Cindy Thompson
Music Studio
About Cindy
"I have the best job in the world. Watching each and every student grow and succeed, with a smile on their face, gives me great satisfaction. Beyond the enjoyment of music itself, learning a musical instrument instills a level of discipline, responsibility, accomplishment, confidence, and self-esteem, and seeing those skills bloom in a student is one of the great rewards of what I do. I look forward to beginning our musical journey together!"
- Cindy
My Philosophy
I have always felt that there is no such thing as a bad student. If you have a good teacher, you will in turn become a good student. My motto is “If you can talk, you can sing; and if you can type, you can play!” Once this is understood, the student can then relax, begin the process of trusting me and open up for the experience of learning music. I also make sure the student thinks of the lesson as a mini vacation from everything that has happened before the lesson and anything that will happen after. This allows for complete concentration during each session.
But teaching music does not stop at the notes on the page. I also work with students to address poise, presentation, and even stage fright and performance anxiety - all tools that will help in aspects of life other than music. I also present my students in local recitals twice a year to give them a performing goal to work toward. There is no better way to jump-start the improvement of a student than to have a performance for which you are preparing .
Although I expect my students to work hard, the most important thing is that they have fun in their lessons. After all, learning music is a joyous experience and that is the reason we do it. One always has to remember that we perform because of the pleasure it brings to ourselves and others.
My Background
As a Teacher
I have been a piano and voice educator for 32 years, with a studio of more than 50 students each week, in all ages from child to adult. I teach all genres of music including musical theater, classical, and jazz, in both voice and piano.
In theater, I work as a vocal coach for performers in community and high school theaters throughout the Twin Cities and Wisconsin. I have also acted as music director and orchestra master for several local theater productions, including The Music Man, Annie, Nunsense, 101 Dalmatians, and Bye Bye Birdie.
As a Performer
A classically trained singer, I have performed as a soloist for several choirs and churches in the Twin Cities area and was the staff soloist as the Basilica of St Mary in Minneapolis.
As a jazz singer, I have toured as a soloist with the Contemporary Christian group New Song Singers, and perform as lead vocalist with a jazz combo for the Presbyterian Churches.
On stage, I have appeared as a principal performer in productions at various community theaters, including Nunsense, Gigi, The Music Man, Misbehavin', Nuncrackers, and The Sound of Music.
