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Amanda Crosby
Instruction in: Voice and Piano
Available: Monday Through Wednesday - 4 to 8, and as requested
If interested in signing up for lesson with Amanda, click
here.
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Tell us about yourself ...
and about your music ...
I've been a performer since the
age of 2! Music has been a lifelong passion of mine. I am in
my second year as a choir director and have been teaching
piano and voice lessons for six years. I have my degree in
Music Education from the College of Saint Benedict.
My goal in teaching music is to help my students learn to
enjoy music as well as to understand it, and become more
proficient in performing it!
Don't hesitate to contact me at Main Street Music either by
phone or email to learn more about me and my musical skills!
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Mike Dawson
Instruction in: Guitar
Available: Monday through Thursday from 11:00 until 8:00 and
Friday from 10:00 until 6:00
If interested in signing up for lesson with Mike, click
here.
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What is your background in
guitar?
I have played guitar for 27 years
and have taught for 10 years. I studied mainly with two
teachers one from Berkley College, another from Guitar
Institute, and some other teachers from here and there.
What is your favorite thing about being in the music
profession?
Teaching is something that I
really enjoy...it's great to watch others learn and grow! I
am dedicated to being an excellent teacher and work with
beginners to advanced students. I have had many positive
comments from both students and parents over the years about
how much they have learned and some have been with me for up
to three years.
What methods do you use for teaching students
guitar?
Study areas include, notation reading, theory, style,
technique and songs. Over the years I have played in various
bands and like many different styles of music including
rock, blues, jazz, funk, folk and classical. Currently I'm
writing and performing with a singer songwriter and
recording original music.
One final thought:
Music should be fun ... so if your not experiencing this ask
yourself "WHY?".
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Joel Edwin Knutson
Instruction in: Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Banjo, Uke, Piano,
Vocals, Harmonica, Drums
Styles taught: Folk, Rock, Blues, Classical)
Available: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - 2:30 to 8
If interested in signing up for lesson with Joel, click
here.
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Lead Vocals - Jet City Band |
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How long have you
been in the music industry?
"I have performed for over 20
years on major tours, fairs, clubs throughout the US
including numerous house musician jobs at hotels."
When did you start taking music lessons?
"I started violin lessons at age 7 and studied under
many great teachers at several schools."
What other events in your life have been key to your success
in this field?
"I started teaching students in 1987. I have been
teaching and working at Main Street Music for the passed 6
years. Before coming to Main Street Music I was last at Mars
Music located in Bloomington, MN. I was the only teacher to
achieve the company's penultimate level of 'gold' status."
What have your students said about you throughout your
teaching career?
"Many of my students that have studied abroad have
stated they have learned and improved much faster since
starting my program. Sharon Johnson who studied mandolin
with me said, "I continue to learn something new every week
and I'm learning so much faster."
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Dawn Thompson
Instruction in: Piano and Flute
Styles taught: standard methods (and chording for piano)
Available: Dawn has cancelled her summer lessons but may
start up in the fall.
If interested in signing up for lessons with Dawn, click
here.
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"Playing music is a lot of fun for me;
my goal is to help other people learn to play for their
enjoyment too. I especially like teaching beginning and
intermediate students of all ages."
What do you find important to teach to your students?
I include some music theory in my
teaching (chord construction and use, scale building and
correct fingering) since I regard those components as basic
building blocks of music. I also customize lessons for each
student, based on age, ability, desired goals, and music
preferences.
What is your educational background and experience in
teaching private lessons?
I've been teaching piano and flute
at Main Street Music since spring of 2004. I graduated from
the University of Minnesota with a BA Magna Cum Laude in
Music, with a focus on piano and flute performance. While
attending college, and for years after, I taught piano and
flute for Schmitt Music (1968-1977), 1983-1991).
I play both by ear and from music, and have many years of
experience performing in various settings (symphonic band,
rock band, piano bar, weddings, parties, and accompanying
vocalists and instrumentalists). |
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Jeff Stevenson
Instruction in: Drum set
Available: Monday thru Thursday - 4:30 to 8:00
If interested in signing up for lessons with Jeff, click
here.
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How do you define a drummer?
"I truly believe that rhythm and
the ability to play a straight beat is what makes a good
drummer. " Fancy styles and cool tricks take a back
door if either of those abilities are lacking.
What is your history with playing the drums?
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Began playing and
taking private drum set lessons at age 13. |
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Started playing in
live bands such as Torn in 1995. |
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Studio experience in
1999. |
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Started teaching
private lessons at Main Street Music in 2002. |
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Retired from the
band scene in 2004. |
What is important to you as a music teacher?
My method of teaching
is to teach the students how to achieve those abilities by
playing CD's of their choice , a metronome and stick
exercises. Once a student achieves both of those abilities
only then will they be taught fancy styles, cool tricks and
the ability to read tab.
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Cindy Zwart
Instruction in: Band Instruments - flute, clarinet, sax, &
brass
Available: Tuesdays: 12:00 until 8:00
If interested in signing up for lesson with Cindy, click
here.
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What do you want to share with us about your musical
history?
I've been playing the flute for
30 plus years which included playing in my high school and
college bands, community bands, and community theater pit
orchestras. I graduated from Central Connecticut State
University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Music
Education. I have been teaching general music and band for
20 years in various schools in Connecticut.
My husband , 3 boys, and I recently moved to Elk River.
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Scott Kalpakoff
Instruction in: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Song Writing, & Vocals
Available: Tuesday through Friday - Anytime
If interested in signing up for lesson with Scott, click
here.
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Tell us about yourself ... and about your music ...
I am a
Guitarist/Vocalist/Songwriter. I've been doing it for many
years and have played with many musicians at many venues in
the Twin Cities area. I've also toured the US as a guitar tech for
Bernard Allison and gained much firsthand experience by
working closely with his road manager and with Bernard (who
has been fortunate enough to have studied with Stevie Ray
Vaughan, Johnny Winter and other guitar legends).
I studied first with Paul Christenson (Decibel,
Conditioned Response), and later at Music Tech and McNally
Smith with Bobby Stanton, Cliff Wittstruck, Kevin Daley, and
more (not to mention many good friends who have taught me so
much along the way).
Nowadays I keep busy playing
acoustic shows (trying to work in my loop station) or with a
rock/variety trio and working on music I've written. Live
performance is a very important part of my life and work.
I have been teaching guitar and
bass guitar for ten years. Over the years I've had quite a
few outstanding students who have gone on to study music at
places like Berkley College of Music (Boston),
McNally-Smith (St.
Paul), and other fine
schools. Quite a few of my students are making they're
mark on the local or national music scenes.
Not every student will be a
professional musician so I try to just have fun, develop
strong basic skills, strong basic theoretical understanding
of music, develop friendships, and let the student show me
what their musical goals are as they vary from person to
person.
Some people just want to learn
the songs they like to listen to or accompany themselves
while they sing, while others want a rigorous 4-6 hour
practice regimen and develop serious soloing chops.
As
a student and teacher of music I have studied/taught many
styles of music and have worked with many students on
achieving THEIR goals as opposed to taking the exact path I
have taken as a student. Every lesson is customized and
every student has his/her own path and that's one of the
reasons that I love this job and have done it for so long;
every student is a chance for me to be a part of a exciting
and unique musical journey.
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Elk River, MN 55330
