Lessons

Trinity Bruizeman

Trinity has been involved with music for 8 years. She started playing the flute and eventually switched to the oboe. Trinity is pursuing a music education degree from CMU with an emphasis on oboe. There she performs with the Wind Symphony and plays piccolo in the Chippewa Marching Band, which she is also on the leadership team for. Trinity won the John Philip Sousa Band award for outstanding leadership and strong passion for music. She is involved with the National Association for Music Education chapter on campus and is a member of the national music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota. Trinity is deeply dedicated to music education and enjoys teaching lessons.

Trinity has experience teaching beginner flute and all levels of oboe, and can help with music theory. She also can get you started on saxophone or clarinet. She is excited to work with students and help with their musical growth.

Lane Butler

Lane Butler has been playing upright and electric bass, as well as guitar, for the better part of a decade now. He is currently attending Central Michigan University studying bass performance.

He has played in many orchestras and bands, such as the Central Michigan Symphony Orchestra and the Jazz Central Jazz Band. He also plays in many different styles ranging from jazz and orchestral to punk and extreme metal.

Lane has also played professionally for many different musicals, including "RENT" and "Something Rotten."

Outside of gigging, teaching, and school, Lane is pursuing his own musical style by merging all of his influences into his own music.

Lane's focus in teaching is to help create a strong relationship with music by encouraging students to learn their favorite songs and diving into the technique and theory behind them.

Olivia Charrette

Olivia Charrette is a multi-faceted musician, performer, and educator. She is currently an honors student at Central Michigan University studying music education and performance, with an emphasis on double bass and French horn. Music education is her passion. Olivia is the president of CMU’s chapter of the American String Teachers Association. This group recently started an after-school elementary strings program called String Explorer, which Olivia helps to teach. In addition, she is the vice president of the National Association for Music Education, Collegiate Chapter 102. At the national level, she is on the Student Advisory Committee for the American String Teachers Association.

As a performer, Olivia freelances in classical and jazz idioms in the Mount Pleasant and metro Detroit areas. She has performed with the jazz group “The Music Makers” annually in St. Clair Shores, MI, and she frequently enjoys performing with ensembles including the Alpena Symphony Orchestra, Gaylord Community Orchestra, Vintage Strings, and the CMU Community Orchestra. Currently, Olivia serves as assistant principal bass in the CMU Symphony Orchestra.

Along with her study of strings and brass, Olivia has devoted time to studying voice. She pairs her singing with her playing in jazz and concert settings alike. Olivia has sung alto in choirs for several years. She has completed her vocal education coursework and continues to expand her knowledge by studying vocal jazz techniques.

Olivia spends much of her time dedicated to working music camps and clinics, such as the Lakeview High School band camps, the Jefferson Middle School band and orchestra clinics, or the Instrumental Workshop at CMU. Most recently, she worked as an Institutes Cabin Counselor at Interlochen Arts Camp. She’s given private lessons since 2015 and loves to teach all types of music. She is a Centralis Honors Scholar and cares about getting a well-rounded education, as well as providing a well-rounded music education.

Christian Heintzelman

Christian has been dedicated to music since he was 6 years old. Most recently, he studied musical theater at CMU. He has performed in a variety of shows, including: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (winning an Oscar Wilde award in 2019), Shrek: the Musical, Ragtime and Mamma Mia. Christian has also served as a music director for various musicals. Christian began playing cello at age 7, and has since been a part of many orchestras, string quartets and solo performances. When he isn’t teaching, you can often find him on the sales floor at B’s.

Christian teaches all levels and genres of voice: musical theatre, opera/classical, jazz, rock and more! He also teaches all levels of cello, beginning viola and beginning piano.

Chris McNicol

Chris McNicol is a musician and educator in Mount Pleasant, MI.

He has played both 6 and 12-string acoustic and electric guitars for over 35 years, and has taught himself bass, harmonica, banjo, vocal, and some piano as well. He has continuously been active in writing original compositions and learning covers. He has played in bands from many musical genres, including classic rock, alternative-indie, country, blues, folk, punk, and 60’s. Chris has played professionally in many bands, and is currently the guitarist for the Mount Pleasant band “Cloudstrider” and local legends “The Burning Bushes.”

Chris has experience teaching beginning to intermediate guitar, ranging from chords, rhythm, scales, and root theory, to finger picking, slide, and alternate tunings. He is very passionate and enthusiastic about sharing the gift of music and looks forward to helping others learn how to play guitar from the very beginning or improve their current playing. Chris is also available to get you started with learning to play banjo, bass, or harmonica.

David Miller

Dave Miller has been teaching music since 1994. He’s been playing guitar and bass for almost 30 years. He’s played professionally as both a guitarist and bassist in a wide variety of bands, over multiple genres - metal, jazz, funk, blues, Motown, pop, and country. Also, Dave has performed as a guitarist in the pit of several local musicals, including “School of Rock” and “Jesus Christ Superstar”. Currently, he is the lead guitarist/vocalist for two dance/variety bands in the area. He also performs in a jazz duet featuring guitar and saxophone.

Dave has taught many different musical styles. He is always striving to educate himself and others in music, and share the wonderful experience that music can create. From beginner to advanced, Dave can help guide you on your musical journey to becoming a better musician.

Tim Mocny

With 20+ years of varied teaching and performance experience, Tim has successfully coached hundreds of students! He is currently accepting students of all ages and ability levels. In addition to teaching at B’s, Tim plays for many professional groups across the state, teaches a few music courses at CMU, and coaches a number of area drumlines. He even writes the beats for Central’s Chippewa Marching Band! When he’s not busy with music, Tim loves tackling projects at home and spending time with his wife and four kids.

Tim works hard to help each student maximize their musical growth and enjoyment. He is equally comfortable teaching piano, drum set and classical percussion.

Linda Parker

Linda gives private piano, guitar, and voice instruction with attention to enjoying music along with learning theory and technique for adults and children. She provides patient instruction for beginning and intermediate students. She has sung and played with many ensembles, choirs and bands, in various musical styles. Linda has written many original songs and currently plays guitar and keys with a worship band.

Noah Shambarger

Noah Shambarger has been singing in choral and contemporary settings for 12 years and is currently a Choral Music Education Major and a Centralis Honors Student at Central Michigan University, where he is an active member of the Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, and multiple other singing groups. Previously he has performed in numerous church choirs, the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Choir, multiple musical theater and opera performances including shows such as Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Guys and Dolls, and multiple chamber and composition premier groups.

Noah has also been playing the trumpet and French Horn for 10 years, participating in Marching, Concert, and Jazz bands, including the Chippewa Marching Band, the East Shore Wind Symphony, and other small ensembles.

Noah currently instructs in multiple band and leadership camps and has been giving private lessons for 4 years. When doing so, he is focused on the student's constant step-by-step improvement, and making music a fun and lifelong involvement for all.

Julia Stanton

Julia is an Honors Student at Central Michigan University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance. She began playing the violin as a high school student and has achieved success on her instrument thanks to the support of numerous teachers. She believes that music is an integral part of a fulfilling life, and that anyone of any age can learn to play at a high level. She has performed with multiple groups on violin, including the CMU Symphony Orchestra, the Midland Community Orchestra, and the Pine River Community Orchestra. She has volunteered as both a violin and viola teacher with the Vibrant Strings Community Orchestra and the Gratiot String Association.

Julia’s philosophies about teaching stress the importance of tailoring the learning process to each individual, taking into account their own personal attention span, level of dedication, interest, abilities, and idiosyncrasies. She believes that no two people learn in the same way or at the same rate, and that the goal above all should be to find enjoyment and enrichment through music. Her primary musical experience centers around performance of classical music, but she is also has experience with different genres of folk, fiddle, and contemporary pieces.