Photo by Jody Isaackson MLC music major Raquel Freese will be giving free music lessons this summer at Christ Ev. Lutheran Church in Marshall. Freese will also be organizing the church’s Vacation Bible School for this summer. The entire community is invited.

MARSHALL — Christ Lutheran Church of Marshall will be celebrating six years of offering free summer music lessons to the community.

Beginning Wednesday, June 6, Martin Luther College third year music major Raquel Freese will be providing various music lessons to community members at no cost.

“I’m so excited,” Freese said. “I’ve been talking to other students who have done it. I think it will be more practical than a class at school because you can apply what you’ve learned in a real-life scenario.”

Freese will be offering piano lessons for children finishing kindergarten and older.

“Adults, too,” Freese said.

She will give organ lessons to anyone with the ability to play four-part hymns on the piano without too much difficulty.

Freese will also be teaching guitar for children finishing fourth grade through adulthood.

“Students must have their own instrument and music,” Freese said.

Additionally, she will be giving voice lessons to children finishing up fourth grade and through adulthood.

“For instrumental lessons, we ask that the child already has at least two years of experience,” Christ Lutheran Pastor Keith Schreiner said. “Our instructor doesn’t have much experience with band instruments but is willing to work with students who already know the basics about their own instrument.”

Freese will also be in charge of planning Christ Lutheran’s Vacation Bible School this summer. It will run July 23-27 from 9-11:30 a.m. at Samuel Lutheran School, located at 500 Village Drive in Marshall. Participating students will enjoy a Bible story, music, making crafts and eating snacks.

“We are planning a Kids Night weekly during the summer,” Schreiner said. Children finishing kindergarten through eighth grade are invited. These will be one hour long and one night a week. Nights will include a devotion, singing, games, activities, crafts and fun. There will be something different every week.” The location is to be determined.

Freese came to Minnesota from Spring, Texas.

“My home church is Abiding Word in Houston,” Freese said. “I’m just finishing up my third year out of five at MLC, double majoring in elementary education and secondary vocal music.”

Freese has taken 14 years of piano lessons, six years of voice lessons, four years of organ, and two years of guitar. She has been singing in choirs her whole life, most recently with the MCL Choir.

Freese has also taken several music classes at college and been involved in MCL musicals in various roles.

Anyone with questions regarding the free music lessons or wishing to register for VBS may contact Reese and freeserk@mlc-wels.edu or call Christ Lutheran Church at 507-532-9359.