Bertram Studio, Grand Forks

08/15/2026

08/13/2026

Congratulations Samhita and Gus

Grand Forks and Langdon students receive awards for piano and violin performances during the North Dakota Music Teachers Association conference here.

08/09/2026

I’ve been thinking about this for a long time: What if music practice didn’t have to be a battle?

As a teacher, I see how much children can love music and how quickly that joy can disappear when practice at home becomes reminders, resistance and frustration.

I see the pressure it puts on parents too. Most parents want to help their child succeed, but no one hands you a toolkit for how to make daily practice work with a young child.

So I decided to build one.

I’m creating Play Based Practice, an app that gives families simple games, challenges and creative ways to practice the things young musicians already need to work on.

The bigger vision is not just to make practice fun.

It’s less nagging and frustration for parents. More ownership and confidence for kids. More positive experiences with music. And ultimately, more children who stick with it long enough to discover how rewarding making music can be.

I’m building the app myself, and I’ve decided to try something important. I want to keep the core app free for families.

Instead of putting another subscription in front of parents, I’m asking my studio families and community to help me launch it and make it accessible to as many children as possible.

If you believe practice can be something children grow through, rather than something families simply have to get through, I’d love your support. A donation helps, but sharing this with other parents, teachers and musicians helps enormously too.

Let’s take the battle out of music practice.

Learn more or support Play Based Practice⁠

08/06/2026

Congratulations to Gus on earning 2nd Prize in the Elementary Division and to Samhita on receiving an Honorable Mention in the Junior High Division at tonight’s Popplers Competition!

I’m so proud of all the hard work, dedication, and musical growth you’ve both shown. It was wonderful to see your efforts recognized. Congratulations on a fantastic performance! 🎻🎉

08/06/2026

Amazing show

Mean Girls is on the marquee and we open tomorrow! We can’t wait to see you there!!

08/03/2026

I’m so excited to see this beautiful commissioned work, A Dialog on Hope by North Dakota composer Emily Black Driscoll, premiere this Wednesday, August 5, at 7:00 p.m. at Popplers Music!

This free concert is part of the North Dakota Music Teachers Association Conference and will also feature performances by the talented winners of the Popplers Competition.

If you’re in the Grand Forks area, come celebrate new music and support North Dakota musicians and young performers. It promises to be a wonderful evening!

📍 Popplers Music, 1726 S. Washington St.
🕖 Wednesday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
🎟️ Free and open to the public

The concert is part of the North Dakota Music Teachers Association annual conference. which will also feature a free piano teachers workshop, led by noted pianist and educator Helen Marlais.

08/02/2026

Performance today with Lilliana

Email from Bertram Studio 7pm tonight @ 2118 10th Ave N, Grand Forks Summer Backyard Concerts Every Sunday! Tonight (August 2)�A night of string duets! From classical to Disney!�featuring Tamara and h

07/27/2026

A wonderful afternoon of live music, with a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish. Despite the summer heat, 72 people came along to enjoy the concert, and we’re so grateful to everyone who joined us and made it such a special event.

A special thank you to Austin and David for performing with me. It was a joy to share the stage with you both. I’m also especially proud of my student Caleb for a fantastic performance.

We’re so grateful for the wonderful support from our community and look forward to many more concerts together!