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| Academy of Sound is a private performing arts school, specializing in music and drama education. We offer private lessons and classes for anyone ages 4 and up. We have several teachers with diverse backgrounds both in education and experience. Academy of Sound currently offers lessons and classes for the following: - Piano
- Voice
- Guitar
- Bass Guitar
- Acting
- Cello
- Drums
- Violin
Our Staff Erin Kaether, Director English/Spanish Piano Teacher  Erin began teaching piano in 1997. From 1999 through 2000, Erin taught under Catherine Reich in Oregon. She continued teaching independently in Stoughton until 2003. In August of 2003, Erin opened her music school in Oregon. Erin studied piano with Margaret McKay, Stoughton for six years. Erin has also been in several choirs, has taken lessons in violin (with Leyla Sanyer), flute, and voice at the Madison School of Music, and continues her study of piano and violin. Erin teaches piano students at the intermediate and early advanced level, as well as adults at various levels, in English and Spanish. Erin is a member of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association, National College of Musicians, and the Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce. She is currently working on her Category A certification through the Mayron Cole Music Conservatory. Erin has recorded with Source Studios, Madison, as a pianist (on the CD "The Beginning and the End," Showbread), and worked with various studios on the east coast as a back-up vocalist. Erin competed in the National Piano-Playing Auditions through the American College of Musicians at the district and national levels, and was awarded the Director's Service Award in 1999. In January 2006, Erin played piano for the grand opening of The Elizabeth House (a maternity home operated by Care Net of Dane County) which was attended by over 700 people. Erin is a member of the Mad City Church Choir. Erin also works as a volunteer crisis pregnancy counselor for Care Net of Dane County, where she also speaks at a variety of events on behalf of Care Net. Erin was appointed to the Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in January 2010, and was elected Secretary for 2010. Erin is also a certified commercial pesticide applicator. She resides in Oregon with her husband, Cory, where she also homeschools her children. Crystal Moss, Piano Teacher  Crystal Moss has been teaching at Academy of Sound since January, 2007. She has studied piano for 11 years. Crystal has studied with Erin Kaether, Catherine Reich-Quinn, and continues piano lessons with Christina Barrett. Crystal was in choir for four years, and also played flute and percussion in band for four years. Her teachers included Mrs. Samuelson, Ms. Gausman, Mr. Craney, Mr. Cornwell, and Mr. Baxter, all in the Oregon School District. Crystal has participated in solo & ensemble, and the UW Children's Hospital Play-a-Thon (held at Hilldale Mall). Crystal is currently a junior attending Oregon High School. Future plans could include medical school at Berkley or UCLA, although a career in music and going to Juilliard is another possible direction. Crystal teaches piano students who are pre-beginner through level 3B.
Brandon Beebe, Guitar Teacher  Brandon has been playing the guitar for 14 years, and teaching for 12. Initially learning to play by ear to the blues and classic rock songs he loved, he eventually sought out teachers, and enrolled in the jazz program at the University of Oregon. There, he had a year of formal musical education, giving him a solid knowledge base in music theory, as well as performance experience in jazz bands. Additional performance experience came from the numerous non-jazz bands that he was either a member of or put together and led...with styles ranging from blues, funk, hard rock, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, "emo rock", country...pretty much everything. While in Los Angeles, he took teaching more seriously, and played with several high profile bands. He co-wrote one of the best known songs of the L.A. based rock band "Waking Ashland" ("All Hands On Deck"), whom he named and played with in the band's early period. Another band, "Toryn", ended up merging with the well-known rock act "Fuel" after he had left the group. Now in Madison, he is the leader of "The Bombshelters", "The Beat Chefs", and either plays with or has played in the following bands: "Mama Digdown's Brass Band", "Sol", "Francie Phelps and the Self Helps", "Marcus King and Thee Royalty", "The Handphibians", and more. He also is a solo performer and singer-songwriter. www.myspace.com/brandonbeebemusicwww.myspace.com/thebombshelterswww.myspace.com/thebeatchefsmadison Eric Schooff, Piano & Guitar Teacher  Eric started taking piano lessons at the age of 6 in Janesville. His wonderful teacher, Charlotte Hawley, taught him for 12 years. Also, at age 13, Eric took up the guitar, teaching himself. At every level of schooling, he loved taking choir as much as he could. He got the bug to perform at an early age, and performed in musicals as much as possible as well. After graduating high school, Eric and his band recorded a CD of all original music. While attending UW-Madison, Eric was involved in a co-ed a cappella group called Redefined. They recorded a CD with producer Jeff Thatcher, from the renowned group Rockapella. In college, Eric took many music theory classes, but decided against a major in music. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Interarts and Technology from UW-Madison. Eric continues his passion for performing, and is highly involved with many local theatre groups. Jennifer Sams, Voice Teacher
 Jennifer Sams has her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Voice Performance from Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory and the University of Tennessee.
As a Mezzo-Soprano, Ms. Sams has performed major roles as a student, with The Knoxville Opera Studio, and with knoxville Opera Company in The Magic Flute, Susannah, A Hand of Bridge, Sweeney Todd, Roman Fever, The Most Happy Fella', The Mikado, Madame Butterfly and Little Women.
Internationally, she has performed as the alto soloist in Rossini's Messa di Gloria in Pesaro, Italy and as a participant and soloist at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Ms. Sams has held a private voice studio since 2002. Following her Master's degree, she taught vocal music and music appreciation at Pellissippi State Technical Community College, and at Montessori Internationale in Knoxville, TN.
She has performed with many church groups and is currently the section leader and also soloist at Christ Presbyterian Church. She was most recently heard as an alto soloist in Beethoven's Mass in C Major, Handel's The Messiah and Mozart's Requiem. Ms. Sams is currently a student of James Doing, receiving her DMA at University of Wisconsin in Voice Performance with a minor in Opera Production with William Farlow.
Ms. Sams is currently teaching an introductory voice class and private voice majors at UW Madison with a scholarship as a teaching assistant. She is also a core member of Madison Song Masters performing solo and ensemble work in the greater Madison/Milwaukee area.
Lori Gothard, Drama Teacher Lori comes to us with 30 years of experience in theater, 13 years of teaching at the university level, and 11 years of directing experience. Lori holds a master's degree in communication theory, and two undergraduate degrees with a minor in theater. Lori worked as the director & choreographer for numerous musicals over a period of 11 years in the Belleville School District. Lori currently works as a substitute teacher in the Oregon School District, and will begin teaching at Academy of Sound in September, 2008. Lori will be offering private & group acting lessons for kids and adults. Nancy Cox, Piano Teacher  Nancy has studied piano since the age of 6, with a few years off for other
responsibilities, with probably a total of 35 or more years of
music/piano/vocal study over her 63+ years. Her most recent piano teacher
is Brian Schultz, former student of the late Ellsworth Snyder of Madison. Nancy has performed in many local theater productions at OHS and with OSHP as
pianist and other backup keyboard accompanist. She has performed as piano
soloist and accompanist in a special concert series at First Presbyterian over
the past 2 years. She has taught piano most recently since 2005 both
in Stoughton and Oregon, with prior piano teaching experience in
Minnesota. She has accompanied choirs and soloists at OHS under two
former choral directors; Tom Mielke, presently choral director of Middleton
HS and Candie Douglas, presently associate choral director at Sun Prairie
HS. She has also accompanied church choirs at First Presbyterian of Oregon
and Unity Church of Madison for over 15 years, and is presently still employed
by First Presbyterian. Nancy has sung in many choirs, most recently in the
Stoughton Festival Choir, whose upcoming spring concert will be May 2, 2010.
Past vocal experience includes private study with Genevieve Gersbach of Madison,
and Brian Schultz, and 15 years singing with the First Unitarian Society choir
under Ellsworth Snyder. Nancy's degrees include a Bachelor of Arts from University of Minnesota ('68)., major in English, minor in humanities, with coursework in music,
and an MSSW from the University of Wisconsin ('71).
John Wiedenbeck, Bass Guitar Teacher
 John
Wiedenbeck was born and raised in the Madison area on a varied musical
diet ranging from classical to jazz to country to hard rock. He found
his musical "home" at the age of 14 when he attended an electric bass
clinic at a local church. At about that same time, John was introduced
to the band Rush and fell in permanent love with the instrument thanks
to the bass work of Geddy Lee. Soon John started playing regularly in
church, where he continues to play to this day. He has studied with
musical greats Jim Burke (Highway to Heaven), Josh Becker (Cherry Pie),
Cliff Fredericksen (solo act, Cliff Frederickson trio), Ken Fitzsimmons
(Little Blue Crunchy Things, The Kissers), and Claude Cailliet
(Madisalsa, Neil Young, Aretha Franklin). He has studied everything
from jazz to pop, classical to metal, Latin and blues styles, and
played in over five area bands. As a dabbler and compulsive music
listener, John has also spent time studying guitar, piano, drums, and
voice. John lives on a farm outside of Oregon and is studying
psychology with Liberty University. His current band, Transient,
recorded their first EP this winter and is now playing the local
Madison scene. John has a deep-rooted passion for music and is very
excited to be teaching at the Academy of Sound, where he hopes to
convey his love of music to his students. Hannah Best, Piano TeacherJames (Jim) Kryshak, Voice Teacher James N. Kryshak (tenor) a native of Baldwinsville, NY made his professional opera debut in 2008 as Don Ottavio in Raylynmor Opera's production of Mozart's Don Giovanni. Other opera roles include; Count Ammaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia; Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Nanki-Poo in The Mikado, Camille in The Merry Widow, Frederik in Pirates of Penzance, Tamino in Die Zauberflote, and Pelleas in Pelleas et Melisande. A winner in both the District and Regional levels of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2008, James sang on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera as a National Semi-Finalist in February 2009. James was also a Finalist in the Ferruccio Tagaliavini International Vocal Competition in Deutschlandsberg (April 2005) as well as a Semi-Finalist in the Klassik Mania Competition in Vienna (July 2005). Most recently James has been selected to join the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago for the 2010-2011 Season. James has also been seen in many Musical Theatre productions in the roles of: The Leading Player in Pippin!, Dickon in The Secret Garden, Fagin in Oliver!, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, the Narrator and Old Man in Into the Woods, Prince Charming in Cinderella, and The Tin Man in The Wiz. In additon to James's extensive stage work he has given many recitals including; Schubert's Winterreise, Schumann's Opus 90 Lenau Lieder and Opus 48 Dichterliebe, and music of Kurt Weill and Noel Coward. James holds a Master's of Music Degree in Opera Performance from the University of Wisconsin Madison where he was the recipient of the Wisconsin Distinguished Voice Excellence Fellowship and studied with Julia Faulkner. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Music (Voice) and German from Elmhurst Collece (Elmhurst, IL). Further studies have included two years of vocal study in Vienna with Michele Friedman, and apprenticeship with Des Moines Metro Opera in 2009 and a vocalist in the Tyrolean Opera Program in 2006. James began working at Academy of Sound as a voice teacher in August 2009. www.jamesnkryshak.comAllison Weber, Piano TeacherKat Powers, Cello TeacherEric Kjelland, Drum Teacher A native of Darien, WI, Eric Kjelland possesses fourteen years of
drumming experience that stretches
between bands, choral performances, orchestral performances, and
theatre. Having taught friends here and there in the past, Eric is
happy to be teaching at Academy of Sound on a regular basis, wishing to
fulfill his desire to continue teaching himself and others the
foundations of a percussionist. Beyond drumming, he attended several
choir classes throughout all
four years of his high school education. These courses provided him
with a
solid and fundamental understanding of music theory basics, as well as
giving him the opportunity to explore new territories and genres of
music. This exposure gave Eric the incentive to expand his technique as
a
percussionist and develop such skills as odd tempo, structured
rudiment, and stick tricks. A very energetic drummer, Eric's
experiences behind the drum kit have had him playing big band jazz,
classic rock, alternative rock, oldies, country, metal, drum jams, and
much more. He is currently involved in an experimental industrial band
named "Ominous Obelisk", and has most recently joined power trio cover
band "Stone Kings" of Mazomanie. Outside of the music world Eric is a
soon-to-be graduate of Madison Media Institute with his Associate of
Applied Science degree in Video and Motion Graphics. Megan Whip, Violin Teacher Megan began studying the Suzuki Method when she was four years old and has been playing the violin for twelve years and is currently in her 6 th season as a member of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra (WYSO). She is a sophomore at Oregon High School and is a member of her orchestra as well as the school's honors orchestra, Stringendo. Last year she was a winner in her school’s concerto competition and played Beethoven’s Romance in F Major. As well as being a strong section leader, Megan also helps her fellow musicians with their music. Besides playing in school, she plays in many church orchestras, retirement homes, and Christmas concerts.
In December of 2009, Megan was accepted into the National Honors Performance Series in Carnegie Hall and will be going to New York in June 2010. She participated in the Wisconsin Honors Orchestra program in 2009 and also has also done Solo and Ensemble and State Solo and Ensemble for the past 3 years. In 2009 she was given an Exemplary Award in State Solo and Ensemble. Besides music, Megan is also a straight A’s honors student and is also on the Varsity Golf Team at Oregon High School. Megan is excited to join the staff at Academy of Sound as a violin teacher.
Margaret McKay, Substitute Piano Teacher
Kristie Halverson, Substitute Piano & Voice Teacher Kristie Halverson studied voice with David Judisch, Jon Spong and Jessica Paul while she earned her B.A. in Vocal Performance and English from Luther College in 1997. She next studied voice with Anne De Launay while earning her M.M. in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1999. Upon completing her teaching certification through the University of Washington-Seattle in 2001, she took her first high school choral teaching position in Viroqua, Wisconsin.
Kristie took piano and organ lessons from Mary Lou Wielenga in high school and then studied organ at Luther with William Kuhlman, progressing her studies after graduation with Cheryl Storey in Seattle.
Kristie has taught piano and voice lessons for 11 years through the Bellevue School of Music in Washington and also in her home studio. She has also served in churches for 15 years, as organist, pianist and choir director. Kristie enjoys seeing her students learn and grow in their craft as they gain skills in their area of interest. She teaches beginner through advanced piano and voice students.
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