We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jenna Geueke. Check out our conversation below.
Jenna, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Teaching, playing music (especially with friends), and good company in general. To be fair, I have a terrible sense of time unless it’s tiny increments counted in beats or subdivisions, but music has always been an escape for me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! I’m Jenna Geueke. I own a private music lessons company. For fifteen years, I’ve been teaching in my students’ homes, which also helped since I accidentally specialize in neurodivergent students. I’m hoping in the next year or so to find a place and move to teaching in a studio setting. I currently offer lessons in violin, piano, guitar, voice, viola, and ukulele.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Without a doubt, my best friend. I’m lucky enough to have two amazing best friends, and all three of us have matching tattoos. One I’ve known since we were both three, so while she’s been an ever-present force of good and love and curiosity about the world in my life for longer than I can remember, I doubt she knew me before I did.
But Christine, who I met around ten years ago here in Texas, has become my platonic life partner. She knew we were going to be friends before I did. She knew I was in a bad relationship (honestly, more than one in the last decade) before I did. She knew my hair was at wavy and not straight as I’d believed my whole life. She knew I could keep going and be a better teacher than I started out as. About a million things surprise me all the time that she knows before I do, even about myself.
If you’re ever blessed to stumble upon someone like this who chooses to be family, who shows up no matter what over and over again, and who fills every space they walk through with love, acceptance, and integrity then give them a huge hug and never let them go. I’m grateful every day to call her and the kids family.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I’m still working on this, and likely will always be. But this last year or so has taught me a lot about asking for and accepting help, using assistance and mobility tools, and getting my pride or ego out of the way. I managed to tear the meniscus in both of my knees. The sports I did as a kid were really hard on my knees, then a decade or so of kickboxing and some grappling, age, and a lot of time in my car all caught up with me.
The thing is, you can’t ignore pain past when your body buckles and leaves you nearly unable to walk. Over and over I would try to grit it out, sure if I just pushed myself harder the cartilage would feel my determination and stop being frayed like old carpet. Friends and neighbors had to tell me to sit down or to let them help with things, which was hard. I wasn’t supposed to need help. I’m 38 years old, I should be fine. Tons of people have recovered from the same injury.
I eventually needed a cane, so I bought one and then got cuter ones from my local buy nothing group. I learned how to find and use the scooters in stores, and opened up to other disabled people enough to ask questions about what tricks they’ve picked up along the way. And that vulnerability, patience, and acceptance has helped me learn to slow down and rest. I still need reminders, but if I can accept walking with a cane or doing what my body needs from me, it’s a lot easier to start accepting other “flaws” or “failures” I come across. Some days, I can walk around home or a store fine-ish some days. Others, it’s a lot of rest and stretching and icing and wincing. But, I’m learning how to prioritize health and healing even if it means sacrificing old ideas of myself or how I approach work.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That you have to be perfect or a prodigy to deserve performing music in front of or with others. We should all be singing, dancing, playing, and participating together in music and the arts as a normal part of life. Baking a beautiful loaf of bread is art, singing along with a song you hear is art. Music benefits everyone, and the fear of being perceived without perfection drives me bonkers and makes me so sad.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope there’s a bright beam of confidence, hope, and capability people carry on from me and into their lives. Beyond that, I hope stories about me are more good than bad. I think I’m doing okay there, but it’ll always be a goal to keep growing and bringing better energy, empathy, and excitement to my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.JennaGMusic.com
- Instagram: @Jenna_GMusic
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/JennaGMusic
