WHY JOIN NOVELLA SOUND PROJECT

SPECIALIZING IN VOICE (SINGING), PIANO, GUITAR, SONGWRITING & MUSIC PRODUCTION

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Nikk has worked across numerous stages, both as an educator and professionally managed performer. He's trained students internationally, and also shared students with famous CELEBRITY VOCAL COACHES such as BRETT MANNING (Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Leona Lewis, Hayley Williams), SETH RIGGS (Michael Jackson, Anita Baker, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Madonna), and MAMA JAN SMITH (Usher, The Band Perry). Nikk has had the pleasure of watching his students connect with Grammy award winning producer NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN (Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin), ROB THOMAS (Matchbox 20), and HARRY CONNICK JR., while others have gone on to sign record contracts, shoot music videos, perform live on television, and mature into their own musical successes. Nikk has also helped students succeed at the University level, with those attending schools such as the University of Michigan, Berklee College of Music, Belmont University in Nashville, DePaul University, DIME, Michigan State University, and others across the U.S. In addition, many of Nikk's students are avid performers, songwriters, theatre stars, and are well-recognized in the music community.

 

The most important factor to consider when pursuing an education of any type is the relevant knowledge, training, and experience of the instructor to that of the goals and aspirations a student has. With some music facilities, an unfortunate side effect students often find themselves struggling with is a lack of real progress due to studying with a teacher attempting to give guidance that may be a little (or a lot!) outside of their respective field of expertise. This tends to run most prevalent with certain "all-in-one" type music programs that utilize a high volume of short-term and part-time instructors, some of whom may actually be students themselves still in school. This model can also create an instability for students by subjecting them to an ongoing list of replacement teachers due to the school or academy's high teacher turnover rate. First and foremost, always make sure your goals and aspirations match the specific field training and credible experiences of the teacher you're working with.

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Over the last two decades, Nikk has crafted teaching methods that supplement a focused student-centered approach with a strong blend of healthy curriculum, mechanics, and pedagogy, enabling him to provide students with tangible progress as they pursue their performance goals. Visit the bio page for more information on Nikk and how he has successfully coached thousands of students across the country throughout the past 20 years, finding favor as a preferred choice for singers seeking strong vocal guidance and development.

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ONLINE LESSONS AS WELL AS IN-STUDIO

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Students have the option of coming into the studio or taking private lessons virtually using the studio's online teaching platforms. For online classes, the studio utilizes professional level microphones, multi-camera setups, and dedicated equipment designed for online learning. This allows students to experience the same level of quality and efficiency as they would with in-studio sessions, while also being able to study throughout performance touring, long distance learning, or even just from the comforts of their own home.

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FLEXIBILE SCHEDULING & ACCESSIBILITY

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Private students have direct access to their own personalized login as well as the online studio calendar, allowing them the convenience to book lessons, classes, and appointments to a structure that works best for them. Students can schedule single sessions as they go or sign up for a Student Tier membership providing multi-class credits that can be utilized to schedule a month at a time.

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PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

 

Competitions and Performance Events: Classes can be tailored to provide students with the best musical preparation for those pursuing competition involvements and/or audition-based opportunities. Such competitions have included various district, regional, national and international events, with organizations such as The World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA), American Guild of Music (AGM), MSVMA Solo & Ensemble, Federation, and others. Student involvement with other notable organizations include Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in both their summer programs and international choirs, as well as Interlochen Center for the Arts. Students are also supported in theatre auditions and perform regularly on local stages.

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Concerts & Recitals: Recital participation is not mandatory but is encouraged! Studio concerts and recitals are free of charge to students and take place seasonally throughout the year. Recitals consist of a combination of students in voice, piano, guitar, as well as violin and viola from collaborations with Jennifer Berg Violin Studio. Recitals also include combined vocal and instrumental duet and ensemble performances.

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ONLINE LEARNING CONTENT

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Students are also supplemented with access to premium online learning content including tests/quizzes, certifications and awards, video lessons, tutorials, a music library, exercises and warm-ups, accompaniment tracks, a dedicated blog (Artist Insight), and more helping to facilitate a full learning experience. In addition to private one-on-one appointments all Student Tier memberships receive full access to the complete suite of online content, alternative membership plans are also available.

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FULLY EQUIPPED ON-SITE RECORDING STUDIO

 

Private lessons can be tailored to provide students with their very own professional recordings of mastered songs and performance ready material. Additionally, the recording studio provides full-scale production services including composing, writing, tracking, editing, mixing, and mastering, to artists and songwriters.

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ACOUSTICALLY TREATED LESSON SPACE

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Other music learning facilities tend to only offer thinly walled and sound reflective multi-purpose rooms for lessons, rather than a professionally designed and acoustically treated lesson space. In addition, they are often focused primarily in younger, pre-school oriented kinder-care types of music education. These programs typically lend themselves to more recreational, loud and distracting background noises, combining with the lesser quality room design and compromising the formal lesson experience for students.

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Here at the studio all students study in a clean, spacious, comfortable, and fully equipped studio environment so there's no need to worry about distractions from noisy lesson rooms or crowded hallways. All students and clientele enjoy an exclusive private studio experience without the noise.

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VIOLIN LESSONS & VIOLA LESSONS

 In collaboration with Jennifer Berg Violin Studio

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Violin lessons and viola lessons for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students in a focused, studio setting with regular performance opportunities. Offering complete training in both classical and contemporary stylings, along with appropriate technique, theory, pedagogy, and full certification in Suzuki methods. Holding membership in American String Teachers Association (ASTA), as well as Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA), tenured membership with Ann Arbor Symphony (A2SO) and Flint Symphony (FSO). Click here for more information.

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SUPERIOR RESOURCES

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Students enjoy working with both studio performance and stage resources, learning everything from proper mic technique to acoustic balance, and learning how to "sing to the room". 

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LOCAL, NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

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The studio hosts training and instruction services to a student base across the U.S. as well as internationally! With a clientele that ranges from professional artists to aspiring young students, the studio maintains active connections through various teaching networks and performance organizations spanning the globe. 

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SPECIALIZED STUDIO INSTRUCTION

 

Move beyond generalized music lessons and into a specialty studio through Novella Sound Project with Nikk May. Providing advanced vocal and instrumental training for students in voice, piano, and guitar, as well as artist development through songwriting/composition and audio production. Study the essential techniques of industry professionals, build understanding through mechanic concepts, and learn how to unlock your abilities to excel as a performer.