Teachers

Our teachers share their love for music and a commitment to making learning an enjoyable, satisfying process. We understand that playing an instrument is a challenge and can occasionally be frustrating--we know because we've been there! We hope to instill a positive spirit while taking on the challenges of developing your new skill and to promote a life long love and appreciation for music.

BEN ABRAHAMSON: Guitar, Ukulele
Ben is an experienced guitarist and composer who has performed extensively throughout the Twin Cities and beyond since age 13. His passion for flamenco guitar drove him to Taller de Musics School of Music in Barcelona, Spain, where he studied under guitarist Juan Ramon Caro. Ben graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Music from Macalester College. He counts among his mentors flamenco guitarist Michael Hauser, jazz educator Joan Griffith, and music iconoclast Gary Lee Joyner. Ben enjoys sharing his love for music and the guitar with students of any level and age. www.myspace.com/abrahamsonguitar

HEATHER MAY ANDERSON: Flute, Beginning Piano & Guitar
Heather holds a Bachelor of Music Degree for Music Therapy from the University of Iowa. Much of her work experience has been with people of varied developmental and learning challenges. Her specialty is developing adaptive, one on one lessons. She is especially good with younger children and those with special needs.

BRIAN BARNES: Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele, Banjo
Brian Barnes has a diverse musical biography spanning more than 30 years. He's taught a variety of instruments, classes and workshops since 1992. Brian has a BA in Cultural Musicology from the University of Minnesota. Brian teaches beginners and advanced, young and old and loves to connect with students and their desire to create music. He's toured Japan, most of Europe, Canada and the U.S. as a Bluegrass musician; performed Country music at concerts and festivals in eastern Europe; traditional Irish in America and Ireland; blues in Hungary; Swing and French music at Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing; American Swing and Latin music in Vienna. As a core musician on a nationally broadcast radio program, he worked with famous performers such as Garrison Keillor, Minnie Pearl, Rose Maddox and Johnny Gimbel. As a musician and orchestra director for the nationally renowned Etnic Dance Theatre, he performed Russian, Serbian, Croatian and Bulgarian Music on traditional instruments.

TODD BURRELL: Piano
Todd is a highly accomplished piano player who has performed and recorded with local legends Prince & Alexander O'Neil. Todd currently performs with the popular local bands, High & Mighty and the BKS Vine. Todd is a seasoned and easy going instructor comfortable with young beginners and more advanced students. Todd is is especially good teacher for students who want to learn jazz improvisation techniques and jazz/pop "comping" from a chord chart.

STACY HALTER CANINO: Voice, Piano, Ukulele, Beginning Drums & Guitar
Stacy holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, and is a licensed K-12 Vocal and General Music Teacher. She also holds a Master of Music Education degree from the University of St. Thomas, with a concentration in Orff Schulwerk. Also known as the "Orff approach," this intensive training prepares and inspires passionate music teachers like Stacy to teach young children through movement, creativity, and joyful music making experiences. For the past four years Stacy has also been band coaching with She Rock She Rock, and has recently been given the honor of becoming the Camp Coordinator for the Girls' Rock and Roll Retreat!

JORDAN CARLSON: Drums, Percussion, Beginner/Intermediate Piano
Jordan has been performing and teaching music in Minneapolis for the past 15 years. While drums is his primary instrument, Jordan also spent several years studying marimba and vibraphone (a big piano that you hit with mallets!). His teaching philosophy is to balance classic, time tested approaches along with the students' musical interests. You can catch Jordan playing with many artists in the Twin Cities, including singer/songwriter Martin Zellar, and reggae veterans Les Exodus. He holds a BA in Music from the University of St. Thomas. www.jordancarlsonmusic.com

JENNY CASE: Guitar, Bass, Piano, Songwriting
Jenny Case is a Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter who plays many instruments including bass, guitar, keys and vocals. She has played professionally around the Twin Cities and surrounding midwestern regions since 1991 in many rock/alternative/experimental/variety bands and in many shows and productions. She's been teaching private guitar, bass, vocal, piano, songwriting and recording lessons for the past 24 years, as well as coaching group classes and instructing at rock music day camps . A professionally trained vocalist, you can hear her voice on radio and tv commercials for Wisconsin Dells and Treasure Island Casino. She currently is a founding member of the non-profit organization, She Rock She Rock, and co-hosts an all-female jam every other month at The Depot Coffeehouse in Hopkins. She is a staff songwriter for the Songs of Love Foundation, a member of the ICS songwriting club Bulletlodge, and is the founder of MN's first rock camp for girls; Girls Rock N Roll Retreat!

BENJI CONKLIN: Piano, Guitar, Bass,Trumpet, Trombone
Benji is a multi-instrumentalist, music producer and artist specializing in piano, guitar, bass, contrabass, and brass instruments. He has earned a BA degree in music from the University of Minnesota and has taught music for over 10 years in the Twin Cities. In addition to teaching, Benji performs with various ensembles throughout the Midwest and produces and mixes music for recording artists, film, and theater in a variety of genres. Using this diverse background, Benji’s teaching method taps into students’ musical interests and passions and creates a motivating and exciting curriculum unique to each student.

JON ELCONIN: Guitar, Bass, Piano
Jon was first drawn to music by the intensity of punk rock, and since then has been playing in bands and writing songs in many different styles. He is a graduate of Perpich Arts High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of Minnesota. As a teacher, Jon lets the student guide the direction of the lessons while encouraging memorization and playing by ear. Jon currently performs solo, with a rock band, and in a jazz duo. His original music is at soundcloud.com/jonelconin

ANGELA FOX: Piano, Voice
Angela Fox is an actor/singer/dancer with such theater companies as the Jungle Theater and Bloomington Civic Theater and is a core member of Fearless Comedy Productions. As a published composer, Angela has written music for local theater and film and educational music for voice and piano. In addition to performing and writing, her passion is sharing her love of music with others! She was the musical director (Adult Choir, Youth Choir, Children's Choir) at River Hills United Methodist Church and has been teaching piano and voice in the twin cities area since 2000. Her bubbly personality and teaching philosophy of learning through encouragement makes her perfect for the young beginner. For more information about Angela check out www.angelafoxmusic.com

HAILEY JACOBSEN: Guitar, Voice, Ukulele, Bass, Beginning Drums, GarageBand Recording & Songwriting
Hailey Jacobsen is a Minneapolis based singer/songwriter and specializes in many different instruments. She has been playing guitar for 12 years and has performed in many rock, alternative and pop bands throughout the Midwest for the past 8 years. Hailey has taught private lessons and also group lessons for the past 7+ years through the non-profit organization, She Rock She Rock. She believes that playing music & writing songs are the most powerful forms of expression and no two lesson plans should be the same as no two students are the same!

MAURICE JACOX: Flute, Saxophone, Clarinet, Voice, Beginning Piano
Maurice started acting and playing music professionally at age 15. He has worked with musicians such as Bonnie Raitt and Willie Murphy and performed at the Guthrie, Dudley Riggs and much more. His list of musical experiences is endless! He won the MN Music Award for Best Jazz Musician and named best male vocalist by the City Pages in 2004. Maurice is an active and diverse performer who you might find as part of a funk and soul horn section, singing and fronting numerous dance bands, to taking on the lead role of his critically acclaimed Nat King Cole Tribute show. Overall, Maurice is an R & B, jazzy kind of performer that screams "SOUL!"

TOM JOHNSON : Guitar, Dobro, Lap Steel, Pedal Steel, Bottleneck Slide, Banjo, Mandolin, Bass Guitar & Ukulele
Tom is a multi-instrumentalist who teaches, performs, arranges and composes in a diverse field of genres like: rock, jazz, hip-hop, classical, bluegrass, blues and country. Johnson started performing and teaching lessons when he was 17 years old. He has shared stages all over the world with acts such as: Bob Dylan, Dessa, Kid Rock, Buddy Guy, Bob Marley's Wailers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Trampled by Turtles. He received his B.M. at Minnesota State University Moorhead, where upon completion of the degree was hired on as faculty for jazz guitar. Johnson is currently at work on his M.M. in guitar pedagogy at the University of St. Thomas.

KRISTI MACKAY : Piano, Voice, Guitar & Flute
Kristi is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a BS in Collaborative Studies in Dance and Music. As a songwriter/band member, she has toured nationally and had several songs placed on TV. She is also the music director for Northeast Community Lutheran Church, where she performs and directs a variety of musical styles. Kristi is great with all ages from young children to adults and loves helping her students achieve their goals by making music fun!

KARA LAUDON : Voice, Guitar & Ukulele
Kara was born and raised in Minnesota. She picked up guitar at age thirteen and fell in love with playing, singing, and writing songs. Kara participated in her high school concert band as a percussionist and also sang in choir. After graduating high school, Kara decided to fully pursue her dreams in music by attending McNally Smith College of Music earning a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. Her first full length album, "I Wasn't Made" was released in April 2015. Working with and teaching youth is one of her greatest passions and Kara loves to share her musical gifts with children, teens and adults interested in improving their voice and learning guitar or ukulele.

BRAD MCLEMORE : Guitar, Music Theory, Songwriting
Brad is a transplanted guitaris/teacher/songwriter from Dallas, Texas. He spent many years touring with various bands and even made a couple of appearances on “The Tonight Show” and “Austin City Limits” with Texas recording artist Sara Hickman. With a degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas, Brad is excellent at teaching a wide range of styles including rock, blues, folk, jazz, classical guitar, theory, songwriting and improvisation. Brad is great with kids or adults and will develop lessons specific to each student and style!

MIKE MICHEL: Guitar, Bass, Lap Steel, Pop/Rock Songwriting, Improvisation, Audition Preparation, Music Business, Music History
Mike is a Minnesota Music Academy award winning guitarist/songwriter & veteran music educator dedicated to empowering the emerging and re-emerging musician. His passions are helping students develop their own voice on their instrument, & simplifying the overwhelming world of music theory by using pop and rock music as the guide. Mike loves exploring the original creation process with students whether it be songwriting or improvisation. It's important to Mike to a have a non-judgmental nurturing environment in the classroom. Mike has toured and recorded with many veteran Minnesota artists like Haley Bonar, Chan Poling, Desdamona & Carnage and has an extensive background in writing music for TV, radio , film. His original music community outreach music programs include; Rock Camp For Dads, Peace Den, Eco-Rock & The Modern Guitar Festival. He would be honored to be your music coach! www.mikemichelmusic.com

MATT NOVACHIS: Drums, Piano, Ableton Live
Matt has been playing music professionally and teaching private lessons for over 20 years. His teaching approach is based on the idea that every student has unique learning needs and motivation for learning their chosen instrument. Matt's goal is to inspire curiosity and a love of learning through music. Matt creates weekly goals and individualized lesson plans to guide and inspire students through the challenges that are inherent in learning any musical instrument.

JONATHAN REAOCH: Violin
Jonathan Reaoch has a contagious passion for violin. In every lesson (regardless of the student's age or current skill level) he offers inspiration and expert guidance, empowering students to discover new depths of their own musical artistry and self-expression. Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Wheaton College in Illinois and has extensive teacher-training in both Suzuki and traditional methods. As a performer, Jonathan has experience in a wide range of styles, including classical, pop, folk and jazz. Along with teaching violin lessons at LHHM, Jonathan also directs a Suzuki violin school - the Twin Cities String Academy. If interested, LHHM students may inquire about joining group violin lessons with the Twin Cities String Academy. Jonathan welcomes new beginners as young as three years old.

TIM SCULLY: Guitar
When the Beatles landed in the US, Tim Scully was already playing folk guitar and soon had a rock group in Iowa. Since then he has played in several rock bands and acoustic groups, performed on A Prairie Home Companion in the late '70s and had a career as a video producer and professor of communication and journalism at the University of St. Thomas. A longtime guitar teacher, he has a B.A. in music theory and composition and currently plays electric and acoustic guitars with the band Chime (chimetheband.com). His specialties are teaching rock and blues improvisation as well as acoustic folk and blues styles. He enjoys teaching all ages and most styles of music, but particularly loves working with boomers and others who love 60s and 70s music.

PHILIP SHOREY: Piano, Accordion
Philip Shorey got tricked into learning the piano by his Grandmother at the age of six. But after discovering his own taste for the instrument through boogie and blues he fell in love with it and flourished. He has been teaching piano for almost 15 years and combines classical theory and technique while finding the natural direction for the student. He offers a chance for students to learn to compose, play with other instruments like the Theremin or Saw & Bow (a skill his Grandfather taught him), and record their songs to CD. Besides his gift for piano and accordion music, he also has performed and composed music around town and internationally for many years. He most recently traveled the world performing music and a marionette show on the streets of struggling cities throughout eastern Europe and Asia. Philip is a thorough yet patient teacher and is especially good with young students. Philip also offers small group classes called "The Music Parlor presents - Music for Young Ones" for 4 and 5 year olds where kids are introduced to various instruments, singing and musical games.

CHARLIE SMITH: Piano/keyboard, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocal coaching, After school rock bands, Composition, Arranging, Production
Charlie has played piano since age six and he regularly gigs around town with a variety of bands. He earned a B.A. in music in 2007 from Grinnell College where he studied jazz, classical, Latin, and gospel performance and composition. In 2006 he traveled to Milan, Italy to study jazz and opera for a semester. Locally, he has studied with blues piano legend Cornbread Harris and Afro-Cuban pianist Viviana Pintado. Between his numerous bands, he has released 4 albums of original music, played at First Avenue several times, been featured by local media like the Current and Citypages, and toured the country. Charlie has taught students of all ages since 2008, and he has been at the House of Music since 2011. His teaching focuses on developing technique, rhythm, theory and creativity through songs that inspire his students. Improvisation and jamming are regular parts of his teaching. While piano is his primary instrument, Charlie also plays guitar, bass, and drums, and he enjoys offering his students the ability to explore multiple instruments. He believes the best way to encourage musical growth is to show students the fun that music can provide as an independent or a group activity. In his teaching, he helps students find their unique voice on their instrument and encourages them to apply it in real-world musical situations such as performances and playing with bands.
Smith-Music.com

ELIZABETH WHIPPLE: Violin, Viola
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Music degree in classical violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Though she is classically trained, she also enjoys playing fiddle, blues, and jazz. She has won numerous competition titles in the Twin Cities for her playing. For the past 12 years she has taught privately and has extensive experience of Suzuki, other traditional, and nontraditional teaching methods. She loves the challenge of discovering a unique lesson plan for each individual student that enables them to blossom technically and musically with their instrument.

EVAN WILSON: Voice, Piano
Evan is thrilled to be teaching at The House of Music! Evan is a graduate of Arizona State University's Lyric Opera Theatre and has been teaching privately for the past ten years. While he specializes in musical theatre voice (including belt voice, mix voice, and legit), Evan also teaches beginning classical piano, jazz piano, jazz voice, classical voice, and pop/rock. Evan performs regularly throughout the twin cities at The Duluth Playhouse, Yellowtree Theatre, and Theater Latte Da.

SARAH WOLBERT: Violin, Fiddle
Also an architectural designer and collaborative community planner, Sarah develops lesson plans with students to help them achieve their goals. She has been playing violin for over 30 years, both solo and with groups. Instruction and performance include classical, Suzuki, hip-hop, folk, blues, and various ethnic styles. Her own compositions and performances mix everything from JS Bach to Lady Gaga, Mozart to Marley, and she enjoys delivering instruction custom tailored to each student and their objectives.