Music Studios

of Jan Erickson

Where students learn in a personalized, caring environment.

Classes available

  • Piano
  • Voice
  • Guitar
  • Percussion
  • Brass
  • Woodwinds
  • Strings
  • Music Together®
    A wonderful musical class experience for children up to 6 years and their caregivers.

Our Instructors

Brass
Guitar
Percussion
Piano
Strings
Voice
Woodwinds
Music Together®
Employment Opportunities

Our professional staff of instructors has committed themselves to their art through their advanced training and qualifications. These instructors are experienced in both the performance as well as the teaching aspects of music. Through these experiences, they instruct the techniques and passions of music through individual lessons. Our standards for our teachers are very high.

Currently, we have 39 instructors at our two locations in Eden Prairie and in Plymouth (see locations). Listed here are the instructor’s names, the date they joined our instructional staff, area of expertise or discipline, and their degree earned to date, along with the institution they studied. Currently, there are 3 instructors with Ph.D.’s, and 1 in a doctoral program. 13 have master’s degrees in their discipline and 2 others are in progress on that degree. The other 20 have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. The large number of quality degreed instructors increases both the consistency and availability of our quality instruction.

Brass

  • Stuart Sawdey (1994) - Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn
    • MA - University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
    • BA - Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
  • Jeff Ohlmann (1998) - French Horn, Trumpet
    • MM - Bowling Green State U, Bowling Green, OH
    • BA - Luther College, Decorah, IA
  • Eric Ringeisen (2000) - Low Brass
    • MM - University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
    • BA - St. Cloud St. University, St. Cloud, MN
  • Arlys Liebenow (2003) - Trumpet, Trombone
    • Graduate Studies - Univ. of Wisc., Stevens Point, WI
    • BA - Univ. of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
  • Nathan Kennedy (2006) - Low Brass
    • Ed and License - St. Cloud State Univ., St. Cloud, MN
    • MM - University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
  • Jason Wiley (2006) - Low Brass
    • Morehead State University, Morehead, Ky
  • [Employment Opportunities]
  • [Back to top]

Guitar

  • Jim Neiburg (1993)
    • University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
  • Troy Flemming (1998)
    • BA - University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
    • AA - Normandale College, Bloomington, MN
  • Dave Barilla (2001)
    • Normandale College, Bloomington, MN
  • Tom Allen (2002)
    • University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
  • Lila Karash (2007)
    • Musician's Institute, Hollywood, CA
    • University of Pennsylvania
  • [Employment Opportunities]
  • [Back to top]

Percussion

  • Stuart Sawdey (1994)
    • MA - University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
    • BA - Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
  • Bob Munson (1999)
    • Mankato State University, Mankato, MN
  • Eric Smith (2002)
    • Grace University, Omaha, NE
  • Scott Kosloski (2001, 2004)
    • MM - Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, MI
    • BA - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
  • Nathan Fryett (2005)
    • BA - Univ. of MN-Moorhead, Moorhead, MN
  • [Employment Opportunities]
  • [Back to top]

Piano

  • Larissa Simanenkova (1995)
    • Ph.D. - Leningrad Conservatory, Leningrad, Russia
  • Diana Iskenderova (1995)
    • Azerbaijan Conservatory, Baku, Russia
  • Deb Metz (1996)
    • University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
  • Irina Penchansky (1999)
    • Nizhnly Novgorod Musical College, Novgorod, Russia
  • Thor Polson (2002)
    • Grinnell College, Grinell, IA
  • Nancy Thompson (2000)
    • MM, BFA - University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
  • Kristina Arellano (2000)
    • North Central University, Minneapolis, MN
  • Karen Harris-Rognsvoog (2000)
    • Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
  • Tatyana Bolin (2002)
    • Music College of Lyatoshinsky, Kharkou, Ukraine
  • LeAnn Spike (2003)
    • BA - St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN
    • University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
    • Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
  • Sara Duran (2003)
    • MM - New Mexico State University, NM
    • BA - Oklahoma Baptist University, OK
  • Karen Harney (2004)
    • University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
  • Nathan Kennedy (2006)
    • Ph.D. (pending) University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
    • MM - University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
    • Ed and License - St. Cloud State Univ., St. Cloud, MN
  • Peg Frieschel (2007)
    • Arizona State University
  • [Employment Opportunities]
  • [Back to top]

    • Strings

    • Diana Iskenderova (1995) - Violin, Viola
      • Azerbaijan Conservatory, Baku, Russia
    • Kristina Arellano (2000) - Violin
      • North Central University, Minneapolis, MN
    • [Employment Opportunities]
    • [Back to top]

    Voice

    • LeAnn Spike (2003)
      • BA - St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN
      • University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
      • Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
    • Karen Harney (2004)
      • University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
    • Nathan Kennedy (2006)
      • MM - University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
      • License - St. Cloud State Univ, St. Cloud, MN
      • Ph.D. - University of Minnesota (in progress)
    • Nancy Harms (2007)
      • Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
    • Melissa Culloton (2003, 2007)
      • Ph.D. - University of MN
      • BM - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
    • [Employment Opportunities]
    • [Back to top]

    Woodwinds

    • Steve Cronk (1993) - Flute, Oboe, Bassoon
      • MM - Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
      • BM - University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
    • Vasili Kasatkin (1992) - Sax
      • Ph.d. - Gnesini Pedagogical Academy of Music, Macon, Russia
    • Deb Metz (1996) Flute, Oboe
      • University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
    • Erica McNamara (2001) Flute
      • MM - University of Minnesota (in progress)
      • BA - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
    • Kate Berning-Alfred (2003) - Clarinet, Sax
      • MM - Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
      • BM - Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
    • James Prindiville (2002) - Sax, Clarinet
      • BA - St. John's University, Collegeville, MN
    • Arlys Liebenow (2003) - Clarinet, Flute
      • Graduate Studies - Univ. of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, WI
      • BA - Univ. of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
    • Randy Olson (2004) - Clarinet, Sax
      • University of Minnesota
    • Clay Pufahl (2006) - Sax, Clarinet
      • BA - University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, WI
    • Allison Dromgold (2007) - Sax, Clarinet
      • MM - University of Minnesota (in progress)
      • Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
    • Jerry O'Hagen (2007) - Sax, Clarinet
      • Adv Studies- Berklee School of Music, Boston, and U of MN
      • BA - Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
    • [Employment Opportunities]
    • [Back to top]

    Music Together® Program

    Instructor Log-In