Private Music Teachers
recommended by Nova parents
Dear Nova Parents,
I am often asked for recommendations for private Piano, Violin, Guitar, and Voice Teachers.
With your help, I hope to compile a list of recommended private music teachers.
If you have a recommendation and have consent from that teacher (since I will share information with others), please email me with the following information:
Teacher’s Name
City
Phone and/or Email
Instrument/s taught
Ages/Levels taught
Suzuki or Traditional
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Ms. Urbrock
rurbrock@novaclassical.org
If you would like to add/change anything for an existing recommendation, please email your comments to me and I will make those changes-- it's a work in progress!
Private Music Teachers:
Recommended by Nova Families
*Denotes Nova Parent
Index:
I. Piano
II. Violin & Strings
III. Guitar
IV. Voice
V. Flute
VI. Various Instruments
Piano
Heidi Amundson
South Minneapolis
Violin and Piano
612-280-5151
Comments: She has a master's degree in violin performance from Rice University.
Josiah Bode
Maplewood, Oakdale, Woodbury
(651) 587-2144, josiah.bode@gmail.com
Piano, saxophone, clarinet
Age 6 and up, beginner-intermediate
Traditional
Comments: He comes to you home for lessons which is so helpful and nice.
*Bravura Music School
WEBSITE: www.bravuramusicschool.com
WHO WE ARE:
Bravura offers in-home lessons to music students throughout the Twin Cities. We offer a customized lesson plan for each student through personality and learning-style assessments. Students are taught fundamentals of music along with encouraging them to explore wide-ranging genres and musical styles that they show interest in.
THE TEACHERS: All of our teachers either have completed or are pursuing a Bachelor's degree in music. We only hire teachers that are actively involved in music performance and who demonstrate a positive and encouraging outlook to teaching. Our instructors have a variety of traditional and modern music experiences and can teach everything from classical to jazz and pop.
LESSONS OFFERED: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Bass, and Drums.
SCHEDULE: Our primary enrollment is from September-May with a separate summer schedule. Students can register for lessons at any time during the year. Most of our lessons are taught Monday-Friday, during after-school hours (3pm-8pm).
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES: We offer two annual recitals (fall, spring), and we also do a music festival/review in the spring.
Linda Chacholiades (Piano)
Mike Krajewski (Guitar)
Woodbury
651-730-0692
mikeandlindamusic@gmail.com
www.mikeandlindamusic.com
Clare Chapman
Saint Paul
(507) 720-4803
Piano
Ages/Levels - Clare works with kindergarten through high school aged students
Traditional
Comments: Clare is an enthusiastic, creative teacher. My children like different styles of music and she found terrific and skill-appropriate material for each of them. She cleverly wove lessons about music theory and composition into each of their lessons. She traveled to our home for lessons, which was delightful.
Mui L Cheng
Woodbury, MN
651-756-8823
muilcheng@yahoo.com
Piano Teacher, Accompanist, and Organist
Teach both Suzuki and traditional methods to all ages and levels. Provide students performances, examination and competition opportunities. Member of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association. (MMTA)
Christine Dahl
651-646-7799
Ages 6-adult
Traditional
Comments: My son has been taking piano lessons with Christine Dahl in St. Paul and she is fabulous. I have contacted her and she is open to new students. She already teaches 3 Nova students.
*Julia Elkina Ehrlich, MMTA member.
651.905.9727
e-mail juliaelkina@hotmail.com
Comments: I teach motivated students of different ages and levels of proficiency at my studio in Eagan.
Galina Ikhareva, MMTA member.
651.698.6657
Comments: She's been teaching Nova students for years, lives in St. Paul very close to both campuses and is certainly one of the best in her field. She teaches motivated students of all ages.
Trish Hurd-Paczkowski
651-645-1620
651-387-0099
1375 Ashland Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
All ages & levels
Traditional
Comments: She is very good and my child likes her.
Emily Ireland
Brighter Minds Music - illuminating your musical genius
Piano lessons, guitar lessons, voice lessons
music classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers
651-485-0153
www.facebook.com/BrighterMindsMusic
www.twitter.com/BrighterMMusic
Comments: I HIGHLY recommend Emily Ireland as a piano teacher.
*Ora Itkin
Home 651-698-1250
Cell 651-558-6799
1272 Berkeley Ave
St.Paul
All ages and levels including Solfeggio & Music Theory
Traditional
Comments: I have been teaching piano for many years at the University of St.Thomas, as well as teaching privately.
Dr. Philip Low
Piano Teacher
Ages 5 through adult
Traditional Method
Shoreview (96 & Lexington)
612-802-5035
philiplow@gmail.com
www.drphiliplow.com
Comments: He is excellent! We highly recommend him. Our daughter started with him at age 5 and our son at age 9. He is very good with pre-reading ages and we especially like the way he relates to our son.
Christine Melchert
Saint Paul
christinemelchert@yahoo.com
Piano and cello
All ages
Traditional
Comments: She is wonderful!
Josh Misner - Violin - 612-296-1923
Sara Misner - Piano - 612-296-0091
more specifics are at www.misnerstudio.com
Susan Mueller - Mueller Music Studio
Falcon Heights (Roseville, St. Paul)
651-646-2600
Website: https://muellermusicstudio.musicteachershelper.com/
Beginner to Early Advanced
Traditional
Member MMTA
Comments: We LOVE our piano teacher!!!
Jacy Pelstring
Saint Paul
763-370-7480
jacy.pelstring@gmail.com
All levels of Voice and Beginner Piano Lessons
Ages 6+
Traditional
Comments: As a parent, I appreciate her clear articulation of each week's status and the goals for the next lesson, as well as her cheerful energy.
Elizabeth Schaefer
Lakeville, MMTA Member
952-435-5008 ( Elzbieta.Laska@gmail.com )
Piano
5-6yrs and up to adult (Senior Level)
Traditional
Comments: She is strict but very good!
Dr. Reid Smith
Dellwood, Minneapolis, St. Paul
651. 407 6965
Piano
All levels
Traditional
Christina Withers
Masters of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma Minneapolis (Nokomis area)
(612) 834-2233
Piano
Ages 6 - adult
Beginning through advanced
Traditional
Violin/Strings
Heidi Amundson
South Minneapolis
Violin and Piano
612-280-5151
Comments: She has a master's degree in violin performance from Rice University.
Julia Bartsch
St Paul (teaches at the JCC) or Bloomington (home)
952-841-1860
bartschmusic@gmail.com
Beginner- Advanced
Suzuki
The coordinator for the program is Ellen Kim, also one of the Suzuki instructors:
Ellen Kim <kimxx002@umn.edu>
Comments: I can't recommend this teacher enough! She is fantastic.
Katie Bast
Minneapolis at MacPhail
Ages/Levels taught: 3-18
Suzuki
Comments: We really like this teacher!
[The Carbonaras taught a Nova String Program in previous years]
Natalie VanBurkleo-Carbonara
Minneapolis and St. Paul locations
612-968-2865
Violin and Viola
Beginner through Advanced levels
Traditional
Dave Carbonara
Minneapolis and St. Paul locations
612-968-2273
Double Bass---Beginner through Advanced
Cello---Beginner through Intermediate
Traditional
Sonja Clive
612 -203-6666.
Violin & Viola
Comments: I teach ages 4-40+
I teach a combination of traditional and Suzuki
depending on each person's learning style.
I got my BA in music from Northwestern College.
I have been teaching for Northwestern and Simply Strings
and Metro Music for the past 5 years.
*Rebeccah Parker Downs
St Paul
612-203-4704/ beccah.cellist@gmail.com
Cello
Beginner to Advanced
Suzuki and Traditional
Charlotte Howell
St. Paul (2 blocks from school!)
Phone: 781-249-7072
Email: cfish2x@hotmail.com
Piano, Violin, Viola
All ages
Piano all levels, Violin/Viola beginner through advanced intermediate
Traditional, though I use Suzuki principals and some repertoire for Violin/Viola
Comments: I've been teaching piano for over 30 years, violin and viola for 10 years, and have an instrumental teaching license.
Parent Comment: My kids have been taking piano and violin from her for about 2 years. She is great.
Lars Krogstad
Minneapolis-Quinn Violins
krogstad.ortiz@gmail.com 612-719-5193
cello
all ages and levels
Suzuki and Traditional
Aja Erin Majkrzak
violin, viola, cello
Suzuki
Saint Paul
Comments:
She lives at the artist lofts at the Schmidt building on 7th, so very close to Nova! The building is amazing and has their own practice rooms for lessons. She also does group rehearsals and recitals in this building too.
My son has taken lessons from her for a year and is making great progress. She is a young professional musician with a passion for teaching.
I think many Nova students would love her teaching, location, and method. She is a very talented musician and currently auditioning for the Minnesota Orchestra!
Yelena Martinez
Maple Grove
(763) 494-6717
lenochkapenochka@gmail.com
violin/viola
Suzuki books 1-10
traditional violin/viola
Christine Melchert
Saint Paul
christinemelchert@yahoo.com
Piano and cello
All ages
Traditional
Josh Misner - Violin - 612-296-1923
Sara Misner - Piano - 612-296-0091
more specifics are at www.misnerstudio.com
Sam Nelson
Summit Avenue, St. Paul
sjnelson7@stthomas.edu, (507)213-1159
Voice: Beginner-advanced (youngest 13-14, up to adults)
Violin: Beginner-intermediate (ages 7-15) Traditional Method, with Suzuki as solo repertoire
*Liz O'Neal
My home studio in St. Paul is a block away from Nova and I also teach at Quinn Violins in Minneapolis
806.570.2277 cell
email: lkoneal121@gmail.com
Violin only
All ages, Beginner to Advanced students
Teaches both Suzuki and Traditional
For more information my website is: www.lizoneal.com
Jonathan Reaoch
Hope Academy in Minneapolis, Minnehaha Academy, and
and St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Roseville. Students take one individual lesson and one group lesson per week. The group lessons are on Saturday mornings in Hope Academy.
You can find more information in these two sites: http://tcstringacademy.blogspot.com/ and http://www.hopeschool.org/soh/index.shtml
612-481-0534.
Comments: I really like him and so does my son. I would highly recommend him.
Megan Scott
cello
612-281-7461
Wendy Tangen-Foster
St. Paul
651.204.6507
WendySPCM@gmail.com
All levels, from very Beginner to Advanced
Mostly Suzuki for beginners and school-aged children. Traditional lessons for students beyond the Suzuki volumes, adults, and college-aged students
Wendy Tangen-Foster, SPCM Suzuki Dept. Director • SPCM: 651.224.2205 • Home: 651.204.6507 • Cell: 651.491.7493 • www.thespcm.org
Marnie Thies
Maplewood, Roseville etc.
marnie78t@gmail.com
http://www.proviolin.com
Instrument/s taught : Violin, Fiddle
Ages/Levels taught : Will start early if the child is ready
Suzuki/ Fiddle music
Natalie VanBurkleo
Minneapolis and St. Paul
All ages
Suzuki
Comments: My daughter really enjoys this teacher!
Kristen Whitson
cello
Call or text 651-769-5777
Lessons in St. Paul near Lexington and Grand
Online on FaceTime, Google Duo or Zoom
Combination of Suzuki and Traditional
Comments: My son has been studying the cello with her for 5.5 years, and we have been very happy about his progress.
Cara Wilson
St Paul
violin, ukulele
All levels
Suzuki or traditional
Guitar
Mary Carloni
Maplewood
651 336 8619
Piano and Guitar
Beginner
Traditional
Emily Ireland
Brighter Minds Music - illuminating your musical genius
Piano lessons, guitar lessons, voice lessons
music classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers
651-485-0153
info@BrighterMindsMusic.com
www.facebook.com/BrighterMindsMusic
www.twitter.com/BrighterMMusic
Mike Krajewski (Guitar)
and Linda Chacholiades (Piano)
Woodbury
651-730-0692
mikeandlindamusic@gmail.com
www.mikeandlindamusic.com
Bev Larkin
Falcon Heights
630-881-5649
Guitar, Ukulele, and Voice
Suzuki or Traditional: Traditional
Comments: "We recommend her very highly. We have experience with her voice and guitar lessons and both have been absolutely terrific."
Dan Luedke
dansguitarstudio@gmail.com, 612-790-0699
Guitar
Ages/Levels taught - most likely 3rd grade and up.
Traditional
Comments: Dan offers guitar lessons for all ages and abilities: Folk, Country, Rock, Blues, Pop, Classical. Electric or acoustic. He comes to your home to teach lessons.
*Xenia McGuire, M.A.Music
St. Paul, MN (Como Park)
651-270-5807 / mcguire@augsburg.edu
Instruments/Subjects: Electric Bass, Music History, Music Theory/Aural Skills, small group ensembles,
Also teach Guitar, Latin and Ancient Greek tutor, music paleography, orchestration, electronic music, Fencing
Levels taught: Kindergarten-all ages above
Chris Micek
Guitar
Cadenza Music in Saint Paul
Comments: “We love him!”
"We 2nd the endorsement of Chris Micek for guitar. My daughter has been taking lessons with him since 1st grade. He is so patient with her random stories and small talk, but also great at redirecting her to the project at hand. Highly recommend for kids who need more of a guide or partner than a taskmaster."
Steve Newbrough
St. Joseph's School of Music in St. Paul
stevenewbrough@gmail.com
Guitar
Beginner through Advanced
Suzuki for younger students
Comments: My son has been taking guitar lessons from Steve for over 3 years. Steve is a great teacher and keeps the lessons fun for students.
Phil Olson
Oslo Studio
Guitar and Bass
Burnsville
www.AwesomeGuitarTeacher.com
952-890-9131
*Risa Stalboerger
Woodbury
Phone 651-330-6673 and/or Email risastal@yahoo.com
Guitar (possibly piano in the future)
Ages/Levels taught – Beginners only, age 9 and up - must own a guitar
Traditional
Comments: I teach a group toddler music class in my home (birth - 5) and I teach guitar. For guitar I use a traditional method, although I do not teach classical guitar, just beginners - I teach chords, strums and basic theory.
Lawrence Silvestro
contact@conbrioschool.com
651-497-0160
Comments: This is my daughters’ guitar teacher, and he is great.
He teaches in West Saint Paul and also goes to the student's home.
Joseph Walls
Saint Paul
Comments: We have been quite impressed;
If you have any specific questions about our experience with Joseph I would be happy to answer them. He lives in St. Paul, and students can meet with him at his house or he can meet at a student's home as well. --Cory Ehlebracht (Nova Parent)
Voice
Emily Ireland
Brighter Minds Music - illuminating your musical genius
Piano lessons, guitar lessons, voice lessons
music classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers
651-485-0153
www.facebook.com/BrighterMindsMusic
www.twitter.com/BrighterMMusic
Bev Larkin
Falcon Heights
630-881-5649
Guitar, Ukulele, and Voice
Suzuki or Traditional: Traditional
Comments: "We recommend her very highly. We have experience with her voice and guitar lessons and both have been absolutely terrific."
Sam Nelson
Summit Avenue, St. Paul
sjnelson7@stthomas.edu, (507)213-1159
Voice: Beginner-advanced (youngest 13-14, up to adults)
Violin: Beginner-intermediate (ages 7-15) Traditional Method, with Suzuki as solo repertoire
Jacy Pelstring
Saint Paul
763-370-7480
jacy.pelstring@gmail.com
All levels of Voice and Beginner Piano Lessons
Ages 6+
Traditional
Rebekah Schultz
651-734-5766
rebekah.schulz@immanuelstpaul.org
Levels: Typically teaches children 7th grade on up, but she said she would consider teaching 5th grade on up, depending on the student.
Comments: She is currently the music director at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Snelling Avenue. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College and was in the St. Olaf Choir and is currently in the National Lutheran Choir. She truly has an amazing voice and is used to teaching children as she is the director of the children's choir and the adult choir at Immanuel. She's enthusiastic but handles children extremely well.
*Tiffany Wicklund
3 Sopranos
Vocal Training
Tiffkeri3@gmail.com
(651) 276-3096
Comments: I offer training in classical singing, also folk and jazz with music theory, and sight reading.
Flute
Barb Holm
Minneapolis and St. Paul (St. Joseph's school of music)
612-724-6496, barb@legacyensemble.com
ages 8 and up
Traditional
Comments: We’ve been very happy with the instruction and impressed with the progress our child has made.
Roberta Perrione
612.298.8372
She teaches flute and piano all ages but prefers Beginner to Intermediate and comes to your home (does her own recital annually)
*Susan Stevenson
Saint Paul
651-291-0021
Wstevenson0021@msn.com
30 or 45 minute lessons
Comments: Faculty at Northwestern College. 22 years teaching experience. References upon request.
Various Instruments
Sadie Benson
"Simply Strings Studio"
offers private lessons for many different instruments (Banjo, Bass, Cello, Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Violin, Viola, Voice).
She has 3 or 4 sites in the Twin Cities.
I know she is always accepting new students. People can find out more about teachers etc. at www.simplystringsstudio.com or contact Sadie at 651.457.1724.
Comments: *Sara Waters, Nova parent, teaches violin with this program. Ms. Benson is her sister.
Charlotte Howell
St. Paul/Highland area
violin, viola, piano
She has been teaching strings for over 20 years, and piano for over 30 years.
Private and Group lessons available.
781-249-7072
*Sarah Erickson Lume
St Paul, MN
Oboe
all levels
Traditional
I currently teach private lessons from my home and hold the position of Oboe Instructor at Gustavus Adolphus College. I am the parent to a Nova student as well.
Xenia McGuire, M.A.Music
St. Paul, MN (Como Park)
651-270-5807 / mcguire@augsburg.edu
Instruments/Subjects: Electric Bass, Music History, Music Theory/Aural Skills, small group ensembles,
Also teach Guitar and Latin and Ancient Greek tutor, music paleography, orchestration, electronic music, Fencing
Levels taught: Kindergarten-all ages above
Tammy Madkins/director with “First Notes” 612.721.1999 or www.firstnote.net
She will find someone for any type of lesson and close to that family’s residence.
Any and all instruments
Northwestern College in Roseville
Academy of Music
https://unwsp.edu/resources/academy-of-music-1/private-lessons
They offer instruction in many instruments by students, grad students or faculty.
Comments: We've had 3 different student teachers over the course of 3 years (that is the only negative about this... the student-teachers graduate then you usually have to start with a new student-teacher). But we have loved them all, and they have all been good at keeping the continuity going.
Flexible schedules and reasonable rates are a plus too!
St Joseph School of Music
close to Wholefoods in St Paul off Selby and Snelling
They are non profit and hosts various type of music teachers.
Rebecca Smith
Blue Tree music education
3503 23rd Avenue South
Mpls, MN 55407
Studio: 612-388-5014