Piano & Voice Teachers

Melyssa Rice, Voice Teacher

For over 30 years, voice teacher Melyssa Rice has been using humor and empathy to transform voices of all ages and in all genres. After graduating from St. Olaf College, she opened her first private voice studio in Seattle in 1992, and joined the Music Center of the Northwest as voice faculty a few years later. Simultaneously, she was hired by Seattle Central, Bellevue, South Seattle and Shoreline Community Colleges as adjunct voice faculty. In 2008, Ms. Rice moved to Prescott, Wisconsin, opened a voice studio, and joined Blessings Academy of Arts and Music as in Hastings as voice faculty.  Most recently, Ms. Rice moved her studio to First Presbyterian Church in Hastings. 

A relaxed, upbeat and supportive teacher, Ms. Rice specializes in applying the secrets of high-level singing technique to every genre of music. By translating difficult technical concepts into “plain English,” by simplifying the physiology behind technique, and by using analogies and imagery to lead the body to the correct coordination, beautiful and healthy sounds are demystified and accessible to everyone. Ms. Rice's goal is for every student to understand how and why things work vocally, to have a “toolbox” of vocal technique, and to become the master of their own voice.

 

 

 

 

Jim Lansing, Piano Teacher

Jim Lansing is an experienced piano teacher with a distinct Pop Music point of view. He served on the MMTA (MN Music Teachers’ Association) Popular Styles Committee, helped launch the Popular Styles curriculum program, and curated the repertoire for the educational series and its exams. Jim taught private lessons at his home studio, as a traveling teacher, online, and group lessons both at home and at community music schools. Jim presently teaches at Farmhouse Music Studio, Lakeville, MN, and Shattuck-St. Mary's School, Faribault, MN.  
 
Jim currently resides in the Twin Cities, MN, area.