NDSU Music Academy

Fall Session 2025

Spring Session 2026

Summer Session 2026 (8 lessons)

Pay Tuition Online

Prorated Fee

• $24.00 for each 30 minute lesson
• $36.00 for each 45 minute lesson
• $48.00 for each 1 hour lesson

Lessons are prorated depending on what day of the week lessons are. Please see charts below for tuition costs. (This is to avoid makeup lessons from days NDSU is closed for holidays and breaks.)

Fall Semester

In Fall Semester, lessons go from September 8 to December 12.

Because of holidays and breaks, there are differing amounts of lessons for each day of the week.

Spring Semester

In Spring Semester, lessons go from January 26 to May 8.

Because of holidays and breaks, there are differing amounts of lessons for each day of the week.

Summer Session

In summer session, lessons go from June 1 to July 31.

There will always be 8 lessons in the summer session.

30-minute lessons $192
45-minute lessons $288
1 hour lessons $384

Summer lessons offered only by specific teachers. Check with your teacher to see about availability in the summer.

Registration

There is a $20 registration fee per student for first time registration only.

After registering, we will contact you to schedule your weekly lesson time. Once we have found a time that works for your lesson, then pay your new student registration fee of $20 online through our website within 48 hours. When we have received your new student fee, we will reserve your lesson time. If the new student fee is not received within 48 hours, the lesson time that was agreed upon will become available for other students to reserve.

Payments

Once you have established a lesson time, you may pay in full or make two payments per semester for the fall and spring semesters. Payment is due before the first lesson. Lessons will not begin until payment has been received. If paying twice per semester, the second payment is due during the seventh week of the semester. Summer session payment is due in full before the first lesson. Payment can be made in the form of a check or credit card. Checks should be made out to NDSU and sent to:

NDSU Music Academy
Attn: Tracey Dahl
PO Box 6050 Dept 2540
Fargo ND 58108

Pay Lessons Online

This site will ask for the contribution amount. You’ll need to type in the tuition amount since it changes by semester and depending on what day you have lessons on.

Make-up lessons

• There will be the option of making up one lesson each semester for an excused absence.
• An absence will be counted as excused when the teacher is notified at least one week prior to the lesson. If the teacher was not notified prior to the absence, the lesson will be counted as unexcused and will not be rescheduled.
• If a student is ill, the teacher must be notified by phone a minimum of two hours prior to the lesson. If the teacher was not notified prior to the absence, the lesson will be counted as unexcused and will not be rescheduled.
• A lesson canceled by the instructor will be made up at the earliest convenience of both parties.
• All make up lessons will take place during normal Academy hours.
• Please respect our instructors time as they have carved out a specific time in their schedule to teach you or your child (as they in turn will respect your time).

Expectations

Academy students are expected to:

• Keep a regular practice schedule as specified by their instructor
• Attend all lessons and recital in which they are enrolled
• Bring instrument, music and all lesson materials to each lesson

Lesson Location

In-person lessons will take place at Peace Lutheran Church, 1011 12th Avenue North, Fargo. When you walk in the front door, continue walking towards the back of the church. There will be a host who will greet you and show you where the lessons are at. (Lessons will be in the Sunday School Wing). Parents must always accompany children. There is a waiting area with chairs and tables outside the lesson rooms.

Building Policies

Peace Lutheran Church has graciously opened their facility for Academy use. We wish to keep their building in good order and respect their property. The Sunday school wing is the only place students and parents will be allowed to wait in the building. An adult must accompany students at all times. Students may not wait outside of the building for any reason and must remain in the Sunday school wing.

Student Dismissal

Students who are not meeting the expectations listed above may be dismissed at any time with tuition forfeited.

Cancellation of lessons

• The Music Academy will only cancel lessons due to bad weather if NDSU cancels events for that day. Check the NDSU website for cancellation information. We will not follow public school or Peace Lutheran cancellations.
• If a student decides to cancel due to bad weather and NDSU is open, the instructor is not obligated to make up the absence.
• The Music Academy Director will send out an email blast and post on the NDSU Music Academy Facebook page when lessons are canceled.
• Lessons canceled by the instructor will be made up at the earliest convenience of both parties.

Withdrawal

Withdrawing from lessons requires written notification to the Academy office. If written notification is not received, students will still be considered officially enrolled and charged accordingly for tuition.

Refund Policy

After the first payment has been received, students are obligated to pay for that half of the semester. If a student has paid in full for the semester and does not continue lessons in the second half of the semester, a refund will be given for the second half of the semester.

Late Arrival

Students are expected to arrive on time and be ready for their lesson to begin at the specified time. Instructors will wait 15 minutes before assuming the students will be absent for the lesson. Instructors are not required to make-up lost time. However, if an instructor is late, they will arrange to make-up the lost time.

Please fill out this registration form for NEW students only. An email is sent to returning students from the previous summer, spring, and fall sessions to register on August 1, December 1, and May 1. If you are a returning student and didn’t receive an email, please check your Spam folder first and then email laura.kellogg@ndsu.edu. If it’s been over a year since you took lessons with the Music Academy, you will NOT get an email about registration. Email Laura Kellogg directly to ask for a returning student registration form.

Registration for New Students

Registrations for new students will open on August 6th, December 6th, and May 6th.

Scholarships for students are available on the basis of need through Excite Music. Please visit Excite Music FM to apply.

Ava McCormick, flute

Teaches age 10 and above
Beginner, intermediate, and advanced students

Ava McCormick is the flute instructor at the NDSU Music Academy. She received her Bachelor’s degree in General Music and Neuroscience at NDSU in 2021, and this is her sixth year teaching at the Academy. She is from Moorhead, MN, and has played the flute for 15 years. Ava loves teaching and playing the flute and strives to help young players develop their ability to express themselves musically.

Cameron Solberg, oboe

Beginner, intermediate, and advanced students

Cameron Solberg grew up in Fargo, North Dakota and gained her Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education at North Dakota State University. She studied oboe under Philip McKenzie and studied under Jennifer Peterson prior to college.

Cameron has obtained a variety of performing and teaching opportunities while studying at NDSU. These experiences include playing in the NDSU Wind Symphony, NDSU Woodwind Quintet, NDSU Gold Star Marching Band, NDSU Jazz Ensemble, NDSU Saxophone Quartet, and various chamber ensembles for NDSU’s operas and choirs. She has also earned the title as a finalist in the Bismarck Mandan Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition and competed in the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition and the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Solo Competition.

While performing is a large passion for Cameron, she also enjoys sharing her knowledge and appreciation for music through teaching. In addition to teaching private oboe lessons for the NDSU Music Academy, she has also volunteered as a camp counselor for the Bemidji MusiCamp.

Alison Johnson, piano

Teaches age 5 and above
Beginner, intermediate, and advanced students

Alison Johnson is a current student at NDSU’s Challey School of Music studying instrumental music education. This will be her fourth year attending NDSU! Currently, she is studying piano and also accompanies over at the NDSU’s St. Paul Newman Center. Alison is from Victoria, MN, a small town 30 minutes southwest of the twin cities. Alison has found that one of her passions is not only music, but also teaching. She believes that music is a universal language and can be enjoyed by anyone whether you are the listener or player. By learning the piano (or any instrument), you are not only developing the skill to create music, but you are also learning how to appreciate music and all it has to offer.

Bradley Schiltz, violin and viola

Teaches ages 8 and above
Violin and viola: beginner, intermediate, and advanced students

Bradley has been playing the violin for 12 years. He has performed in numerous ensembles and has a passion for music and teaching. Bradley is currently studying chemistry at NDSU.

Benton Schmidt, organ

*Students need to be able to have their feet reach the pedals. Estimated youngest age is 10 years old
Teaches beginner, intermediate, and advanced students

A native of Fargo, North Dakota, Benton Schmidt began studying music at the age of 5. He completed his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at North Dakota State University where he was recipient of the Bill Euren Fellowship Award. Schmidt received his Masters of Sacred Music from the University of Notre Dame in May 2021 and is currently finishing his doctorate in Church Music at the University of Kansas. At home in both ancient and modern repertoire, Benton particularly enjoys the liturgical music of seventeenth-century French and early German Baroque periods. He currently serves as the director of music at St. Paul’s Newman Center next to the campus of NDSU.

Guilherme Montenegro, piano

Teaches ages 10 and above
Beginner, intermediate and advanced students

Guilherme Montenegro is currently studying Collaborative Piano under the guidance of Dr. Tyler Wottrich. When pursuing a master degree in Music Education from the University of Brasilia, he carried out research about collaborative pianists at scholarly music settings in Brazil. Previous piano professors were Dr. Jaci Toffano, Dr. Maria de los Ángeles Iglesias, and Neusa França. Since 2011 Guilherme has been serving as a collaborative pianist for the School of Music at Brasília for both vocal and instrumental divisions. Main topics of his interest include collaborative piano, chamber music, sight reading, piano teaching for beginners, and vernacular language learning applied to art songs. Those interests resulted in the publication of scholarly papers at larger Brazilian conferences in Music. Guilherme also gained relevant musical experience due to piano accompaniment for the Brazilian Federal Senate choir and for a few editions of the International Summer Program held by the School of Music at Brasília. In addition to music performance, Guilherme has taught one-to-one piano lessons for beginners, and distance music courses at the Brazilian Open University Program – Universidade Aberta do Brasil. He’s thrilled about pursuing a doctoral degree and sharing his professional experience as an international student at NDSU. Piano teaching enables him to share experiences and positively transform students’ lives with music.

Angelana Quanbeck, violin and viola

Teaches ages 5 and above
Violin and viola: beginner and intermediate students

AJ graduated from NDSU Spring of 2024, having majored in Music and Sociology. They enjoy reading, baking, knowing too much about Shakespeare, and hanging out with her dogs. AJ’s main instruments are violin and voice, but she also dabbles in viola, guitar, ukulele, piano, saxophone, and percussion. They love to write music, both singer-songwriter style, and for vocal and instrumental chamber groups. As a teacher, AJ sees music as one of the best ways to develop learning skills, as well as connect with oneself and others. She prioritizes cultivating students’ relationship with music, encouraging them to find their joy.

Ethan Bruley, piano

Teaches ages 6 and above
Piano: beginner and intermediate

Ethan Bruley is a junior at NDSU pursuing an Instrumental Music Education degree. He grew up in West Fargo and has played piano for 14 years. He has played around town in multiple groups including his band Know Idea and teaches other kids in the F-M area outside of NDSU too. Ethan has always loved teaching music and enjoys watching his students grow. Ethan has also played saxophone for 9 years and has been the principal saxophone in the NDSU Wind Symphony, lead alto in the NDSU Jazz Ensemble, and has played with the FM Kicks Band. Outside of music, he spends most of his time watching football or bowling.

Owen Cary, percussion, composition, and piano

Teaches ages 8 and above
Percussion: beginner, intermediate, and advanced
Composition: beginner, intermediate, and advanced
Piano: beginner and intermediate

Owen Cary is a current student of the Challey School of Music at NDSU. He is currently studying Instrumental Music Education and Music Composition. This will be his fourth year! He is studying percussion under Dr. Mark DeMull and is studying composition under Dr. Kyle Vanderburg. He is involved in the NDSU Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and is the snare drum section leader in the Gold Star Marching Band! A huge belief of his is that the strongest bondings one can have, are those made through music whether you’re a listener or a player! Music also has the ability to bring people together and put their differences aside which is why learning an instrument can be so beneficial!

Zubin Park, cello

Teaches ages 13 and above
Cello: intermediate and advanced

An innovative and devoted chamber musician and soloist, Korean-American cellist Zubin Park is a recent graduate of Temple University’s pre-college division, as well as a three year string quartet fellowship at Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, PA. Zubin has held positions in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the Juilliard School pre-college division. In addition, Zubin has received extensive classical training from esteemed faculty and orchestral members, his principal instructors including Gloria dePasquale, Amy Barston, Yumi Kendall, Thomas Kraines, Lawrence Stomberg, and Elise Buffat Nelson, whom he is studying with at the Challey School of Music at North Dakota State University. Zubin is also a busy and dedicated pedagogue, and strives to maintain a sizable teacher studio; he is continually inspired by the influence that a teacher can have on a students’ passion and zeal for their instrument. Zubin is a double major candidate in Music and Chemistry.

Luke Olsby, clarinet

Teaches ages 10 and above
Beginner, intermediate, and advanced students

Luke Olsby is a passionate music educator and clarinetist with a strong background in both instrumental and vocal instruction. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education with a minor in Vocal Music Education from North Dakota State University. As a clarinetist, Luke brings a blend of technical expertise and expressive musicianship to his teaching, helping students build a solid foundation while developing their own unique musical voice.

Luke teaches private lessons that provide focused, individualized instruction in a supportive and encouraging environment. He tailors each lesson to meet the student’s level, learning style, and personal goals, whether that means building basic technique, refining tone, or exploring new repertoire. His approach emphasizes musical growth, creativity, and confidence at every stage.

Luke finds deep joy in guiding students through the journey of musical discovery. For him, teaching is not just about developing skills, but about helping students grow into expressive, confident individuals who connect meaningfully with music.

Carlin Johnson, voice, ukulele, guitar, piano

Teaches ages 4 and above
Voice: beginner, intermediate, and advanced
Ukulele: beginner
Guitar: beginner and intermediate
Piano: beginner and intermediate up to Faber 2A books

Carlin Johnson teaches voice, piano, guitar, and ukulele at the NDSU Music Academy. He is in his senior year set to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music Education from NDSU in the spring of 2026. Carlin loves applying what he has learned to help students learn how to express themselves through music. He also loves to write and perform his own music. An Eagle Scout and Marine Corps veteran, he grew up in rural Roseau, MN where he was in several bands and choirs throughout high school, to include auditioned groups such as Roseau High School’s Jazz Band and Eclipse Choir. He played the roles of Sergeant of Police in NDSU’s setting of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance and a jury member in FM Opera’s setting of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury. He is a bass vocalist in NDSU’s Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers. He believes that everyone can benefit from music. This is Carlin’s first year teaching at the Music Academy and he is very excited!

Cora Carlson, horn

Teaches ages 12 and above
Beginner and intermediate

Blake Neubauer, saxophone

Teaches ages 10 and above
Beginner, intermediate, and advanced students

Blake Neubauer is a Junior at NDSU pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. He grew up in Isanti, MN and has been playing the saxophone for 10 years. Blake has performed with NDSU’s top ensembles such as the NDSU Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, and other groups outside of NDSU and around the F-M area. Blake has also volunteered at Bemidji MusiCamp where he helped lead sectionals and assisted with many different classes and ensembles. Blake has fallen in love with music over the years and aspires to help students find their own passion within music and make lessons an enjoyable and valuable experience.

Q: How are lessons set up?
A: Before the semester begins, we collect all the instructors’ availability. We create a Google Spreadsheet for each instructor with times they are available to teach. Once a student registers for lessons, we email that Spreadsheet link to the student. The student then edits the document to pick a lesson time that works for them.

Q: Why are the tuition amounts different?
A: The tuition changes because there are a different amount of lessons during the semesters based on the day of the week (due to holidays and breaks).

Q: Where do the lessons take place?
A: Peace Lutheran Church. The address is 1011 12th Ave. N, Fargo. Upon entering the church, walk towards the back. There will be a host to greet you and direct you to where lessons are. The lesson rooms are located upstairs in the Sunday School wing of the church.

Q: Are instruments provided by the Academy?
A: No, students will need to purchase or rent their own instruments. Of course, we do have pianos at the church for lessons! For other instruments, check out local music stores such as Eckroth Music and Schmitt Music for purchasing or rental options.

Q: What materials should be purchased for lessons?
A: Besides an instrument, lesson materials will be determined by your instructor specifically for you! At the first lesson, the instructor will get to know the student’s level to recommend appropriate method books and music. These materials can often be purchased at Eckroth Music, Schmitt Music, or Popplers Music.

Q: What length of lessons should I select for my child?
A: This depends on the age, attention span, and goals of the student. For younger students age 4-12, we recommend 30 minutes. For middle school students, we recommend 30 minutes. For high school students we recommend 45-60 minutes. If your child is interested in being involved in music at the college level, we recommend an hour.

Q: Can I sign my child up for lessons on multiple instruments?
A: You sure can!

Q: What days and times are lessons available?
A: Academy hours are Monday through Friday, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. However, each instructor has different availability within that time frame. Once you register for lessons, we will send you a Google Spreadsheet of the instructor’s availability. Lessons are NOT available on the weekends.

Q: Why aren’t there lessons during the weekend?
A: Our instructors are all involved in the music program at NDSU. They often have musical obligations and performances on the weekend.

Q: Can we invite friends and family to the recital?
A: Yes, of course!