Mateo Blouin was just eight years old when he ventured into Agricole Farm Stop in downtown Chelsea with his mother in the spring of 2024. It happened to be the same day that local musician Sharon Broyles was playing her hammered dulcimer for the lunch crowd in the cafe.
“Sharon was in Agricole playing, and I had no idea what in the world that instrument was,” Mateo said. “A few weeks later, I was in her house taking lessons.”
Fast forward to 2025 and Mateo, now 10 years old, is a performing musician, playing at farmer’s markets, birthday parties and Waterloo Farm Museum. He was recently a featured performer at the museum’s Pioneer Days, playing some of his favorite folk tunes like Liberty, Missouri and Old Joe Clark.
Introducing young students to the gift of music
Instructor Sharon Broyles recounts the day she first met Mateo.
“I was playing hammered and mountain dulcimer in Agricole, as I usually do through the seasons. For those settling in with a cup of coffee and their computer or a conversation, their time was soothed by music. This time, Mateo and his mother, Kari, seemed mesmerized and stayed standing by the instruments to soak in their first time view of the dulcimers and their music. Lessons started soon after.”
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Kari Blouin saw this as a wonderful learning opportunity for her son. “I wanted him to be exposed to music. I’m so happy for him because he seems to really enjoy it,” she said. “The teacher that we found is such a blessing, because she’s not just teaching him an instrument. She’s teaching him music. She’s helping him train his ear. She calls him a musician now, and he is a musician. She’s encouraging him to compose songs and to rearrange songs. He’s learning on the piano and mountain dulcimer.”
Broyles has enjoyed taking this young musical talent under her tutelage. “When Mateo started his lessons, I quickly saw he had natural yet hungry curiosity and ambition, but most of all musical ability. My lessons have a nice balance of learning to play an instrument along with a bit of piano as a parallel to better understanding the language theory of music.”
Mateo enjoys sampling a variety of instruments in his lessons, and has learned to apply what he learns to all of them. “A hammered dulcimer is basically what’s inside the piano,” Mateo said.
Mateo’s first music festival
This summer, Mateo attended and performed at his first music festival. The Evart Funfest Music Festival attracts musicians and vendors from around the country for four days of workshops, concerts and performances.
“The festival is a beehive of players, wanna-be players and strictly listeners,” Broyles said. “It’s complete with stage shows and well over 150 workshops for a variety of instruments, with thousands of attendees. A 9 year old boy would either be overwhelmed or would drink in all the opportunities to learn and play. Mateo attended and soaked in countless opportunities including kids workshops, the kids stage show, adult workshops and jams in various locations. He even conducted his own one on one workshop with an adult player!”
Benefits of music instruction
Broyles encourages her young prodigy to share his gift with others, as his public performances help him grow in his musical abilities. He will soon be performing at Waterloo Museum’s Christmas on the Farm on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7.
“As an instructor, my drive is to lead people to play at a level they don’t realize they can,” Broyles said. “Some musicians have the desire to share their music with others. If that’s the case, I like to provide and encourage opportunities they may not know are out there. I have them start small, but build awareness, joy, and most of all confidence.”
Broyles, who has been teaching for over 25 years, says she enjoys helping musicians like Mateo learn to “play with others.”
“Parents seem to know if their child is enthusiastic about music, even as early as a young toddler. Scientifically, music helps to strengthen thought processes and is effective at all ages. I’ve brought music workshops and lessons to all ages and abilities, from preschoolers to adults with Alzheimer’s. It’s a thrill to bring joy and ability to others.”
Mateo’s mother agrees. “It’s just really fun and fulfilling to see someone so young find something they enjoy that adds beauty to the world,” she said.
