Private Lessons

When she was 8 years old Audrey saw a flyer for private piano lessons. On her own volition she called the listed number. The rest is history! She continued in piano lessons until her early twenties. She began teaching private piano lessons during her senior year at Midland High. Audrey then took a break from studying to start a family with her husband. She feels so blessed to be able to stay at home raising her 5 children (all under age 10!). Music has continued to be an important part of her adult life, accompanying and singing in choirs, playing piano and organ for her church, and sharing the joy of music with her own kiddos. Audrey is very excited for this opportunity to get to know the Midland music community again.

Chantelle is a registered teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Olivet College. Her decades of teaching experience include private and group settings, Violin, Viola, Cello, Suzuki and traditional methods, beginning strings classes, middle school orchestra, ensemble coaching, public school, homeschool, and remote lessons. She enjoys performing in her community's orchestra, church, and loves being a part of musical productions.

With over 15 years of teaching and professional music experience, Cora is an early childhood music specialist. As a graduate of the world renowned Interlochen Arts Academy and equipped with a Bachelorʼs of Music from Michigan State University, Cora is passionate about music being a vital part of every child's education.
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Cora is a mother of four, married to her college sweetheart and has a cat, Sookie, and a fluffy bunny named Prince Sheldor the Conqueor. Cora and Emma established UpBeat in 2017.

Dan Vaillancourt has been songwriting, performing and teaching music for over two decades. He has taught private lessons to students of all ages, ranging from young children to retirees. He is passionate about providing ideas and techniques to teach a musical foundation to enable students to pursue their personal musical goals and to have fun while learning to play their instrument! He also enjoys hiking, biking, gardening, cooking and spending time with his family.

Lindsay has been playing and singing since she was 3 years old. For the last 25 years, she has played trombone in concert bands, jazz bands, brass bands, orchestras and small ensembles, and currently plays with the Midland Concert Band, Mid Michigan Brass Band, and Just Trombones here in Midland. Lindsay holds degrees in physics and biomedical engineering, and spent 12 years researching infant, child and adolescent brain development. She is excited to combine her two passions of child development and music.

Matthew grew up in Caro, MI where he started playing the guitar at age 14. After finishing high school he moved to Dallas, TX and began studying classical guitar with Carlo Pezzimenti at Brookhaven College School of the Arts and later at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX where he received training in classical and jazz guitar, piano, percussion, music theory, choir and orchestral conducting. He began teaching music in 2012 and has worked with children and adults in groups and as individuals.

Matthew is so excited to be part of the UpBeat team and is looking forward to all of the music to be
made and all of the fun to be had!

Nicole has taught group and private music lessons for over 7 years which fostered her love of education. She played clarinet with the Michigan State University Concert Band and Orchestra. After graduating in 2016 from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Nicole has returned to Midland to teach at Siebert Elementary and to continue sharing her love of music at UpBeat.

Rachel Jones is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Music Education. Rachel and her husband have just relocated to Midland and are excited to start their lives here! Her main instrument is Clarinet but loves to play many instruments. Music is Rachel's passion and in her free time she loves swimming, hiking and crafting. She also has two cats who she thinks are the cutest! She can not wait to make music with the children of Midland!

Roger Stevens has a long career of working with, and developing, young instrumental musicians. He retired from Midland Public Schools in June of 2016, where he had been the Northeast Middle School band director for 23 years. During that time, students and ensembles under his guidance received numerous awards.


Mr. Roger Stevens is a local musician who is a charter member of the Resonators Adult Percussion Ensemble. He has performed with the Chemical City Band, the Midland Concert Band, and the Midland Community Orchestra. He currently teaches the Dow HS drum line as well as the Meridian HS drum line.

Steve Tschaikowsky is a life-long musician. A classically trained pianist from age 6 (Northwestern University, Music Center of the North Shore), Steve also began singing in professional groups at age 8.  One group,
directed by CSO organist Richard Webster, toured throughout the US and
Europe.  One of many highlights was an appearance in a Robert Altman Film as well as on the film’s sound track.  

At 13, already a professional pianist and singer, Steve began his bass career. Soon after, he led his band Upper Echelon to victory at the prestigious New Trier Battle of the Bands.  While Steve’s formal music education came from U of I and DePaul (receiving BA’s from both) Steve continued his development on the talent rich Chicago Blues scene where he played with such greats as Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Lonnie Brooks, Sugar Blue, Billy Branch, and Jimmy Johnson.  Steve even played at Willie Dixon’s funeral.
 
Steve’s band The Associates grew out of this scene, evolving into Chicago’s most in demand party band, boasting over 7000 shows many of which were at The United Center, House of Blues, Aragon Ball Room, Navy Pier, Renaissance Center, and Caesar’s Palace.  While the band performs primarily in the Midwest, The Associates have toured throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Japan, performing to such luminaries as President Clinton, Mayor Daley, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls and many other VIPs.
 
Steve believes in passing the torch.  While juggling well over 200 live shows
per year, he has also taken on as many as 50 weekly students, grooming them for a career in music.  One piano student went on to star as Jerry Lee Lewis in the hit play "Million Dollar Quartet" and is currently playing with pop star Selena Gomez. A bass student of his is currently the musical
director of the "Blue Man Group" Band.   

Steve is currently residing in Midland, Michigan with his wife and three teenaged kids. He fills his days playing in several groups, working on recording projects, teaching music lessons, meeting new musicians and
getting reacquainted with musicians he worked with in Chicago: Detroit Blues Society's Man of the year James Cloyd Jr. and Saginaw Blues Legend
Larry McCray.