Lanissa Nadeau offers private lessons in woodwinds, saxophone, and piano to students of all ages and abilities in the Bangor Maine area and beyond.
Lanissa Nadeau has been teaching both in public schools and privately for the past 23 years, the last nineteen in the Brewer School system. She graduated from the University of Maine in 1994 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with a clarinet concentration, and has done graduate work at both Plymouth State College and the University of Maine.
While at Brewer, her Concert and Jazz Bands have gained a reputation throughout the State of Maine as being advanced, polished sounding groups. Her Middle School Jazz Band consistently receives gold ratings and places in the top three in the State. Lanissa’s bands have performed with Wayne Bergeron, Roger Ingram, Eric Marienthal, Jeff Coffin, and Mike Stern.
Although she has experience with and is fully qualified to teach all Music K-12, she specializes at Main Street Music Studios in working with all beginner concert band students, woodwinds (flute, clarinet and saxophone) & piano students of all ages and abilities, has a proven method for teaching beginner improvisation and jazz phrasing at all levels, and preparing high school students for All-State auditions. Her high school private students frequently score top chairs at the All State Music Festival. Several students have advanced to studying music education in college.
Band Consulting
She also provides a band consultant service. Often young musicians are not sure what instrument they would like to play in beginner band. Mrs. Nadeau allows them to try the different instruments, discussing their strengths and teaching them good habits and musicianship right from the start.
It is Mrs. Nadeau’s belief that instrumental students learn best when they are playing music they enjoy. A goal in her lessons is to have fun while being challenged and making connections to prior learning. As all music is based on scales, an emphasis on scale technique is a vital part of lessons. She encourages students to bring music they are working on in their school ensembles and to express what style of music they most enjoy playing. Lessons are relaxed, yet very focused and detail oriented and tailored to the needs of the individual student.
Performance Experience
Performing groups in which she plays are varied, including, but not limited to: Colby College Wind Ensemble, Al Corey Big Band, Brian Nadeau Big Band, Queen City Big Band, Opus One Big Band, German Stammitch Band, Holiday Brass Band, and smaller groups of many varieties.
She has adjudicated and been guest conductor at many festivals around the State of Maine, including the KV Music Festival, Solo and Ensemble Festival, Washington County Festival, District Jazz Festivals and several District Honors Festivals. The University of Maine has her present real world information to the Music Student Teachers in various seminars.
