Personalized, in-person and online lessons in Guitar, String and Wind Instruments, Piano, and Voice for all ages and experience levels. D. in St. Paul.
Many musical genres offered as well as other topics (e.g., music theory, composition, conducting, audition prep, etc.) OVERVIEW:
Originally founded by Diana Grasselli, CVMA has been a staple in the Twin Cities for over 21 years, having provided quality voice and instrumental music education to more than 7,500 students. Attracting some of the region's best musical talent, we are a personalized educ
ational and music performance resource where teachers, students and community professionals and amateurs of all styles, levels and backgrounds, find exciting and enriching opportunities for study, employment, partnership and creative exploration. MISSION:
Chanson Voice & Music Academy is committed to providing personalized, inclusive, quality education in the vocal and instrumental music arts. Our goal is to offer an affordable, safe and welcoming environment for people of all ages, races, genders, gender identity, and sexual orientation to share in the joy of music. VISION:
We believe that music has the power to bring people in all walks of life together and to foster healing. Music builds connections between us, strengthening our families and our communities. CVMA plays an important in providing opportunities for many people to participate in, learn and share music. WHO WE ARE:
CVMA boasts a vibrant musical collective of talented, educated, energized and motivated instructors of the classical and contemporary vocal and instrumental arts, where partnership and collaboration go a long way to provide a rich and inclusive environment for learning and instruction. All of our studio artists perform professionally in the community, hold degrees or equivalent real world experience as musicians and educators, and are excellent at what they do. Colleen, the Executive Director of CVMA, is an accomplished violinist and music arranger who specializes in east-central European folk music. She spent a year living and working side-by-side with traditional string musicians in Romania as part of her research toward earning a Ph. in ethnomusicology from the University of Minnesota. Colleen is the violinist of the Balkan party band Orkestar Bez Ime (OBI) and director of the Ciprian Porumbescu (Romanian) Choir of Minnesota. She is lead fiddle player in the Transylvanian string band, Szászka, in which Sara and Doug are also members. Sara Bruins, co-owner and Accounts Director of CVMA, plays string bass and violin and is one of the founding members of Szászka in 1996. She studied classical violin for 20 years and branched out into other string instruments, viola da gamba, rebec, Bulgarian gadulka, and most recently string bass. Her desire to to learn the many different styles of the traditional music of the Hungarian villages in Transylvania has led her to study with many accomplished village musicians of this region. Sara holds a Masters degree in library studies. Doug Code, co-owner and Assistant Director of CVMA, is also a founding member of Szászka. After many years of performing with the Madison based Balkan music lounge band, The Reptile Palace Orchestra, Doug decided to focus his interest in Hungarian and Transylvanian music. In 1994 he began studying the kontra (a 3-stringed viola unique to Transylvania) which forms the signature rhythmic chord foundation of Transylvanian music. He also plays koboz (in the lute family), clarinet, saxophone, and accordion. Doug is a retired electrical engineer now residing in the Minneapolis area. WHAT WE DO:
CVMA offers an ever-expanding curriculum of lessons in voice; piano; acoustic, electric & bass guitar; autoharp; Irish bouzouki, mandolin, and ukulele; cello, violin/fiddle & viola; saxophone & trumpet, as well as instruction in contemporary songwriting, classical composition, music theory, improvisation ear training, among other skills. HISTORY:
Diana Grasselli came to Minneapolis in 1999 and taught private students under the company name of Diana Grasselli Vocal Studio for 15 years. In 2013 she expanded her studio and invited other teaching professionals to join her at her newly branded and relocated Chanson Voice & Music Academy. The studio is now located between Raymond Ave and University Ave. In July of 2021, CVMA was acquired by Dr. Colleen Bertsch, Sara Bruins and Doug Code, all three instrumental musicians in the Minneapolis area who are passionate about helping others to experience the joy of making music. All three are committed to continuing the legacy of excellence laid down by Diana in CVMA.
08/08/2024
The last circle sing was a success and we have another one this Sunday!
A message from Tom, the host: "You are invited to join me this coming Sunday at 3 pm for a community sing!
We will gather, form a circle, and do a group vocal warm up. I will teach the group a song (and how to teach a song) and we'll sing it. then a volunteer will teach the next song, and so on, and so forth, around the circle for a little more than an hour. all participants are welcome to teach a song, not required. These group sings can be refreshing, enlightening, and very fun! i hope you'll consider joining! " Note: this event is not for kids.
08/07/2024
CVMA will be at Flavor Fest this Saturday! It is a free music festival at Indeed Brewing in northeast Minneapolis. We will have a table where we will be giving out free voice, piano, and guitar lessons. Stop by and say hi!
07/14/2024
The very talented and wonderful founder of our school has openings in her vocal studio for new students!
Come to the circle sing this Sunday, July 14th at 6:00pm at CVMA! It is a fun, meditative, and communal event that will feature call-and-response group singing, and an opportunity for you to teach a song to the group if you'd like. Hosted by our own Tom McNellis.
06/16/2024
06/16/2024
Are you an aspiring music leader? Do you want to hone your leadership skills as a conductor, a music educator, or a director of musical theater or church music programs? Here is an opportunity for you!
The Emerging Conductor Online Intensive will be offered July 15-28, 2024 by The Sound Between , a nonprofit choral ensemble run by Sophie Amelkin (one of Chanson’s esteemed voice teachers).
Conductor Intensive — The Sound Between
July 15-28, 2024 EMERGING CONDUCTORONLINE INTENSIVE Are you an emerging conductor who wants to take your conducting skills to the next level, expand your knowledge of choral repertoire, and grow your professional network to include some of today's leading industry artists? The Sound Between is offer...
11/16/2023
Today is Give to the Max Day!
Uplift someone with your donation to CVMA's Music Education Scholarship Fund. Scholarships are made available to existing and new students who are struggling to afford music lessons. A scholarship of $200 covers about five 30-minute lessons.
We invite you to make a difference in someone’s life by donating to Chanson Voice & Music Academy’s Music Education Scholarship Fund. Your donation will help bring music lessons within reach of someone who has the desire to learn but may not have the means. A scholarship of $200 covers about five 30-minute lessons. Thank you for your support!
09/12/2023
Meet CVMA Piano Instructor, Samantha Martinez-Brockhus
Samantha is highly focused on her students and strives to provide a positive and supportive atmosphere where students feel they are capable and in which they will thrive. Her ultimate goal is to help her students reach the highest level of musical performance. She provides comprehensive training and constructive feedback to students of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced … amateur to professional.
What better way to express your appreciation for a friend or loved one than to give the gift of music! CVMA gift certificates are available for purchase from our CVMA instructors.
11/16/2022
Today is Give to the Max Day! Please consider donating to CVMA's Music Education (ME) Scholarship Fund.
You can make a difference! Meeting our $6,000 fundraising goal will provide approximately 200 free half-hour lessons for students who require financial support to achieve their musical goals.
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