Everyone is welcome.
We're The Music Coop, a nonprofit dedicated to making lessons and equipment affordable for everyone. Over the next year, we'll be fundraising to meet our mission. Let's make music a priority again! For a a few frequently asked questions, click here.
Chris's lesson room.
We're a team of educated and active musicians and music lovers who have been in the business for 25 years.
Chris Fahey, Executive Director and Instructor
Guitar, piano, percussion, sax, ukulele, recorder, bass guitar, songwriting, music theory, voice
So what's your background in music? I started playing music in 5th grade on my grandpa's tenor sax, but it was the guitar and drum set my dad gave me when I was 12 that got my attention. I taught myself to play by listening to my dad's records and MTV in the 90s. From there, I started writing songs, and formed a band in high school. We wrote and recorded albums, and played shows at fairs and street corners and clubs. I went to school at the University of Minnesota - Duluth for Theory/Composition, started a college band, had a great time, graduated and moved to the Twin Cities, where I've been teaching, recording and playing ever since. I've taught in the Excelsior area for the past 15 years.
What's your teaching philosophy? To make music fun and inspiring. Music shouldn't be a struggle - it should be about exploring, growing, connecting, and making you the person you want to be. I encourage my students to be creative, to compose and perform, and have fun. I'll often jam along on drums or guitar to reinforce rhythm and give students a sense of what it's like to play in a group. If you want more structure (rules, incentive to practice), I can do that, too - but it'll stay interesting and relevant to your personal goals. Book with Chris.
Chris Fahey, Executive Director and Instructor
Guitar, piano, percussion, sax, ukulele, recorder, bass guitar, songwriting, music theory, voice
So what's your background in music? I started playing music in 5th grade on my grandpa's tenor sax, but it was the guitar and drum set my dad gave me when I was 12 that got my attention. I taught myself to play by listening to my dad's records and MTV in the 90s. From there, I started writing songs, and formed a band in high school. We wrote and recorded albums, and played shows at fairs and street corners and clubs. I went to school at the University of Minnesota - Duluth for Theory/Composition, started a college band, had a great time, graduated and moved to the Twin Cities, where I've been teaching, recording and playing ever since. I've taught in the Excelsior area for the past 15 years.
What's your teaching philosophy? To make music fun and inspiring. Music shouldn't be a struggle - it should be about exploring, growing, connecting, and making you the person you want to be. I encourage my students to be creative, to compose and perform, and have fun. I'll often jam along on drums or guitar to reinforce rhythm and give students a sense of what it's like to play in a group. If you want more structure (rules, incentive to practice), I can do that, too - but it'll stay interesting and relevant to your personal goals. Book with Chris.
The ROCK garage!
Cooper Alt, Managing Director and Instructor
Guitar, piano, percussion, trombone, tuba, ukulele, recorder, bass guitar, songwriting, music theory
Coop, what's your background? I've been playing and writing music since my mother had me pick up piano lessons in third grade (listen to your moms, kids!). I fell in love with it. I was the biggest band geek in high school and took on every single activity I could. I graduated from St. Olaf College with a Bachelor of Music in Theory/Composition, and music officially became my full-time passion. Nowadays, I play in too many bands to count, but teaching is, without a doubt, the most rewarding thing in my life. I can't imagine ever doing anything else. I also run the Open Mic Night at Excelsior Brewing - come join in, it's a great time!
What's your teaching philosophy? Priority #1: Make it fun! I personalize my lessons based on the music and skills my students want to pursue. Sometimes this means I trick them into learning "boring technical stuff" by sneaking it into their favorite songs. I also strongly emphasize group playing. Once a student is feeling confident with a song, I'll usually hop on another instrument to show them how different pieces can fit together. My goal as a teacher is not just to create great musicians, but great bandmates as well. Book with Cooper.
Guitar, piano, percussion, trombone, tuba, ukulele, recorder, bass guitar, songwriting, music theory
Coop, what's your background? I've been playing and writing music since my mother had me pick up piano lessons in third grade (listen to your moms, kids!). I fell in love with it. I was the biggest band geek in high school and took on every single activity I could. I graduated from St. Olaf College with a Bachelor of Music in Theory/Composition, and music officially became my full-time passion. Nowadays, I play in too many bands to count, but teaching is, without a doubt, the most rewarding thing in my life. I can't imagine ever doing anything else. I also run the Open Mic Night at Excelsior Brewing - come join in, it's a great time!
What's your teaching philosophy? Priority #1: Make it fun! I personalize my lessons based on the music and skills my students want to pursue. Sometimes this means I trick them into learning "boring technical stuff" by sneaking it into their favorite songs. I also strongly emphasize group playing. Once a student is feeling confident with a song, I'll usually hop on another instrument to show them how different pieces can fit together. My goal as a teacher is not just to create great musicians, but great bandmates as well. Book with Cooper.
The piano room
Associate Instructors
Jenni Volby
Violin, viola
Jenni has her degree in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and has been involved in playing and teaching for years. She's currently the associate concertmaster of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, and is also involved in chamber music ensembles around the Twin Cities. Book with Jenni.
Emma Shukle
Voice, piano
Emma studied Vocal Music Education at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. She has over 10 years of vocal training, and has taught music for nine years between private and public school settings. Emma is actively involved in the SongWorks Educators Association where she has been an educator for music teachers and a conference presenter. Outside of teaching, she enjoys singing in her Americana/Folk Duo, "Gospel and Gravel," and serves as a professional vocalist for multiple churches in the Twin Cities. Book with Emma.
Adrian Cox-Thurmond
Piano, guitar, bass guitar, ukulele
Adrian is a multi-instrumentalist with experience in piano, guitar, bass, and ukulele. Their classical background in piano and choral music, along with their Audio Engineering degree from Earlham College, create a strong background in western classical music theory, history, and technique. They employ a fun and structured teaching style, and prioritize having positive, inspiring experiences both in and outside of teaching. Book with Adrian.
Alex Hecker
Clarinet, bass clarinet, sax, euphonium, piano, ukulele
Alex is a multi-instrumentalist and performer based in Minnesota. Hecker performed with the Minnesota Ballet Orchestra, the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, at the Nief-Norf Summer Festival in Tennessee, at the Music By Women Festival in Mississippi, and premiered works by Alexis C. Lamb, Andrew Simpson, and Jessi Harvey. They studied clarinet and bass clarinet performance with Dr. Theodore Schoen for their Master of Music and Bachelor of Music at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Book with Alex.
Jenni Volby
Violin, viola
Jenni has her degree in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and has been involved in playing and teaching for years. She's currently the associate concertmaster of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, and is also involved in chamber music ensembles around the Twin Cities. Book with Jenni.
Emma Shukle
Voice, piano
Emma studied Vocal Music Education at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. She has over 10 years of vocal training, and has taught music for nine years between private and public school settings. Emma is actively involved in the SongWorks Educators Association where she has been an educator for music teachers and a conference presenter. Outside of teaching, she enjoys singing in her Americana/Folk Duo, "Gospel and Gravel," and serves as a professional vocalist for multiple churches in the Twin Cities. Book with Emma.
Adrian Cox-Thurmond
Piano, guitar, bass guitar, ukulele
Adrian is a multi-instrumentalist with experience in piano, guitar, bass, and ukulele. Their classical background in piano and choral music, along with their Audio Engineering degree from Earlham College, create a strong background in western classical music theory, history, and technique. They employ a fun and structured teaching style, and prioritize having positive, inspiring experiences both in and outside of teaching. Book with Adrian.
Alex Hecker
Clarinet, bass clarinet, sax, euphonium, piano, ukulele
Alex is a multi-instrumentalist and performer based in Minnesota. Hecker performed with the Minnesota Ballet Orchestra, the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, at the Nief-Norf Summer Festival in Tennessee, at the Music By Women Festival in Mississippi, and premiered works by Alexis C. Lamb, Andrew Simpson, and Jessi Harvey. They studied clarinet and bass clarinet performance with Dr. Theodore Schoen for their Master of Music and Bachelor of Music at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Book with Alex.
What we teach
Guitar
Drums
Bass guitar
Piano
Voice
Sax
Clarinet
Bass clarinet
Euphonium
Flute
Trumpet
Tuba
Trombone
Ukulele
Recorder
Violin
Viola
Songwriting
Theory
Music Recording
Guitar
Drums
Bass guitar
Piano
Voice
Sax
Clarinet
Bass clarinet
Euphonium
Flute
Trumpet
Tuba
Trombone
Ukulele
Recorder
Violin
Viola
Songwriting
Theory
Music Recording