Cello lessons are available in 30, 45, or 60 minute weekly lessons. Program also includes two 60 minute group classes per month: music theory fundamentals and performance workshops. Plus one formal recital per semester.
Faculty
Nick Callcut is a cellist pursuing an undergraduate performance degree at Oakland University, studying with DSO cellist Úna O’Riordan. He is also minoring in Music Theory and will be graduating in 2025. He is the principal cellist of the Oakland University Chamber Orchestra, a member of both the Rochester and Oakland Symphony Orchestras, an active chamber musician, and is regularly hired for special events. A caring teacher, Nick teaches cello both privately, and as a cello clinician at North Farmington High School and the Detroit Metropolitan Youth Symphony. His teaching is based on a belief that each student is individual, learns in a unique way, and should be supported by education encouraging that individuality. This means an emphasis on learning the tools needed to effectively express musicality on the cello. He guides students to work towards making their own technical and musical decisions, essentially becoming their own teacher. Nick is comfortable with late elementary through high school students, as well as adults, and cares deeply about passing on his love for music to whoever studies with him!
Alex Marshall graduated with a degree in music performance from Michigan State University 10 years ago, but began to build his career as a professional musician and private instructor before then, at ages 17 and 19 respectively. For the last 10 years he has been teaching and performing full time in the metro Detroit area, at times doing over 150 paid gigs in a year. Some of his first students have gone on to receive music scholarships from schools like Western Michigan and the University of Michigan, earning master’s degrees and even being a part of a Grammy nominated recording. Currently, he has a large number of young students performing at a high level in advanced youth orchestras, private academies and ensembles, and others leading the sections in their schools.
Mr. Marshall maintains a very strong balance between rigid and fluid concepts. The rigid concepts being that in order to succeed at a high level it requires discipline, hard work, accountability, and strong fundamental technique with a basic understanding of music theory. The fluid being that in order to get a student to buy into these concepts it requires laughter, a fun relationship with music, looking forward to your lessons, and your teacher being someone you look up to.
Joining the RCM faculty Sept. 2023, Mr. Brandon is a welcome addition to our string faculty. Mr, Brandon has a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Hope College and a Performance Certificate in Orchestral Studies, Summa Cum Laude from Wayne State. Mr. Brandon has been teaching private cello lessons since 2005 and is extremely active as a cellist with many local orchestras and chamber music groups, including the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, the Michigan Philharmonic, and the Flint Institute Summer Chamber Music Series. Mr. Brandon has also recorded for various projects including De La Soul’s Grammy Award Winning Album And the Anonymous Nobody, performed on stage Evanescence, Richard Marx, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He’s toured Japan three times with the Hollywood Festival Orchestra and in the USA with “Weird’ Al Yankovic.