition, music theory, songwriting
“I care about the whole student and meet them wherever they are in their musical journey. I believe music should be a joyful experience, and that the skills learned in music lessons should be applicable in many aspects of life. Together let’s help your musical garden bloom!”
Education and philosophy
Allie has honed her teaching style over 8 years, taking inspiration from the kind, open-minded, and dedicated teachers in her life. Her degrees in composing and music theory allow her to explore all facets of music. She encourages a well-rounded education in all her students, and dives into topics like history, ear training, and musical philosophy.
Allie received two graduate degrees from the Peabody Institute in May 2022: Master of Music in Composition and Master of Music in Music Theory Pedagogy. She also taught a section of first-year theory at Peabody.
Allie received her Bachelor’s degree in Composition at Southern Methodist University, where she was accepted to an exchange program at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the International Music Festival of the Adriatic.
Musical projects
Allie Lovee has traveled the US and Europe premiering her large ensemble works, chamber music, solo works, and art songs. She incorporates her identity into her music and hopes to use her platform to spread positive change in the world of classical music.
Noteworthy works include “revel,” written for the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, her song cycle “Believe Me, Folks: Ten Songs for a Mad President,” her piece “Three Short Pieces for String Quartet,” which won her the International Music Festival of the Adriatic’s Duino Prize for composition, and her piece “till the water runs clear,” a collaboration with musicians from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as part of their online “Lunch Bachs” series.
Stylistically, Allie is fascinated with the “grey areas” in music - styles that defy definition and borrow from many genres. Coming from a background in classical, popular, musical theater, rock n’ roll, and more, it is no surprise that Allison’s compositions reflect her diverse background.
Most recently, Allie has enjoyed devoting more time to songwriting. She releases new songs, covers, and arrangements on her YouTube and TikTok.
Joseph Bates
violin, viola, cello, college prep
“I strive to incorporate both traditional teaching methods and the latest research on pedagogy and educational psychology in order to help you set and achieve your musical goals. I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from world class musicians and I want to make what I’ve learned accessible to as many people as possible.”
Goal-oriented teaching
I believe there is no “one size fits all” method for learning a stringed instrument and I prioritize tailoring my curriculum to the needs of each student. When we meet for a first lesson we’ll put together a detailed plan which takes into account your musical goals (or those of your child) and maps out the most effective strategy for achieving them. Whether you want to play Beethoven, Benny Goodman, Bob Dylan or Beyoncé, we will chart a course to get you there!
Background
I completed my Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance as a student of Dallas Symphony Co-Concertmaster Nathan Olson and former Concertmaster Emanuel Borok in 2020. While there I also studied viola under Barbara Sudweeks and conducting as a student of Dr. Jack Delaney. After this I attended the University of Denver as a graduate student of Professor Linda Wang.
In 2016 I was selected by Carnegie Hall as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America which toured the US and Europe.
Play comfortably
Despite my love of the instrument, playing has not always been easy for me. During my undergraduate degree I dealt with severe tendinitis and carpal tunnel, as well as neck and back pain. In order to overcome this I had to learn to play with as much ease and comfort as possible, and re-learn much of my technique. Because of this, I strive to set my students on the path to easy, comfortable playing from day one.