Music Studio
- I am not currently accepting students. Please contact me if you would like to be added to the waiting list for the summer of 2009.
- About
- Lesson Attendance
- Procedures and Expectations
- Tuition
- Registration
- Student Achievements
About
Welcome! It's great to begin working with you as a music student! There are many benefits to individual music lessons. The direct attention that is given to your individual strengths and weaknesses as a singer/pianist is something that cannot be entirely addressed in a choral or classroom music situation. I urge you to take full advantage of this opportunity to study privately. You will get out of this experience what you choose to put into it. In order to ensure a positive experience please read the following policies carefully. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Lesson Attendance
You are expected to attend every lesson at your scheduled weekly day and time. If you should find the need to miss a lesson as will sometimes happen, it is YOUR responsibility to
a) find another student in which to switch lesson times or
b) contact me as soon as possible to reschedule (not cancel at your lesson time). You will be provided with a lesson schedule and contact sheet in order to contact other students.
There will be no refund for missed lessons. I will, however, try to reschedule your missed lesson, if notified in advance, for a mutually convenient time. If I should need to miss a lesson, I will try to reschedule, but will not charge you if I miss a lesson.
Here are some possible scenarios for missing a lesson:
1. Choir event/practice, school field trip, doctors appointment, illness, or emergency
2. Change in school schedule (shortened hours, testing, assembly, etc.)
3. If you don't feel vocally healthy: Switch lesson times or reschedule your lesson. There may be ways that I can help you though the situation, or there may be things we can work on aside from extensive singing but since I also perform outside of teaching, please do not come to your lesson if you have stayed home from school due to illness and/or are contagious.
Procedures and Expectations
1. Bring a three-ring binder reserved for voice lesson material alone to keep all assigned music, a pencil, and blank paper. Bring these materials to each lesson. Please keep your binder organized.
2. As your voice teacher, my main concerns for you are your vocal health and your technical and musical development as a singer. Our work in lessons will include work on breathing, resonance, diction, and phrasing. Also expect to work on sight-reading, note-reading and music theory: all of the tools that will enable you to grow as a healthy and musical singer.
3. Your own private practice time between lessons is essential. I can teach you notes in lessons but it is a waste of your valuable time and money. Please come to your lesson with your music learned so that we can spend time making music, not learning notes.
4. If interested, I can make a practice/accompaniment recording for you. Just provide me with a blank tape for this purpose or I can digitally record your lesson and email it to you in mp3 format.
5. You will be provided with music from my music library and your choral music library and will be required to purchase music (in accordance with copyright laws). Estimate spending $25 - $50 per year on books. If you are an AVHS student, there is also a $10 copy fee for the entire calendar year to help cover costs.
6. Maintain your vocal health. Keep your voice healthy by refraining from yelling/screaming. Stay hydrated. Warm-up before and cool down after vocal events (speech meets, plays, choir concerts, musicals, etc.).
7. Throughout the year, all students will have several opportunities to perform. Some of these include: studio recitals, master classes, studio classes, Solo/Ensemble contest, musical theatre festival and NATS auditions. Additional costs may apply for these events such as registration and/or accompanist fees.
Tuition
Lessons are 25 minutes long or 1/2 class period, as applicable.
Double lessons are double the price listed below.
AVHS: $19.00
BHS: $114 per session
EHS: $20.00
HOME STUDIO: $19.00
1. Lessons are to be paid for by session or on a monthly basis at the beginning of each month or by week. The tuition and any additional expenses for the upcoming month will be written on a receipt and given to each student. BHS students: Session tuition must be paid by the first lesson or lessons will stop until payment is received by community education. Please contact your master schedule for payment due dates.
2. If you should decide to not continue with lessons, please inform me two weeks in advance. This will allow me sufficient time to contact my waiting list. You are financially responsible for all lessons up to the date that I am notified.
3. Private teaching is my main source of my income and not being paid on time creates hardships. Please keep this in mind when keeping your timely payments, especially with session payments. If a difficult situation arises for you, please call and we can certainly work something
Registration
Click here for Registration Form.
Click here for Policy Form.Student Achievements
Previous students of Nicole are currently studying and majoring in music or theater at the following schools: St. Olaf, AMDA, Roosevelt University (Chicago School of Performing Arts), North Carolina School of the Arts, DePaul University (Chicago), University of Eau Claire, Luther, Concordia-Moorhead, Concordia-St. Paul, Viterbo University, St. Thomas, George Washington University, Bethel, and Gustavus.
Students of Nicole have played the following roles:
Nicole's students have received the "best in site" award at district contest in: 2009 (BHS - Wes Anderson, Lisa Harrigan, Nick Karageorgiou and Erin Miller); 2008 (BHS - Aaron Conklin, Mike Deaven, Hannah Hanssen, Mackenzie Kloempken); 2007 (BHS - Andy Hanssen & Carly McGuire; PLHS: Devon Marschall), 2006 (BHS - Thomas Richards & Jessica Dundore), 2005 (BHS - Alex Ring & Victoria Andrews), 2004 (AVHS - Susie Gerbensky).
She has had students qualify for MN All-State Choir the following years: 2008 (AVHS - Katie Shutt & Alex Sundlof; BHS - Hannah Hanssen), 2007 (AVHS - Katie Shutt; PLHS - Devon Marschall; BHS - Mackenzie Kloempken, alternate, Aaron Conklin (receiving a solo)), 2006 (AVHS - Ben Weaver), 2005 (AVHS - Susie Gerbensky; BHS - Alex Ring, receiving a solo), and 2004 (AVHS - Valerie Weaver, FHS - Stephanie Pearson).
Students of Nicole have auditioned for and made the U of M School of Music Opera/Musical Theatre Camp in 2008 (Wes Anderson, Kate Gubash & Lizzy Mattos), 2007 (Mackenzie Kloempken & Chris Unger), 2006 (Alex Ring, Carly McGuire, Emily Hausladen, & Jackie MacDonald). Nicole's students also participate in NATS auditions (advancing to semi-finals, Aaron Conklin & Hannah Hanssen (Top 6 Competitors), 2007; Emily Hausladen, 2006).