TEACHERS

BEN ABRAHAMSON:
Guitar, Ukulele - Ben Abrahamson is a fresh, dynamic voice on the acoustic guitar. His passion for flamenco drove him to Taller de Músics School of Music in Barcelona, where he studied under Juan Ramón Caro. As a teacher, Ben has mentored young beginners and adults alike in camps and lessons throughout the Twin Cities and in Philadelphia, PA. As a performer Ben has shared the stage with Zorongo Flamenco, Michael and Tony Hauser, Susana di Palma, La Conja, Chuscales, Billy Steele, Tonia Hughes, Pedro Cortes Jr., Joan Griffith, and Gary Lee Joyner. In 2019, he recorded his latest record, "Neolithic". www.benabrahamson.com
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.
Victoria Athmann:
Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano - Victoria Athmann, has been teaching private music instruction for the past 20 years.
Ms. Victoria began studying music at the age of 8 when she started piano lessons. From there she began lessons on the cello and then violin and viola. While in Highschool she was performing professionally with the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, pit orchestras, wedding performances, etc. Victoria began her private teaching career in Highschool as well. Victoria is a graduate of St. Cloud State University where she recieved a degree in Violin Performance with a minor in Women's Studies. While at SCSU she was a teacher with the SCSU string project, performed with the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Centre Chorale, St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Cloud State University Orchestra. In 2010 Ms. Victoria studied violin performance at Mannes College of Music in New York, NY. She studied privately with Yuri Vodovoz, and also studied chamber music under the coaching of the Alaria String Trio. Most recently Ms. Victoria was a resident of Austin, TX where she taught at Austin School of Music. While there she began and directed a week long summer chamber music camp, a studio class, and had her students play out in the community as much as possible. While living in Austin Ms. Victoria was the concertmaster of the Austin Philharmonic, a section player of the Temple Symphony, and a violinist/violist with Musical Discovery Chamber Players.
In Ms. Victoria's spare time she enjoys cooking from scratch, cycling, and enjoying time with her son Blaze.
JORDAN CARLSON:
Drums, Piano, Applied Theory -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 incorporating the students' musical interests. You can catch Jordan playing with many acts in the Twin Cities, including singer/songwriter Martin Zellar, country artist Chris Hawkey, 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 - Jenny Case is a Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter skilled in 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 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!
ZEKE COWAN:
Drums, Piano -Zeke has been an active musician in the twin cities community since a very young age, and has been teaching music in a variety of roles since graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2019. He has experience teaching drums, guitar, piano, ukulele, and several types of ensembles. In his formative years, Zeke took private lessons at the House of Music, and 16 years later he is delighted to be teaching drums and beginner piano lessons in the same place! His main goal here is to be a positive mentor who will meet students wherever they are in their musical journey, as they explore the world of music and make it their own.
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:
Piano, Guitar, Bass -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 solo artist, she has performed as the lead singer of various twin cities bands. Angela is a published composer and 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 has been teaching piano and voice in the twin cities area since 2000. Her bubbly personality and teaching philosophy of learning through encouragement make her the perfect fit for students of all ages. 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!"
Kara Laudon:
Voice, Piano, Beginning Guitar - Kara Laudon is a musician from Burnsville, MN. She graduated from McNally Smith College of Music in 2013 with a degree in Vocal Performance. Soon after graduating, she began supporting local artists such as John Mark Nelson and Dessa on US tours. She now plays piano and sings for churches, and also spent five years teaching fitness classes. Kara believes music is such an important way to express yourself, and she loves helping students find their passion and own unique voice.
BRAD MCLEMORE:
Guitar, Music Theory, Songwriting -Brad is a transplanted guitarist/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, home recording and improvisation. Brad is great with kids or adults and will develop lessons specific to each student and style!
MARK MRAZ:
Piano, Voice-Mark is a career music teacher (34 years in the Burnsville Schools) and has been performing professionally for over 30 years. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Music Education at the University of Minnesota. He is experienced at teaching classical, pop, jazz, chord theory, and developing skills to accompany yourself while singing. Comfortable teaching all ages (including adults!), his passion for making music is contagious. He truly believes that it's called "playing" music for a reason. It's supposed to be fun! His strengths lie in motivating and encouraging each student to identify their unique talents and build on them. www.markmraz.com
MATT NOVACHIS:
Drums, Beginning piano and Electronic Music Production -Matt has been playing and teaching music professionally for over 20 years. His teaching approach revolves around each student's unique needs and motivation for learning their chosen instrument. Matt creates weekly goals, individualized lesson plans and strives to inspire a love of learning through music.
CHARLIE SMITH:
Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocal coaching, Rock U (After school rock bands), Composition, Arranging, Production -Charlie sees himself as a lifelong musician and he enjoys sharing his passion for music with his students. He has played piano since age six and he holds a B.A. in music from Grinnell College. He has taught at the House of Music since 2011, where his method focuses on technique, rhythm, creativity, and musicianship. He encourages students to find their unique voice on their instrument through working on songs that inspire them. He feels the best way to foster musical growth is to show students the fun that music can provide as both an independent and a group activity. He believes the power of music lies in its ability to bring people together and he encourages his students to perform as much as possible through leading bands and hosting open mic nights. Piano is his primary instrument, but Charlie also sings and plays guitar, bass, and drums. He similarly enjoys helping his students explore multiple instruments. His own musical interests have no boundaries, ranging rock, pop, blues, jazz, classical, folk, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and world music. Charlie has played with many bands in Minneapolis, between which he has released 4 albums, played at noteworthy clubs like First Avenue, and toured the country.
SARAH WOLBERT:
Violin, Viola, Fiddle-Sarah has been playing violin since the age of four, both solo and with groups, performing everything from JS Bach to Lady Gaga. Her training in the classical performance, improvisation, and various styles of fiddling allow her to blend a custom teaching method for each student. Her career in architecture and participatory art helps students integrate music into their everyday life. Having taught children and adults, Sarah will creatively develop a lesson plan to help students identify and work towards musical goals.