BEGINNING CELLO CLASS

June 15 - Aug 31

10 classes

Class taught by Rachel WIlliams

Are you interested in learning the cello this summer? If so, please fill out the form below to enroll in the Beginner’s Cello Class.

CORISSA BUSSIAN

TEACHES
Voice
Audition/performance preparation
Vocal song/accompaniment composition/arrangement
Chord/chart reading

AGES
7 to adult

EDUCATION
Master of Music, Vocal Performance/Opera Studies; Rice University
Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance; DePaul University

CURRENT OPENINGS (FALL TERM - SEPT 5 TO JAN 20)
NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW STUDENTS

WORDS TO DESCRIBE MY TEACHING STYLE
Fundamentals based
Individually focused 

Corissa uses the foundations of classical technique, which allows vocal flexibility and healthy singing for any style. Her ultimate goal is for students to comfortably and confidently apply their vocal capabilities in many different genres. Through this she focuses on self-confidence growth and improving the nerves of stage fright and creatively putting oneself out there to tell these musical stories.

Lessons with Corissa start with vocal exercises to not only warm up the voice, but to also focus on technical breathing, support and vowel placement. Then, student and teacher choose repertoire to apply practicing music theory, vocal technique and musical artistry and to master each song to be performance ready.   

In her spare time, Corissa enjoys yoga, going on traveling adventures, baking, and hiking/walking with husband Carl and son Bruno.

MAIRE CLEMENT

Teaches

Voice

Ages

9 - Adult

Education

Master of Music degree in classical Voice Performance from the University of Louisville

Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music

Certified Transformational Voice® teacher

Lessons

Private Lessons

Group Classes

30 minutes, 60 minutes

Words to describe my teaching style

Creative

Intuitive

Compassionate

Informative

Artistic

As well as a cross-genre singer, songwriter and voice teacher, Maire is also a certified yoga instructor. She utilizes her varied background to cultivate a supportive environment for creative expression and experimentation. She implements gentle yoga postures to support breathing and mindfulness for singing. Students of Maire will learn about breathing, projection, how to expand their range, vocal health, artistry, and finding their authentic voice. She believes everyone’s voice is worthy of being heard.

Each lesson is individualized for each student’s needs and goals. That being said, they usually begin by checking in. Because a singer’s instrument is their body, it’s important to understand how they are doing and what might be affecting their singing. Following this, Maire leads warm ups for the body including breathing exercises and vocalizations that warm up the voice and get everything aligned in the spot that feels the best. After warm-ups, they typically work on a piece of music. This could be a song that either the student chooses, or one that Maire assigns. She prefers when students sing music that resonates with them.

In her spare time, Maire likes to play music with her husband Davey (She is a beginning fiddler). She also likes to write songs, play board games, watch Netflix, go on hikes, and read books.

EMMY ERICKSON

Student Teacher

Teaches

Voice
Piano

Ages

Voice: 7 to adult
Piano: 5 to adult

Education

BM Vocal Music Education K-12 (finished with schooling, completing my degree with a professional semester in student teaching)

Lessons

Private/one-on-one lessons

Words to describe my teaching style

Adaptable
Vibrant
Exploratory.

Emmy offer a fresh perspective as a newly graduated teacher. She also has a formal education with very recent research and pedagogy. She has studied vocal pedagogy and science which focuses on free and released singing through body mapping, awareness, and anatomy. She values both classical training and technique, yet also highly value training in modern, contemporary styles & techniques - both adding value to the whole singer/musician. She thoroughly believe that lessons have to adapt to the individual musician, and this plays out in the ways that educators word and approach various techniques. 

In a voice or piano lesson, warmups are essential. This allows for time to vitalize whatever body parts are utilized and to explore what is possible in the voice/hands. Technique and performance skills will be addressed in every lesson and weaved into both the formal curriculum & repertoire.

Emmy is a huge gym rat and loves to be moving. She has a huge passion for health & fitness, which translates into the way she conduct her lessons: total body awareness and control. Hiking, tubing, camping, etc. have been activities that she loves to do whenever she gets the chance to be outside! She is an absolute foodie & loves to explore and try different spots in the cities. She also loves watching sports, reading books, journaling, and spending time with her family.

JOHN ONDICH-BATSON

Teaches

Viola

Violin

Ages

6 and up

Education

B.A in Music from St. Olaf College

M.M. Orchestral Conducting from the University of MN Duluth

Lessons

Individual Private Lessons

Chamber Groups

30 minutes

60 minutes

Words to describe my teaching style

Passionate

Adaptable

Philosophical

Fun

John brings a conductor's viewpoint to teaching. He doesn't just teach how to play the instrument, but also the music theory and other skills (such as practicing hopefully) that accompanies the instrument. Two-way dialogue is critical in his teaching style as discussion about how to play the music compliments discussion about what the music means.

A typical lesson with John sets a routine that is adaptable to each student and what they are trying to accomplish. Most of the time this means beginning with scales/exercises and then progressing to the repertoire the student is working on. This includes ensemble music they may be working on as well as solo repertoire. In longer lessons, there is also more time for music theory training. 

In his spare time, John enjoys building and painting miniatures as well as playing tennis. 

AMY SCHENDEL

Teaches
Trumpet

Ages
10 – adult

Education
DMA in trumpet performance, University of Wisconsin - Madison;
MM in trumpet performance, Indiana University;
BM in trumpet performance, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Lessons
Private, partner or group lessons
30 minutes, 45 minutes or 60 minutes

Words to describe my teaching style
Kind
Nurturing
Motivational
Welcoming to everyone of all backgrounds

Amy has a depth of experience both in teaching and performing: 12 years of teaching experience as the Associate Professor of Trumpet at the University of Iowa and playing with the faculty artist-in-residence brass quintet, the Iowa Brass Quintet. She has two solo and chamber music albums: Uncommon Ground (published in 2014 by MSR Classics) and Full Power (self published). Students will receive a free copy of both albums upon starting lessons.

Every lesson is about helping the individual student to improve on the trumpet. Given that every student is unique, each lesson is structured according to what that student may need and desire to improve on. A typical lesson may look like beginning with a warm-up and fundamental exercises, followed by time to focus on a solo work/etude/exercises the student is working on. The lesson will wrap up with duets and possibly sight reading. In addition, students are introduced and encouraged to listen to a variety of trumpet artists through recommended recordings.

In her spare time, Amy enjoys reading, running, hiking, camping, and skiing.

CHAMBER MUSIC CAMP

Chamber Music: the most sought-after, gold-standard genre of classical music, otherwise known as the Art of Collaboration. It is learned only by direct experience with peers.

Taught by faculty members Sam Rudy (violin/viola, co-founder Lux String Quartet, Oskaloosa Music Festival, and member of the Quad City Symphony) and Rachel Williams (cello/piano, principal cello of Minnetonka Symphony, Spring Lake Park School District, and Valley Presbyterian Church), local student musicians will experience the joy this art form has to offer over a week of rehearsals, coachings, masterclasses, and a final performance.

Rather than spending rehearsal time learning one's own part, this camp teaches its musicians how others' parts go and how to fit with them. Students will be expected to have excellent preparation before camp begins.

Chamber Music's skill-set includes listening, responding, preparing, focusing, polishing, conversing, performing, experimenting, improvising, and learning; in total, the Musicality of Collaboration.

Recommended for intermediate and advanced string students and/or advanced wind and keyboard students; pre-formed groups welcomed but not required.

MINECRAFT PIANO CAMP

Play the game of Minecraft IRL! In this bootcamp, students will learn and reinforce basic piano skills through Minecraft themed games. Come have fun this summer!

Camp taught by Sarah Mensen

Ages: 7-12

$250

July 31st - Aug 4th

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

BEGINNING GUITAR & UKULELE CAMP

Spend a week with Pavel Jany learning how to play the guitar/ukulele. Students will learn basic guitar playing techniques, strumming chords, fingerpicking melodies and exploring a wide spectrum of musical style.

Ages: 7-12

$200

3 camp options!

June 12th - 16th

July 10th - 14th

August 7th - 11th

9:00 am - 12:00 pm