Mike Zimmerman (651) 983-9988 - Guitar    email   .pdf

Mike was the first brick in the Foundation of Music Go Round, he is our longest-tenured teacher. Mike handles students of all levels, beginner to advanced. He is a songwriter and loves fishing. As a member of the Kurt Jorgensen band and Michael Shane band, he has performed everywhere. Mike likes many types of music. He specializes in rock, blues and country guitar. Mike loves a great song and is adept at teaching them. He is good with all ages.

• Education: Waldorf College, Brown Institute
• Styles: Rock, blues, soul, country, basic techniques
• Availability: limited
• Years teaching: 13
• Current rate (subject to change): $20/half hour
  
  

Todd Duane  (651) 247-9120 - Guitar    email   .pdf

Todd is our blazing shredologist. He was recently named 3rd fastest shredder in the world by Guitar World magazine. If it is technique you seek, take advantage of his skills. He graduated from GIT in Los Angeles.  He later went on to teach there as well as the American Institute of Music in Vienna, Austria. He is a member of the band Touched which is well worth going out to see. Todd is dedicated to the art of guitar and is best suited for intermediate to advanced players.

• Education: GIT, California
• Styles: Classic Rock, progressive rock, metal, speed lead, technique
• Availability: very limited, waiting list
• Years teaching: 20+
• Current Rate (subject to change): $22/half hour
  
  

Brad Steine: (651) 285-4420 - Guitar/Drums    email   .pdf

A multi-instrumentalist, Brad plays and teaches drums, percussion, and guitar. He was the drummer for the successful Twin Cities band "Soul Tight Committee" for many years and has performed with groups in a range of styles, including: Jazz, Reggae, Heavy Rock, Classic Rock, Pop, R&B, and more. Brad has 15 years experience teaching music including 6 years as percussion instructor at St. Mary’s University in Winona, MN. He enjoys working with students of all ages and strives to create a fun learning atmosphere where music is the focus, not lecturing. In fact, Brad likes to hold little jam sessions in his lessons, either playing guitar with drum students or drums with guitar students. This approach helps to build the students confidence and technique as well as their skills in a group setting.

• Education: BA Music, St. Mary’s University Winona, MN
• Styles: Classic & Modern Rock, Jazz, Blues, Theory and Reading
• Availability: Good
• Years teaching: 10 +
• Current Rate (subject to change): $20/half hour
  
  

Michael Westbrock (651)-793-5108 - Guitar    email   .pdf

Michael is a songwriter with good lead guitar chops. Once on the road to law-school, he followed his muse and became a songwriter. He records his own music which requires a great degree of discipline. Mike knows many songs and can teach you rock, blues, metal, and music theory. He has clean, accurate technique with the ability to teach it to others. Mike is disciplined and driven.

• Education: Music Tech (now McNally Smith)
• Styles:Rock, Pop, Metal
• Availability: good
• Years teaching: 10 +
• Current rate (subject to change): $20/half hour
  
  

Chris Murphy (651) 491-0833 - Guitar    email   .pdf

Chris keeps us upbeat around here with his positive attitude. He can be found roasting coffee at Dunn Brothers early in the morning. A student of the great Billy Bernard at UMD, he knows his stuff. Chris can show you jazz, rock, country or any theory stuff you want to know. He is very patient and great with young people.

• Education: BA University of Minnesota, Duluth
• Styles: Jazz, Blues, Rock, basic guitar, theory, beginning guitar
• Availability: limited to good
• Years teaching: 5 +
• Current rate (subject to change): $15/half hour
  
  

Mark Olson (651) 356-7778 - Piano, Saxophone, Clarinet
email   .pdf

Mark is one of our finest musicians. He has studied classical, jazz, rock, and blues. He has played with many different local bands and is a strong singer. Mark can direct you on your way to traditional music training, ear training, sight reading and rhythm. He can also  train you how to play your favorite tunes quickly using Scott Houston’s professional lead sheet method. Mark is very kind and patient with beginners.

• Member, MMTA/MTNA
• Education: AA Normandale College, Scott Houston Creative piano method, studied with famous free jazz pianist Borah Bergman in NY, NY. On-staff parish musician at Christ Episcopal Church, Woodbury.
• Styles: All
• Availability: limited
• Years teaching: 15 +
• Current rate (subject to change): Quarterly tuition.
  
  

Marcia Sanoden (651) 235-7632 - Guitar    email   .pdf

Marcia is our new Sunday teacher who loves to work with children and female students who want to learn from a peer. She is patient and easy-going.

“I like guitar lessons with Marcia because she makes it fun.” Jenni T., Age 9, Forest Lake.

Marcia started studying classical guitar at age 13 in Japan, where classical guitar was popular. She studied through college, and played guitar with the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra. Picking up steel string and flat-pick styles, she learned country, pop and rhythm guitar. She enjoys improvising behind folk or country performers. Marcia has studied with Anthony Hauser, Ric Oliva, Dale Dahlquist and jazz guitarist Joan Griffith. She enjoys beginners or intermediate players/songwriters who want to improve their guitar skills. Marcia has taught at The Music Connection, Music Go Round, and Walker West Music Academy.

• Education: St. Olaf College
• Styles: classical and fingerstyle, contemporary Christian, country, pop, theory and reading.
• Years teaching: 6
• Availability: Sundays
• Tuition: please contact

Jon Davidson - Guitar Repair    email   .pdf

Jon has built quite a following here at MGR. Fridays can get busy as local musicians pile in for pre-gig tweaks. If you can’t find a part for your guitar, Jon is your man, he has found numerous solutions to pesky problems. He has even been know to fabricate a part from stock. Jon is regularly trusted with vintage and rare guitars, some of which he even owned new during his 41 years as a guitar/bassist.

• Experience: 20+ years
• Technical training: Redwing tech
• Rates: Job by job, fixed to variable, quotes available.
• Availability: Wednesday through Saturday, walk-ins, drop offs welcome.
• Specialty: Setups, electronics, damage repair, upgrades.
• Other services: Part fabrication, instrument upgrades.
  
  

Rajiah Johnson - Advanced Woodwinds    email   .pdf

Spend a few minutes talking to Rajiah and you realize that his woodwind knowledge goes deep. Still, he will always admit if something isn’t his cup of tea. Rajiah has a following with local and nationally recognized players. He has worked with Maceo Parker, Joe Ford, Steve Clarke and other respected players. He specializes in difficult cases requiring “woodwind chiropractic” work. Bring in your piccolo, vintage sax, bass clarinet without worry. Rajiah is on staff as our repair department QC advisor. He performs advanced work from his shop, so drop-off required.

• Experience: 20+ years
• Technical training: Southeast Technical College
• Rates: Per job, by quote only
• Availability: Limited, drop-off only
• Specialty: Pro horns, rare and vintage horns
• Other services: Professional flutist, compound bend repair, vintage instrument appraisal.
  
  

William Lillmars - Brass Instrument Repair    email   .pdf

Bill is our brass workhorse, he has serviced thousands of horns for local musicians. Bill brings with him many years of experience in school band repair from respected organizations. Bring him something that looks like it was hit by a truck, if it’s fixable, he’ll fix it. Bill excels at precision metal work, he also works part-time for a manufacturer of pricey tone-arms for turntables. Bill plays brass instruments, guitar and any other contraption he sees.

• Experience: 12+ years
• Technical training: Minneapolis College of Art and Design
• Rates: Basic services fixed rate, advanced brass repair by quote.
• Availability: Walk-in Monday, Thursday, Friday 4-8pm.  Drop-offs welcome.
• Specialty: Dent removal, flushing, valve re-seating.   Severe brass damage.
• Other services: Precision machining, buffing, lacquering.  Woodwind regulation.
  
  

Andy Moeller - Woodwind Service    email   .pdf

Andy is our new woodwind workhorse. His work ethic is second to none. He is tenacious and bright, he lets nothing slip by. Servicing every used horn is imperative to what we do. Andy services the majority of those horns. Andy plays trumpet, French horn, clarinet, saxophone, flute, guitar and drums.

This talented newcomer is a rising star and we are glad to have him aboard.

• Technical training: Redwing – band instrument repair program
• Rates: mostly fixed, difficult jobs by estimate.
• Availability: Excellent, walk-ins welcome Saturday through Wednesday
• Specialty: Woodwind regulation, cork and pad replacement
• Other services: Trade-ins, sales, overhauls
  
  

Lee Swenson - Orchestral Instrument Repair    email   .pdf

Lee is an old friend of the MGR family. His son Kyle worked here before heading off to college. Lee enjoys playing violin, guitar and fixing bicycles. Lee sets-up most of our used instruments and rentals. He works both on and off-site depending on the job. Several local music stores have made use of his talents.

• Experience: 6+ years
• Technical training: Redwing stringed instrument program
• Rates: Setups and restrings fixed, other services by estimate
• Availability: Lives close to MGR and can usually turn repairs around in under one week
• Specialty: Violin and cello bridge shaping, restrings, damage repair, setups
• Other services: Lee is an excellent bicycle technician